1Wherefore laying asideallmalice,andallguile,andhypocrisies,andenvies,andall evil speakings,2Asnewbornbabes,desire the sinceremilk of the word,that ye may growthereby :
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If so be ye have tastedthat the Lord is gracious.4Towhomcoming , as unto a livingstone,disallowedindeedofmen,butchosenofGod, and precious,5Yealso,aslivelystones, are built up a spiritualhouse, an holypriesthood, to offer upspiritualsacrifices,acceptable to GodbyJesusChrist.6Whereforealso it is containedin the scripture,Behold , I layinSion a chief cornerstone,elect,precious:and he that believethonhimshall not beconfounded .
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Unto youthereforewhichbelieve he is precious:abut unto them which be disobedient , the stonewhich the buildersdisallowed , the same is made the head of the corner,8And a stone of stumbling,and a rock of offence, even to them whichstumble at the word, being disobedient : whereuntoalso they were appointed .
9Butye are a chosengeneration, a royalpriesthood, an holynation, a peculiarbpeople;that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath calledyou out ofdarknessintohismarvellouslight:10Which in time past were not a people,but are now the people of God:whichhadnot obtained mercy , butnow have obtained mercy .
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Dearly beloved, I beseech you asstrangersandpilgrims, abstain fromfleshlylusts,whichwaragainst the soul;12Havingyourconversationhonestamong the Gentiles:that,whereascthey speak againstyouasevildoers, they mayby your goodworks, which they shall behold , glorifyGodin the day of visitation.13
Submit yourselves to everyordinance of manfor the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king,assupreme ;
14Or unto governors,as unto them that are sentbyhimforthepunishment of evildoers,and for the praise of them that do well.15Forsois the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolishmen:16Asfree,andnotusingd your libertyfor a cloke of maliciousness,butas the servants of God.17Honouralle men. Love the brotherhood.FearGod.Honour the king.18Servants, be subject to your masterswithallfear;notonly to the goodandgentle,butalso to the froward.19Forthis is thankworthy,fif a manforconscience toward Godenduregrief,sufferingwrongfully.20Forwhatglory is it, if,when ye be buffeted for your faults , ye shall take it patiently ? butif, when ye do well , andsuffer for it, ye take it patiently , this is acceptablegwithGod.21Forevenhereunto were ye called : becauseChristalsosufferedforus,hleavingus an example,that ye should followhissteps:22Whodidnosin,neither was guilefoundinhismouth:23Who, when he was reviled , revilednotagain ; when he suffered , he threatenednot;butcommitted himself to him that judgethrighteously:24Who his own selfbareoursinsin his ownbodyoni the tree,thatwe , being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:bywhosestripes ye were healed .
25For ye wereassheep going astray ; butarenowreturnedunto the ShepherdandBishop of yoursouls.
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