Ye are fond of contention, brethren, and full
of zeal about i.Mngs which do not pertain to
salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures,
which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit.
Observe ^ that nothing of an unjust or counter-
feit character is written in them. There 7 you
will not find that the righteous were cast off by
men who themselves were holy. The righteous
were indeed persecuted, but only by the wicked.
They were cast into prison, but only by the un-
holy ; they were stoned, but only by transgress-
ors ; they were slain, but only by the accursed,
and such as had conceived an unrighteous envy