heavier punishment, think ye, will things hoped for, a conviction of he deserve, who hath trodden un- things not seen. der foot the son of God, hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was cleansed an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace? 12 By faith the fathers obtained a good reputation. 13 By faith we perceive that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that that which is seen hath not been made out of things which appear. 14 By faith Abel offered to God a 5 For we know him of whom it is written, To me judgment and recompense belong; and again, The Lord will judge his people. It is a more excellent offering than did fearful thing to fall beneath the judgments of the living God. Cain, through which he received. assurance of righteousness, inasmuch 6 But call to remembrance the as God accepted his gifts; and hereformer days, in which, after ye were by Abel, though dead, yet speaketh. enlightened, ye endured a great 15 By faith Enoch was taken struggle with sufferings; partly, away without the sufferings of while ye were made a gazing-stock death; he was not found, because both by reproaches and afflictions; God had taken him away; but beand partly, while ye became partak- fore his removal he had the assurers with those that were so used. ance that he pleased God. 7 For ye sympathized with those in bonds, and even took joyfully the plundering of your goods, being confident that ye had for yourselves a better and an enduring substance. 8 Now, therefore, cast not away your confidence, which hath great reward; for ye have need of endurance; that, after ye have done the will of God, ye may receive what is promised. 9 Yet a very little while, and he that is to come will come, and will not tarry. 16 But it is impossible to please God without faith, for he that cometh to him must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. 17 By faith, Noah being warned of God concerning things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared a floating vessel for the preservation of his family; by which he condemned those who reviled him, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 18 By faith Abraham, when called to go forth to a place which he was afterward to receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and went forth, not knowing whither he was going; and by faith he sojourned in the land of the promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the II Now faith is an assurance of same promise; for he was looking IO As it is written, The righteous man shall live by faith; but if he draw back, my soul hath no pleasure in him. We are not of those who draw back unto perdition; but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul. for the city which hath foundations, ures of Egypt; for he looked to the whose maker and builder is God. recompense of reward; so by faith. 19 These all died in faith, not he forsook Egypt, not fearing the having received the promised bless- wrath of the king; for he endured, ings, but having seen them from as seeing him who is invisible. afar, and greeted them, and having 26 And what more shall I say? confessed that they were strangers Time would fail me should I atand sojourners on the earth; they tempt to tell of Gideon, of Barak, of who confess such things show Samson, of Jephthah, of David, of plainly that they are seeking a Samuel, and of the prophets; who country. through faith subdued kingdoms, 20 And if indeed they were mind- wrought righteousness, obtained ful of that from which they came promised blessings, stopped the out, they had opportunity to re- mouths of lions, quenched the power turn; but now they desire a better of fire, escaped the edge of the country, that is, a heavenly; on which account God is not ashamed to be called their God, and hath prepared for them a city. 21 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau even concerning things to come. 22 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 23 By faith Joseph, when dying, predicted the emancipation of the children of Israel; and gave directions concerning the transportation of his bones. 24 By faith Moses, when born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a child of promise; so they regarded not the decree of the king. sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put to flight the armies of the aliens ; 27 Women received back those condemned to death as by a resurrection; but others endured tortures, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, and also of bonds and imprisonment; they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they went about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy; they wandered in deserts and mountains, and caves and the clefts of the earth. 28 These all, by faith, obtained a good report; but received not the expected blessing, because God had provided some better thing for our sake; that they without us might not be made perfect. 25 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called son of Pharoah's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the 29 Therefore, inasmuch as we are pleasures of wickedness for a season; surrounded by so great a cloud of esteeming the reproach of the chosen witnesses, let us lay aside every people greater riches than the treas- weight, and the transgression which doth easily beset us, and let us run good to them; but he for our benefit, that we may become partakers of his holiness. 6 Now all discipline for the pres with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to the author and perfecter of the faith, Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him en-ent indeed seemeth to be not joyous, dured the cross, despising the shame, but grievous; nevertheless afterward and is set down at the right hand of it yieldeth the peaceful fruit of rightthe throne of God. eousness to those who have been rightly exercised thereby. SELECTION V. Every faithful advocate of righteousness must meet with oppositions, persecutions and various discouragements; but these are the disciplines of life, and, if patiently endured, will develop nobleness and joy in the end. 7 So, then, lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, that the lame may not be turned out of the way, but may rather be healed. 8 Follow peace with all men, and CONSIDER him also that en- holiness, without which no one will see the Lord; looking diligently lest any one come short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be thereby defiled. dured such oppositions of the wicked against himself, lest ye faint in your souls, and become weary. Not yet have ye resisted, as did he, unto blood, striving against wrong. 