Therefore if thine enemy hunger feed him: if he thirst, give him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head: Be not overcome of evil: But overcome evil with goodness.
The .xiij. Chapter.
Let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers. There is no power but of God. The powers that be, are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth power, resisteth the ordinance of God. They that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not to be feared for good works but for evil. Wilt thou be without fear of the power? Do well then: and so shalt thou be praised of the same. For he is the minister of God, for thy wealth. But and if thou do evil, then fear: for he beareth not a sword for nought. for he is the minister of God, to take vengeance on them that do evil. Wherefore ye must needs obey, not for fear of vengeance only: but also because of conscience. Even for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are God's ministers, serving for the same purpose.
Give to every man therefore his duetie: Tribute to whom tribute belongeth: Custom to whom custom is due: fear to whom fear belongeth: Honour to whom honour pertaineth. Owe no thing to any man: but to love one another. For he that loveth another, fulfilleth the law. For these commandments: Thou shalt not commit advoutry: Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not steal: Thou shalt not bear false witness: Thou shalt not desire: and so forth if there be any other commandment, are all comprehended in this saying: Love thine neighbor as thyself. Love hurteth not his neighbor: Therefore is love the fulfilling of the law.
This also we know, I mean the season, how that it is time that we should now awake out of sleep. For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is passed and the day is come nigh. Let us therefore cast away the deeds of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly as it were in the daylight: not in eating and drinking: neither in chambering and wantonness: neither in strife and envying: but put ye on the lord Iesus Christ. And make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts of it.
The .xiiij. Chapter.
Him that is weak in the faith, receive unto you, not in disputing and troubling his conscience. One believeth that he may eat all things. Another which is weak eateth herbs, Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not. And let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth. For God hath received him. What art thou that judgest another man's servant? Whether he stand or fall, that pertaineth unto his master. Yee, he shall stand. For God is able to make him stand.
This man putteth difference between day and day: another man counteth all days alike. See that no man waver in his own mind. He that observeth one day more than another, doth it for the lord's pleasure. And he that observeth not one day more than another, doth it to please the lord, for he giveth God thanks. and he that eateth not, eateth not to please the lord with all, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth his own servant: and also none of us dieth his own servant. If we live, we live to be at the lord's will. And if we die, we die at the lord's will. Whether we live therefore or die, we are the lord's. For Christ therefore died and rose again, and revived, that he might be lord both of dead and quick.
But why doest thou then judge thy brother? other why dost thou despise thy brother? We shall all be brought before the judgement seat of Christ. For it is written: As truly as I live saith the lord, all knees shall bow to me, and all tongues shall give a knowledge to God. So shall every one of us give accounts of himself to God. Let us not therefore, judge one another any more.
But judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block, or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. For I know, and surely believe in the lord Iesus, that there is nothing common of itself: but unto him that judgeth it to be common, to him it is common. If thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Suffer ye not that your treasure be evil spoken of. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy, in the holy ghost. For whosoever in these things serveth Christ, pleaseth well God: and is commended of men.