A Letter From Jerome Segers To The Brethren And Sisters.

“Let not sin reign therefore in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God;” and “pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day;” and be not found in darkness, dear brethren, lest that “day should overtake you as a thief.” Rom. 6:12,13; Matt. 24:20; 1 Thess. 5:4. For if ye do so, ye shall be children of light and of the day; for they are not the children of God, who boast of the faith, but do not fulfill it with the works, for Christ says: “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13:17. For he that knows it, and does it not, is likened unto a fool; and the servant that knows the will of his lord, and does it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. Matt. 7:26; Luke 12:47. But those who believe with the heart, and do as they believe, are the true children of God, and shall also be accounted believers in the kingdom of heaven. Hence I counsel you, and beseech you with Peter, that, giving all diligence you add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; but an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into everlasting life. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 2 Pet. 1:5–8,11,9. Therefore, purify your souls in obeying the truth, in true, unfeigned love of the brethren, and love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. 1 Pet. 1:22,23. Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and place all your hope in God; have fervent love among yourselves, and be of one mind; mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate; let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth nor spend your time in vain conversation, which increases only unto more ungodliness; but speak that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers: let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt (Col. 4:6); for Peter says: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;” (1 Pet. 4:11) that you may be an example unto all men; for Christ says: “Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savor, it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. . . . Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” “Ye are the light of the world.” “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:13,15,14,16. And Peter says: Have your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in the fear of God. 1 Pet. 2:12, 3:16.

He further says: “He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Pet. 3:10–12. Hence, take good heed, that the angry face of the Lord do not look down upon you; for in the last day the ungodly shall exclaim: “O ye hills and mountains, fall upon us, and cover us, that we may not see the angry face of him that sitteth on the throne.” Hos. 10:8; Rev. 6:16. And Christ says: “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, 491 ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:20. Again, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 18:3.