Epistle of Peter to
James.
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Peter to James, the lord
and bishop of the holy Church, under the Father of all, through Jesus
Christ, wishes peace always.
Chapter I.—Doctrine of
Reserve.
Knowing, my brother, your eager desire after that
which is for the advantage of us all, I beg and beseech you not to
communicate to any one of the Gentiles the books of my preachings which
I sent to you, nor to any one of our own tribe before trial; but if any
one has been proved and found worthy, then to commit them to him, after
the manner in which Moses delivered his books to the Seventy who
succeeded to his chair. Wherefore also the fruit of that caution
appears even till now. For his countrymen keep the same rule of
monarchy and polity everywhere, being unable in any way to think
otherwise, or to be led out of the way of the much-indicating
Scriptures. For, according to the rule delivered to them, they
endeavour to correct the discordances of the Scriptures, if any one, haply not knowing the traditions, is confounded at the various utterances of the prophets. Wherefore they charge no one to teach, unless he has first learned how the Scriptures must be used. And thus they have amongst them one God, one law, one hope.