The benefit of mutual advice and correction.
He entreats them to follow that which is here given to them.
WHEREFORE let us also pray
for such as are fallen into
sin. That being endued with
humility and moderation, they
may submit not unto us, but to
the wish of God.
2 For by this means they shall
obtain a fruitful and perfect
remembrance, with mercy, both in
our prayers to God, and in our
mention of them before his saints.
3 Let us receive correction, at
which no man ought to repine.
4 Beloved, the reproof and the
correction which we exercise
towards one another, is good, and
exceeding profitable: for it unites
us the more closely to the will of
God.
5 For, so says the Holy Scripture,
The Lord corrected me, but he did
not deliver me over unto death. For
whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,
and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth.
6 The righteous, saith he, shall
instruct me in mercy and reprove
me; but let not oil of sinners
make fat my head.
7 And again he saith, Happy
is the man whom God correcteth;
therefore despise not thou the
chastening of the Almighty.
8 For he maketh gore and bindeth
up; he woundeth and his hands
make whole.
9 He shall deliver thee in six
troubles; yea in seven there shall
no evil touch thee. In famine he
shall redeem thee from death; and
in war from the power of the sword.
10 Thou shalt be hid from the
scourge of the tongue; neither
shalt thou be afraid of destruction
when it cometh.
11 Thou shalt laugh at the
wicked and sinners; neither shalt
thou be afraid of the beasts of the
earth. The wild beast shall be at
peace with thee.
12 Then shalt thou know that
thy house shall be in peace; and
the habitation of thy tabernacle
shall not err. Then shalt know
also that thy seed shall be great
and thy offspring as the grass of
the earth.
13 Thou shalt come to thy
grave as the ripe corn, that is
taken in due time: like as a shock
of corn cometh in, in its season.
14 Ye see, beloved, how there
shall be a defence to those that are
corrected of the Lord. For being
a good instructor, he is willing to
admonish us by his holy discipline.
15 Do ye therefore who laid the
first foundation of this sedition,
submit yourselves unto your
priests; and be instructed unto
repentance, bending the knees of
your hearts.
16 Learn to be subject, laying
aside all proud and arrogant
boasting of your tongues.
17 For it is better for you to be
found little, and approved, in the
sheepfold of Christ, than to seem
to yourselves better than others,
and be cast out of his fold.
18 For thus speaks the
excellent and all-virtuous wisdom,
Behold I will pour out the word
of my spirit upon you, I will make
known my speech unto you.
19 Because I called and ye
would not hear, I stretched out
my hand and ye regarded not.
20 But ye have set at nought all
my counsel, and would none of
my reproof. I will also laugh at
your calamity, and mock when
your fear cometh.
21 When your fear cometh as
desolation, and your destruction
as a whirlwind, when distress and
anguish cometh upon you.
22 Then shall ye call upon me
but I will not hear you: the
wicked shall seek me but they
shall not find me. For that they
hated knowledge, and did not seek
the fear of the Lord.
23 They would not hearken
unto my counsel: they despised
all my reproof. Therefore shall
they eat of the fruit of their own
ways; and be filled with their
own wickedness.