Unity in the Body 1I therfore which am in bondes for the lordes sake exhorte you that ye walke worthy of the vocacion wherwith ye are called 2in all humblenes of mynde and meknes and longe sufferynge forbearinge one another thorowe love 3and that ye be dyliget to kepe ye vnitie of ye sprete in the bonde of peace 4beynge one body and one sprete eve as ye are called in one hope of youre callynge. 5Let ther be but one lorde one fayth one baptim: 6one god and father of all which is above all thorow all and in you all. 7Vnto every one of vs is geven grace acordinge to the measure of ye gyft of christ. 8Wherfore he sayth: He is gone vp an hye and hath ledde captivitie captive and hath geven gyftes vnto men. 9That he ascended: what meaneth it but that he also descended fyrst into the lowest parties of the erth? 10He that descended is even the same also that ascended vp even above all hevens to fulfill all thinges. 11And the very same made some Apostles some prophetes some Evangelistes some Sheperdes some Teachers: 12yt the sainctes might have all thinges necessarie to worke and minister with all to the edifyinge of the body of christ 13tyll we every one (in the vnitie of fayth and knowledge of the sonne of god) growe vp vnto a parfayte man after ye measure of age of the fulnes of Christ. 14That we hence forth be no moare chyldren wauerynge and caryed with every wynde of doctryne by the wylynes of men and craftynes wherby they laye a wayte for vs to deceave vs. 15But let vs folowe the trueth in loue and in all thynges growe in him which is the heed that ys to saye Christ 16in whom all the body ys coupled and knet togedder in every ioynt whe rwith one ministreth to another (accordinge to the operacion as every parte hath his measure) and increaseth the body vnto the edyfyinge of it silfe in love. New Life in Christ 17This I saye therfore and testifie in ye lorde that ye hence forth walke not as other gentyls walke in vanitie of their mynde 18blynded in their vnderstondynge beynge straungers from the lyfe which is in god thorow the ignorancy that is in them because of the blyndnes of their hertes: 19which beynge past repentaunce have geven them selves vnto wantannes to worke all manner of vnclennes even with gredynes. 20But ye have not so learned Christ 21if so be ye have hearde of him and are taught in him even as the trueth is in Iesu. 22So then as concernynge the coversacion in tyme past laye from yo u that olde ma which is corrupte thorow the deceavable lustes 23and be ye renued in the sprete of youre myndes 24and put on that newe man which after the ymage of God is shapen in ryghtewesnes and true holynes. 25Wherfore put awaye lyinge and speake every man truth vnto his neghbour for as moche as we are members one of another. 26Be angrye but synne not let not the sonne go doune apon your wrathe 27nether geue place vnto ye backbyter. 28Let him yt stole steale no moare but let him rather laboure with his hondes some good thinge that he maye have to geve vnto him that nedeth. 29Let no filthy comunicacion procede out of youre mouthes: but yt whych is good to edefye with all when nede ys: that it maye have faveour with the hearers. 30And greve not the holy sprete of God by whome ye are sealed vnto the daye of redempcion. 31Let all bitternes fearsnes and wrath rorynge and cursyd speakynge be put awaye from you with all maliciousnes. 32Be ye courteouse one to another and mercifull forgevynge o ne another eve as god for Christes sake forgave you. |