THE EPISTLE

TO THE

HEBREWS.

I. GOD, who in sundry parcels and in divers manners spake

2 in time past to the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by a son whom he hath constituted heir of all things, by whom also he made the ages; who being an ef-

3 fulgence of the glory, and an impress of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, having by himself made a purification of our sins, sat down on the right

4 hand of the majesty on high, being made as much superior to the heavenly messengers as the name he hath inherited is

5 more excellent than theirs: for to which of those messengers did he ever say, " Thou art my son, this day I have begotten

6 thee.*" And again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.f" And again when he would bring the first born into the world, he saith, "And let all God's messengers

7 worship him.J" Now in respect to the messengers it is said, "Who maketh winds his messengers, and flaming fire his ministers: § but with respect to the son,

" Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: The sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of rectitude: 9 Thou didst love righteousness and hate iniquity, Therefore God, thy God anointed thee With the oil of joy above thy associates,)!" 10 Again, "Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foun^ dation of the earth,

* Ps. 2. r. f 2 Sam. 7. 14. $ Deut. 32. 43. <JPs, 104. 4. II Ps. 45. 6, 7.

And the heavens are the work of thy hand.

11 They shall perish, but thou wilt endure.

12 They shall all wax old like a garment,

And like a mantle thou wilt fold them up and they shall be changed:

But as for thee, thou art the same
And thy years shall have no end.*"

13 And to which of these messengers did he ever say, "Sit at my right hand

Till I make thine enemies thy footstool. |"

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth on service on the account of them who are to be heirs of salvation?

II. For this cause we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest we, through negligence,

2 let them slip. For if the word spoken by messengers was firm, and every transgression and disobedience received as its reward a correspondent requital, how shall we escape, if we

3 neglect so great a salvation, which was first published by the Lord, and confirmed for us by them who heard him,

4 God giving a joint testimony, by signs, and wonders, and divers miracles, and distributions of a holy spirit, according to

5 his own will. For he did not subject to angels the dispensa-

6 tion to come, of which we are speaking; but one in a certain place hath testified, saying,

" What is man, that thou shouldst be mindful of him!
Or a son of man, that thou shouldst visit him!
Thou madest him a little lower than angels;
With glory and honour thou hast crowned him,
And set him over the works of thy hands.
Thou hast put all things under his feet."{

8 For when he put all things under his feet, he left nothing which was not put in subjection to him.

(o) But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

9 (a) But we see him who was made a little lower than

* Ps. 102. 25. f Ps. 110. 1. J: Ps. 8. 4, &c.

(o) An objection. (a) The answer.

angels [namely] Jesus, on account of suffering death crowned with glory and honour, that so he by the favour of

10 God might taste death for every man. For it became him for whom are all things, and by whom arc all things, when bringing many sons to glory to make the leader of their salvation

11 perfect by sufferings. For both he who sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying,

12 "I will declare thy name to my brethren,

In the midst of a congregation I will praise thee."*

13 And, again: "I will trust in him;"f and, again: "Here am

14 I and the children whom God hath given me."t

As the children therefore were partakers of flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same in order that he might,

15 by his death, put a stop to the operation of him who hath the power of death, that is the devil; and deliver from bondage

16 them who were all their lives liable to the fear of death. For . he indeed doth not take hold of angels, but taketh hold of the

17 seed of Abraham, whence it behoved him to be made like his brethren in all things; that he might be a merciful and faithful chief priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement

18 for the sins of the people. For by what he himself suffered when he was tried he can help them who are tried.

III. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly invitation, consider attentively this apostle and chief priest of our

2 profession, [namely] Christ Jesus, who was faithful to him

3 who appointed him, even as Moses was, in his whole house. For he hath been counted worthy of as much greater honour

4 than Moses, as he who hath builded a house hath more honour than the house. For every house hath some builder, but

5 he who builded all things is God. Now Moses was faithful in this whole house of his as a servant for a testimony of those

6 things to be spoken; but Christ as a son over his own house, whose house we arc-, if we stedfastly maintain this confidence,

7 and the boast of this hope, firm to the end. Wherefore as the Holy Spirit saith,

* Ps. 22. 22. f Esaias 8. 17. VOL. IV. 3 D

"To-day since you have heard his voice,

8 Let not your hearts be refractory as at Bitterness—

As in the day of the temptation in the wilderness;

9 Where your fathers tried me;

They proved me, though they saw my works.

10 Forty years. For which cause I was incensed with that generation;

And said, They do always err with the heart,
And have not known my ways:

11 So in mine indignation I solemnly said,
They -shall not enter into my rest."*

12 Take heed, brethren, that there be not in any of you an

13 evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but while this to-day is proclaimed, that none of you may be ren-

14 dered obstinate by the deceitfulness of sin (for we are made associates of the Christ if we retain the beginning of this confi-

15 dence firm to the end) exhort one another daily by its being said, "To-day since you have heard his voice let not your

16 hearts be refractory as at Bitterness." For some hearers provoked him; but did they not all come out of Egypt by Moses?

17 Now, against whom was he incensed forty years'? Was it not

18 against them who sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he solemnly say that they should not

19 enter into his rest, but to them who were disobedient. So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

IV. Let us therefore be afraid, lest having a promise left of

2 entering into His Rest any of us should fall short of it. For we have had the glad tidings proclaimed to us, as they also had; but the word which they heard did not profit them; as it

3 was not mixed up with belief by the hearers. For we who have believed enter into that rest spoken of in this passage, "So in my indignation I said they shall not enter into My Rest;"

4 namely, That from the works done at the foundation of the , world. For where speaking of the seventh day the scripture

5 said thus, "And on the seventh day God rested from all His

6 works.f And again in this place: "They shall not enter into My Best." Therefore since it is left for some to enter into

* Ps, 95. 8, 9, &c. f Gen. 2. 2.

it, and they who had the glad tidings first proclaimed to them 7 did not enter in because of unbelief, he again determinately

pointeth out a day, namely To-day, saying by David after so

long a time, as it hath been mentioned, "To-DAV since you 3 have heard his voice let not your hearts be refractory." For if

Joshua had given them rest, the scripture would not after 9 that have spoken of another day. There is then a Sabbath .0 *est* left for the people of God. For he who entereth into .1 That Rest Of His hath desisted from his works, as God did

from his. Let us therefore use all diligence to enter into This

12 Rest, that none may fall short by a like example of disobedience. For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and penctrateth even to the separation of animal life and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and

13 is capable of discerning the desires and thoughts of the heart. There is indeed no creature concealed from his sight. All things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Having therefore a great chief priest who hath passed through the heavens, namely Jesus the son of God, let us hold

15 fast our profession. For we have not a chief priest incapable of sympathizing in our infirmities; but one who hath been tried in all respects like ourselves, but without sin. Let us

16 therefore come with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find favour for seasonable assistance. For every chief priest, taken from among men, is constituted

V. for men over things pertaining to God, that he may offer

2 both gifts and sacrifices for sins, being able to treat the ignorant and wandering with moderation and compassion, encompassed as he himself is with infirmity; and for this reason it is

3 his duty to offer sacrifices for sins, as well for himself as for -t the people. Now no one assumeth to himself this honour,

but he who is called of God as Aaron was. Thus also the

5 Christ did not dignify himself with the office of chief priest, but was dignified with it by him who said to him, "Thou art

6 my son ; this day I have begotten thec,t as he saith also in

* That is a complete, holy, happy, everlasting rest, prefigured by the sabbath day. f Ps. 2. 7.

another psalm, "Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedek.*"

7 HE, (who in the days of his flesh, having, with a strong cry and tears, offered up prayers and supplications to him who was able to save him from .death, and being heark-

8 ened to, did, from a reverential awe notwithstanding his be-

9 ing a son, learn obedience from what he suffered; and being consecrated became the author of everlasting salvation to

10 all who obey him,) was proclaimed by God a chief priest

11 after the order of Melchisedek, concerning whom we have much to say, but not easy to be explained as you are slow of

12 apprehension. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need of some one to teach you over again the first elements of the oracles of God, and have need of milk

13 and not strong food: for every one who useth milk is unskilled in the doctrine of justification, for he is a babe, and

14 this strong food is for full grown men, who by long practice and exercise have their senses improved for the discernment

VI. of both good and evil. Therefore dropping the discourse of the government of the Christ,f let us, without laying again a foundation of reformation from dead works, and of faith in

2 God, of the doctrine concerning baptism, and the laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judg-

3 ment, proceed to the consecration. And this we will do if God

4 permit: for with regard to them who have been jonce enlightened, and have tasted this free, this heavenly gift, and have

5 been made partakers of a holy spirit, and tasted the good

6 word of God, and the miraculous powers of the age about to come, and have fallen off; it is impossible to renew them again for a reformation, since they are crucifying for themselves afresh

7 the son of God and exposing him to open shame. For ground which drinketh up the rain that frequently falleth on it, and produceth plants fit for the use of them for whom it is culti-

8 vated, receiveth a blessing from God; but that which produceth briars and thorns is rejected, and near a curse, the end of

9 which is for burning. But respecting you, beloved, we are persuaded better things, even things which accompany salva-

*Ps. 110. 4. fSecEsaiasO. 6,

0 tion; though we speak thus. For God is not unjust to forget your work, and the labour of that love which you have shewn for his name, by the assistance which you have given and continue to give to the saints.

1 Now we earnestly desire that every one of you would shew the same diligent concern for the full assurance of this hope

2 to the end: that you may not become languid, but imitators ,3 of them who through faith and long suffering inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, as he had none greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "Sure-

14 ly blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply

15 thee.*" And so he, having waited with patience, obtained

16 the promise. For men indeed swear by a greater, and an oath

17 for confirmation being to them an end of strife, God, willing on this occasion to shew more fully to the heirs of this pro-

L8 mise the immutability of his determination, interposed an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to deceive, there might be strong consolation for us who have fled to take hold of this proffered hope, which we have as

19 an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast; and which en-

20 tereth within the veil, whither a forerunner hath entered for us, namely Jesus, made a chief priest forever, after the order

VII. of Melchisedek. For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham on his return from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, and to whom Abraham gave a tenth of all, was in the first

2 place, by the interpretation of his name, king of righteousness, and in the, next place he was actually king of Salem, that is,

3 king of peace; of whose father and mother there is no mention, noaccount of descent,t nor of the beginning of his days, nor of the end of his life, but likened to the son of God he abideth a priest continually.

4 Now consider what a great personage he was to whom

5 even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. The Levites indeed who receive the priesthood have according to law a commandment to tithe the people, that is their own

*Gcn. 22. 16. f Literally, without a genealogy.

6 brethren descended from the loins of Abraham ; but lie who was not of their pedigree received tithes of Abraham, and

7 blessed him who had the promises. Now, beyond all dispute,

8 the inferior is blessed by the superior. Again, here indeed men who die receive tithes ; but there H E received them of

9 whom it is testified that he liveth. Indeed, as one may say, even Levi who receiveth tithes, was tithed in the person of

10 Abraham; for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Mel- chisedek met him.

11 Again, if perfectness had been by the Levitical priesthood (for it was for this that the people received the law) what further need was there of saying that another priest should be raised up after the order of Melchisedek, and not

12 after the order of Aaron ? For the priesthood being changed

13 there is of necessity a change of the law. For he in respect to whom these things are said belonged to another tribe, none of

14 whom gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang from JudAh, in respect to which tribe Moses

15 spake nothing of a priesthood. And this is still more clear, if after the likeness of Melchisedek another priest is raised up,

16 who is made not according to the law of a commandment concerning flesh, but according to the power of an endless life.

17 For he testifieth, saying, " Thou art a priest forever after the

18 order of Melchisedek." Here then is a disannulment of a preceding commandment on account of its weakness and inuti-

19 lity, (for the law made nothing perfect) and an introduction

20 of a better hope by which we draw near to God. And inas-

21 much as this was not without an oath, (for with regard to them, they indeed were made priests without an oath, but he was made with an oath, by him who said to him, " The Lordliath sworn and will not change, thou art a priest forever after the

22 order of 'Melchisedek,*"' by so much Jesus is made the surety of a better covenant.

23 Again, with regard to them, many were made priests, be-

24 cause death prevented a continuance : but He, because of his continuing forever, hath a priesthood which doth not pass from

25 one to another. So that he is completely able to save them,

* Psalm 110.4.

who come to God by him, as he is ever alive to intercede for

26 them. For it suited us to have such a chief priest—one holy, innocent, undefined, separate from sinners, and made higher

27 than the heavens, who is not under a daily necessity (as the chief priests are,) of offering sacrifices first for his own sins, and then for those of the people ; for this he did once for all

28 when he offered up himself. For the law constituteth men chief priests who have infirmities ; but the word of the oath which succeedeth the law [constituted] the Son, who is consecrated forever.

