Chapter II.—An exhortation to virtue.
“Wherefore, girding up your loins,”8 “serve the Lord in fear”9 and truth, as those who
have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and “believed in Him who
raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory,”10 and a throne at His
right hand. To Him all things11 in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves.
He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead.12 His blood will God require of those who
do not believe in Him.13 But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise14 up us also,
if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves
from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; “not
rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing,”15 or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but
being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: “Judge not, that ye be not judged;16
forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you;17 be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy;18 with
what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again;”19 and once more, “Blessed are
the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of
God.”20
8 Comp. 1 Pet. i. 13; Eph. vi. 14.
9 Ps. ii. 11.
10 1 Pet. i. 21.
11 Comp. 1 Pet. iii. 22; Phil. ii. 10.
12 Comp. Acts xvii. 31.
13 Or, “who do not obey him.”
14 Comp 1 Cor. vi. 14; 2 Cor. iv. 14; Rom. viii. 11.
15 1 Pet. iii. 9.
16 Matt. vii. 1.
17 Matt. vi. 12, 14; Luke vi. 37.
18 Luke vi. 36.
19 Matt. vii. 2; Luke vi. 38.
20 Matt. v. 3, 10; Luke vi. 20.
Chapter II.—An exhortation to virtue.
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Chapter II.—An exhortation to virtue.