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Motives to Christian fortitude.

a

1 PETER, V.

6 For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity Y shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality* one to another, without grudging.

10 As every man hath received m 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 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 for ever and ever. Amen.

v

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, inasmuch 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 evildoer, or as a busybody 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?

A. D. 60.

a Mat. 24. 9.

Re. 14. 13.

c Ja. 5. 8, 9. Ro.8. 17, 18.

e Lu. 21. 36. ƒ John 21.15.. 17.

Ac. 20. 28. Bor, as much as in you is.

1 Co. 13. 7. h1 Co. 9. 17.

yor, will.

1 Ti. 3.3, 8.

* He.13.2,16. &or, overruling. 11 Ti. 4. 12. m Ro. 12. 6..8. » He. 13. 20. Lu. 12. 42. P2 Ti. 4. 8. Ep. 5. 21. r1 Co. 10.31. $ Ja. 4. 6. t Re. 1. 6. u Is. 57. 15.

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Duties of elders and their flocks. keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. CHAPTER V. 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 d 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 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 your selves 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.

6 Humble" yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, 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, 1 Co. 3. 13. walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

w Ps. 55. 22. * Ja. 1. 2.

y Re. 12. 12. 2 Ti. 2. 12.

a Ja. 4. 7. b Mat. 5. 11.

2 Co. 4. 16.

d He. 13. 21. e2 Th. 3. 3.

Zec. 10. 6,

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m Je. 25. 29. 18 And if the righteous scarcely be Lu. 23. 31. saved, where shall the ungodly and then Ro. 16. 16. sinner appear?

19 Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the

• Ps. 37. 5.

r Ep. 6. 23.

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170

The Second Epistle general of PETER.

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

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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 afar 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: fora 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, to stire 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."

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

d Re. 2. 28. 22. 16.

e Ps. 84. 11. 1 Ti. 4. 8.

or, at any. Lu. 1. 70. Sor, by. 2 Ti. 1. 9.

h 2 Ti. 3. 16. i2 Co. 7. 1.

He. 12. 10. De.13.1,&c. mch. 2. 18, 20. Mat. 24. 5,

24.

Ac. 20.29,30

1 Ti. 4. 1.

• Phi. 4. 8.

Phi. 1. 9.

71 Co. 9. 25. r Ja. 1. 4. nor, lascivious, as some copies read. 1 Ti. 4. 7. Jno.13.34,35

u1 Co.13.1..3. v Jude 4..7. idle.

w Jno.15.2..6. 1Jno.2.9..11

y Ge. 7. 1, &c. chap. 3. 17. a1 Jno. 3. 19.

Re. 22. 14.

6 Ge. 19. 24,25 De. 29. 23. d Ge. 19. 16. e chap. 3. 1. Ps.34.15..18

Jude 14, 15. John 21. 18, 19.

i He. 13. 4. K or, domi

nion.

Jude 8, 10.

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

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

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

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

CHAPTER II.

BUT there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you," who privily shall bring in damnable 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: whose judgment now of 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,d 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 reserves 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, selfwilled; they are not afraid to

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known 2 Co. 4. 2. speak evil of dignities. unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses m of his majesty.

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

m Mat.17.1..5 John 1. 14.

A some read, against themselves.

n Je. 12. 3.

11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

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;

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

14 Having eyes full of Yadultery, 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 unrighteousness;

16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass, speaking with man's voice, forbad the madness of the prophet.

17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

18 For when they speak" great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb," The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the Sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.

CHAPTER III.

THIS second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, d walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

A. D. 66.

a Phi. 3. 19.
Jude 12, &c.
Ge. 1. 6, 9.
B consisting.
Ps. 24. 2.
y an adul
teress.

d Ge.7.11,&c.

e Ps. 50. 3.
Zep. 3. 8.
2 Th. 1. 8.
fNu.22.5,&c.
Ps. 90. 4.
Hab. 2. 3.
iPs. 86. 15.

Is. 30. 18.

Ep. 4. 14.
Eze. 33. 11.
m1 Ti. 2. 4.
n Ps. 73. 8.

• Mat. 24.42,

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Day of judgment described.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth ẞ standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water,d perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly

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up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness;

12 Looking for and Shasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new" heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles," speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and for ever. Amen.

172

The First Epistle general of JOHN.

CHAPTER I.

THAT which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands haved handled, of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us ;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship' is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

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8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. CHAPTER II.

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: by know we that we are in him.

