As not only Prophets, but also false-prophets were in the old Testament, so now likewise there shall be Masters of Heresy, to the damnation of themselves, and of their followers. 4 And of their damnation he pronounceth by examples ( as he comforteth the virtuous Catholics or true believers with the example of Lot ) because of their railing at their Superiors and Prelates, their blaspheming of Catholic doctrine, their voluptuous living, their lechery, their covetousness, their manner of seducing, and the persons seduced, 20 for whom it had been less damnable, if they had never been Christians.As not only Prophets, but also false-prophets vvere in the old Testament, so novv likevvise there shal be Maisters of Heresie, to the damnation of them selues, and of their folovvers. 4 And of their damnation he pronounceth by examples ( as he comforteth the vertuous Catholikes or true beleeuers vvith the example of Lot ) because of their railing at their Superiors and Prelates, their blaspheming of Catholike doctrine, their voluptuous liuing, their lecherie, their couetousnes, their manner of seducing, and the persons seduced, 20 for vvhom it had bene lesse damnable, if they had neuer been Christians.✦
But there were also false-prophets in the people, as also in you there shall be lying masters which shall bring in sects of perdition, and deny him that hath bought them, the Lord: bringing upon themselves speedy perdition.BVT there vvere also false-prophets in the people, as also in you there shal be *lying maisters vvhich shal bring in sectes of perdition, and denie him that hath bought them, c the Lord: bringing vpon them selues speedie perdition.✦Fuerunt vero et pseudoprophetæ in populo, sicut et in vobis erunt magistri mendaces, qui introducent sectas perditionis : et eum qui emit eos, Dominum negant, superducentes sibi celerem perditionem.
2And many shall follow their luxurias: debaucheries, licentious excesses, by whom the way of truth shall be blasphemed.And many shal folovv their riotousnesses, by vvhom the vvay of truth shal be blasphemed.✦Et multi sequentur eorum luxurias, per quos via veritatis blasphemabitur :
3and in avarice shall they with feigned words make negotiabuntur: trade upon you, make a profit of you: not deal in goods of you. unto whom the judgement now long since ceaseth not: and their perdition slumbereth not.and in auarice shal they c vvith feined vvordes make merchandise of you. vnto vvhom the iudgement novv long since ceaseth not: and their perdition slumbereth not.✦et in avaritia fictis verbis de vobis negotiabuntur : quibus judicium jam olim non cessat : et perditio eorum non dormitat.
4For if God spared not Angels sinning: but with the ropes of Hell being drawn down into Hell delivered them to be tormented, that they should be reserved unto judgement:For if God spared not Angels sinning: but vvith the ropes of Hel being dravvn dovvne into Hel deliuered them to be tormented, that they should be reserued vnto iudgement:✦Si enim Deus angelis peccantibus non pepercit, sed rudentibus inferni detractos in tartarum tradidit cruciandos, in judicium reservari.
5and he spared not the original world, but kept the eight, Noe, the preacher of justice, bringing in the deluge upon the world of the impious.and he spared not the original vvorld, but *kept the eight, Noë, the preacher of iustice, bringing in the deluge vpon the vvorld of the impious.✦Et originali mundo non pepercit, sed octavum Noë justitiæ præconem custodivit, diluvium mundo impiorum inducens.
6And bringing the cities of the Sodomites and the Gomorrhites into ashes, he damned them with eversione: overthrow, utter destruction, putting an example of those that shall do impiously:And bringing the cities of the Sodomites and the Gomorrheites into asshes, he damned them vvith subuersion, putting an example of those that shal doe impiously:✦Et civitates Sodomorum et Gomorrhæorum in cinerem redigens, eversione damnavit : exemplum eorum, qui impie acturi sunt, ponens :
7and delivered just Lot oppressed by the injury and luxurious conversatione: manner of life, conduct: not talk of the abominable men.and *deliuered iust Lot oppressed by the iniurie and luxurious conuersation of the abominable men.✦et justum Lot oppressum a nefandorum injuria, ac luxuriosa conversatione eripuit :
8For in sight and hearing he was just: dwelling with them who from day to day vexed the just soul with unjust works.For in sight and *hearing he vvas iust: dvvelling vvith them vvho from day to day vexed the iust soule vvith vniust vvorkes.✦aspectu enim, et auditu justus erat : habitans apud eos, qui de die in diem animam justam iniquis operibus cruciabant.
9Our Lord knoweth to deliver the godly from tentatione: trial, testing, but to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be tormented:Our Lord knovveth to deliuer the godly from tentation, but to reserue the vniust vnto the day of iudgement to be tormented:✦Novit Dominus pios de tentatione eripere : iniquos vero in diem judicii reservare cruciandos.
