d, give diligence that thou mayest be
found of him without spot and blameless, working that which is good
upon the foundation of faith: for faith without works is dead, as also
are works without faith; even as I remember to have told thee afore.
Put off therefore now all malice, and hate all the works of the old
man, which are corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and, as
new-born babe, desire to drink the reasonable and sincere milk of the
virtues, that thou mayest grow thereby, and attain unto the knowledge
of the commandments of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that thou mayest
henceforth be no more a child in mind, tossed to and fro, and carried
about on the wild and raging waves of thy passions: or rather in malice
be a child, but have thy mind settled and made steadfast toward that
which is good, and walk worthy of the vocation wherewith thou wast
called, in the keeping of the commandments of the Lord, casting off and
putting far from thee the vanity of thy former conversation, henceforth
walking not as the Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, having
their understanding darkened, alienated from the glory of God, in
subjection to their lusts and unreasonable affections. But as for
thee, even as thou hast approached the living and true God, so walk
thou as a child of light; for the fruit of the Spirit is in all
goodness and righteousness and truth; and no longer destroy by the
works of the old man the new man, which thou hast to-day put on. But
day by day renew thyself in righteousness and holiness and truth: for
this is possible with every man that willeth, as thou hearest that unto
them that believe on his name he hath given power to become the sons of
God; so that we can no longer say that the acquiring of virtues is
impossible for us, for the road is plain and easy. For, though with
respect to the buffeting of the body, it hath been called a strait and
narrow way, yet through the hope of future blessings is it desirable
and divine for such as walk, not as fools but circumspectly,
understanding what the will of God is, clad in the whole armour of God
to stand in battle against the wiles of the adversary, and with all
prayer and supplication watching thereunto, in all patience and hope.
Therefore, even as thou hast heard from me, and been instructed, and
hast laid a sure foundation, do thou abound therein, increasing and
advancing, and warrin