Of his own will begat he us with the word of life, that we should be the first [fruits] of his creatures.
Wherefore dear brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. For the wrath of man worketh not that which is righteous before God.
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, all superfluity of maliciousness, and receive with meekness the word that is grafted in you, which is able to save your souls: And see that ye be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves [with sophistry]. For if any hear the word, and do it not, he is like unto a man that beholdeth his bodily face in a glass. For as soon as he hath looked on himself, he goeth his way, and hath immediately forgotten what his fashion was: but whosoever looketh in the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein (if he be not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work) he shall be happy in his deed.
If any man among you seem devout, and refrain not his tongue: but deceive his own heart, this man's devotion is in vain. Pure devotion and undefiled before God the father, is this: To visit the friendless, {fatherless} and widows in their adversity, and to keep himself unspotted from {of} the world.
The .ij. Chapter.
Brethren have not the faith of our lord Iesus Christ the lord of glory in respect of persons. If there come into your company a man with a golden ring, and in goodly apparel and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment, and ye have a respect to him that weareth the gay clothing and say unto him: Sit thou here in a good place: and say unto the poor, stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: are ye not even partial in yourselves, and have judged after evil thoughts?
Hearken my dear beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, which are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Are not the rich they which oppress you: and they which draw you before judges? Do not they speak evil of that good name that is called on over you?
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture which saith: Thou shalt love thine neighbour as thyself, ye do well: but if ye regard one person more than another, ye commit sin, and are rebuked of the law as transgressors. Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet fail in one point, he is guilty in all. For he that said: Thou shalt not commit fornication, said also: thou shalt not kill. Though thou shalt do no fornication, yet if thou kill, thou art a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For there shall be judgement merciless to him that sheweth no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against judgement: What availeth it my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, when he hath no deeds? Can faith save him? If a brother or a sister be naked or destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them: Depart in peace, God send you warmness and food: notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body: what helpeth it them? Even so faith, if it have no deeds is dead in itself.
But one shall say: Thou hast faith, and I have deeds: Shew me thy faith by thy deeds: and I will shew thee my faith by my deeds. Believest thou that there is one God? Thou doest well. The devils also believe and tremble.
Wilt thou understand o thou vain man, that faith without deeds is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified of his deeds when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seest how that faith wrought with in his deeds, and through the deeds was the faith made perfect. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God. Ye see then how that of deeds a man is justified, and not of faith only. Likewise also was not Raab the harlot justified when she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? For as the body, without the spirit is dead, even so faith without deeds is dead.