10and especially them which walk after the flesh in concupiscentia: disordered desire, lust of uncleanness, and contemnunt: despise, scorn: not condemn dominion, bold, self-sibi placentes: those who please only themselves, self-willed: they fear not to bring in sects, blaspheming.and especially them vvhich vvalke after the flesh in concupiscence of vncleannesse, and contemne dominion, bold, self-pleasers: they feare not to bring in sectes, blaspheming.✦Magis autem eos, qui post carnem in concupiscentia immunditiæ ambulant, dominationemque contemnunt, audaces, sibi placentes, sectas non metuunt introducere blasphemantes :
11Whereas Angels being greater in strength and power, bear not the execrable judgement against them.Vvhereas Angels being greater in strength and povver, beare not the execrable iudgement *against them.✦ubi angeli fortitudine, et virtute cum sint majores, non portant adversum se execrabile judicium.
12But these men as unreasonable beasts, naturally tending to the snare and into destruction, in those things which they know not, blaspheming, shall perish in their corruption,But these men as vnreasonable beastes, naturally tending to the snare and into destruction, in those things vvhich they knovv not, blaspheming, shal perish in their corruption,✦Hi vero velut irrationabilia pecora, naturaliter in captionem, et in perniciem in his quæ ignorant blasphemantes in corruptione sua peribunt,
13receiving the reward of injustice, esteeming for a pleasure the delights of a day: coinquinationes: defilements, pollutions and spots, flowing in deliciis: luxurious indulgences, sensual pleasures: not fine foods, in their feastings rioting with you,receiuing the revvard of iniustice, esteeming for a pleasure the delightes of a day: b coinquinations and spottes, flovving in delicacies, in their feastings rioting vvith you,✦percipientes mercedem injustitiæ, voluptatem existimantes diei delicias : coinquinationes, et maculæ deliciis affluentes, in conviviis suis luxuriantes vobiscum,
14having eyes full of adultery and incessant sin: alluring unstable souls, having their heart exercised with avarice, the children of malediction:hauing eies ful of adulterie and incessant sinne: alluring vnstable soules, hauing their hart exercised vvith auarice, the children of malediction:✦oculos habentes plenos adulterii, et incessabilis delicti. Pellicientes animas instabiles, cor exercitatum avaritia habentes, maledictionis filii :
15leaving the right way they have erred, having followed the way of Balaam of Bosor, which loved the reward of iniquity,leauing the right vvay they haue erred, hauing folovved the vvay of Balaam of Bosor, vvhich loued the revvard of iniquitie,✦derelinquentes rectam viam erraverunt, secuti viam Balaam ex Bosor, qui mercedem iniquitatis amavit :
16but had a correptionem: a rebuke, a sharp correction of his madness, the dumb beast under the yoke, speaking with man's voice, prohibited the foolishness of the prophet.but *had a checke of his madnesse, the dumme beast vnder the yoke, speaking vvith mans voice, prohibited the folishnes of the prophet.✦correptionem vero habuit suæ vesaniæ : subjugale mutum animal, hominis voce loquens, prohibuit prophetæ insipientiam.
17These are fountains without water, and clouds, tossed with whirl-winds, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved.These are fountaines vvithout vvater, and cloudes, tossed vvith vvhirle-vvindes, to vvhom the mist of darkenesse is reserued.✦Hi sunt fontes sine aqua, et nebulæ turbinibus exagitatæ, quibus caligo tenebrarum reservatur.
18For, speaking the proud things of vanity, they allure in the desires of fleshly riotousness, those that escape a little, which converse in error,For, speaking the proud things of vanitie, they allure in the desires of fleshly riotousnes, those that escape a litle, vvhich conuerse in errour,✦Superba enim vanitatis loquentes, pelliciunt in desideriis carnis luxuriæ eos, qui paululum effugiunt, qui in errore conversantur :
19promising them liberty, whereas themselves are the slaves of corruption. for, wherewith a man is overcome, of that he is the slave also.promising them libertie, vvhereas them selues are the slaues of corruption. for, *vvherevvith a man is ouercome, of that he is the slaue also.✦libertatem illis promittentes, cum ipsi servi sint corruptionis : a quo enim quis superatus est, hujus et servus est.
20For if fleeing from the coinquinations of the world in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they again entangled with the same be overcome: the later things are become unto them worse than the former.For if fleeing from the coinquinations of the vvorld in the knovvledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesvs Christ, they againe intangled vvith the same be ouercome: the later things are become vnto them vvorse then the former.✦Si enim refugientes coinquinationes mundi in cognitione Domini nostri, et Salvatoris Jesu Christi, his rursus implicati superantur : facta sunt eis posteriora deteriora prioribus.
21For it was better for them not to know the way of justice, than after the knowledge, to turn back from that holy commandment which was delivered to them.For it vvas better for them not to knovv the vvay of iustice, then after the knovvledge, to turne backe from that holy commandement vvhich vvas deliuered to them.✦Melius enim erat illis non cognoscere viam justitiæ, quam post agnitionem, retrorsum converti ab eo, quod illis traditum est, sancto mandato.
22For, that of the true proverb is chanced to them, The dog returned to his vomit: and, The sow washed into her wallowing in the mire.For, that of the true prouerbe is chanced to them, *The dogge returned to his vomite: and, The sovve vvashed c into her vvalovving in the mire.✦Contigit enim eis illud veri proverbii : Canis reversus ad suum vomitum : et, Sus lota in volutabro luti.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.