Letters to the Churches

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise always to God, that is to say, the fruit of lips confessing to his name.

And do not forget to do good and to impart: for by such sacrifices God's favour is obtained.

Obey your prelates and be subject to them. For they watch as being to render an account of your souls: that they may do this with joy and not with grief. For this is not expedient for you.

Pray for us. For we trust we have a good conscience, being willing to behave ourselves well in all things.

And I beseech you the more to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

And may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great pastor of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the blood of the everlasting testament,

Fit you in all goodness, that you may do his will; doing in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom is glory for ever and ever. Amen.

And I beseech you, brethren, that you suffer this word of consolation. For I have written to you in a few words.

Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty: with whom (if he come shortly) I will see you.

Salute all your prelates and all the saints. The brethren from Italy salute you.

Grace be with you all. Amen.

James, the servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

My brethren, count it all joy, when you shall fall into divers temptations:

Knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience

And patience hath a perfect work: that you may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing.

But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men abundantly and upbraideth not. And it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind.

Therefore let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

A double minded man is inconstant in all his ways.

But let the brother of low condition glory in his exaltation:

And the rich, in his being low: because as the flower of the grass shall he pass away.

For the sun rose with a burning heat and parched the grass: and the flower thereof fell off, and the beauty of the shape thereof perished. So also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for, when he hath been proved, he shall receive the crown of life which God hath promised to them that love him.

Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God. For God is not a tempter of evils: and he tempteth no man.

But every man is tempted by his own concupiscence, being drawn away and allured.