DENISON

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Jacóbus, Dei et Dómini nostri Jesu Christi servus, duódecim tríbubus, quæ sunt in dispersióne, salútem. Omne gáudium existimáte fratres mei, cum in tentatiónes várias incidéritis: sciéntes quod probátio fídei vestræ patiéntiam operátur. Patiéntia autem opus perféctum habet: ut sitis perfécti et íntegri in nullo deficiéntes. Si quis autem vestrum índiget sapiéntia, póstulet a Deo, qui dat ómnibus affluénter, et non impróperat: et dábitur ei. Póstulet autem in fide nihil hǽsitans: qui enim hǽsitat, símilis est flúctui maris, qui a vento movétur et circumfértur: non ergo ǽstimet homo ille quod accípiat áliquid a Dómino. Vir duplex ánimo incónstans est in ómnibus viis suis. Gloriétur autem frater húmilis in exaltatióne sua: dives autem in humilitáte sua, quóniam sicut flos fœni transíbit; exórtus est enim sol cum ardóre, et arefécit fœnum, et flos ejus décidit, et decor vultus ejus depériit: ita et dives in itinéribus suis marcéscet. Beátus vir qui suffert tentatiónem: quóniam cum probátus fúerit, accípiet corónam vitæ, quam repromísit Deus diligéntibus se. Nemo cum tentátur, dicat quóniam a Deo tentátur: Deus enim intentátor malórum est: ipse autem néminem tentat. Unusquísque vero tentátur a concupiscéntia sua abstráctus, et illéctus. Deínde concupiscéntia cum concéperit, parit peccátum: peccátum vero cum consummátum fúerit, génerat mortem. Nolíte ítaque erráre, fratres mei dilectíssimi. Omne datum óptimum, et omne donum perféctum desúrsum est, descéndens a Patre lúminum, apud quem non est transmutátio, nec vicissitúdinis obumbrátio. Voluntárie enim génuit nos verbo veritátis, ut simus inítium áliquod creatúræ ejus. Scitis, fratres mei dilectíssimi. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiéndum: tardus autem ad loquéndum, et tardus ad iram. Ira enim viri justítiam Dei non operátur. Propter quod abjiciéntes omnem immundítiam, et abundántiam malítiæ, in mansuetúdine suscípite ínsitum verbum, quod potest salváre ánimas vestras. Estóte autem factóres verbi, et non auditóres tantum: falléntes vosmetípsos. Quia si quis audítor est verbi, et non factor, hic comparábitur viro consideránti vultum nativitátis suæ in spéculo: considerávit enim se, et ábiit, et statim oblítus est qualis fúerit. Qui autem perspéxerit in legem

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perféctam libertátis, et permánserit in ea, non audítor obliviósus factus, sed factor óperis: hic beátus in facto suo erit. Si quis autem putat se religiósum esse, non refrénans linguam suam, sed sedúcens cor suum, hujus vana est relígio. Relígio munda et immaculáta apud Deum et Patrem, hæc est: visitáre pupíllos et víduas in tribulatióne eórum, et immaculátum se custodíre ab hoc sǽculo. II. Fratres mei, nolíte in personárum acceptióne habére fidem Dómini nostri Jesu Christi glóriæ. Étenim si introíerit in convéntum vestrum vir áureum ánnulum habens in veste cándida, introíerit autem et pauper in sórdido hábitu, et intendátis in eum qui indútus est veste præclára, et dixéritis ei: Tu sede hic bene: páuperi autem dicátis: Tu sta illic; aut sede sub scabéllo pedum meórum: nonne judicátis apud vosmetípsos, et facti estis júdices cogitatiónum iniquárum? Audíte, fratres mei dilectíssimi: nonne Deus elégit páuperes in hoc mundo, dívites in fide, et hǽredes regni, quod repromísit Deus diligéntibus se? vos autem exhonorástis páuperem. Nonne dívites per poténtiam ópprimunt vos, et ipsi trahunt vos ad judícia? nonne ipsi blasphémant bonum nomen, quod invocátum est super vos? Si tamen legem perfícitis regálem secúndum Scriptúras: Díliges próximum tuum sicut teípsum: bene fácitis: si autem persónas accípitis, peccátum operámini, redargúti a lege quasi transgressóres. Quicúmque autem totam legem serváverit, offéndat autem in uno, factus est ómnium reus. Qui enim dixit: Non mœcháberis, dixit et: Non occídes. Quod si non mœcháberis, occídes autem, factus es transgréssor legis. Sic loquímini, et sic fácite sicut per legem libertátis incipiéntes judicári. Judícium enim sine misericórdia illi qui non fecit misericórdiam: superexáltat autem misericórdia judícium. Quid próderit, fratres mei, si fidem quis dicat se habére, ópera autem non hábeat? numquid póterit fides salváre eum? Si autem frater et soror nudi sint, et indígeant victu quotidiáno, dicat autem áliquis ex vobis illis: Ite in pace, calefacímini et saturámini: non dedéritis autem eis quæ necessária sunt córpori, quid próderit? Sic et fides, si non hábeat ópera, mórtua est in semetípsa. Sed dicet quis: Tu fidem habes, et ego ópera hábeo: osténde mihi fidem tuam sine opéribus: et ego osténdam tibi ex opéribus fidem meam. Tu credis quóniam unus est Deus: bene facis: et dǽmones credunt, et con-

