Letters to the Churches

That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Whom having not seen, you love: in whom also now though you see him not, you believe and, believing, shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified;

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and diligently searched, who prophesied of the grace to come in you.

Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did signify, when it foretold those sufferings that are in Christ and the glories that should follow.

To whom it was revealed that, not to themselves but to you, they ministered those things which are now declared to you by them that have preached the gospel to you: the Holy Ghost being sent down from heaven, on whom the angels desire to look.

Wherefore, having the loins of your mind girt up, being sober, trust perfectly in the grace which is offered you in the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As children of obedience, not fashioned according to the former desires of your ignorance,

But according to him that hath called you, who is holy, be you also in all manner of conversation holy:

Because it is written: You shall be holy, for I am holy.

And if you invoke as Father him who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to every one's work: converse in fear during the time of your sojourning here.

Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as gold or silver, from your vain conversation of the tradition of your fathers:

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb unspotted and undefiled

Foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but manifested in the last times for you:

Who through him are faithful in God who raised him up from the dead and hath given him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God.

Purifying your souls in the obedience of charity, with a brotherly love, from a sincere heart love one another earnestly:

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God who liveth and remaineth for ever.

For all flesh is as grass and all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass is withered and the flower thereof is fallen away.

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel hath been preached unto you.

Wherefore laying away all malice and all guile and dissimulations and envies and all detractions,

As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation:

If so be you have tasted that the Lord is sweet.

Unto whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen and made honourable by God:

Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Wherefore it is said in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious. And he that shall believe in him shall not be confounded.