He exhorts them to obedience, from the consideration
of the goodness of God, and of his presence in every place.
TAKE heed, beloved, that his
many blessings be not to our
condemnation; except we shall
walk worthy of him, doing with
one consent what is good and
pleasing in his sight.
2 The spirit of the Lord is a
candle, searching out the inward
parts of the belly.
3 Let us therefore consider how
near he is to us; and how that
none of our thoughts, or reasonings
which we frame within ourselves,
are hid from him,
4 It is therefore just that we
should not forsake our rank, by
doing contrary to his will.
5 Let us choose to offend a few
foolish and inconsiderate men,
lifted up and glorying in their
own pride, rather than God.
6 Let us reverence our Lord
Jesus Christ whose blood was
given for us.
7 Let us honour those who are
set over us; let us respect the
aged that are amongst us; and let
us instruct the younger men, in
the discipline and fear of the
LORD.
8 Our wives let us direct, to do
that which is good.
9 Let them show forth a lovely
habit of purity, in all their
conversation; with a sincere
affection of meekness.
10 Let the government of their
tongues be made manifest by their
silence.
11 Let their charity be without
respect of persons, alike towards
all such as religiously fear
God.
12 Let your children be bred
up in the instruction of Christ:
13 And especially let them learn
how great a power humility has
with God; how much a pure and
holy charity avails with him; how
excellent and great his fear is;
and how it will save all such as
turn to him with holiness in a pure
mind.
14 For he is the searcher of the
thoughts and counsels of the heart;
whose breath is in us, and when
he pleases he can take it from
us.
CHAP. XI.
Of faith: and particularly what we are
to believe as to the Resurrection.
BUT all these things must be
confirmed by the faith which
is in Christ; for so He himself
bespeaks us by the Holy Ghost;
2 Come ye children and hearken
unto me, and I will teach you the
fear of the Lord. What man is
there that desireth life, and loveth
to see good days?
3 Keep thy tongue from evil,
and thy lips that they speak no
guile.
4 Depart from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
5 The eyes of the Lord are upon
the righteous, and his ears are
open unto their prayers.
6 But the face of the Lord is
against them that do evil, to cut
off the remembrance of them from
the earth.
7 The righteous cried, and the
Lord heard him, and delivered
him out of all his troubles.
8 Many are the troubles of the
wicked; but they that trust in the
Lord mercy shall encompass them
about.
9 Our all-merciful and beneficent
Father hath bowels of compassion
towards them that fear him: and
kindly and lovingly bestows his
graces upon all such as come to
him with a simple mind.
10 Wherefore let us not waver,
neither let us have any doubt in
our hearts, of his excellent and
glorious gifts.
11 Let that be far from us
which is written, Miserable are
the double-minded, and those who
are doubtful in their hearts;
12 Who say these things have
we heard, and our fathers have
told us these things. But behold
we are grown old, and none of
them has happened unto us.
13 O ye fools consider the trees:
take the vine for an example.
First it sheds its leaves; then it
buds; after that it spreads its
leaves; then it flowers; then come
the sour grapes; and after them
follows the ripe fruit. See how in
a little time the fruit of the trees
comes to maturity.
14 Of a truth yet a little while
and his will shall suddenly be
accomplished.
15 The Holy Scripture itself
bearing witness, that He shall
quickly come and not tardy, and
that the Lord shall suddenly come
to his temple, even the 3 holy ones
whom ye look for.
16 Let us consider, beloved,
how the Lord does continually
show us, that there shall be a
future resurrection; of which he
has made our Lord Jesus Christ
the first fruits, raising him from
the dead.
17 Let us contemplate, beloved,
the resurrection that is continually
made before our eyes.
18 Day and night manifest a
resurrection to us. The night lies
down, and the day arises: again
the day departs and the night
comes on.
19 Let us behold the fruits of
the earth. Every one sees how the
seed is sown. The sower goes
forth, and casts it upon the earth;
and the seed which when it was
sown fell upon the earth dry and
naked, in time dissolves.
20 And from the dissolution,
the great power of the providence
of the Lord rises it again; and of
one seed many arise, and bring
forth fruit.