Our eternal

I. PETER, 1.

inheritance.

4 To an inheritance incorrupt- that is to be brought unto ible, and undefiled, and that you at the revelation of Jesus fadeth not away, reserved in Christ; heaven for you,

14 As obedient children, not 5 Who are kept by the power fashioning yourselves accordof God through faith unto ing to the former lusts in your salvation ready to be revealed ignorance:

in the last time...

15 But as he which hath called

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, you is holy, so be ye ho'y in all though now for a season, if manner of conversation; need be, ye are in heaviness 16 Because it is witten, Be through manifold temptations: ye holy; for I am holy.

7 That the trial of your faith, 17 And if ye call on the Fa being much more precious than ther, who without respect of of gold that perisheth, though persons judgeth according to it be tried with fire, might be every man's work, pass the found unto praise and honour time of your sojourning here and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with 8 Whom having not seen, ye corruptible things, as silver love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye and gold, from your vain conrejoice with joy unspeakable versation received by tradition and full of glory: from your fathers;

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 10 Of which salvation the 20 Who verily was foreorprophets have enquired and dained before the foundation searched diligently, who pro- of the world, but was manifest phesied of the grace that in these last times for you, should come unto you:

11 Searching what, or what God, that raised him up from 21 Who by him do believe in manner of time the Spirit of the dead, and gave him glory; Christ which was in them did that your faith and hope might signify, when it testified before-be in God.

hand the sufferings of Christ, 22 Seeing ye have purified and the glory that should fol- your souls in obeying the low. truth through the Spirit unto 12 Unto whom it was reveal- unfeigned love of the brethren, ed, that not unto themselves, see that ye love one another but unto us they did minister with a pure heart fervently: the things, which are now re- 23 Being born again, not of ported unto you by them that corruptible seed, but of incorhave preached the gospel unto ruptible, by the word of God, you with the Holy Ghost sent which liveth and abideth for 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

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 away:

Christ the foundation. I. PETER, 2.

Duties of subjects.

25 But the word of the Lord people of God: which had not endureth for ever. And this is obtained mercy, but now have the word which by the gospel obtained mercy.

is preached unto you.

CHAPTER 2.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your

WHEREFORE laying honest among the Gentiles:

ation.

aside all malice, and all that, whereas they speak guile, and hypocrisies, and en against you as evildoers, they vies, and all evil speakings, may by your good works, 2 As newborn babes, desire which they shall behold, glo the sincere milk of the word, rify God in the day of visitthat 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.

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's

sake: whether it be to the king,

as supreme;

14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of 6 Wherefore also it is con-foolish men: tained in the scripture, Behold, 1; As free, and not using I lay in Sion a chief corner your liberty for a cloke of ma stone, elect, precious: and heliciousness, but as the servants that believeth on him shall not of God.

be confounded.

17 Honour all men. Love the

7 Unto you therefore which brotherhood. Fear God. Hobelieve he is precious: but unto nour the king,

them which be disobedient, 13 Servants, be subject to your the stone which the builders masters with all fear; not only disallowed, the same is made to the good and gentle, but also the head of the corner. to the froward.

8 And a stone of stumbling,.13 For this is thankworthy, and a rock of offence, even to if a man for conscience toward them which stumble' at the God endure grief, suffering word, being disobedient: wrongfully.

whereunto also they were ap-when ye be buffeted for your 20 For what glory is it, if, pointed. 9 But ye are a chosen gene-faults, ye shall take it patient ration, a royal priesthood, an ly? but if, when ye do well, and holy nation, a peculiar people; suffer for it, ye take it patientthat ye should shew forth the ly, this is acceptable with God. praises of him who hath called 21 For even hereunto were you out of darkness into his ye called: because Christ also marvellous light: suffered for us, leaving us an 10 Which in time past were example, that ye should follow not a people, but are now the his steps:

His own self

I. PETER, 3.

bare our sins. 22 Who did no sin, neither dwell with them according to was guile found in his mouth: knowledge, giving honour un23 Who, when he was reviled, to the wife, as unto the weaker reviled not again; when he vessel, and as being heirs tosuffered, he threatened not; gether of the grace of life; that but committed himself to him your prayers be not hindered. that judgeth righteously: 8 Finally, be ye all of one 24 Who his own self bare our mind, having compassion one sins in his own body on the of another, love as brethren, tree, that we, being dead to be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, sins, should live unto right- or railing for railing: but coneousness: by whose stripes ye trariwise blessing; knowing were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

CHAPTER 3.

that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

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.

IKEWISE, ye wives, be in subjection to your own 12 For the eyes of the Lord husbands; that, if any obey are over the righteous, and his not the word, they also may ears are open unto their praywithout the word be won by ers: but the face of the Lord the conversation of the wives; is against them that do evil. chaste conversation coupled of that which is good? 2 While they behold your 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers

with fear.

3 Whose adorning let it not 14 But and if ye suffer for be that outward adorning of righteousness' sake, happy are plaiting the hair, and of wear-ye: and be not afraid of their ing of gold, or of putting on of terror, neither be troubled; apparel;

15 But sanctify the Lord God 4 But let it be the hidden in your hearts: and be ready man of the heart, in that which always to give an answer to is not corruptible, even the or-every man that asketh you a nament of a meek and quiet reason of the hope that is in spirit, which is in the sight of you with meekness and fear: God of great price. 16 Having a good conscience; 5 For after this manner in the that, whereas they speak evil old time the holy women also, of you, as of evildoers, they who trusted in God, adorned may be ashamed that falsely themselves, being in subjection accuse your good conversation unto their own husbands: in Christ.

6 Even as Sara obeyed Abra- 17 For it is better, if the will ham, calling him lord: whose of God be so, that ye suffer for daughters ye are, as long as well doing, than for evil doing. ye do well, and are not afraid 18 For Christ also hath once with any amazement.

7 Likewise. ye husbands, suffered for sins, the just for

The just for

1. PETER, 4.

the unjust the unjust, that he might bring him that is ready to judge the us to God, being put to death quick and the dead.

in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them 19 By which also he went that are dead, that they might and preached unto the spirits be judged according to men in in prison; the flesh, but live according to

20 Which sometime were dis-God in the spirit. obedient, when once the long- 7 But the end of all things is Buffering of God waited in the at hand: be ye therefore sober, days of Noah, while the ark and watch unto prayer. was a preparing, wherein few, 8 And above all things have that is, eight souls were saved fervent charity among yourby water. selves: for charity shall cover 21 The like figure whereunto the multitude of sins. even baptism doth also now 9 Use hospitality one to ansave us (not the putting away other without grudging. of the filth of the flesh, but the 10 As every man hath receivanswer of a good conscience ed the gift, even so minister the toward God,) by the resurrec- same one to another, as good tion of Jesus Christ: stewards of the manifold grace

22 Who is gone into heaven, of God. and is on the right hand of 11 If any man speak, let him God; angels and authorities speak as the oracles of God; if and powers being made sub-any man minister, let him do ject unto him.

CHAPTER 4.

FORASMUCH

then

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.

as 12 Beloved, think it not Christ hath suffered for strange concerning the fiery us in the flesh, arm yourselves trial which is to try you, as likewise with the same mind: though some strange thing for he that hath suffered in the happened unto you: flesh hath ceased from sin; 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as 2 That he no longer should ye are partakers of Christ's live the rest of his time in the sufferings; that, when his glo. flesh to the lusts of men, but ry shall be revealed, ye may be to the will of God. glad also with exceeding joy. 3 For the time past of our life 14 If ye be reproached for the may suffice us to have wrought name of Christ, happy are ye; the will of the Gentiles, when for the spirit of glory and of we walked in lasciviousness, God resteth upon you: on their lusts, excess of wine, revel- part he is evil spoken of, but lings, banquetings, and abo-on your part he is glorified. minable idolatries:

15 But let none of you suffer 4 Wherein they think it as a murderer, or as a thief, or strange that ye run not with as an evildoer, or as a busythem to the same excess of body in other men's matters. riot, speaking evil of you: 16 Yet if any man suffer as 5 Who shall give account to a Christian, let him not be

The duty of elders.

I. PETER, 5. Humility commended.

ashamed; but let him glorify to another, and be clothed with God on this behalf. humility: for God resisteth 17 For the time is come that the proud, and giveth grace to judgment must begin at the the humble. house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

18 And if the righteous scarce- 7 Casting all your care upon ly be saved, where shall the un- him; for he careth for you. godly and the sinner appear? 8 Be sober, be vigilant; be19 Wherefore let them that cause your adversary the desuffer according to the will of vil, as a roaring lion, walketh God commit the keeping of about, seeking whom he may their souls to him in well do- devour: ing, as unto a faithful Creator.

T

CHAPTER 5.

HE elders which are among 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 stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in 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, stahlish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, brother unto you, as I suppose, 12 By Silvanus, a faithful but willingly; not for filthy I have written briefly, exhortlucre, but of a ready mind; ing, and testifying that this is 3 Neither as being lords over the true grace of God wherein God's heritage, but being en-ye stand.

samples to the flock.

13 The church that is at Ba4 And when the chief Shep-bylon, elected together with herd shall appear, ye shall you, saluteth you; and so doth receive a crown of glory that Marcus my son. fadeth not away.

14 Greet ye one another with 5 Likewise, ye younger, sub- a kiss of charity. Peace be mit yourselves unto the elder. with you all that are in Christ Yea, all of you be subject one Jesus. Amen.