(13)Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. (14)We know that we are pa.s.sed out of _a state of_ death into life, because we love the brethren: he that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (15)Every one who hateth his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath life eternal abiding in him.

(16)By this we have known the love _of Christ_, because for us he laid down his own life: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

(17)But whosoever hath worldly abundance, and seeth his brother under necessity, and shutteth his bowels of compa.s.sion against him, how dwelleth the love of G.o.d in him? (18)My dear children, let us not love in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth; (19)and hereby we know that we are of the truth, and in his presence have this persuasion in our hearts. (20)For should our heart condemn us, G.o.d is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. (21)Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have confidence towards G.o.d. (22)And whatsoever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things which are pleasing in his sight. (23)And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (24)And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him; and by this we know that he abideth in us, from the Spirit which he hath given us.

CHAP. IV.

BELOVED, believe not every pretender to inspiration, but bring these spirits to the trial whether they are of G.o.d; because many false prophets are gone forth into the world. (2)By this ye know the Spirit of G.o.d: every spirit who confesseth that Jesus the Messiah is come in the flesh, is from G.o.d. (3)And every spirit who confesseth not that Jesus the Messiah is come into the world, is not from G.o.d: and this is that spirit of antichrist which ye have heard that it is coming, and now is already in the world. (4)Ye are of G.o.d, my dear children, and have overcome them; because he that is in you is greater than he that is in the world. (5)They are of the world, therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them. (6)We are of G.o.d: he that knoweth G.o.d heareth us; he that is not of G.o.d heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of delusion.

(7)Beloved, let us love one another; because love is from G.o.d, and every one who loveth is born of G.o.d, and knoweth G.o.d. (8)He that loveth not, never knew G.o.d; for G.o.d is love. (9)By this was the love of G.o.d manifested to us, that G.o.d sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might have life by him. (10)Herein is love, not that we have loved G.o.d, but that he hath loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiatory sacrifice for our sins. (11)Beloved, if G.o.d so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

(12)No man hath seen G.o.d at any time. If we love one another, G.o.d abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us. (13)By this we know that we abide in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his own Spirit. (14)And we have seen and bear testimony, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

(15)Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of G.o.d, G.o.d abideth in him, and he in G.o.d. (16)And we have known and believed the love which G.o.d hath towards us. G.o.d is love; and he that abideth in love, abideth in G.o.d, and G.o.d in him. (17)By this is his love towards us perfected, that we might have confidence at the day of judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world. (18)Fear is not in this love; but the perfect love casteth out fear: for fear hath anguish. He that is afraid is not made perfect in love.

(19)We love him, because he first loved us. (20)If any person say, I love G.o.d, yet hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he who loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love the G.o.d whom he hath not seen? (21)So this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth G.o.d love also his brother.

CHAP. V.

EVERY one who believeth that Jesus is the Messiah, is born of G.o.d; and every one who loveth him that begat, loveth him also who is begotten by him. (2)Hereby we know that we love the children of G.o.d, when we love G.o.d, and keep his commandments. (3)For this is the love of G.o.d, that we should keep his commandments: and his commandments are not burdensome.

(4)Because every one that is born of G.o.d overcometh the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith. (5)Who is he that overcometh the world, except he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of G.o.d?

(6)This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus the Messiah; not by the water only, but by the water and the blood: and the Spirit is the witnessing person, because the Spirit is the truth. (7)For they are three who bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these, even the three, are one. (8)And there are three which bear witness upon earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood, and the three are for the same one object.

(9)If we receive the testimony of man, the testimony of G.o.d is stronger: for this is the testimony of G.o.d which he testified concerning his Son. (10)He that believeth on the Son of G.o.d, hath the testimony in himself; he that believeth not G.o.d, hath made him a liar, because he hath not believed on the testimony which G.o.d testified of his Son. (11)And this is the testimony, that G.o.d hath given life eternal to us; and this life is in his Son. (12)He that hath the Son, hath this life; and he that hath not the Son of G.o.d, hath not this life. (13)These things have I written to you who believe on the name of the Son of G.o.d, that ye may know that ye have life eternal, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of G.o.d. (14)And this is the confidence that we have towards him, that whatsoever we ask according to his will, he heareth us. (15)And if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we receive the pet.i.tions, which we have requested, from him.

(16)If any person see his brother committing a sin not unto death, he shall request, and G.o.d will grant him life for those that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I say not that he should request for that. (17)All unrighteousness is sin; and there is sin not unto death.

(18)We know that every one who is born of G.o.d sinneth not; but he that is born of G.o.d preserveth himself, and the wicked one toucheth him not.

(19)We know that we are of G.o.d, and the whole world is under the power of that wicked one. (20)But we know that the Son of G.o.d hath come, and hath given to us understanding, that we might know the true G.o.d; and we are in him that is true, in his Son Jesus the Messiah. HE is the true G.o.d, and the life eternal.

(21)My dear children, guard yourselves against idols. Amen.

THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF THE APOSTLE JOHN.

THE presbyter to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all who have known the truth: (2)because of the truth which abideth in us, and shall be with us for ever: (3)grace, mercy, peace be with you from G.o.d the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

(4)I rejoiced greatly that I found thy children walking in truth, as we have received commandment from the Father. (5)And now I beseech thee, lady, not as writing to thee a new commandment, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we should love one another. (6)And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, as ye have heard from the beginning, That ye should walk in it. (7)For many deceivers are gone out into the world, who do not confess Jesus the Messiah as come in the flesh. Such a one is a deceiver and an antichrist.

