Letters to the Churches

For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;

and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.

For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Servants, bein subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.

For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:

who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.

For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

In like manner, ye wives, bein subjection to your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives;

beholding your chaste behaviorcoupledwith fear.

Whoseadorninglet it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel;

but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.