Duties of wives I. PETER. and husbands. 24 Who his own self bare our knowledge, giving honour sins in his own body on the unto the wife, as unto the tree, that we, being dead to weaker vessel, and as being sins, should live unto right- heirs together of the grace of eousness: by whose stripes ye life; that your prayers be not were healed. hindered. 25 For ye were as sheep as sheep 8 Finally, be ye all of one going astray; but are now re-mind, having compassion one turned unto the Shepherd and of another; love as brethren, Bishop of your souls. be pitiful, be courteous; CHAPTER III 1 He teacheth the duty of wives and hubands to each other, 8 exhorting all men to unity and love, 14 and to suffer persecution. 19 He declareth also the benefits of Christ toward the old world. IKEWISE, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a bless ing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be trou bled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation 7 Likewise, ye husbands, of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. cease from sin. 17 For it is better, if the will | may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit; 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 20 Which sometime were dis- 6 For, for this cause was the obedient, when once the long-gospel preached also to them suffering of God waited in the that are dead, that they might days of Noah, while the ark be judged according to men in was a preparing, wherein few, the flesh, but live according to that is, eight souls were saved God in the spirit. by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to an22 Who is gone into heaven, other without grudging. and is on the right hand of 10 As every man hath reGod; angels and authorities celved the gift, even so minisand powers being made sub-ter the same one to another, Ject unto him. as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. CHAPTER IV. 1 He exhorteth them to cease from sin by the example of Christ, and the consid eration of the general end that now approacheth: 12 and comforteth them against persecution. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ: to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's Duties of elders. I. PETER. Divers exhortations. sufferings; that, when his glo- sight thereof, not by con| ry shall be revealed, ye may straint, but willingly; not for be glad also with exceeding filthy lucre, but of a ready joy. mind; 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves there fore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. " 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the dev 17 For the time is come that Judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarce-il, as a roaring lion, walketh ly be saved, where shall the about, seeking whom he may ungodly and the sinner ap- devour: pear? 19 Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. CHAPTER V. 1 He exhorteth the elders to feed their Rocks, 5 the younger to obey, 8 and all to be sober, watchful, and constant in the faith: 9 to resist the cruel adversary the devil. THE elders which are a TH mong you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished ins your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stab lish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and do-minion for ever and ever." Amen. 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I sup pose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that 2 Feed the flock of God which this is the true grace of God is among you, taking the over-wherein ye stand. 料 An exhortation II. PETER. to holiness. 13 The church that is at Baby- 14 Greet ye one another with lon, elected together with you, a kiss of charity. Peace be saluteth you; and so doth with you all that are in Christ Marcus my son. Jesus. Amen. THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF CHAPTER I. PETER. 1 Confirming them in hope of the increase tience; and to patience, godllness; of God's graces, 6 he exhorteth them, by7 And to godliness, brotherly faith, and good works, to make their call kindness; and to brotherly ing sure: 12 whereof he is careful to rekindness, charity. member them, knowing that his death is at hand: 16 and warneth them to be constant in the faith of Christ, who is the true Son of God, by the eyewitness of the apostles beholding his majesty, and by the testimony of the Father, and the prophets. SIMON Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6 And to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, pa 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and elec tion sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by put ting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that Bhortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Peter foretelleth II. PETER. of false teachers. 15 Moreover I will endeavour | ble heresies, even denying the that ye may be able after my Lord that bought them, and decease to have these things bring upon themselves swift always in remembrance. destruction. 16 For we have not follow- 2 And many shall follow ed cunningly devised fables, their pernicious ways; by when we made known unto reason of whom the way of you the power and coming of truth shall be evil spoken of. our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. CHAPTER II. 1 He foretelleth them of false teachers; shewing the impiety and punishment and their followers: 7 from which the godly shall be delivered, as Lot was out of Sodom: 10 and more fully describeth the manners of those profane and blasphemous seducers, whereby they may be the better known, and avoided. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 Aud turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds :) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unJust unto the day of judgment BUT there were false proph- to be punished: ets also among the people, 10 But chiefly them that walk even as there shall be false after the flesh in the lust of teachers among you, who uncleanness, and despise gov. privily shall bring in damna-ernment. Presumptuous are |