2 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against =himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him :

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with

tears.

18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest;

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them

any more :

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 liv ing 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.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled:

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

the grace of God. To these have since been added the great band of martyrs and confessors whom the Almighty has, from time to time, employed in establishing the gospel, or defending its doctrines against the innovating spirit of the world, and worldly men. And with the example of these fathers of the Church of Christ before us, greatly wanting must we be in all the right feeling of Christians if we fail to seek how we may best contribute to the attainment of the object for which they laboured and suffered; or if, in contemplating their devotion, we do not cherish an increased reverence for the gospel, the light of which it has cost so much to diffuse. Ver. 2. Much as we are bound to honour all who have furthered the cause of the gospel, it is Christ himself, the author and finisher of the faith," to whom we must look for the most perfect example of patience in suffering for the sake of righteousness. -Ver. 5. Job, v. 17, Prov. iii. 11.-Ver. 12. Job, iv. 3; Isaiah, xxxv. 3.- Ver.

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, of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

23 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.

CHAPTER XIII.

LET brotherly love continue.

2 Be not forgetful to entertain 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.

5 Let your conversation be with

16. Gen. xxv. 33; xxvii. 36.-Ver. 18. Exod. xix. 12.-Ver. 19. Exod. xx. 19; Deut. v. 5-25; xviii. 16. -Ver. 24. Than that of Abel: Abel fell an innocent sacrifice to the wrath of his wicked brother, and was a type of Christ; but his blood only called for vengeance on his murderer, while that of Christ purifies the world of sin, and procures its reconciliation with God.- Ver. 26. Exod. xix. 18; Hag. ii. 6; Psal. cii. 26. Ver. 29. Exod. xxiv. 17; Deat. iv. 24; ix. 4.

Ver. 2. Gen. xviii. 3; xix. 2.Ver. 5. Deut. xxxi. 6-8; Josh. i.

out covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say. The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation;

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, 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.

11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burnt, 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, that 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 honestly.

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,

21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-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 set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see

you.

24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

Written to the Hebrews from
Italy by Timothy.

5; 1 Chron. xxviii. 20. Ver. 9. Not with meats: that is, not by mere legal observances. - Ver. 11. Exod. xxix. 14; Levit. iv. 11-21; vi. 30; xvi. 27; Num. xix. 3.Ver. 12. Without the gate: this was the same as suffering without the camp, when the Israelites dwelt in tents.

ousness.

CHAPTER 1.

tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil,

JAMES, a servant of God and of neither tempteth he any man.

the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall 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.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of 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 buruing 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.

13 Let no man say, when he is

Ver. 1. The twelve tribes. Jews were by this time to be found scattered through almost every country in the world. It was to those who had been converted to Christianity St James appears to have addressed himself; but some writers consider that he intended, by the twelve tribes," the Jews of the dispersion in general.-Ver. 2. Temptations: that is, trials of faith and patience, such as arise from the opposition of the world to Christ, and by our firm endurance of which we may prove the sincerity of our profession. Temptations of this kind are not like those which spring from a corrupt and sensual nature, which we must be continually striving to overcome and change; nor are they like those into which we may be led when God chooses to expose us, like Job, to the power of Satan, against which also we must never cease to pray. In the one, our nature is tried, and faith is often lulled asleep in the other, faith is put in the foreground, and the enemy is subdued by its strength and vigilance.-Ver. 13. Here the distinction

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father 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:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner 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.

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 and the Father, is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

CHAPTER II.

MY brethren, have not the faith

of our Lord Jesus Christ, the

is drawn, above alluded to, between trials, or proofs of faith, and temptations which arise from a corrupt heart.-Ver. 25. 2 Cor. iii. 17, 18. The law of liberty is the gospel, which sets the conscience free from the observance of legal ordinances and ceremonies, gives it liberty from the power of sin, and, by renewing and exalting the soul, enables it to obey truth, not as a law, or from fear of punishment, but from its own pure love and holy inclinations.

Lord of glory, with respect of per

sons.

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 vay 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 you before the judgmentseats?

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:

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now, if thou 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 bre thren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Ver. 1. This shews at what an early period worldly passions began to corrupt the followers of Christ Ver. 14. Can faith save him? that is, can faith which produces no fruit-which shews no evidence of life or energy, justify a man before

God? Who can answer otherwise than no? but this affects not, in the slightest degree, the doctrine of justification by faith, taught so explicitly by St Paul. A true and real evangelical faith changes the whole moral being of a man; and, by making the love of God the ruling principle of his heart, induces him, as by the impulses of a second nature, to fulfil the law of righteousness and charity. The faith mentioned by St James is a mere dry assent to divine truth, pre

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, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith 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 mau, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had of fered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

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.

25 Likewise also was not Rabab the harlot 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.

CHAPTER III.

MY brethren, be not many mas

ters, knowing 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.

ducing no effect upon the heart, and leaving the inner being as much under the power of sin as it was without belief. Abraham's justifying faith produced good works, and so did all the other instances of the grace recorded in Scripture. But the distinction to be made is this it is for the faith, or belief, that God pleased to account us righteous, and not for the good works which it produces; because faith, through the operation of his Spirit, may have a certain excellence in his sight, which our works cannot the one justifying through his appointment, the other requiring a full and intrinsic perfection, not by appointment, but in themselves, to justify. Ver. 21. Gen. xxii. 9.-Ver. 23. Gen. xv. 6; Rom. iv. 3; Gal. iii. 6; 2 Caron. XX. 7; Isaiah, xli. S.-Ver. 25. Josh. ii. 1.

