CHAP. II.
It is not agreeable to Christian profession to regard the rich, and to despise the poore brethren: 13 rather wee are to be louing, and mercifull: 14 And not to boast of faith where no deedes are, 17 which is but a dead faith, 19 the faith of deuils, 21 not of Abraham, 25 and Rahab.
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1 My brethren, haue not the faith of our Lord Iesus Christ the Lord of glorie, with respect of persons.
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2 For if there come vnto your +assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poore man, in vile raiment: [ +Gr. Synagogue. ]
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3 And yee haue respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say vnto him, Sit thou here ||in a good place: and say to the poore, Stand thou there, or sit here vnder my footstoole: [ ||Or, well, or seemely. ]
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4 Are yee not then partiall in your selues, and are become iudges of euill thoughts?
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5 Hearken, my beloued brethren, Hath not God chosen the poore of this world, rich in faith, and heires of ||the kingdome, which hee hath promised to them that loue him? [ || Or, that. ]
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6 But yee haue despised the poore. Doe not rich men oppresse you, and draw you before the Iudgement seats?
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7 Doe not they blaspheme that worthy Name, by the which ye are called?
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8 If ye fulfil the royall Law, according to the Scripture, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe, ye doe well.
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9 But if ye haue respect to persons, ye commit sinne, and are conuinced of the Law, as transgressours.
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10 For whosoeuer shall keepe the whole Law, & yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
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11 For he +that said, Doe not commit adultery; sayd also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressour of the Law. [+Or, that Law which said. ]
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12 So speake ye, and so doe, as they that shall bee iudged by the Law of libertie.
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13 For he shall haue iudgement without mercie, that hath shewed no mercy, & mercie ||reioyceth against iudgement. [|| Or, glorieth ]
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14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say hee hath faith, and haue not workes? can faith saue him?
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15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of dayly foode,
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16 And one of you say vnto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed & filled: notwithstanding ye giue them not those things which are needfull to the body: what doth it profit?
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17 Euen so faith, if it hath not works, is dead being +alone. [ +Gr. by it selfe. ]
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18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I haue workes: shew mee thy faith ||without thy workes, and I will shew thee my faith by my workes. [ ||Some copies reade, by thy workes. ]
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19 Thou beleeuest that there is one God, thou doest well: the deuils also beleeue, and tremble.
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20 But wilt thou knowe, O vaine man, that faith without workes is dead?
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21 Was not Abraham our father iustified by works, when hee had offered Isaac his sonne vpon the altar?
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22 ||Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? [ || Or, thou seest. ]
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23 And the Scripture was fullfiled which saith, *Abraham beleeued God, and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnes: and he was called the friend of God. [ *Gen.15.6 rom.4.3. gal.3.6. ]
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24 Ye see then, how that by workes a man is iustified, and not by faith only.
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25 Likewise also, was not Rahab the harlot iustified by works, when she had receiued the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
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26 For as the body without the ||spirit is dead, so faith without workes is dead also. [ ||Or, breath. ]
