strengthened with grace, not with meats, which have not profited those who were occupied with them. 10 We have a sacrifice, of which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood, shed for sin, is carried by the high priest into the holiest, are burned without the camp. 12 Wherefore, Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people by his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Therefore, let us go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here we have no abiding city, but we seek one to come. 15 Through him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.

16 But forget not to do good, and to be liberal: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive: for they watch for your souls, as those who must give an account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for that would be fatal to you. Pray for us: for we trust that we have a good conscience, willing to live honorably in all things. 19 And I the more earnestly entreat you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

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20 Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 perfect you in every good work, in order that you may do his will, working in you that which is acceptable in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory from age to age. Amen.

22 I beseech you, brethren, bear with my word of exhortation: for I have written to you in few words.

23 Know that our brother Timothy is set at liberty, with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. 24 Salute all your rulers, and all the saints. The saints of Italy salute you.

THE LETTER OF OF JAMES.

I. 1

JAMES, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

to the twelve tribes that are in the dispersion, greeting. 2 My brethren, count it all joy, when you fall into manifold trials, knowing that the trial of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its work perfected, that you may be perfect and faultless, wanting in nothing.

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5 Now, if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, doubting not: for he that doubts, is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind, and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his

ways.

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Let the brother that is in a lowly condition, glory in his exaltation: 10 but he that is rich, in his humiliation; because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. "For the sun rises with its burning heat, and withers the grass, and its flower falls, and the beauty of its form perishes. So, also, shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endures trial: for, being approved, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised

to those who love him. 13 Let no one say, when he is tempted,

My temptation is from God; for God can not be tempted by evils, and he himself tempts no man.

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4 But every one is

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tempted when he is drawn away by his own desire, and is deluded. 15 So, then, desire, when it has conceived, brings forth sin; and sin, when it is matured, brings forth death.

16 Be not deceived, my beloved brethren; "every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor slightest trace of turning. 18 Of his own will, he begot us with the word of truth, in order that we might be, as it were, the first-fruits of his creatures.

19 So, then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. 20 For the wrath of man produces not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore, laying aside all filthiness, and every excess caused by malice, receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if any one is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man that looks at his natural face in a mirror: 24 for he looks at himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what sort of person he is. 25 But he that looks intently into the perfect law of liberty, and remains constant, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, he shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any one among you seems to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Religion, pure and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

II. 'My brethren, do not hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, so as to show a partiality for persons. For if

there comes into your assembly a man in splendid apparel, and with gold rings on his fingers, and there comes in also a poor man, in mean clothing, and you show regard to him that wears the splendid apparel, and say to him, Sit here, in an honorable place; and you say to the poor man, Do you stand there, or sit here, under my footstool; are you not partial in yourselves? and do you not judge from false principles? 5 Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God has promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not themselves drag you to the judgment-scats? Do they not themselves revile that honorable name which is called upon you? If, however, you fulfill the law of highest excellence, according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well. But if you show partiality for persons, you work sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

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10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet fail in one, is an offender against all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now, though you do not commit adultery, yet, if you kill, you are a transgresssor of law.

12 So speak, and so act, as those who shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, who has shown no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.

14 What profit is there, my brethren, if any one say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 and any of you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, and yet give them not the things that are needful for the body, what does this profit them? 17 So, also, faith, if it has not works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But some one will say, You have faith, and

I have works; show me your faith by your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble. 20 But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was the moving principle in his works, and by works his faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God. 24 Do you see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only?

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

III. 1My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things word, he is a perfect

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we all offend. If any one offends not in man, able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits into horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which are very great, and are driven by violent winds; yet they are turned about by a very small helm, to whatever point the will of him that directs it may determine. So, also, the tongue is a little member, and

boasts great things.

Behold, how great a forest does a little fire set in a blaze. And the tongue is a fire, the world of iniquity. So is the tongue placed among our members, defiling the whole body, setting on fire the course of life, and being set on fire by hell.