The new covenant commended. JAMES. Divers admonitions. voice of words; which voice they that heard, | 7 Remember them which have the rule over entreated that the word should not be spo-you, who have spoken unto you the word of ken to them any more: God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation: 20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear; 29 For our God is a consuming fire. CHAP. XIII. 1 Admonitions to charity, 4to honest life, 5 against covetousness, to regard God's preachers, 9 against strange doctrines, 10 to confess Christ, 16to give alms, 17 to obey governors, 8to pray for the apostle. 20 The conclusion. ET brotherly love continue. strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines: for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. 10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. II For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, tirat is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good, and to communicate, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live ho nestly. 19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, do his will, working in you that which is well21 Make you perfect in every good work, to pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words. 23 Know ye, that our brother Timothy is 5 Let your conversation be without covet-set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortousness; and be content with such things as ly, I will see you. ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is iny helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. CHAP. I. you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by The General Epistle of JAMES. 1 We are to rejoice under the cross, 5 to ask patience of God, 13 not to impute our weakness, or sins, to him, 19 but to hearken to the word, meditate in it, and do thereafter. 26 Otherwise, men may seem, but never be truly religious. AMES, a servant of God and of the Lord 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye falf into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. JJesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of are scattered abroad, greeting. God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing waver Of faith without works which is a dead faith, 19 the faith of devils 21 not of Abraham, 25 and Rahab. brethren, have not the faith of our ing. For he that wavereth is like a wave of Mord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly, a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw before you the judgment-seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye com15 Then, when lust hath conceived, it bring-mit sin, and are convinced of the law as transeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. gressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, lie is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adul 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Fa-tery; said also, Do not kill. Now, if thou ther of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his and I have works: shew me thy faith withway, and straightway forgetteth what man-out thy works, and I will shew thee my faith ner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe,and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his and the Father is this, To visit the father-works, and by works was faith made perfect? less and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. CHAP. II. 1 Not right to regard the rich, and to despise the poor: 13 rather to be loving and merciful: +4 not to boast of faith where no deeds are, 17 23 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Of bridling the tongue. JAMES. Of intemperance, pride, & 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot FROM whence come wars and fighting justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. CHAP. III. among you come not hence, ever of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust and have not ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask 1 Not rashly to reprove others: 5but to bridle amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. the tongue, a little member, but a powerful in- 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye strument of good, and harm. 13 The truly wise not that the friendship of the world is cumbe mild, and peaceable, without envy and strife. ty with God? whosoever therefore will be a Y brethren, be not many masters, know-friend of the world is the enemy of God. Ming that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which, though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in to envy? vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Re8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh sist the devil, and he will flee from you. to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: le your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Lord, and he shall lift you up. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the He that speaketh evil of his brother, and 11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law; but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save, and to destroy: who art thou that judg 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed, of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Fa-est another? ther; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 13 Go to now, ye that say, To-day or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and con10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth bless-tinue there a year, and buy, and sell, and get ing and cursing. My brethren, these things gain: ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a linke 12 Can the fig-tree, my brethren, bear olive-time, and then vanisheth away. 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. CHAP. IV. 1 To strive against covetousness, 4 intempe rance, 5 pride, 11 detraction: 13not to be confident in the success of worldly business, but mindful of the uncertainty of life, to commit ourselves and our affairs to God. will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. CHAP. V. 1 Wicked rich men to fear God's vengeance. T To be patient in afflictions like the prophets, and Job: 12 against swearing, 13to pray in adversity, to sing in prosperity: 16 to acknorledge mutually our faults, to pray one for another, 19 and to reduce a straying brother. Gfor your miseries that shall come upon to now, ye rich men, weep and howl you 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your gar ments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against Ye have heaped treasure together for the you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. last days. 4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who Thave reaped down your fields, which is of Of patience in afflictions. CHAP. V. Efficacy of prayer. you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries, be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into of them which have reaped are entered into condemnation. the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the Judge standeth before the door. 10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea, 1 He blesseth God for his many spiritual graces: 10 shewing that the salvation in Christ is a thing prophesied of old: 13 and exhorteth them to a godly conversation, as they are born anew by the word of God. PETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season (if need be) ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 19 Of which salvation the prophets have 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be for given him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. 19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a mu!titude of sins. general of PETER. inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the suf ferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ: 14 Asobedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for f am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear : 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that rais Christ the corner-stone. I. PETER. ed him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth CHAP. II. 1 He exhorteth them to charity: 4 Christ the foundation whereupon they are built. 11 Beseecheth them to abstain from fleshly lusts, 13 to be obedient to magistrates, 18 teacheth servants to obey their masters, 20 patiently suffering, after the example of Christ. Wand all quile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil-speakings, THEREFORE, laying aside all malice, 2 As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious: 4 To whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious: but unto them which be disobe. dient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood; an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; His example in suffering. sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with weldoing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood Fear God. Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, be also to the froward. 19 For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, sufer ing wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be bef feted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently! but if, when ye do well, and suffer før it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; bet are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. CHAP. III. The duty of wives and husbands,8 keerbertsdi men to unity and love, 14 and to sufer perse cution. 19 The benefits of Christ toward the old world. LIKEWISE, 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 conversa tion 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. 7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having.compassion one of another; love as brethren, be 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are pitiful, be courteous: |