VIII. Now the sum of what I have said is this, Such a chief priest we have who hath taken a seat at the right hand of the

2 throne of the majesty in the heavens: he is a minister of the holies, and of the tme tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not

3 man. For every chief priest is appointed to offer gifts and sa-

4 orifices; hence it is necessary that H E should have something to offer; for if he were on earth he could not be a priest, as there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law.

5 These perform divine service for a sample and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely admonished, when he was about to make the tabernacle, for it is said, " see that thou make all things according to the model shewn thee on

6 this mountain.*" Now then He hath more noble services allotted to him, in as much as he is the mediator of a better co-

7 venant, which is established on better promises. For if the first covenant had been faultless there would have been no oc-

8 casion for a second—for finding fault with them he saith,

"Behold days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and the house ofJudah

9 *—not such a covenant as I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt; because they did not abide by that covenant of mine, therefore I

10 took no care of them, saith the Lord. This is the covenant which Twill make with the house of Israel, After these days, saith the Lord, adapting my laws to their understanding I will write them on their hearts: and I will be their God, and they shall

* Exodus. 2.5. 40.

11 be my people. And they shall no more teach, every one his neighbour, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord; Jot all shall know me from the least to the greatest of them ; for I

12 will be merciful to their iniquities, and no more remember their . sins and their transgressions.*" By calling this a new covenant

13 he hath antiquated the first. Now that which is antiquated, and grown old, is near being abolished.

IX. Now then the first covenant had the ordinances of divine

2 service and the worldly sanctuary ; for a tabernacle was prepared—the first compartment, in which are the candlestick, and the table, and the presentment of the loaves—this is called

3 the Holy. And beyond the second veil is a compartment which

4 is called, The Holy of Holies, containing a golden altar and the ark of the covenant,all overlaid with gold, in which wasthe golden urn containing the manna, and the staff'of Aaron which bud-

5 ded, and the tables of the covenant, and above it the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat, concerning which we

6 are not at this time to speak particularly. These things being thus prepared, the priests, performing the divine services, go

7 on all occasions into the first compartment; but into the second the chief priest only, and but once a year, not without blood,

8 which he offereth for himself and for the errors of the people, the holy spirit plainly shewing this, that the way into the holies was not yet manifested while that tabernacle hath a

9 standing. This figurative representation was for the time being, according to which gifts and sacrifices were offered, which cannot make him who performeth service, perfect with regard

10 to the conscience, they being things imposed barely for meats, and drinks, and divers baptisms, and rules of conduct respect-

11 ing flesh, until the time of reformation: But Christ being come, a chief priest of the future good things, hath entered into the holies by the greater and more perfect tabernacle—not by one

12 made witli hands, that is, not of this creation; nor with the blood of goats and young bulls, but with his own blood, once

13 for all, having procured everlasting redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling

14 the unclean sanctify, to the cleansing of the flesh; how much

. <_L t _ _f __-,_,__-. , «.

* Jer. 31. 31, &c.

more will the' blood of the Christ, who by an eternal spirit hath oflered himself without blemish to God, purify your con-

15 science from dead works that you may serve the living God. Indeed on the account of this he is the mediator of a New Covenant, that (there having been death for a pardon of the transgressions under the first covenant they who have been called may receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance.

16 For where there is a covenant it necessarily infers the death

17 of that by which it is established. For a covenant is ratified

18 over the dead, and it hath no validity at all while that by which

19 it is established liveth.* Whence even the first covenant was not ratified without blood; for when every precept according to law was rehearsed by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of the calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and the Book, ftd he sprinkled it on all the people

20 saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God hath en-

21 joined on you.* And in like manner he sprinkled the taber-

22 nacle and all the utensils for the holy service with blood. And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood. Indeed without a shedding of blood there was no remission.

