PETER an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the foreigners dispers'd thro' Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, whom God the father has chosen in pursuance of his decree,

Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has regenerated us, and given us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the expectation of immortal life,

it is by him that you believe in God, who has raised him from the dead, and invested him with glory, that your faith and your hope might be in God.

since your regeneration is not owing to any corruptible principles, but to the unchangeable word of the immortal God.

which is without any mixture, and will make you thrive. Since you have tasted how good the Lord is,

which however rejected it is by men, is the precious stone, which God has chosen: and

you your selves are as so many living stones, you are the edifice, the spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, agreeable to God by Jesus Christ.

of darkness into his marvellous light: you, who formerly were not a people, but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy,

and glorify God in the times of distress. be subject therefore, for the Lord's sake to every human establishment: whether it be to the king,

and to encourage those who do well. for such is the divine pleasure, that by your good conduct you obviate the cavils of inconsiderate

of God. Be respectful to all, love your brethren, fear God, and honour the king.

adore the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready to show with modesty and respect to every one that asks it, what ground there is for the expectations you have:

always maintaining a good conscience, that instead of inveighing against you as evildoers, they may be cover'd with confusion, who traduce your virtuous behaviour as Christians.

for Jesus Christ himself has already suffer'd for our sins, the innocent for the guilty, to bring us to God: who, tho' he died with respect to his body, was rais'd to life by that spirit,

who being ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God, where angels, dominations, and potentates have been subjected to him.

for to this end was the gospel preach'd to those, who are now dead, that after having suffer'd the loss of this frail life from men, they might enjoy an immortal life with God.

as good economists of the different dispensations of God, communicate to one another the gifts you have receiv'd.

let a speaker deliver nothing but what is agreeable to the divine oracles: and let him that attends the poor, be active in proportion to the strength God has given him. amen.

if you suffer indignities in the cause of Christ, you are happy: for the glorious spirit of God rests upon you.

but whoever suffers as a christian, let him not be asham'd, but rather give thanks to God upon that account.

for now is the time when God will begin his judgments with his own church. now if he begins with us, what will the conclusion be to those who do not obey the divine gospel?

let those then, whom God calls to sufferings, by virtue recommend their souls to him, as to a creator, who will make good his promise.

to exhort you to feed the flock of God, which is among you: to take care of it, voluntarily, without reluctance, not from any view to sordid gain, but out of real affection;

As for you that are young, be you submissive to those of a more advanc'd age: and do you all of you pay a becoming deference to one another: be cloak'd with humility, for " God opposes the proud, and shows favour to the humble."

but may the all-gracious God, who has called us to eternal glory, perfect, confirm, fortify, and settle you, during the short interval of your sufferings.

I formerly writ to you a short epistle, by Silvanus, I think, a faithful brother, to declare and testify to you, that the true dispensation of God is that to which you are attach'd.