Beloved, I exhort you as strangers and foreigners, abstain from carnal desires, which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the gentiles, that wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, from the good works which they see they may glorify God in the day of visitation.

Be subject therefore to every human government, for the Lord's sake, whether to the king, as superior, to governors, sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of those who do well; for this is the will of God, that by well-doing you may silence the ignorance of foolish men; as free, and not using freedom for a cloak of vice, but as servants of God. Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Let servants be subject with all fear to masters, not only to the good and gentle but also to the perverse. For this deserves thanks, if on account of a knowledge of God one endures pain, suffering unjustly. For what glory is it if when you sin and are punished you bear it patiently? But if you do well and suffer and bear it patiently, [this deserves thanks], for it is acceptable to

God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you a copy that you should follow his steps, who committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth, who being reviled reviled not, suffering threatened not, but committed himself to him that judges righteously, who himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we having died to sins, may live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like lost sheep, but are now returned to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

In like manner let the women be subject to their husbands, that even if some disobey the word, they may be gained through the conduct of their wives without the word, seeing your pure mode of life in the fear [of God]. Whose ornament let it not be the external [ornament] of braided hair and the putting on of chains of gold or of clothing, but let the hidden man of the heart be adorned with the imperishable [ornaments] of a meek and quiet spirit, which are of great price before God. For so formerly also the holy women who hoped in God adorned themselves, being subject to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose children you are, doing good and having no fear. In like manner let the husbands [do], living together in knowledge with the wife as with a vessel of less strength, deeming them precious, co-heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Finally, be all of one mind, sympathising, loving as brothers, compassionate, humble, not returning evil for evil or railing for railing, but on the contrary blessing [your enemies], because to this you are called, that you may inherit blessing. For he that will love life and see good days, let him withhold his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, let him abstain from evil and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it, for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

And who is he that will injure you if you are followers of what is good? But even if you suffer on account of righteousness, you are blessed. But fear not with their fear, neither be troubled; and sanctify the anointed Lord in your hearts, and be always ready with a defense to every one that asks you a reason for the hope that is in you; but with meekness and fear, having a

good conscience, that in what they speak evil of you they may be ashamed who slander your good conduct in Christ. For it is better to suffer doing good, if the will of God allows, than doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might lead us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who were formerly disobedient when the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is eight souls, were saved by water. The archetype of which, baptism, also now saves us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience in God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is on the right hand of God, having gone to heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

Christ therefore having suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that you may no longer live the rest of your time in the flesh according to the desires of men, but according to the will of God. For the time past is sufficient for us to have performed the will of the gentiles, walking in lewdness, inordinate desires, drunkenness, revellings, drinkings and unlawful idolatries, in which they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excessive intemperance, blaspheming, who shall give an account to him that is ready to judge the living and dead. And for this cause was the gospel preached also to the dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit.

But the end of all things is at hand. Be sober therefore, and watch in prayers; above all things have fervent love one for another, for love hides a multitude of sins. Be hospitable one to another, without complaining; as each has received a gift, minister the same among yourselves as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any one speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God, if any one serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the power for ever and ever; amen.

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