of the fruits of the earth. Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give you understanding in all things.

6 Remember Jesus Christ raised from the dead, a descendant of David, according to my gospel, in which I suffer even to chains as an evil doer; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect, that they may obtain the salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is true, For if we died together we shall live together; if we endure patiently we shall reign together; if we deny him he will deny us; if we believe not he continues faithful; for he cannot deny himself.

7 Call to mind these things, charging [men] before the Lord not to debate about words, to no profit, to the subversion of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a workman that will not be put to shame, rightly dividing the word of truth. But profane and vain words, avoid; for they greatly increase impiety, and their word will eat like a gangrene; of whom are Hymenæus and Philetus, who have erred from the truth, saying that the resurrection has passed already, and overturn the faith of some. But the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his; and, Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from wickedness. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but those also of wood and clay, and some for honor and some for dishonor; if therefore any one purifies himself from these [errors], he shall be a vessel for honor, sanctified, of good use to the master, prepared for every good work.

8 But avoid youthful desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But foolish and trifling disputes avoid, knowing that they produce contentions; and the servant of the Lord must not contend, but must be gentle to all, apt to teach, patient under evil, in meekness correcting the adversaries, that God may give them a change of mind to a knowledge of the truth, and that they may recover themselves from the snare of the devil, who are made captives by him to his will.

CHAPTER II.

THE LAST TIME, HIS APPROACHING MARTYRDOM, ETC.

1 AND know this, that in the last days perilous times shall come. Men will be selfish, avaricious, vain, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, covenant breakers, slanderers, intemperate, ungentle, despisers of the good, traitors, rash, boasters, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of piety but denying its power; and these avoid. Of these are those who go into the houses and take captive foolish women loaded with sins, and led by various desires, always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these oppose the truth, men of no judgment, reprobate in respect to the faith. But they shall proceed no further; for their foolishness shall become manifest to all, as theirs also was. But you have followed my instruction, mode of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, patience, persecutions, sufferings, which befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; the great persecutions which I suffered, and the Lord delivered me from all. And all who will live piously in Christ Jesus shall be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But do you continue in what you learned and understood, knowing from whom you learned, and that from a child you have known the sacred Scriptures, which can make you wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is divinely inspired and is profitable for instruction, for conviction, for correction, for education in righteousnes, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly fitted for every good work.

2 I earnestly charge you before God and Christ Jesus who is about to judge the living and dead, and [by] his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word, press it in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and instruction; for the time will come when they will not endure sound instruction, but will accumulate for themselves teachers according to their desires, pleasing their ear, and they will turn away their ears from the truth, and be turned to myths. But do you be sober in all things, endure evil, do the work of an evangelist, perform fully your min

istry. For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give me in that day, and not me only but all who love his appearing.

3 Make haste to come to me quickly; for Demas forsook me having loved the present life and went to Thessalonica, Cresces to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia; Luke only is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you; for [he will be] useful to me for service. But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. The cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring, and the books, especially the parchments.

4 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; may the Lord reward him according to his work. And do you beware of him, for he greatly opposed our words. At my first defense no one stood by me, but all forsook me; may it not be set to their account; but the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that the word should be fully declared by me, and all the nations should hear, and I was delivered from the mouth of the lion. The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever;

amen.

5 Salute Prisca [Priscilla] and Aquila and the house of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. Make haste to come before winter. Eubulus and Pudens and Linus and Claudia, and all the brothers, salute you. The Lord be with your spirit. The grace be with you.

THE CATHOLIC EPISTLES.

THE EPISTLE OF JAMES.

Jerusalem, a.d. 61–66.

CHAPTER I.

TRIALS, PRAYER, FAITH AND WORKS.

1 JAMES, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greeting. Account it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various trials, knowing that the trial of your faith produces patience. But let patience have a perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. And if any one of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and upbraids not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, not doubting; for he that doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and agitated. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord, a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. But let the brother that is humble rejoice in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, for he shall pass away like a flower of the grass. For the sun rose hot, and withered the grass, and its flower fell off, and the beauty of its appearance perished; so also shall the rich man perish in his ways.

2 Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when proved he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him. Let no tempted one say, I am tempted by God; for God is not subject to temptation by evils, and he tempts no one. But every one is tempted when he is drawn away by his desires, and enticed; then the desire taking effect produces sin, and sin being finished brings forth death.

3 Be not deceived, my beloved brothers. All good giving, and every perfect gift, comes down from above, from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change or shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruit of his creatures.

4 Understand, my beloved brothers, and let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for man's anger performs not God's righteousness. Wherefore, laying aside all filthiness and abounding vice, receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man perceiving his natural face in a glass; for he perceived himself, and went away, and immediately forgot what kind of a man he was. But he that looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, not being a forgetful hearer but a doer of work, he shall be blessed in his doing. But if any one among you thinks he is religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his mind, that man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled with the God and Father is this, to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep one's self unspotted from the world.

5 My brothers, have not the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with a respect of persons. For if there comes into your assembly a man with a gold ring, in splendid clothing, and there also comes in a poor man in vile clothing, and you look upon him who wears the splendid clothing, and say to him, Sit here in a good place, and say to the poor man, Stand there, or sit under my footstool, are you not condemned in yourselves and judges of evil thoughts?

6 Hear, my beloved brothers. Has not God chosen the poor of the world rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you to tribunals? And do they not blaspheme the good name by which you are called? If you keep indeed the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well; but if you respect persons, you commit sin, convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and offend in one point, is guilty of all. For he that said, You shall not commit