Exodus Introduction

ded to bee written to the Angels, that is, the Ministers of the Churches of

1 Ephesus,

8 Smyrna,

12 Pergamus,

18 Thyatira: and what is commended, or found wanting in them.

1 Vnto the Angel of the church of Ephesus, write, These things saith he that holdeth the seuen starres in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seuen golden Candlesticks:

2 I know thy workes, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not beare them which are euil, and thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles, and are not, and hast found them lyers:

3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my Names sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

4 Neuerthelesse, I haue somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first loue.

5 Remember therfore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and doe the first workes, or else I will come vnto thee quickly, and will remoue thy Candlesticke out of his place, except thou repent.

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 Hee that hath an eare, let him heare what the Spirit saith vnto the Churches: To him that ouercommeth will I giue to eate of the tree of life, which is in the middest of the Paradise of God.

8 And vnto the Angel of the Church in Smyrna, write, These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is aliue,

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and pouertie, but thou art rich,

[Balaams doctrine.]

and I know the blasphemie of them which say they are Iewes and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan.

10 Feare none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the deuill shal cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and yee shall haue tribulation tenne dayes: bee thou faithfull vnto death, and I will giue thee a crowne of life.

11 He that hath an eare, let him heare what the spirit saith vnto the churches. He that ouercommeth, shall not be hurt of the second death.

12 And to the Angel of the Church in Pergamos, write, These things saith hee, which hath the sharpe sword with two edges:

13 I know thy workes, and where thou dwellest, euen where Satans seat is, and thou holdest fast my Name, and hast not denied my faith, euen in those daies, wherein Antipas was my faithful Martyr, who was slaine among you, where Satan dwelleth.

14 But I haue a fewe things against thee, because thou hast there them that holde the doctrine of [Note: Numbers 25.] Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling blocke before the children of Israel, to eate things sacrificed vnto idoles, and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

16 Repent, or else I will come vnto thee quickly, and wil fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 Hee that hath an eare, let him heare what the Spirit saith vnto the Churches. To him that ouercommeth will I giue to eate of the hidden Manna, and will giue him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, sauing hee that receiueth it.

18 And vnto the Angel of the church in Thyatira, write, These things saith the Sonne of God, who hath his eyes like vnto a flame of fire, and his feete are like fine brasse:

19 I know thy works, and charitie, and seruice, and faith, and thy patience, and thy workes, and the last to bee more then the first.

20 Notwithstanding, I haue a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman [Note: 1 Kings 16:31.] Iezebel, which calleth herselfe a Prophetesse, to teach and

[To hold fast.]

to seduce my seruants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed vnto idoles.

21 And I gaue her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her, into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

23 And I will kill her children with death, and all the Churches shall know that [Note: Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 17:10.] I am hee which searcheth the reines and hearts: and I will giue vnto euery one of you according to your workes.

24 But vnto you I say, and vnto the rest in Thyatira, as many as haue not this doctrine, and which haue not knowen the depthes of Satan, as they speake, I will put vpon you none other burden:

25 But that which ye haue already, hold fast till I come.

26 And hee that ouercommeth, and keepeth my workes vnto the ende, to him will I giue power ouer the nations:

27 ([Note: Psalms 2:9.] And he shall rule them with a rod of yron: as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shiuers:) euen as I receiued of my Father.

28 And I will giue him the morning starre.

29 He that hath an eare, let him heare what the Spirit saith vnto the Churches.

h them of false teachers, shewing the impietie, and punishment both of them and their followers:

7 from which the godly shall bee deliuered, as Lot was out of Sodom:

10 and more fully describeth the manners of those prophane, and blasphemous seducers, whereby they may be the better knowen, and auoided.

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, euen as there shall bee false teachers among you, who priuily shall bring in damnable heresies, euen denying the Lord that bought them, and bring vpon themselues swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their [Note: Or lasciuious wayes, as some copies reade.] pernicious wayes, by reason of whom the way of trueth shall be euill spoken of:

3 And through couetousnesse shall they with fained words, make marchandise of you, whose iudgement now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbreth not.

