A   I therfore (which am a presonner of the Lordes) exhorte you, ^note that ye walke worthy of the vocacyon wherwith ye are called, with all lowlynes and mekenesse, with humblenes of mynde, forbearynge one another thorowe loue, and be diligent to kepe the vnitie of the sprete thorowe the bonde of peace, beynge one body, and one sprete, eu&ebar; as ye are called in one hope of your callinge. One Lorde, one fayth, one baptyme one God and father of all, which is aboue all and thorowe all, and in you all. &cross3;

B   &cross2; ^note Unto euery one of vs is geuen grace, accordynge to the measure of the gyfte of Chryst. Wherfore he sayth: ^note whan he went vp an hye, he ledde captiuitye captyue, and gaue gyftes vnto men. That he ascended: what meaneth it ? but that he also descended fyrst into the lowest partes of the erth? ^noteHe that descended, is euen the same also that ascended vp, aboue all heauens, to fulfyll all thynges.

C   And the very same made ^note some Apostles, some Prophetes, some Euangelistes, some Shepherdes and Teachers: to the edifyenge of the saynctes, to the worke and ministracyon, euen to the edifyinge of the body of Chryst, tyll we all come to the vnitye of fayth, and knowledge of the sonne of God, vnto a perfecte man, vnto the measure of the full perfecte age of Chryst &cross3; That we hence forth shulde be nomore chyldr&ebar;, ^note wauerynge ∧ caryed aboute with euery wynde of doctrine, by the wylynes of men, thorowe craftynes, wherby they laye a wayte for vs to deceaue vs. But let vs folowe the trueth in loue, D   and in all thynges growe in hym, ^note which is the heed, euen Christ, in whom yf all the body be coupled and knet together thorow out euery ioynt wherwith ^note one ministreth to another (accordynge to the operacyon as euery parte hath hys measure) he increaseth the body, vnto the edifyinge of it selfe thorowe loue.

&cross2; This I saye therfore, and testifye thorowe the Lorde, that ye hence forth walke not, ^note as other Gentyls walke, in vanite of theyr minde, whyle they are blinded in their vnderstandynge, beynge farre from a godly lyfe, by the meanes of the ignorancy that is in them, and because of the blyndnes of their hertes: which beynge past repentaunce, haue geuen them selues ouer vnto wantannes, to worke all manner of vnclennes, eu&ebar; with gredines. E   But ye haue not so learned Christ. If so be that ye haue hearde of him, and haue bene taught in him, as the trueth is in Iesu: (as concernynge the conuersacyon in tyme past) to laye from you that olde man, which is corrupte, accordynge to the deceauable lustes. &cross3; &cross2; To be renued also in the sprete of youre mynde, and ^note to put on that newe man, which after God is shap&ebar; in ryghte wesnes and true holynes.

Wherfore, ^note put awaye lyinge, ∧ speake euery m&abar; truth vnto his neyghboure, for as moche as we are members one of another. &rhand; ^note Be angrye, and synne not: let not the sunne go doune vpon youre wrath, nether geue place vnto the backbyter. ^noteLet hym þt; stole, steale nomore ^note but let him rather laboure &wt; his handes þe; thynge which is good, that he maye geue vnto him that nedeth. &cross3;

Let no fylthy communicacion procede out of youre mouth: but þt; which is good to edifye &wt; all, as oft as nede is þt; it maye minister grace vnto the hearers. And greue not ye the holy sprete of God ^note by whom ye are sealed vnto the daye of red&ebar;pcyon. Let all bitternes ∧ fearsnes ∧ wrath ∧ rorynge ∧ cursyd speakynge, be put awaye fr&obar; you, with all maliciousnes. Be ye courteouse one to another, mercyfull, forgeuynge one another, euen as God for Christes sake hath forgeuen you.

Previous section

Next section