[James 1:1-2:19]

1 James the servant of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 My brethren, count it all joy, when you shall fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 And patience hath a perfect work; that you may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing. 5 But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men abundantly, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind. 7 Therefore let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is inconstant in all his ways. 9 But let the brother of low condition glory in his exaltation: 10 And the rich, in his being low; because as the flower of the grass shall he pass away. 11 For the sun rose with a burning heat, and parched the grass, and the flower thereof fell off, and the beauty of the shape thereof perished: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been proved, he shall receive a crown of life, which God hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God. For God is not a tempter of evils, and he tempteth no man. 14 But every man is tempted by his own concupiscence, being drawn away and allured. 15 Then when concupiscence hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin. But sin, when it is completed, begetteth death. 16 Do not err, therefore, my dearest brethren. 17 Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration. 18 For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creature 19 You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger. 20 For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God. 21 Wherefore casting away all uncleanness, and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if a man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he shall be compared to a man beholding his own countenance in a glass. 24 For he beheld himself, and went his way, and presently forgot what manner of man he was. 25 But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty, and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one's self unspotted from this world.

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with respect of persons. 2 For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire, 3 And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool: 4 Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts? 5 Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him? 6 But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? and do not they draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you? 8 If then you fulfil the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well. 9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors. 10 And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment. 14 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him? 15 And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food: 16 And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit? 17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself. 18 But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith. 19 Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and...

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-tremíscunt. Vis autem scire, o homo inánis, quóniam fides sine opéribus mórtua est? Ábraham pater noster nonne ex opéribus justificátus est, ófferens Ísaac fílium suum super altáre? Vides quóniam fides cooperabátur opéribus illíus: et ex opéribus fides consummáta est? Et suppléta est Scriptúra, dicens: Crédidit Ábraham Deo, et reputátum est illi ad justítiam, et amícus Dei appellátus est. Vidétis quóniam ex opéribus justificátur homo, et non ex fide tantum? Simíliter et Rahab méretrix, nonne ex opéribus justificáta est, suscípiens núntios, et ália via ejíciens? Sicut enim corpus sine spíritu mórtuum est, ita et fides sine opéribus mórtua est. III. Nolíte plures magístri fíeri fratres mei, sciéntes quóniam majus judícium súmitis. In multis enim offéndimus omnes. Si quis in verbo non offéndit, hic perféctus est vir: potest étiam freno circumdúcere totum corpus. Si autem equis frena in ora míttimus ad consentiéndum nobis, et omne corpus illórum circumférimus. Ecce et naves, cum magnæ sint, et a ventis válidis minéntur, circumferúntur a módico gubernáculo ubi ímpetus dirigéntis volúerit. Ita et lingua módicum quidem membrum est, et magna exáltat. Ecce quantus ignis quam magnam silvam incéndit! Et lingua ignis est, univérsitas iniquitátis. Lingua constitúitur in membris nostris, quæ máculat totum corpus, et inflámmat rotam nativitátis nostræ inflammáta a gehénna. Omnis enim natúra bestiárum, et vólucrum, et serpéntium, et ceterórum domántur, et dómita sunt a natúra humána: linguam autem nullus hóminum domáre potest: inquiétum malum, plena venéno mortífero. In ipsa benedícimus Deum et Patrem: et in ipsa maledícimus hómines, qui ad similitúdinem Dei facti sunt. Ex ipso ore procédit benedíctio et maledíctio. Non opórtet, fratres mei, hæc ita fíeri. Numquid fons de eódem forámine emánat dulcem et amáram aquam? Numquid potest, fratres mei, ficus uvas fácere, aut vitis ficus? Sic neque salsa dulcem potest fácere aquam. Quis sápiens et disciplinátus inter vos? Osténdat ex bona conversatióne operatiónem suam in mansuetúdine sapiéntiæ. Quod si zelum amárum habétis, et contentiónes sint in córdibus vestris: nolíte gloriári, et mendáces esse advérsus veritátem: non est enim ista sapiéntia desúrsum descéndens: sed terréna, animális, diabó-