4 For if God spared not the Angels that sinned, but cast them downe to hell, and deliuered them into chaines of darkenesse, to be reserued vnto iudgment:

5 And spared not the old world, but saued Noah the eight person a preacher of righteousnesse, bringing in the flood vpon the world of the vngodly:

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes, condemned them with an ouerthrowe, making them an ensample vnto those that after should liue vngodly:

7 And deliuered iust Lot, vexed

[Balaams way.]

with the filthy conuersation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing & hearing, vexed his righteous soule from day to day, with their vnlawfull deeds.)

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliuer the godly out of temptations, and to reserue the vniust vnto the day of iudgement to be punished:

10 But chiefly them that walke after the flesh in the lust of vncleannesse, and despise [Note: Or, dominion.] gouernment. Presumptuous are they; selfe willed: they are not afraid to speake euill of dignities: [Note: Jude 1:8.]

11 Whereas Angels which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation [Note: Some read against themselues.] against them before the Lord.

12 But these, as natural bruit beasts made to bee taken and destroyed speake euill of the things that they vnderstand not, and shall vtterly perish in their owne corruption,

13 And shall receiue the reward of vnrighteousnesse, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time: Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselues with their owne deceiuings, while they feast with you:

14 Hauing eyes ful of [Note: Greek: an adulteresse.] adulterie and that cannot cease from sinne, beguiling vnstable soules: an heart they haue exercised with couetous practises: cursed children:

15 Which haue forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the sonne of Bosor, who loued the wages of vnrighteousnesse,

16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumbe asse speaking with mais voice, forbade the madnesse of the Prophet.

17 These are welles without water, cloudes that are caried with a tempest, to whom the mist of darkenesse is reserued for euer.

18 For when they speake great svelling words of vanitie, they alure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonnesse, those that were [Note: Or, for a litle, or a while as some read.] cleane escaped from them who liue in errour.

19 While they promise them libertie, they themselues are the seruants of corruption: for of whom a man is ouercome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

20 For if after they haue escaped the

[Reuolters. The day of the Lord.]

pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, they are againe intangled therein, and ouercome, the latter end is worse with them then the beginning.

21 For it had bin better for them not to haue knowen the way of righteousnesse, then after they haue knowen it, to turne from the holy commandement deliuered vnto them.

22 But it is happened vnto them according to the true prouerbe: The dog is turned to his own vomit againe, and the sowe that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.

them against the sinnes of infirmitie.

3 Rightly to know God, is to keepe his commaundements,

9 to loue our brethren,

15 and not to loue the world.

18 We must beware of seducers:

20 from whose deceits the godly are safe preserued by perseuerance in faith, and holinesse of life.

1 My little children, these things write I vnto you, that ye sinne not. And if any man sinne, we haue an Aduocate with the Father, Iesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sinnes: and not for ours onely, but also for the sinnes of the whole world.

3 And hereby wee doe knowe that we know him, if we keepe his commandements.

4 He that saith, I knowe him, and keepeth not his commandements, is a lyer, and the trueth is not in him.

5 But who so keepeth his word, in him verely is the loue of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

6 He that sayeth he abideth in him, ought himselfe also so to walke, euen as he walked.

7 Brethren, I write no new commandement vnto you, but an olde commandement which ye had from the beginning: the old commandement is the word which ye haue heard from the beginning.

8 Againe, a new commandement I write vnto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkenesse is past, and the true light now shineth.

9 He that saith he is in the light, and

[The last time.]

hateth his brother, is in darkenesse euen vntill now.

10 Hee that loueth his brother, abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of [Note: Greek: scandall.] stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother, is in darknesse, and walketh in darknesse, and knoweth not whither hee goeth, because that darknesse hath blinded his eyes.

12 I write vnto you, little children, because your sinnes are forgiuen you for his Names sake.

13 I write vnto you, fathers, because yee haue knowen him that is from the beginning. I write vnto you, young men, because you haue ouercome the wicked one. I write vnto you, little children, because yee haue knowen the Father.

14 I haue written vnto you, fathers, because ye haue knowen him that is from the beginning. I haue written vnto you, young men, because yee are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and yee haue ouercome the wicked one.

15 Loue not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loue the world, the loue of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but hee that doeth the will of God, abideth for euer.

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as yee haue heard that Antichrist shall come, euen now are there many Antichrists, whereby wee know that it is the last time.

