Submit yourselves unto all manner ordinance of man for the lord's sake, whether it be unto the King as unto the chief head: other unto rulers, as unto them that are sent of him, for the punishment of evil doers: but for the laud of them that well do. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye should stop the mouths of ignorant men: as free, and not as though ye took liberty for a cloak of maliciousness: but even as the servants of God. See that ye honour all men. Love brotherly fellowship, fear God, honour the king.
Servants obey your masters with all fear, not only if they be good and courteous: but also though they be froward. For it commeth of grace, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what praise is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently? But and if when ye do well, ye suffer wrong and take it patiently, then is there thanke with God.
Hereunto verily were ye called, for Christ also suffered for our sakes: leaving us an ensample that ye should follow his steps, which did no sin, neither was there guile found in his mouth: which when he was reviled, reviled not again: when he suffered, he threatened not: but committed the cause to him that judgeth righteously, which his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree, that we should be delivered from sin and should live in righteousness. By whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep which go astray: but are now returned unto the shepherd, and bishop of your souls.
The .iij. Chapter.
Likewise let the women be in subjection to their husbands, that even they which believe not the word, may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives: while they behold your pure conversation coupled with fear. Whose apparel shall not be outward with broided hair, and hanging on of gold, other in putting on of gorgeous apparel: but let the hid man of the heart be uncorrupt, with a meek and a quiet spirit, which spirit is before God a thing much set by. For after this manner in the old time did the wholy women which trusted in God tire themselves, and were obedient to their husbands, even as Sara obeyed Abraham and called him lord: whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and be not afraid of every shadow.
Likewise ye men dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as unto them that are heirs also of the grace of life, that your prayers be not let.
In conclusion, be ye all of one mind, one suffer with another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil, neither rebuke for rebuke: but contrariwise, bless: remembering that ye are thereunto called, even that ye should be heirs of blessing. For whoso listeth to love life, and to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips, that they speak not guile: Let him eschew evil and do good: let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the lord beholdeth them that do evil.
Moreover who is it that will harm you if ye follow that which is good? notwithstanding happy are ye if ye suffer for righteousness' sake. Nevertheless fear not though they seem terrible unto you, neither be troubled: but sanctify the lord God in your hearts. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that ye have, and that with meekness and fear: having a good conscience, that when they backbite you as evil doers, they may be ashamed, for as much as they have falsely accused your good conversation in Christ.
It is better (if the will of God be so) that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For as much as Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, for to bring us to God, and was killed, as pertaining to the flesh: but was quickened in the spirit.
In which spirit, he also went and preached unto the spirits that were in prison, which were in time past disobedient, when the long suffering of God abode exceeding patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few (that is to say viij. souls) were saved by water, which signifieth baptism that now saveth us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but in that a good conscience consenteth to God, by the resurrection of Iesus Christ, which is on the right hand of God, and is gone into heaven, angels, power, and might, subdued unto him.