Ver. 1. Matth. xxiii. 8.-Ver. 2. The importance of ruling the tougue is rarely considered; but he who is wise, and would be a Christian, will never cease to watch over this essential part of his task.

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.

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 Father; and therewith curse. we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so

to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig-tree, my brethren, bear olive-berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

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.

CHAPTER IV.

FROM whence come wars and

fightings among you? come they not hence, even 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 amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace: wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

-Ver. 15. How perfect and beautiful is this description of the two kinds of wisdom!

Ver. 1. The true source of all the evil and distress which exist in the world is here clearly pointed out.Ver. 3. Prayer, to be effectual, must be preceded by reflection and earnest communion with God through the medium of his word.-Ver. 5. Gen. vi. 5; viii. 21; Numb. xi. 29; Prov. xxi. 10.-Ver. 6. Ps. cxxxviii.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heavi

ness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and 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 judgest another?

13 Go to now, ye that say, Today or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain;

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 little time, and then vanisheth away.

15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

CHAPTER V.

GO to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.

3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

4 Behold, the hire of the labourers which have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into 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.

6. Ver. 11. That is, he violates the Mosaic law, which prohibits such summary judgments; and he violates the gospel, which requires of us love, patience, and brotherly kindness, not a fierce and condemning spirit.

Ver. I. The destruction of Jerusalem was now near at hand. In the course of about eight years the walls of Jerusalem were to be levelled with the earth, and the proudest and wealthiest of those who had despised the warning of Christ and his apostles, buried amid

your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemna tion.

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 forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effec

Ver. 11. Matth. v. 10, 11. - Ver. 12. Matth. v. 34. Ver. 17. 1

tual 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 be which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of

sins.

Kings, xvii. 1; Luke, iv. 25. — Ver. 18. 1 Kings, xviii. 42-45.

CHAPTER I.

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 he 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.

Ver. 1. By strangers was probably meant those converts to Christianity, both Jews and Gentiles, who had not yet come into communion with the other churches, by being visited by the apostles, or sending messengers to take part with them on matters of general concern. Ver. 9. The end and reward of faith being salvation, what ought we not to do to

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired 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 sufferings 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 As obedient 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 I 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 cor

secure so invaluable a grace! Shall we neglect prayer, when prayer may procure it? Shall we fail to cultivate a thoughtful and tranquil state of mind, when in such a state of mind it will increase and strengthen? Or shall we omit studying the Scriptures, when by their diligent perusal the foundation of our faith may be daily enlarged and more deeply laid?Ver. 11. Psal. xxii. 6; Isa. lili. 3. -Ver. 12. Dan. ix. 24; xii. 9-13; Heb. xi. 13-40.-Ver. 16. Levit.

| ruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation re ceived by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and witnout 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 raised 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 away:

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

CHAPTER II.

WHEREFORE, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evilspeakings,

2 As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby ;

3 If so be ve have tasted that the Lord is gracious:

4 To whom coming, as unto living stone, disallowed indeed d

xi. 44; xix. 2; xx. 7. - Ver. 18 Exod. xii. 5; John, i. 29-36.Ver. 20. Rom. iii. 25; xvi. 25; Col. i. 26; 2 Tim. i. 10; Tit. I. ; Rev. xiii. 8.

Ver. 3. Psal. xxxiv. S.-Ver. &

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 disobedient, 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;

14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are 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 well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish

men:

16 As free, and not using your iberty 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, but also to the froward.

19 For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye ahall take it patiently but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take t 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 comnitted himself to him that judgeth ighteously:

Psal. cxviii. 22.-Ver. 5. Eph. ii. 21, 22; Heb. iii. 6: Isa. Ixi. 6; xvi, 21; Hos. xiv. 2; Mal. i. 11. -Ver. 6. Isa. xxviii. 16. - Ver. Psal. cxviii. 22.-Ver. 8. Were appointed. that is, because of their

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 astrav; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

CHAPTER III.

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 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.

that falsely accuse your good con versation in Christ.

17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for welldoing, than for evil-doing.

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;

20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noe, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved 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:

22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers, being made subject unto him.

CHAPTER IV.

being in subjection unto their own husbands;

6 Even as Sara 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 pitiful, be cour

teous;

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing 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.

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 troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to gire 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 evii-doers, they may be ashamed

obstinacy and disobedience. - Ver. 16. Gal. v. 1-13.-Ver. 25. This chapter is full of spiritual truth and divine counsel, and ought to be studied with the most devout attention.

Ver. 1. Without the word: that is, though now being without, or disbelieving, the word. Ver. 3. 1 Tim. ii. 9: Tit. ii. 3. - Ver. 6. Gen. xviii. 12-Ver. 10. Ps. xxxiv. 12. Ver. 11. Ps. xxxvii. 27.

hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

3 For the time past of our life 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:

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.

6 For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

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 another without grudging.

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Ver. 18. It was by the power of the Holy Ghost Christ rose from the dead, or was quickened; and it was by the same eternal Spirit that he warned mankind, in the age of Noah, of the approaching flood. The most simple way, therefore, of interpreting this passage is, that he was raised by the same Spirit by which he had formerly striven with those sinners who were now confined in prison, as disembodied spirits, to await the day of judg

ment.

Ver. 1. As the true believer in Christ has part in his sufferings through faith, and is said to be dead with him, or to have his life hid in him, he is, by parity of reasoning, dead unto sin.-Ver. 6. That are dead: that is, spiritually