The II. Chapter.
BVt there were false prophetes also amonge the people, * 1.1 euen as there shalbe false teachers amonge you li∣kewyse, which preuely shal brynge in damna¦ble sectes, euen denyenge the LORDE that hath boughte them, and shal brynge vpon them selues swift damnacion: and * 1.2 many shal folowe their damnable wayes, by whō the waye of the trueth shal be euell spokē of: and thorow cuvetousnes shal they with fay¦ned wordes make marchaundise of you, vpō whō the iudgment is not necligēt in tarien¦ge of olde, and their damnacion slepeth not.
* 1.3For yf God spared not the angels that synned, but cast them downe with the chey∣nes of darknes in to hell, and delyuered thē ouer to be kepte vnto iudgment: * 1.4 Nether spared the olde worlde, but saued Noe the preacher of righteousnes himselfe beynge ye eight, and brought the floude vpō the worl¦de of the vngodly: * 1.5 And turned the cities of Sodom and Gomor into aszhes, ouerthrue them, damned them, and made on them an ensample, vnto those that after shulde lyue vngodly: And delyuered iust Loth which was vexed with the vngodly conuersacion of ye wicked. For in so moch as he was righ∣teous and dwelt amonge them, so that he must nedes se it and heare it, his righteous soule was greued from to daye to daye with their vnlaufull dedes. * 1.6 The LORDE knoweth how to delyuer the godly out of tentacion, and how to reserue the vniust vnto the daye of iudgment for to be punyshed: but special∣ly them that walke after the flesh in ye lust [ C] of vnclennes, and despyse the rulers: beynge presumptuous, stubborne, and feare not to speake euell of thē yt are in auctorite * 1.7 whā the angels yet which are greater both in power and might, beare not that blasphe∣mous iudgment agaynst them of the LOR∣DE. * 1.8 But these are as ye brute beestes, which naturally are broughte forth to be takē and destroyed: * 1.9 speakynge euell of yt they knowe not, and shal perishe in their owne destruc∣cion, and so receaue ye rewarde of vnrighte¦ousnes.
They counte it pleasure to lyue delicious∣ly for a season: Spottes are they and fylthy∣nes: lyuynge at pleasure and in disceaueable wayes: feastynge wt that which is youres, hauynge eyes full of aduoutrye, and cā not ceasse from synne, entysinge vnstable soules: hauynge an hert exercysed wt couetousnes: they are cursed children, and haue forsaken the righte waye, and are gone astraye: fo∣lowinge the waye of * 1.10 Balaam the sonne of Bosor, which loued the rewarde of vnrigh∣teousnes: but was rebuked of his iniquyte. The tame and domme beast spake with mās voyce, & forbad the foolishnes of ye prophet.
These are welles without water, & * 1.11 clou∣des [ D] caried aboute of a tēpest: to whō ye myst of darknesse is reserued foreuer. For they spea¦ke ye proude wordes of vanite, vnto ye vtte∣most, and entyse thorow wantannes vnto ye luste of the flesh, euen them that were cleane escaped, and now walke in erroure: and pro∣myse them libertye, where as they them sel∣ues are seruauntes off corrupcion. * 1.12 For off whom so euer a man is ouercome, vnto the same is he in bondage. * 1.13 For yf they (after they haue escaped from the fylthynes of the