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The seconde Epistle of S. Ihon.
He wryteth vnto a certayne lady, reioyseth that her children walke in the trueth, exhorteth thē vnto loue, warneth them to bewarre of soch disceauers as denye that Iesus Christ came in the flesh, prayeth them to contynue in the doctryne of Christ, and to haue nothinge to do with them that bringe not this lernynge.
THE Elder. To ye elec¦te [ A] lady and hir childrē whom I loue in the trueth: & not I onely, but all they also that haue knowne the tru∣eth, for the truthes sa¦ke which dwelleth in vs, and shalbe with vs for euer.
Grace, mercy, and peace be with you frō the LORDE Iesus Christ ye sonne of the fa¦ther in the trueth and in loue.
I am greatly reioysed, that I haue foun¦de amonge thy children, them that walke in ye trueth, as we haue receaued a commaun∣dement of the father. And now lady I bese∣ke the (not as though I wrote a new com∣maundement vnto the, but the same which we haue had from the begynnynge) that we loue one another. And this is the loue, that we walke after his commaundementes.
This is the commaundement (as ye ha∣ue [ B] herde frō the begynnynge) that we shul∣de walke therin. For many disceauers are come in to the worlde, which confesse not yt Iesus Christ is come in the flesh: this is a disceauer and an Antechrist. Take hede to youre selues, that we lose not that which we haue wrought, but that we maye receaue a full rewarde. Who so euer transgresseth, and abydeth not in the doctryne of Christ, hath not God: he that abydeth in ye doctryne of Christ, hath both the father and the sonne.
Yf eny man come vnto you, and brynge not this doctryne, receaue him not in to the house, nether salute him: for he that saluteth him, is partaker of his euell dedes. I had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any thinges to wryte vnto you: neuerthe∣•••••••• I wolde not wryte wt papyre and ynke, 〈…〉〈…〉 to come vnto you, and to 〈…〉〈…〉 mouth, that oure ioye 〈…〉〈…〉 ••hildren of thy electe sister