A   Bvt there were false prophetes also amonge the people, ^note euen as there shalbe false teachers amonge you likewyse, which preuely shal brynge in damnable sectes, euen denyenge the LORDE that hath boughte them, and shal brynge vpon them selues swift damnacion: and ^note many shal folowe their damnable wayes, by wh&obar; the waye of the trueth shal be euell spok&ebar; of: and thorow cuvetousnes shal they with fayned wordes make marchaundise of you, vp&obar; wh&obar; the iudgment is not neclig&ebar;t in tarienge of olde, and their damnacion slepeth not.

B    ^noteFor yf God spared not the angels that synned, but cast them downe with the cheynes of darknes in to hell, and delyuered th&ebar; ouer to be kepte vnto iudgment: ^note Nether spared the olde worlde, but saued Noe the preacher of righteousnes himselfe beynge þe; eight, and brought the floude vp&obar; the worlde of the vngodly: ^note And turned the cities of Sodom and Gomor into a&esset;hes, ouerthrue them, damned them, and made on them an ensample, vnto those that after shulde lyue vngodly: And delyuered iust Loth which was vexed with the vngodly conuersacion of þe; wicked. For in so moch as he was righteous and dwelt amonge them, so that he must nedes se it and heare it, his righteous soule was greued from to daye to daye with their vnlaufull dedes. ^noteThe LORDE knoweth how to delyuer the godly out of tentacion, and how to reserue the vniust vnto the daye of iudgment for to be punyshed: C   but specially them that walke after the flesh in þe; lust of vnclennes, and despyse the rulers: beynge presumptuous, stubborne, and feare not to speake euell of th&ebar; þt; are in auctorite ^note wh&abar; the angels yet which are greater both in power and might, beare not that blasphemous iudgment agaynst them of the LORDE. ^noteBut these are as þe; brute beestes, which naturally are broughte forth to be tak&ebar; and destroyed: ^note speakynge euell of þt; they knowe not, and shal perishe in their owne destruccion, and so receaue þe; rewarde of vnrighteousnes.

They counte it pleasure to lyue deliciously for a season: Spottes are they and fylthynes: lyuynge at pleasure and in disceaueable wayes: feastynge &wt; that which is youres, hauynge eyes full of aduoutrye, and c&abar; not ceasse from synne, entysinge vnstable soules: hauynge an hert exercysed &wt; couetousnes: they are cursed children, and haue forsaken the righte waye, and are gone astraye: folowinge the waye of ^note Balaam the sonne of Bosor, which loued the rewarde of vnrighteousnes: but was rebuked of his iniquyte. The tame and domme beast spake with m&abar;s voyce, ∧ forbad the foolishnes of þe; prophet.

D   These are welles without water, ∧ ^note cloudes caried aboute of a t&ebar;pest: to wh&obar; þe; myst of darknesse is reserued foreuer. For they speake þe; proude wordes of vanite, vnto þe; vttemost, and entyse thorow wantannes vnto þe; luste of the flesh, euen them that were cleane escaped, and now walke in erroure: and promyse them libertye, where as they them selues are seruauntes off corrupcion. ^noteFor off whom so euer a man is ouercome, vnto the same is he in bondage. ^noteFor yf they (after they haue escaped from the fylthynes of the

worlde, thorow the knowlege of þe; LORDE and Sauioure Iesus Christ) are yet tangled agayne therin and ouercome, ^note then is the latter ende worse vnto them then the begynnynge. For it had bene better for them, not to haue knowne the waye of righteousnes, then after they haue knowne it, ^note to turne from the holy commaundem&ebar;t, that was geuen vnto them. It is happened vnto them acordynge vnto the true prouerbe: ^note þe; dogg is turned to his vomyte agayne: and þe; sowe that was wa&esset;hed, vnto hir walowynge in the myre.

Previous section

Next section