Letters to the Churches

Then, when concupiscence hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin. But sin, when it is completed, begetteth death.

Do not err, therefore, my dearest brethren.

Every best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change nor shadow of alteration.

For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creature.

You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak and slow to anger.

For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God.

Wherefore, casting away all uncleanness and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

For if a man be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he shall be compared to a man beholding his own countenance in a glass.

For he beheld himself and went his way and presently forgot what manner of man he was.

But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work: this man shall be blessed in his deed.

And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation and to keep one's self unspotted from this world.

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory, with respect of persons.

For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel; and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire:

And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel and shall say to him: Sit thou here well: but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or: Sit under my footstool:

Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?

Hearken, my dearest brethren: Hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him?

But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? And do not they draw you before the judgment seats?

Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?

If then you fulfil the royal law, according to the scriptures: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well.

But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.

And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all.

For he that said: Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also: Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

So speak ye and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty.