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and rejoicing under it. the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Of suffering persecution I. Peter.
him speak as the oracles of
God; if any man minister, 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
forever and ever. Amen.

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, in as much as 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 of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busy-body in other men's

matters.

16 Yet, if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 For the time is come, that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall

Fiery trial, fire of persecution.

19 Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

CHAP. V.

1 He exhortheth the elders to feed their flock; 5 the young. er to obey, 8 and all to be sober, watchful, & constant in the faith; 9 to resist the cruel adversary the devil.

THE elders,a 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,b but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples 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 resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

a Elders, teachers, whether bishops or deacons.

b Lucre, gain, or money.

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;

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 licn, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour;

9 Whom resist steadfast 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

to teach, &c.

while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you :

11 To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. A

men.

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

13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

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

PREFATORY REMARKS

TO THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER.

PETER probably wrote this second Epistle at Rome, A. D. 67 or 68, a short time before his death, to oppose those dangerous doctrines, by which false teachers were endeavouring to seduce the Christians from their religion, and to obtain riches, and power, and popularity. The principal errors against which the apostle would guard the Christians, were ;-that. believers are justified by faith without works ;-that believers were under no obligation, either to abstain from sin or to do what is morally good-that Christ had purchased for them a liberty to gratify all their passions and appetites ;-and that he will not judge them for so doing, nor for any sin whatever. Wherefore the apostle warns the Christians against these false teachers, and against scoffers, who should appear, and make a mock of religion, and walk after their own lusts.

Peter exhorteth to

II. Peter.

continue in faith,.

¶ THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER.

CHAP. I.

1 Confirming them in hope of the increase of God's grace. 3 he exhorteth them by faith and good works, to make their calling sure; 12 whereof he is careful to remind them, knowing that his death is at hand; 16 and warneth them to be constant in the faith of Christ, who is the true Son of God. IMON 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 are given unto ns exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

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

6 And to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance,

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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 he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see far off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do 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, as long as I am in this tabernacle,a to stir you up, by putting you in remembrance;

14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

a This tabernacle, this mortal body.

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15 Moreover, I will endeavour that ye may be able, after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance.

16 For we have not follow ed cunningly-devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour & glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice, which eame from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.b

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy ;c whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts ;d

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

The holy mount. See. Matt. xvii. 5. We have also the word of prophecy, concerning Jesus Christ and his appearing to raise the dead and judge the world, made more sure by the transfiguration, which we be

held.

d Until the day of judgment dawn, and Christ, the morning star of celestial day, arise in your hearts, producing full conviction of the truth of all his promises.

in Christ.

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1 He foretelleth them of false teachers, shewing the impiety & punishment both of them and their followers; 7 from which the godly shall be delivered, as Lot out of Sodom; 10 and more fully describeth the manners of those profane and blasphemous seducers. BUT there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnaĥle heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you ;a *whose judgment now of

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False teachers and

II. Peter.

a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those, that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds :)

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished;

10 But chiefly them, that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dig

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seducers punished:

sation against them before the Lord.b

12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not, and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are & blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings, while they feast with you;

14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls; an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children :

15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unright

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that is, when they (the holy angels) b Bring not railing accusation, &c. accuse them before the Lord, they do it not with bitter railing.

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