¶ He is glad of Gayus, that he well••eth in the trueth ex∣horteth them to be souyng vnto the poore Chrysten in theyr perseruryon, sheweth the vnkynde dealinge of D••otrophes, adn the good reporte of Demetrius.
❧: The thyrde Epystle of Saynct Ihon.
THe elder vnto the [unspec A] beloued Gayus, whome I loue in the trueth. Beloued I wyssh in all thinges that thou prosperedste, and fa∣redst wel, euen as thy soule prospereth. For I reioysed greatly, when the brethren came, and testified of the trueth that is in the, howe thou walckeste in the trueth. I haue no greater ioye, then for to [unspec B] heare. Howe that my sonnes walcke in ve∣ritye, Beloued, thou doest faythfully, what soeuer thou doeste to the brethren, and to straungers, which beare wytnes of thy loue before the congregacion, Which brethren yf thou brynge for wardes of theyr iorney) af∣ter a godly sorte) thou shalt do well: because that for hys names sake they wente forthe: and toke nothyng of the Gentyls. We ther∣fore [unspec C] ought to receaue suche, that we myght be helpers to the trueth.
I wrote vnto the congregacion: but Dio∣trephes whiche loueth to haue the preemp∣nence amonge them, receaueth vs not. Wherfore yf I come, I wyll declare his de∣des which he dothe, iestyuge on vs with ma¦lycyous wordes, neyther is ther with con∣tent. Not onely he hym selfe receaueth not the brethren: but also he forbyddeth them that wolde, and thrusteth them oute of the congregacyon,
Beloued, folowe not that which is euyll, [unspec D] but that which is good. He that doeth well, is of God: but he that doeth euyll, seyth not God. Demetrius hathe good reporte of all men and of the trueth it selfe, yee and we our selues also beare recorde, and yeknowe, that oure recorde is true, I had many thyn∣ges to wryte: but I wyl not with inke and penne wryte vnto the. I trust I shal shortly se the and we shal speake mouthe to mouthe. Peace be vnto the. The louers salute the. Gre∣te the louers by name.