2 And have ye forgotten the ex- 9 Lest there be any fornicator; hortation, which reasoneth with you or lest there be any profane person as with sons? My son, regard not as Esau, who for one meal sold even lightly the discipline of the Lord, his birthright; ye know that when neither be weary of his reproof; for whom the Lord loveth, he disciplines; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 3 It is discipline that ye are called upon to endure; God is dealing with you as with sons; and what son is he, whom the father doth not discipline? If ye are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are ye not sons. 4 Furthermore, we were disciplined by the fathers of our flesh, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much more be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? 5 For they indeed, for a few days disciplined us, according as it seemed he afterward wished to receive the blessing, he was rejected, and found no opportunity for regaining his birthright, though he sought it earnestly and with tears. IO Ye have not come to a mount that can be touched, burning with fire; nor to blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet; nor to the commandments of words, which commandments they who heard, entreated that no more should be spoken to them; for they could not bear that which was commanded; and so terrible was the revelation, that even Moses said, I exceedingly fear and tremble. II But ye have come to Mount Lord is my helper, I will not fear. 6 Remember your leaders, who communicate to you the word of God; and considering well the end of their manner of life, be obedient Zion, the city of the living God, the 12 So, then, see to it that ye refuse not him who is speaking; for if they did not escape, who refused him who spake his will on earth, much more shall not we, if we turn away from him who is speaking from heaven; whose voice then shook the earth; but now, as he hath said, Once more will I shake, not the earth only, but also the heavens. 13 Wherefore, as we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and with godly fear. SELECTION VI. 7 Jesus Christ is yesterday and today and for ever the same; therefore be not carried aside with various and strange teachings; for it is good that the heart be established with grace, not with ordinances, in which those who walked were not profited. 8 Here we have no abiding city, but are seeking that which is to come. 9 Therefore, through him, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips giving thanks to his name. 10 But works of kindness and liberality forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. II Obey your leaders, and submit yourselves to them; for they keep watch in behalf of your souls, as those who must give an account; that they may do this with joy, and Various precepts of fraternity and not with grief. love. L ET brotherly love continue; do not forget to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 2 Remember those in bonds, as bound with them; those in distress, as being yourselves also in distress. 3 Let marriage in all respects be honored and undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 4 Let your disposition be without covetousness, and be content with what ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 5 With boldness let us say, The 12 Pray for us; for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring in all things to conduct ourselves well. 13 Now may the God of peace, who, through the blood of an everlasting covenant, brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, even our Master Jesus, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will; accomplishing in you, through Christ Jesus, that which is well-pleasing in his sight. 14 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 15 Grace be with you all. Amen. THE LETTER OF JAMES. SELECTION I. Though temptations to evil proceed from the lusts of the body, and not from God, yet if resisted and overcome they will result in greater tranquillity and in a higher perfection of character. JAMES eth temptation; for when he is approved, he will receive the crown of life, which He promised to them that love him. 8 Let no one, when he is tempted, say, I am tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he AMES, a servant of God and of tempteth no one; every one is Jesus Christ the Master, to the tempted, when by his own lust he is twelve tribes which are scattered enticed and led away; then lust, abroad, greeting. having conceived, bringeth forth 2 Count it all joy, my brethren, transgression; and transgression, when ye fall into various tempta- when completed, bringeth forth tions; knowing that the trying of death. your faith worketh endurance. 3 But let endurance have a perfect work, that ye may be complete and entire, lacking nothing. 4 If any one of you is deficient in wisdom, let him seek it from God, who bestoweth upon all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it will be given him. 9 Do not err, my beloved brethren; every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom is no change, nor shadow of turning. 10 Of his own free will he begot us through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits in his spiritual creation; therefore, let every one be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to wrath; for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God; also, put 5 But let him seek in faith, nothing doubting; for he that doubteth is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed; let not that man think that he shall obtain any thing from the Lord, a double- off all filthiness, and wicked excess, minded man, unstable in all his ways. and receive with meekness the im6 Let the brother of low degree planted word, which is able to save glory when he is exalted, but the your souls. rich, when he is humiliated; for as II Be doers of the word, and the flower of the grass his riches not hearers only, deceiving yourshall pass away; the sun rose with selves, for if any one is a hearer its burning heat, and withered the of the word, and not a doer, he is grass, and its flower fell off, and the like a man beholding his natural face beauty of its appearance perished; in a glass; for he beholds himself, so also will the rich man wither and goes away, and immediately and fade in his ways. forgets what manner of man he was. 7 Blessed is the man that endur 12 But he who looks into the per |