(8)Take heed to yourselves that we lose not the things which we have wrought, but receive a full reward. (9)Every one that transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not G.o.d: he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, this man holdeth both the Father and the Son.

(10)If any person come unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into the house, nor say to him, Welcome. (11)He that biddeth him welcome, takes part in his wicked works.

(12)Having many things to write unto you, I would not do it with paper and ink; but I hope to come unto you, and speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be complete.

(13)The children of thy elect sister salute thee. Amen.

THE THIRD GENERAL EPISTLE OF THE APOSTLE JOHN.

THE presbyter to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

(2)Beloved, above all things I pray that thou mayest prosper, and be in sound health of body, even as thy soul prospereth.

(3)I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came, and bore witness to thy truth, even as thou walkest in the truth. (4)I have no greater joy than these tidings, that I hear my own children are walking in the truth.

(5)Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever services thou performest for the brethren, and for strangers; (6)who have borne testimony to thy love before the church; to whom thou wilt perform a good act of service in forwarding them on their journey, in a manner worthy of G.o.d. (7)For on account of his name they went forth, receiving nothing from the heathen. (8)We therefore ought to a.s.sist such men, that we may become fellow-labourers in the truth.

(9)I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who affects pre-eminence over them, receiveth us not. (10)Therefore if I come I will remember his works which he doth, with wicked words prating against us; and not content with these things, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and those who are willing he hindereth, and casteth them out of the church. (11)Beloved, be not an imitator of what is evil, but of that which is good. He that doeth good is of G.o.d, but he that doeth evil hath not seen G.o.d.

(12)Demetrius hath a good testimony from all men, and from the truth itself: and we also bear our testimony, and ye know that our testimony is true.

(13)I had many things to write; but I would not write to thee with ink and pen: (14)but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak mouth to mouth.

Peace be to thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.

THE EPISTLE GENERAL OF THE APOSTLE JUDE.

JUDE a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are sanctified in G.o.d the Father, and preserved by Jesus Christ, the called: (2)mercy unto you, and peace and love be multiplied.

(3)Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you concerning the common salvation, I held it necessary to write unto you, exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints.

(4)For certain men have craftily introduced themselves, who were from of old proscribed for this condemnation, unG.o.dly men, changing the grace of G.o.d into impurity, and denying our only sovereign G.o.d and Lord, Jesus Christ. (5)But I would remind you, though ye once knew this, that the Lord, though he delivered the people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed those who believed not. (6)And the angels who preserved not their own primitive state, but deserted their proper abode, hath he reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. (7)As Sodom and Gomorrha and the surrounding cities, in like manner with them abandoned to wh.o.r.edom, and going after other flesh, are set forth an example, suffering the judicial punishment of eternal fire.

(8)In like manner also do these men, even when they dream, defile indeed the flesh, despise sovereignty, and revile dignities. (9)Though Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not to produce a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. (10)But these men speak evil even of the things of which they have no knowledge: but such things as they know naturally, as the brute beasts, in these they corrupt themselves.

(11)Wo unto them! for they have walked in the way of Cain, and have eagerly run in Balaam's erroneous path of hire, and have perished in opposition, like Corah. (12)These are in your feasts of love, as sunken rocks; though joining in your banquet, they feed themselves fearlessly; clouds without water carried about by the winds; trees untimely withering, fruitless, twice dead, rooted up; (13)raging billows of the sea foaming out their own infamies; stars wandering from their courses, for whom the blackness of darkness for ever is reserved.

(14)Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied also of these men, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with myriads of his saints, (15)to execute judgment against all men, and to convict all the unG.o.dly of all their deeds of unG.o.dliness which they have impiously committed, and of all the bitter words which impious offenders have spoken against him.

(16)These men are murmurers, complainers at their lot in life, walking after their own corrupt pa.s.sions; and their mouth utters hyperbolically pompous expressions, pretending high personal admiration, in order to make their advantage.

(17)But ye, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, (18)how they told you that in the last time there will be scoffers, walking after their own unG.o.dly pa.s.sions. (19)These are the men who separate themselves, sensual, dest.i.tute of the Spirit.

(20)But ye, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying by the Holy Ghost, (21)preserve yourselves in the love of G.o.d, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

(22)And of some have compa.s.sion, distinguishing their case; (23)and others save with trembling, s.n.a.t.c.hing them out of the fire; though hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

(24)Now to him who is able to guard you from stumbling, and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with exultation, (25)to the only wise G.o.d our Saviour, be glory and majesty, might and dominion, both now and unto all eternity. Amen.

THE REVELATION OF JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN.

CHAP. I.

THE revelation of Jesus Christ, which G.o.d gave to him, to shew to his servants the things which must shortly come to pa.s.s; and sending by his angel, he shewed them to his servant John: (2)who was a witness for the word of G.o.d, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ, and for the things which he saw. (3)Blessed is he that readeth, and they who hear the words of this prophecy, and observe the things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

(4)John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be with you, and peace from him, who is, and who was, and who is coming; and from the seven spirits which are before the throne of G.o.d, (5)and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, and first-born from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth: to him who loved us, and washed us from our sins by his blood, (6)and made us kings and priests to his G.o.d and Father; to him be glory and might for ever and ever. Amen.