19 They went out from vs, but they were not of vs: for if they had beene of vs, they would no doubt haue continued with vs: but they went out that they might be made manifest, that they were not all of vs.

20 But ye haue an vnction from the holy One, and ye know all things.

21 I haue not written vnto you, because yee know not the trueth: but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the trueth.

22 Who is a lier, but hee that denieth that Iesus is the Christ? hee is Antichrist, that denyeth the Father, and the Sonne.

[Gods great loue.]

23 Whosoeuer denieth the Sonne, the same hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Sonne, hath the Father also.

24 Let that therefore abide in you which yee haue heard from the beginning: if that which ye haue heard from the beginning shall remaine in you, yee also shall continue in the Sonne, and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise that hee hath promised vs, euen eternall life.

26 These things haue I written vnto you, concerning them that seduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye haue receiued of him, abideth in you: and yee need not that any man teach you: But, as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is trueth, and is no lye: and euen as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in [Note: Or, it.] him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him, that when hee shall appeare, wee may haue confidence, and not bee ashamed before him at his comming.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, [Note: Or, know ye.] ye know that euery one which doeth righteousnesse, is borne of him.

4 shewing that Christ is the foudation wherupon they are built.

11 He beseecheth them also to abstaine from fleshly lustes,

13 To bee obedient to magistrates,

18 and teacheth seruants how to obey their masters,

20 patiently suffering for well doing after the example of Christ.

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and enuies, and euill speakings,

2 As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the word, that ye may grow thereby,

3 If so bee yee haue tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom comming as vnto a liuing Stone, disallowed in deed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

5 Ye also as liuely stones, [Note: Or, be ye built.] are built vp a spirituall house, an holy Priesthood to offer vp spirituall sacrifice, acceptable to God by Iesus Christ.

6 Wherefore it is conteined in the Scripture, [Note: Isaiah 28:16 Psalms 118:22 Matthew 21:42 Acts 4:12.] Beholde, I lay in Sion a chiefe corner stone, elect, precious, and he that beleeueth on him, shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therfore which beleeue hee is [Note: Or, he is an honour.] precious; but vnto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 [Note: Isaiah 8:14.] And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rocke of offence, euen to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed.

[Christes example.]

9 But yee are a chosen generation, a royall Priesthood, an holy nation, a [Note: Or, a purchased people.] peculiar people, that yee should shewe forth the [Note: Or, vertues.] praises of him, who hath called you out of darknes into his marueilous light:

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: [Note: Hosea 2:23.] which had not obteined mercie, but now haue obteined mercy.

11 Dearely beloued, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrimes, abstaine from fleshly lusts, which warre against the soule,

12 Hauing your conuersation honest among the Gentiles, that [Note: Or, wherin.] whereas they speake against you as euill doers, they may by your good works which they shall behold, glorifie God in the day of visitation.

13 Submit your selues to euery ordinance of man for the Lordes sake, whether it be to the King, as supreme,

14 Or vnto gouernours, as vnto them that are sent by him, for the punishment of euil doers, and for the praise of them that doe well.

15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing yee may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

16 As free, and not [Note: Greek: hauing.] vsing your libertie for a cloake of maliciousnesse, but as the seruants of God.

17 [Note: Or, esteeme.] Honour all men. Loue the brotherhood. Feare God. Honour the King.

18 Seruants, be subiect to your masters with al feare, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

19 For this is thanke-worthie, if a man for conscience toward God endure griefe, suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it, if when yee be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently: but if when yee doe well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is [Note: Or, thanke.] acceptable with God.

21 For euen hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for [Note: Some, reade, for you.] vs, leauing vs an example, that yee should follow his steps.

22 Who did no sinne, neither was guile found in his mouth.

23 Who when hee was reuiled, reuiled not againe; when hee suffered, hee threatned not, but [Note: Or, committed his cause.] committed himselfe to him that iudgeth righteously.

24 Who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body [Note: Or, to.] on the tree,

[Wiues behauiour.]

that wee being dead to sinnes, should liue vnto righteousnesse, by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For yee were as sheepe going astray, but are now returned vnto the shepheard and Bishop of your soules.