whom though you have not seen, you love: and though he is not now the object of your view, yet you believe in him, and triumph with such a laudable transport, as cannot be express'd:

and since you invoke him as your father, who without respect of persons judges every one according to his actions; while you are passing thro' this world, be fearful of offending him:

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.

adhere to him as to a living stone,

as supreme; or to governors, as being deputed by him to punish those who do ill,

such was Sarah, who show'd her obeysance to Abraham, by stiling him her Lord: and you will be stiled her children, if you imitate her conduct, and are not to be terrified out of your virtue.

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

but they will be call'd to account by him, who is ready to judge both the living and the dead.

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.

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

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.

refer all your disquietudes to him, for you are the objects of his care.

resist him by the steadiness of your faith, considering that your brethren among the Gentiles, suffer the same persecutions as you do.

to him belongs eternal glory and empire. amen.