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-lica. Ubi enim zelus et conténtio, ibi inconstántia et omne opus pravum. Quæ autem desúrsum est sapiéntia, primum quidem pudíca est, deínde pacífica, modésta, suadíbilis, bonus conséntiens, plena misericórdia et frúctibus bonis, non júdicans, sine simulatióne. Fructus autem justítiæ, in pace seminátur, faciéntibus pacem. IIII. Unde bella et lites in vobis? nonne hinc: ex concupiscéntiis vestris, quæ mílitant in membris vestris? concupíscitis, et non habétis: occíditis, et zelátis: et non potéstis adipísci: litigátis, et belligerátis, et non habétis, propter quod non postulátis. Pétitis, et non accípitis: eo quod male petátis: ut in concupiscéntiis vestris insumátis. Adúlteri, nescítis quia amicítia hujus mundi inimíca est Dei? quicúmque ergo volúerit amícus esse sǽculi hujus, inimícus Dei constitúitur. An putátis quia inániter Scriptúra dicat: Ad invídiam concupíscit spíritus qui hábitat in vobis? majórem autem dat grátiam. Propter quod dicit: Deus supérbis resístit, humílibus autem dat grátiam. Súbditi ergo estóte Deo, resístite autem diábolo, et fúgiet a vobis. Appropinquáte Deo, et appropinquábit vobis. Emundáte manus, peccatóres: et purificáte corda, dúplices ánimo. Míseri estóte, et lugéte, et ploráte: risus vester in luctum convertátur, et gáudium in mœrórem. Humiliámini in conspéctu Dómini, et exaltábit vos. Nolíte detráhere altérutrum fratres. Qui détrahit fratri, aut qui júdicat fratrem suum, détrahit legi, et júdicat legem. Si autem júdicas legem, non es factor legis, sed judex. Unus est legislátor et judex, qui potest pérdere et liberáre. Tu autem quis es, qui júdicas próximum? Ecce nunc qui dícitis: Hódie, aut crástino íbimus in illam civitátem, et faciémus ibi quidem annum, et mercábimur, et lucrum faciémus: qui ignorátis quid erit in crástino. Quæ est enim vita vestra? vapor est ad módicum parens, et deínceps exterminábitur; pro eo ut dicátis: Si Dóminus volúerit. Et: Si vixérimus, faciémus hoc, aut illud. Nunc autem exsultátis in supérbiis vestris. Omnis exsultátio talis, malígna est. Sciénti ígitur bonum fácere, et non faciénti, peccátum est illi. V. Ágite nunc dívites, ploráte ululántes in misériis vestris, quæ advénient vobis. Divítiæ vestræ putrefáctæ sunt, et vestiménta vestra a tíneis comésta sunt. Aurum et argéntum vestrum æru-

[James 2:19-5:3]

...tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God. 24 Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only? 25 And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way? 26 For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.

1 Be ye not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you receive the greater judgment. 2 For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body. 3 For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also ships, whereas they are great, and are driven by strong winds, yet are they turned about with a small helm, whithersoever the force of the governor willeth. 5 Even so the tongue is indeed a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood. 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body, and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by hell. 7 For every nature of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of the rest, is tamed, and hath been tamed, by the nature of man: 8 But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison. 9 By it we bless God and the Father: and by it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth, out of the same hole, sweet and bitter water? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear grapes; or the vine, figs? So neither can the salt water yield sweet. 13 Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew, by a good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter zeal, and there be contentions in your hearts; glory not, and be not liars against the truth. 15 For this is not wisdom, descending from above: but earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and contention is, there is inconstancy, and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom, that is from above, first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation. 18 And the fruit of justice is sown in peace, to them that make peace.

1 From whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not hence, from your concupiscences, which war in your members? 2 You covet, and have not: you kill, and envy, and can not obtain. You contend and war, and you have not, because you ask not. 3 You ask, and receive not; because you ask amiss: that you may consume it on your concupiscences. 4 Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the scripture saith in vain: To envy doth the spirit covet which dwelleth in you? 6 But he giveth greater grace. Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 7 Be subject therefore to God, but resist the devil, and he will fly from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners: and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into sorrow. 10 Be humbled in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11 Detract not one another, my brethren. He that detracteth his brother, or he that judgeth his brother, detracteth the law, and judgeth the law. But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, and judge, that is able to destroy and to deliver. 13 But who art thou that judgest thy neighbour? Behold, now you that say: To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and there we will spend a year, and will traffic, and make our gain. 14 Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. 15 For what is your life? It is a vapour which appeareth for a little while, and afterwards shall vanish away. For that you should say: If the Lord will, and if we shall live, we will do this or that. 16 But now you rejoice in your arrogancies. All such rejoicing is wicked. 17 To him therefore who knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin.

1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted: and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered...