1    ^notePeter an Apostle of Iesvs Christ, to the electe strangers of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2   according to the prescience of God the Father, into sanctification of the Spirit, vnto the obedience and sprinkling of the bloud of Iesvs Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

3    ^{note note}Blessed be God and the father of our Lord Iesvs Christ, vvho according to his great mercie hath regenerated vs vnto a liuely hope, by the resurrection of Iesvs Christ from the dead,

4   vnto an inheritance incorruptible, and incontaminate, and that can not fade, conserued in the heauens in you,

5   (vvho in the vertue of God are kept by faith vnto saluati&obar;) ready to be reuealed in the last time.

6   wherin you shal reioyce, a litle novv if you must be made heauy in diuerse tentations:

7   that the probation of your faith much more pretious then gold (vvhich is proued by the fire) may be found vnto praise and glorie and honour in the reuelati&obar; of Iesvs Christ: &cross4;

8   vvhom hauing not seen, you loue: in vvhom novv also not seing you beleeue: and beleeuing you reioyce vvith ioy vnspeakable and glorified,

9   receiuing the end of your faith, the saluation of your

soules.

10   Of the vvhich saluation the Prophetes inquired & searched, vvhich prophecied of the grace to come in you,

11   searching vnto vvhich or vvhat maner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did signifie: foretelling those passions that

12   are in Christ and the glories folovving: to vvhom it vvas reuealed, that not to th&ebar; selues, but to you they ministred those things vvhich novv are told you by them that haue euangelized to you, the holy Ghost being sent from heauen, on vvhom the Angels desire to looke.

13   For the vvhich cause hauing the loines of your ^note minde girded, sober, trust perfectly in that grace vvhich is offered you, in the reuelation of Iesvs Christ,

14   as children of obedience, not configurated to the former desires of your ignorance:

15   but according to him that hath called you, the Holy one, be you also in al conuersation holy:

16   because it is vvritten: You shal be holy, because I am holy. ^note

17   And if you inuocate the Father, him vvhich ^note vvithout acception of persons iudgeth according to euery ones ^note vvorke: in feare conuerse ye the time of your peregrination.

18   Knovving that ^note not vvith corruptible things, gold or siluer, you are redeemed from your vaine conuersation of your fathers ^note tradition:

19   but vvith the pretious bloud as it vvere of an immaculate and vnspotted lambe, Christ,

20    ^noteforeknovven in deede before the constitution of the vvorld, but manifested in the last times for you,

21   vvhich by him are faithful in God vvho raised him from the dead, and hath giuen him glorie, that your faith and hope might be in God.

22   Making your soules chaste in obedience of charitie, in the sincere loue of the fraternitie from the hart loue ye one an other earnestly:

23   borne againe not of corruptible seede, but incorruptible by the vvord of God vvho liueth and remaineth for euer.

24   For al flesh is as grasse: and al the glorie thereof as the floure of grasse, the grasse is vvithered, and the floure thereof is fallen avvay. ^note

25   But the vvord of our Lord remaineth for euer, and this is the vvord that is euangelized among you. Chap. II.

Novv after their Baptisme, vvhat must be their meate: 4 and being come to Christ, hovv happie they be aboue their incredulous brethren, according to the Scriptures also. 11 Wherevpon he beseecheth them to shine in good life among the Heathen, so to procure their conuersion: 13 to be obedient subiects to higher Povvers (hovvsoeuer some misconster Christian libertie) 14 and seruants to obey their Maisters. 19 And so, doing vvel, though they suffer for it, it is very meritorius, 21 vvhereas Christ also not onely gaue them example, 24 but also by his death hath made them able to liue iustly.

1    ^noteLaying avvay therfore al malice, and al guile, and simulations, and enuies, and al detractions,

2   as infants euen novv borne, reasonable, milke vvithout guile desire ye, that in it you may grovv vnto saluati&obar;.

3   if yet you haue tasted that our Lord is svveete.

4   Vnto vvhom approching, a liuing stone, of men in deede reprobated, but of God elect and made honorable:

5   be ye also your selues superedified as it vvere liuing stones, ^note spiritual houses, a holy priesthod, to offer09Q1441 spiritual hostes, acceptable to God by Iesvs Christ.

6   For the vvhich cause the Scripture conteineth, Behold I put in Sion a principal corner stone elect, pretious. and he that shal beleeue in him, shal not be confounded. ^note

7   To you therfore that beleeue, honour: but to them that beleeue not, the stone vvhich the builders reiected, the same is made into the head of the corner: ^note

8   and ^note a stone of offense, and a rocke of scandal, to them that stumble at the vvord, neither doe beleeue ^note wherin also they are put.

9   But you are an ^note elect generation, a ^note kingly priesthod, a holy nation, a people of purchase: that you may declare his vertues vvhich from darkenesse hath called you into his maruelous light.

10   Vvhich sometime not a people: but novv the people of God. Vvhich not hauing obtained mercie: but novv hauing obtained mercie. ^note

11    ^noteMy deerest I beseche you as strangers & pilgrimes, ^note to refraine your selues from carnal desires which vvarre against the soule,

12   hauing your conuersation good among the Gentiles: that in that vvherein they misreport of you as of malefactors, by the good vvorkes considering you, ^note they may glorifie God in the day of visitation.

13    ^note09Q1442Be subiect therfore09Q1443 to euery ^note humane ^note creature for God: vvhether it be09Q1444 to king, as excelling:

14   or to rulers as sent by him to the reuenge of malefactors, but to the praise of the good:

15   for so is the vvil of God, that doing vvel you may make the ignorance of vnvvise men to be dumme:

16   as free, &09Q1445 not

as hauing the freedom for a cloke of malice, but as the seruants of God.

17   Honour al men. ^noteLoue the fraternitie. Feare God. Honour the king.

18   Seruants be subiect in al feare to your maisters, not only to the good & modest,09Q1446 but also to the vvaivvard.

19   For this is thanke, if for c&obar;science of God a man sustaine sorovves, suffering vniustly.

20   For vvhat glorie is it: if sinning, and buffeted you suffer? but if doing vvel you sustaine patiently: this is thanke before God. ^note

21   For vnto this are you called: because Christ also suffred for ^note vs, leauing ^note you an example that you may folovv his steppes.

22   vvho did no sinne, neither vvas guile found in his mouth. ^note

23   vvho vvhen he vvas reuiled, ^note did not reuile: vvhen he suffred, he threatened not: but deliuered him self to him that iudged him vniustly.

24   vvho him self ^note bare our sinnes in his body vpon the tree: that dead to sinnes, we may liue to iustice. by vvhose stripes you are healed.

25   For you vvere as sheepe straying: but you be conuerted novv to the Pastor and Bishop of your soules. &cross4; ^{note note note}

^{note note note} Chap. III. The dutie of vviues and husbands to ech other. 9 None to doe or speake euil by their persecutors, 15 but to ansvver them alvvaies vvith modestie, and specially vvith innocencie, after the example of Christ most innoc&ebar;t: vvhose body though they killed, yet his soule liued and preached aftervvard to the soules in Hel (namely to those in the time of Noes floud being a figure of our Baptisme) rose againe, and ascended.

1    ^noteIn like maner also ^note let the vvomen be subiect to their busbandes: that if any beleeue not the vvord, by the conuersation of the vvomen vvithout the vvord they may be vvonne,

2   considering your chast conuersation in feare. ^{note note}

3   Vvhose trimming let it not be outvvardly the plaiting of heare, or laying on gold round about, or of putting on vestures:

4   but the man of the hart that is hidden, in the incorruptibilitie

of a quiet and a modest spirit, vvhich is riche in the sight of God.

5   For so sometime the holy vvomen also that trusted in God, adorned them selues, subiect to their ovvne husbandes.

6   As ^note Sara obeied Abraham, calling him lord: ^note vvhose daughters you are, doing vvel, and not fearing any perturbation. ^note

7   Husbandes likevvise, dvvelling vvith them according to knovvledge, as vnto the vveaker feminine vessel imparting honour, as it vvere to the coheires also of the grace of life: that your praiers be not hindered.

8   And ^note in fine al of one minde, hauing compassion, louers of the fraternitie, merciful, modest, humble.

9    ^notenot rendering euil for euil, nor curse for curse: but contrariewise, blessing: for vnto this are you called, that you may by inherit&abar;ce possesse a benediction.

10   For he that vvil loue life, and see good daies: let him refraine his tong from euil, and his lippes that they speake not guile.

11   Let him decline from euil, and doe good: let him enquire peace, and folovv it:

12   because the eies of our Lord are vpon the iust, and his eares vnto their praiers: but the countenance of our Lord vpon them that doe euil things. ^note

13   And vvho is he that can hurt you, if you be emulators of good?

14   But ^note & if you suffer ought for iustice, blessed are ye. And the feare of them feare ye not, & be not troubled.

15   But sanctifie our Lord Christ in your hartes, ready alwaies to satisfie euery one that asketh you a reason of that hope vvhich is in you:

16   but vvith modestie and feare, hauing a good conscience: that in that vvhich they speake il of you, they may be confounded vvhich calumniate your good conuersation in Christ.

17   For it is better to suffer as doing vvel (if the vvil of God vvil haue it so) then doing il.

18    ^noteBecause Christ also died once for our sinnes, the iust for the vniust: that he might offer vs to God, mortified certes in flesh, but quickened in spirit.

19   In the vvhich spirit comming he preached09Q1447 to ^note them also that vvere in prison:

20   vvhich had been09Q1448 incredulous sometime, ^note vvhen they expected the patience of God in the daies of Noë, vvhen the arke vvas a building: in the vvhich, fevv, that is, ^note eight soules vvere saued by vvater.

21   Vvherevnto Baptisme being09Q1449 of the like forme novv saueth ^note you also: not the laying avvay of the filth of the flesh, but09Q1450 the examination of a good conscience tovvard God by the resurrection of Iesvs Christ.

22   vvho is on the right hand of God, &cross4; svvallovving death, that vve might be made heires of life euerlasting: being gone into heauen, Angels and Potentates and Povvers subiected to him.

