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.

11 If any man speak, let him speak as one who sets forth the pure doctrine of God; if any man minister to the necessities of others, 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 Brethren, think it not strange [hard, unjust,] that ye are tried with bitter persecution, that fiery trial which is to try you; think not of it as if some strange, unusual thing happened unto you ;

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as by suffering ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit [the shadow] of glory and the protection of God resteth upon you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But be innocent, let them have no real accusation against you, let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

16 Yet if any man suffer because he holds fast his faith as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but rather glorify God that he can so serve him.

17 For the time is come for great and manifold trials and sufferings, which will begin by the persecution of the church; ours is but a beginning, we suffer but a short time here, but what shall be the end of them that have no stay, no hope, that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if under earthly troubles and future judgment the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?

19 Wherefore, let Christians who suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him who is a faithful Creator, and will always guide and protect them.

CHAP. V.

1 THE 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:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Not as wishing for earthly state, setting yourselves up as lords over God's heritage, but being in all things examples 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 re

sisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Prov. iii. 34.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, submit to every calamity or humiliation he may in his wisdom appoint to you, 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 devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour :

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that your brethren in the world are subject to the same afflictions and persecutions.

10 But I earnestly pray that the God of all grace, who hath called us unto eternal glory through Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, will make you perfect, establish, strengthen you.

11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and Amen.

ever.

12 By Silvanus [Silas], a faithful brother unto you, as I believe, I have written briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

13 The church of Christ, which is in this Babylon [this idolatrous city Jerusalem], elected to the same faith with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son in the faith [converted by me].

14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

THE

SECOND EPISTLE OF PETER.

This Epistle was written by Peter the Apostle, shortly before his death, which took place about the year of our Lord 65: he was crucified with his head downwards.

It is addressed to the same persons as the former Epistle. It contains three chapters.

CHAP. I.

1 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 he has given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having by our conversion to the faith of the gospel escaped the corruption which sin brought into the world.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

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 the professing Christian who lacketh these things is blind to the light that is in Christ Jesus; he can perhaps see the things of this world, but not those which are afar off [heavenly things], and hath forgotten the nature of his calling, of that faith which should purify him from his old sins.

do

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye 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 [right], as long as I am