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here

6 He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk," even as he walked.

7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment, which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you; which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none y occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother is in

A. D. 90.

a Jno. 1.1,&c. chap. 1. 1. 2 Pe. 1. 16.

d Lu. 24. 39. e Jno. 14.7,9. ƒJno.17.3. 9 Ep. 6. 10. h John 15. 7. i Re. 2.7, &c. Ro. 12. 2. John 17. 21. m Mat. 6. 24. Ga. 1. 10. Ja. 4. 4. n John 15. 11. 02 Pe. 2. 10.

P Ps. 119. 37.

Ps. 73. 6. John 1.4, 9. 1 Ti. 6. 16. Ps. 39. 6. 1 Co. 7. 31. t John 12.35. u He. 1. 2. w Mat. 24. 24.

1 Ti. 4. 1. * Ep. 1. 7. He. 9. 14. 1 Pe. 1. 19. Re. 1. 5.

1 Ki. 8. 46.

Job 25. 4. . Ec. 7. 20.

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. Ifm any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

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16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; fora if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they *Job 33. 27, might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Ja. 3. 2.

28. Ps. 32. 5.

Pr. 28. 13.

a 2 Ti. 2. 19. Ps. 51. 2.

1 Co. 6. 11. c 2 Ti. 3. 9.

2 Co. 1. 21. Ro. 8. 34.

e1 Co. 2. 15.

He. 7. 25. g Ro. 3. 25.

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chap. 4. 3.

i John 15. 23. k Lu. 6. 46. John 14. 15,

12 John 6.

23.

m John 15.4,5. n John 13.15. • John 17.3.

John 14. 26.

q John 13.34. r Ro. 13. 12. Bor, it. $2 Pe. 1. 9. y scandal.

20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar, but he that" denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son, hath the Father also. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teachethr you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Bhim.

8 or, know ye. 28 And now, little children, abide in Je. 13. 23. him; that, when he shall appear, we may Mat. 7. 16.. have confidence, and not be ashamed be18. fore him at his coming.

u Pr. 4. 25. John 12.35.

Ep. 2. 4, 5. w John 1. 12.

Re. 21. 7.

darkness, and walketh" in darkness, and John 17.25.
knoweth not whither he goeth, becausey Ps. 25. 11.
that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Lu. 24. 47.
Ac. 10. 43.

12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

Ro. 8. 14, 18.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. CHAPTER III.

BEHOLD, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of

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God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall seed him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

4 Whosoever committeth sin trans

gresseth also the law: for sin is the d

transgression of the law.

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, neither known him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, thatm he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

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10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that " should love one another.

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12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked

one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

15 Whosoeverd hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 Buth whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts δ before him.

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

A. D. 90.

1 Th. 5. 21.
Re. 2. 2.

62 Pe. 2. 18.
e1 Co. 15. 49.

Phi. 3. 21.
2 Pe. 1. 4.

Christian love enforced.

but try the spirits whether they are of God: because manya. false prophets are

gone out into the

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not Job 19. 26. of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Ps. 17. 15.
Mat. 5. 8.

1 Co. 13. 12.
e1 Co. 12.3.
He.9.26,28.
g3 John 11.
h Ro. 8. 37.
Eze.18.5.9.

Ro. 2. 13.
* John 3. 31.

John 8. 44.
mHe. 2. 14.
n Is. 8. 20.
pch.3.11,23.
1 Pe. 1. 23.

• ch. 5. 18.

r verse 16.

2 Co. 13.11.
John 3. 16.
Bor, com-
mandment.

t John 6. 51.
u John 15. 12.

v Ge. 4. 4..8.
chap. 2. 2.
John 15. 12,

* Mat. 18. 33.

13.

y 1 Ti. 6. 16.

John 15. 18,

19.

a 1 Co. 13. 13.

chap. 3. 24. John 14. 20.

c ch. 2.9, 11. d Mat. 5. 21, 22. Ro. 10. 9. John 15. 13.

Ro. 5. 8.

g verse 8.
h De. 15. 7.

Y

love with us. ichap. 4. 20. Eze. 33.31. Ro. 12. 9.

Ja. 2. 15, 16.

1 Pe. 1. 22.
1 John 13. 35.
Spersuade.
m John 15. 16.
n Job 27. 6.
Ps. 101. 2.
o chap. 3. 17.
He. 10. 22.
g Ps. 145. 18,

19.

Pr. 15. 29. Mar. 11.24.

21 Beloved, if our heart" condemn us not, then have we confidence? toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive r John 13. 34. of him, because we keep his command-De. 18. 15.. ments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

23 And this is his commandment,

That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. CHAPTER IV.

BELOVED, believe" not every spirit,

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6 We are of God: he that knoweth God, heareth us; he that is not of God, heareth not us. Hereby" know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

7 Beloved, let us lover one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love."

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

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15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is your love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth, is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him, because hem first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God 19. love his brother also. CHAPTER V.

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