Imitators of God

1Be ye therefore imitators of God, as his dear children; live together in love, 2for Christ loved us, and for us gave himself an offering and a sacrifice acceptable to God.

3But fornication, and all impurity, or inordinate desire, let it not be approved by you, as being unworthy of christians: neither ribaldry, 4nor buffoonry, which they call pleasantry, but is indecent: be you rather exercised in social virtue. 5for this you know, that no licentious or dissolute person, no lewd libertine, that is, an idolater, hath any part in the kingdom of Christ, and of God.

6let no man mislead you by vain reasonings: for it is for these vices, that the wrath of God lights upon the incredulous. 7don't you therefore be concern'd with them.

Children of Light

8you were heretofore altogether in the dark, but now being enlightned by the Lord, behave as children of light: 9for the natural effect of light, is universal benevolence, justice, and truth: 10consider what is acceptable to the Lord; 11and be not accomplices in the fruitless practices of vice; on the contrary, condemn them. 12for it is a shame even to mention what they practise in secret. 13but whatever is unjustifiable will be brought to light: and that will show them to be unjustifiable.

14wherefore 'tis said, " awake thou that sleepest, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

15See then that you behave circumspectly, and not as fools, but as wise, 16weighing the circumstances of the season, because the times are dangerous. 17wherefore be not imprudent, but consider what is agreeable to the divine will. 18do not drink to excess, for that tends to dissoluteness, but be regal'd with spiritual entertainments: 19expressing yourselves in psalms, in hymns, and spiritual songs; and let your hearts beat the time, in concerts of praises to the Lord, 20and this the burthen of the song, "thanks be to God, even the father, for his son Jesus Christ our Lord."

Wives and Husbands
(1 Peter 3:1–7)

21Be mutually obsequious with christian respect.

22let married women be submissive to their husbands, out of regard to the Lord. 23for the husband presides over his wife, as Christ presides over the church: and he it is that preserves the whole body. 24as the church then is subordinate to Christ, so let women be to their husbands upon all occasions.

25You husband, love your spouse, even as Christ loved the church, and laid down his life for her: 26to sanctify and purify her by the ablution of his word, 27that he himself might make her appear illustrious to his own eye, a church without spot, or any thing like a defect; so as to be holy and irreprehensible. 28in like manner ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: "he that loves his wife, loveth himself." 29no man was ever yet averse to his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord doth the church: 30of which we are the several parts constituting his body. 31the scripture says, "for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and they two shall be as one." 32these words contain a very mystical sense, I mean in reference to Christ and the church. 33wherefore let every one of you without exception, love his wife even as himself; and let the wife respect her husband.