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2.
1
NOW these things, beloved, [*186:8] put you in mind of, not questioning but that you yourselves also [*186:9] believe that they are so.
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2
But I arm you before-hand against certain beasts in the shape of men whom you must not only not receive, but if it be possible must not meet with.
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3
Only you must pray for them, that if it be the will of God they may repent; which yet will be very hard. But of this our Lord Jesus Christ has the power, who is our true life.
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2.
4
For if all these things were done only in shew by our Lord, then do I also seem only to be bound.
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2.
5
And why have I given up myself to death, to the fire, to the sword, to wild beasts!
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6
But now the nearer I am to the sword, the nearer I am to God: when I shall come among the wild beasts, I shall come to God.
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2.
7
Only in the name of Jesus Christ, I undergo all, to suffer together with him; he who was made a perfect man strengthening me.
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2.
8
Whom some not knowing, do deny; or rather have been denied by him, being the advocates of death, rather than of the truth. Whom neither the prophecies, nor the law of Moses have persuaded; nor the Gospel itself even to this day, nor the sufferings of every one of us.
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2.
9
For they think also the same things of us. For what does a man profit me, if he shall praise me, and blaspheme my Lord; not confessing that he [*187:1] was truly made man?
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2.
10
Now he that doth not say this, does in effect deny him, and is in death. But for the names of such as do this, they being unbelievers, I thought it not fitting to write them unto you.
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2.
11
Yea, God forbid that I should make any mention of them, till they shall repent to a true belief of Christ's passion, which is our resurrection.
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2.
12
Let no man deceive himself; both the things which are in heaven and the glorious angels, and princes, whether visible or invisible, if they believe not in the blood of Christ, [*187:2] it shall be to them to condemnation.
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2.
13
[*187:3] He that is able to receive this, let him receive it. Let no man's [*187:4] place or state in the world puff him up: that which is worth all his faith and charity, to which nothing is to be preferred.
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2.
14
But consider those who are of a different opinion from us, as to what concerns the grace of Jesus Christ which is come unto us, how contrary they are to the design of God.
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2.
15
They have no regard to charity, no care of the widow, the fatherless, and the oppressed; of the bond or free, of the hungry or thirsty.
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2.
16
They abstain from the eucharist, and from [*187:5] the public offices; because they confess not the eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ; which suffered for our sins, and which the Father of his goodness, raised again from the dead.
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2.
17
And for this cause contradicting the gift of God, they die in their disputes: [*187:6] but much better would it be for them to [*187:7] receive it, that they might one day rise through it.
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2.
18
It will therefore become you to abstain from such persons; and not to speak with them neither in private nor in public.
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2.
19
But to hearken to the prophets, and especially to the Gospel, in which both Christ's passion is manifested unto us, and his resurrection perfectly declared.
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2.
20
But flee all divisions, as the beginning of evils.
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2.
Footnotes ^186:8 Admonish.
^186:9 Have so.
^187:1 Had true flesh.
^187:2 It is.
^187:3 Matt. xix. 12.
^187:4 Vid. Epist. Interpol.
^187:5 Vid. Annot. Coteler. in loc. Or, Prayers.
^187:6 Vid. Coteler. Annot.
^187:7 Love.
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