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Asnewbornbabes,desire the sinceremilk of the word,that ye may growthereby*:
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If so be ye have tastedthat the Lord is gracious.
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Towhomcoming, as unto a livingstone,disallowedindeedofmen,butchosenofGod, and precious,
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Yealso,aslivelystones, are built up a spiritualhouse, an holypriesthood, to offer upspiritualsacrifices,acceptable to GodbyJesusChrist.
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Whereforealso 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:[a]but unto them which be disobedient, the stonewhich the buildersdisallowed, the same is made* the head of the corner,
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And a stone of stumbling,and a rock of offence, even to them whichstumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto*also they were appointed.
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Butye are a chosengeneration, a royalpriesthood, an holynation, a peculiar[b]*people;that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath calledyou out ofdarknessintohismarvellouslight:
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Which 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;
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Havingyourconversationhonestamong the Gentiles:that,whereas[c]they speak againstyouasevildoers, they mayby your goodworks, which they shall behold, glorifyGodin the day of visitation.
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Submit yourselves to everyordinance of manfor the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king,assupreme;
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Or unto governors,as unto them that are sentbyhimforthepunishment of evildoers,and for the praise of them that do well.
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Forsois the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolishmen:
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Asfree,andnotusing[d] your libertyfor a cloke of maliciousness,butas the servants of God.
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Honourall[e] men. Love the brotherhood.FearGod.Honour the king.
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Servants, be subject to your masterswithallfear;notonly to the goodandgentle,butalso to the froward.
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Forthis is thankworthy,[f]if a manforconscience toward Godenduregrief,sufferingwrongfully.
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Forwhatglory 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 acceptable[g]withGod.
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Forevenhereunto were ye called: becauseChristalsosufferedforus,[h]leavingus an example,that ye should followhissteps: