12 Ye contended day and night for the whole brotherhood; that with compassion and a good conscience, the number of his elect might be saved.
13 Ye were sincere, and without offence towards each other; not mindful of injuries; all sedition and schism was an abomination unto you.
14 Ye bewailed every one his neighbours' sins, esteeming their defects your own.
15 Ye were kind one to another without grudging; being ready to every good work. And being adorned with a conversation altogether virtuous and religious, ye did all things in the fear of God; whose I commandments were written upon the tables of your heart.
CHAPTER II.
How their divisions began.
ALL honour and enlargement was given unto you; and so was fulfilled that which is written, my beloved did eat and drink, he was enlarged and waxed fat, and he kicked.
2 From hence came emulation, and envy, and strife, and sedition; persecution and disorder, war and captivity.
3 So they who were of no renown, lifted up themselves against the honourable; those of no reputation against those who were in respect; the foolish against the wise; the young men against the aged.
4 Therefore righteousness and peace are departed from you, because every one hath forsaken the fear of God; and is grown blind in his faith; nor walketh by the rule of God's commandments nor liveth as is fitting in Christ: