sent down from heaven; on which things the
angels bending forwards eagerly desire to gaze.

(13)Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, vigilant, wait with
assured hope for the grace, which shall be brought unto you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ; (14)as obedient children, not conformed to
the former passions of the days of your ignorance: (15)but as he who
hath called you is holy, be ye holy also in all your conduct:
(16)because it is written, "Be ye holy; for I am holy[148]." (17)And if
ye invoke him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth
according to every man's work, conduct yourselves during the time of
your sojourning with _jealous_ fear: (18)knowing that ye have not been
redeemed out of your vain manner of life, derived traditionally from
your fathers, by the corruptible things, silver and gold, (19)but by
the precious blood of Christ, as the unblemished and spotless lamb:
(20)who was indeed predestined before the foundation of the world, but
manifested in these last times for us, (21)who by him believe in God,
that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and
hope might be in God. (22)Having purified your souls by obedience to
the truth through the Spirit unto fraternal affection undissembled,
love each other intensely out of a pure heart: (23)born again, not of
corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the quickening word of God,
and which abideth for ever. (24)"For all flesh is as grass, and all the
glory of man, as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the
flower of it falleth off[149]:" (25)but the word of the Lord abideth
for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto
you.

CHAP. II.

WHEREFORE putting far away wickedness of every kind, and all deceit,
and hypocrisies, and envyings, and all backbitings, (2)as new-born
babes desire earnestly the unadulterated milk of the word, that ye may
grow thereby: (3)if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
(4)Whom approaching, as the living stone, rejected indeed of men, but
elect of God, and honourable, (5)ye also, as living stones, are built
up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual
sacrifices, well pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. (6)Wherefore
also it is contained in the scripture, "Behold, I lay in Sion a
cornerstone, elect, precious, and the believer on him shall never be
confounded[150]." (7)By you therefore who believe is he honoured: but
respecting the d