^{note note note note}

Chap. IIII. That they arme them selues to sinne no more after Baptisme against the tentations of the Heathen, considering that the general end novv approcheth. 8 specially tovvard their euen-Christians to shevv their charitie, hospitalitie, and grace, doing al to the glorie of God. 12 And as for being persecuted because they are Christians, to reioyce, considering the revvard that they shal haue vvith Christ, and damnation that they auoid thereby.

1   Christ therfore hauing suffered in the flesh, be you also armed vvith the same cogitation. because he that hath suffered in the flesh, hath ceased from sinnes:

2   that novv not after the desires of men, but according to the vvil of God he liue the rest of his time in the flesh.

3   For the time past sufficeth (to accomplish the vvil of the Gentiles) them that haue vvalked in riotousnes, desires, excesse of wine, banketings, potations, and vnlavvful seruices of Idols.

4   Vvherein they maruel blaspheming, you not concurring into the same confusion of riotousnes.

5   vvho shal render account to him, vvhich is ready to iudge the liuing and the dead.

6   For, for this cause also vvas ^note it euangelized to the dead: that they may be iudged in deede according to men, in the flesh: but may liue according to God in the Spirit.

7   And the end of al ^note shal approche.

7    ^noteBe vvise therfore: and vvatch in praiers.

8   But before al things, hauing mutual charitie c&obar;tinual among your selues: because ^note09Q1451 charitie couereth the multitude of sinnes.

9    ^noteVsing hospitalitie one tovvard an other vvithout murmuring.

10    ^noteEuery one as he hath receiued grace, ministring the same one tovvard an other: as good dispensers of the manifold grace of God.

11   If any man speake, as the vvordes of God. if any man minister: as of the povver, vvhich God administreth. that in al things God may be honoured by Iesvs Christ: &cross4; to vvhom is glorie and empire for euer and euer. Amen.

12   My deerest, thinke it not strange in the feruour vvhich is to you for a t&ebar;tation, as though some nevv thing happened to you: ^note

13   but communicating vvith the passions of Christ, be glad, that in the reuelation also of his glorie you may be glad reioycing.

14    ^noteIf you be reuiled in the name of Christ, you shal be blessed: because that vvhich is of the honour,

glorie, and vertue of God, and the Spirit vvhich is his, shal rest vpon you.

15   But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a theefe, or a railer, or a coueter of other mens things.

16   But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorifie God in this name.

17   for ^note the time is09Q1452 that iudgement begin of the house of God. And if first of vs: vvhat shal be the end of them that beleeue not the Gospel of God?

18   And ^note09Q1453 if the iust man shal scarse be saued: where shal the impious and sinner appeare?

19   Therfore they also that suffer according to the vvil of God, let them commend their soules to the faithful creator, in good deedes. &cross4; ^{note note note} Chap. V. He exhorteth Priests to feede their flockes, onely for Gods sake and revvard of heauen, vvithout al lordlines. 5 the laie to obey: al to be humble one towards an other. 8 to be constant in the Catho. faith, considering it is not man, but that lion the Diuel that persecuteth them, 9 as he doth the vvhole Church also, & that God vvil after a vvhile make them secure in heauen.

1    ^noteThe09Q1454 seniors therfore that are among you, I beseche, my self a fellovv senior vvith them and a vvitnesse of the passions of Christ, vvho am also partaker of that glorie vvhich is to be reuealed in time to come:

2   seede the flocke of God vvhich is among you ^note prouiding not by constrainte, but vvillingly according to God: ^note neither for filthie lucre sake, but voluntarily:

3   neither as09Q1455 ouerruling09Q1456 the Clergie, but made examples of the flocke from the hart.

4   And vvhen the prince of pastors shal appeare, you shal receiue the incorruptible 09Q1457 crovvne of glorie.

5    ^noteIn like maner ye yong men be subiect to the seniors. And do ye al insinuate humilitie one to an other, because God resisteth the proude: and to the humble he giueth grace. ^note

6    ^noteBe ye humbled therfore vnder the mightie hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of visitation:

7    ^notecasting al your carefulnes vpon him, because he hath care of you.

8   Be sober and vvatch: because your aduersarie the Deuil as a roaring lion goeth about, seeking vvhom he may deuoure.

9   vvhom resist ye, strong in faith: knovving that the self same affliction is made to that your fraternitie vvhich is in the vvorld.

10   But the God of al grace, vvhich hath called vs vnto his eternal glorie in Christ Iesvs, he vvil perfite you hauing suffered a litle, and confirme, and stablish you.

11   To him be glorie and empire for euer and euer. Amen. &cross4;

12   By Syluanus a faithful brother to you, as I thinke, I haue breefely vvritten: beseching and testifying that this is the true grace of God, vvherein you stand.

13   The Church saluteth you,09Q1458 that is in Babylon, coëlect: and Marke my sonne.

14    ^noteSalute one an other in a holy kisse. Grace be to al you vvhich are in Christ Iesvs. Amen. ^note

^{note note note note}

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