Chapter 2

1Exhorts them against heretics. 8 The danger of their doctrine . NOW these things, beloved, put you in mind of, not questioning but that you yourselves also believe that they are so.
2But I arm you before-hand against certain beasts in the shape of men whom you must not only not receive, but if it be possible must not meet with.
3Only you must pray for them, that if it be the will of God they may repent; which yet will be very hard. But of this our Lord Jesus Christ has the power, who is our true life.
4For if all these things were done only in shew by our Lord, then do I also seem only to be bound.
5And why have I given up myself to death, to the fire, to the sword, to wild beasts!
6But now the nearer I am to the sword, the nearer I am to God: when I shall come among the wild beasts, I shall come to God.
7Only in the name of Jesus Christ, I undergo all, to suffer together with him; he who was made a perfect man strengthening me.
8Whom some not knowing, do deny; or rather have been denied by him, being the advocates of death, rather than of the truth. Whom neither the prophecies, nor the law of Moses have persuaded; nor the Gospel itself even to this day, nor the sufferings of every one of us.
9For they think also the same things of us. For what does a man profit me, if he shall praise me, and blaspheme my Lord; not confessing that he was truly made man?
10Now he that doth not say this, does in effect deny him, and is in death. But for the names of such as do this, they being unbelievers, I thought it not fitting to write them unto you.
11Yea, God forbid that I should make any mention of them, till they shall repent to a true belief of Christ's passion, which is our resurrection.
12Let no man deceive himself; both the things which are in heaven and the glorious angels, and princes, whether visible or invisible, if they believe not in the blood of Christ, it shall be to them to condemnation.
13He that is able to receive this, let him receive it. Let no man's place or state in the world puff him up: that which is worth all his faith and charity, to which nothing is to be preferred.
14But consider those who are of a different opinion from us, as to what concerns the grace of Jesus Christ which is come unto us, how contrary they are to the design of God.
15They have no regard to charity, no care of the widow, the fatherless, and the oppressed; of the bond or free, of the hungry or thirsty.
16They abstain from the eucharist, and from the public offices; because they confess not the eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ; which suffered for our sins, and which the Father of his goodness, raised again from the dead.
17And for this cause contradicting the gift of God, they die in their disputes: but much better would it be for them to receive it, that they might one day rise through it.
18It will therefore become you to abstain from such persons; and not to speak with them neither in private nor in public.
19But to hearken to the prophets, and especially to the Gospel, in which both Christ's passion is manifested unto us, and his resurrection perfectly declared.
20But flee all divisions, as the beginning of evils.