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Epistle of Peter to James

Pseudonymous letter writer

Chapter 5

About this work

Author: Pseudonymous letter writer

Chapter V.—The Adjuration Accepted.

James having thus spoken, the elders were in an agony of

‹ Chapter 4

terror

.

Therefore

James

,

perceiving

that

they

were

greatly

afraid

,

said

:

“

Hear

me

,

brethren

and

fellow

-

servants

.

If

we

should

give

the

books

to

all

indiscriminately

,

and

they

should

be

corrupted

by

any

daring

men

,

or

be

perverted

by

interpretations

,

as

you

have

heard

that

some

have

already

done

,

it

will

remain

even

for

those

who

really

seek

the

truth

,

always

to

wander

in

error

.

Wherefore

it

is

better

that

they

should

be

with

us

,

and

that

we

should

communicate

them

with

all

the

fore

-

mentioned

care

to

those

who

wish

to

live

piously

,

and

to

save

others

.

But

if

any

one

,

after

taking

this

adjuration

,

shall

act

otherwise

,

he

shall

with

good

reason

incur

eternal

punishment

.

For

why

should

not

he

who

is

the

cause

of

the

destruction

of

others

not

be

destroyed

himself

?

”

The

elders

,

therefore

,

being

pleased

with

the

sentiments

of

James

exclaimed

,

“

Blessed

be

He

who

,

as

foreseeing

all

things

,

has

graciously

appointed

thee

as

our

bishop

;

”

and

when

they

had

said

this

,

we

all

rose

up

,

and

prayed

to

the

Father

and

God

of

all

,

to

whom

be

glory

for

ever

.

Amen

.

Notes

1
[Rufinus, in his preface to the Recognitions, makes no allusion to this letter.—R.]