The .iij. Chapter.
My brethren, be not every man a master, Remembering how that we shall receive the more damnation. For in many things we sin all. If a man sin not in word, he is a perfect man and able to tame all the body. Behold we put bits into the horses' mouths that they should obey us, and we turn about all the body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the violence of the governor will: even so the tongue is little member and boasteth great things.
Behold how great a thing a little fire kindleth, and the tongue is fire, and a world of wickedness. So is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth a fire all that we have of nature, and is itself set afire, even of hell.
All the natures of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and things of the sea, are meeked and tamed of the nature of man. But the tongue can no man tame. It is an unruly evil full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God the father, and therewith curse we men which are made after the similitude of God. Out of one mought proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at one place sweet water, and bitter also? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries: other a vine bear figs? So can no fountain give both salt water and fresh also. Who is wise and endued with learning among you? Let him shew the works of his good conversation in meekness that is coupled with wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, rejoice not: neither be liars against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above: but is earthy, and natural, and devilish: For where envying and strife is, there is unstableness, and all manner of evil works: but the wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, and without simulation: yee, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, of them that keep peace.
The .iiij. Chapter.
From whence cometh war, and fighting among you? come they not here hence? even of your voluptuousness that raineth in your members. Ye lust, and have not. Ye envy and have indignation, and cannot come by it. Ye fight and war, and have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask and have not, because ye ask amiss, for to consume it upon your voluptuousness. Ye advoutrers, and women that break matrimony: know ye not how that the friendship of the world is enmity to godward? Whosoever will be friend of the world, is made the enemy of God. Do ye suppose that the scripture saith in vain: The spirit that dwelleth in you, lusteth even contrary to envy: but giveth more grace.
Submit yourselves to God, and resist the devil, and he will flye from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purge your hearts ye wavering minded. Suffer afflictions: sorrow ye and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Cast down yourselves before the lord, and he shall lift you up. Backbite not one another, brethren. He that backbiteth his brother, and he that judgeth his brother, backbiteth the law, and judgeth the law: but and if thou judge the law, thou art not an observer of the law: but a judge. There is one law giver, which is able to save and to destroy. What art thou that judgest another man?
Go to now ye that say: today and tomorrow let us go into such a city and continue there a year and buy, and sell, and win: and yet cannot tell what shall happen tomorrow. For what thing is your life? it is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away: For that ye ought to say: if the lord will and if we live, let us do this or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings. All such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth how to do good, and doth it not, it is sin.
The .v. Chapter.
Go to now ye rich men. Weep, and howl on your wretchedness that shall come upon you. Your riches is corrupt, your garments are motheaten. Your gold and your silver are cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness unto you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together in your last days: Behold the hire of the laborers which have reaped down your fields (which hire is of you kept back by fraud) crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped, are entered into the ears of the lord Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth and in wantonness. Ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and have killed the just, and he hath not resisted you.