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¶ The seconde Epystle of Saynt Iohn. (Book 2 John)
¶ He wryteth vnto a certayne lady, reioyseth that her chyldren walke in the truth, exhorteth them vn∣to loue, warneth them to beware of such disceyuers as denye that Iesus Chryste came in the flesshe, prayeth them to continue in the doctrine of Christe, and to haue nothynge to do with them that brynge not this learnynge.
[ A] THe elder to the elect la∣dy and her chyldren whiche I loue in the trouthe: and not I onely, but also all yt knowe the truthe, for the truthes sake whiche dwel∣leth in vs, and shalbe in vs for euer.
With you be grace, mercy and peax frome God the father and frome the Lorde Iesus Christ the sonne of the father, in trouthe and [ B] loue.
I reioysed greately, that I founde of thy children walkynge in trouthe, as we haue re∣ceyued a commaundement of the father. And now beseche I the, (lady,) not as thoughe I wrote a newe commaundement vnto the, but that same which we had from the begynning, that we shuldeφ 1.1 Loue one an other. And this is the loue, that we shoulde walke after his [ C] commaundementes.
This commaundement is (that as ye haue herde frome the begynnynge) ye shulde walke in it. For many deceyuers are entred into the worlde, which confesse not, that Iesu Christ, is come in the flesshe. This is a deceyuer and an Antichrist. Loke on youre selues, that we lose not that we haue wrought:* 1.2 but that we [ D] maye haue a full rewarde. Who so euer trans¦gresseth, and abydeth not in the doctryne of Christe, hathe not God. He that endureth in the doctrine of Christ, hathe bothe the father and the sonne.
Yf there come any vnto you and bringe not this learnynge, him receyue not to house: nei¦ther byd hym God spede. For he that byddeth him God spede, is partaker of his euyll dedes I had many thinges to wryte vnto you, ne∣uerthelesse I wolde not wryte with pa∣per and ynke: but I truste to come vnto you, and speake with you mouth to mouth, that our ioye may be full. The sonnes of thy electe sister grete the. AMEN.