23 There was therefore a necessity that the things which were symbols of those in heaven, should be purified with these,

24 but the heavenly things themselves, with sacrifices better than these. For the Christ did not enter into holies made with hands, the symbols of the true; but into heaven itself; nowtoap-

25 pear in the presence of God on our behalf: not that he may ma* ny a time offer himself (us the chief priest goeth every year into the holies with blood not his own) else he then must have suffered many a time from the foundation of the world; but now

26 once for all, at the end pf the ages, he hath been manifested for the purpose of abolishing sin offerings by the sacrifice of i27 himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, and after 28 that there is a judgment; so also the Christ, being once offered up to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without a sin offering, for the salvation of them who wait for him. X. For the law having a shadow of the good things to come and not the very image of those things, can by no means make them who present themselves, perfect for ever by those sacri- 2 fices which they offer year after year. Otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered? Since they who performed the - 3'service, being once purified, would no more have a conscious-

* This alludes to the custom then in use among both Jews and Gentiles, of ratify ing treaties, leagues or covenants, by killing a victim. Fof as with us in case of bonds, or written obligations, they are not binding until they are actually signed, scaled and delivered; so in that age a treaty or covenant was not binding until the victim, which was brought between the parties, was slain. For the mode «f making and ratifying a covenant among the Jews. See Ex. 34 . 3—9.

VOL. IV. 3 E

4 ness of sins. But by these there is an annual remembrance oi

5 sins. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to '^tfake away sins. Therefore when coming into the world he

<S sajth, "Sacrifices and offering? thou didst not desire, but prepa-

7' redstfor me a body. In whole burnt offerings and offerings for

sin thou hadst no pleasure; then I said, Behold I come (in thevo-

8 lume of a book it is -written of me) to perform, 0 God, thy will."* Having first said, "Sacrifice and offering and whole burnt offerings, and offerings for sins thou didst not desire, nor take

9 pleasure in them," (These were offered according to the law)

10 he then said, "Behold I come to perform, 0 God, thy will" (he taketh away the first that he may establish the second) by which will we are sanctified by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once only. , ;

11 Though every priest hath indeed stood performing daily service, and frequently offering the same sacrifices, these can

12 by no means take away sins; but he having offered for sins

13 one sacrifice, to last for ever, sat down at the right hand oi

14 God, thenceforth waiting till his enemies are made his foot-

15 stool. For by one offering he hath made perfect for ever them who arc sanctified. And this indeed the holy spirit testified!

16 to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant which I will make with them"Jlfter these days, saith the Lord, having adapted my

17 laws.to their understandings, I will write them on their minds,

18 and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more."^ Now,

* Ps. 4O. 6, &c. f Jer. 31. 31, &c.

where there is a remission of these, there is no more an ofieiv vt;

ing for sin. . ;

t9 As we, therefore, brethren, have, by virtue of the blood of SO Jesus, free access to the holies by a new and living way, which

21 he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh;

22 and a great high priest over the house of God, let us come with a true heart in the full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and the body washed

23 with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of this hope

24 without wavering; for he who hath promised is faithful; and

25 tet us observe one another, in order to excite love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the custom of some, but comforting one another; and so

26 much the more as you see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth,

27 there remaineth no more any sacrifice for sins, but a certain dreadful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which

28 will devour the adversaries. Whoever hath set at naught the law of Moses dieth without mercy, on the evidence of two or

29 three witnesses. Of how much greater punishment, think ye, will he be thought worthy, who hath trampled upon the Son of God, and accounted the blood of the covenant, by which he was sanctified, a common thing, and treated contemptuously

30 the spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance 51 is mine, I will requite, saith the Lord;" and, again, "The Lord

will judge his people."* It is a dreadful thing to fall into the

32 hands of the living God. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a

33 great conflict of sufferings, being publicly exposed to re- proachcs and afflictions, and at the same time sympathizing .

34 with them who were thus treated: For you sympathized with me in my bonds, and waited with joy the seizure of your

35 goods, knowing that you had in yourselves a better,—even an ever-during substance in heaven. Therefore cast not away that confidence of yours which hath a great recompense of

36 reward. For you must persevere, that when you have -per- formed the will of God, you may receive the promised r&,.

* Deut. 32. 35.

3^ ward. For yet a little while, and he who is coming will come, 38 and will not delay; now the just shall live because of faith; but if he, through fear, draw bSck; my soul hath no pleasure in him.* But we are not of them who draw back for perdition; but of them who believe for the attainment of life. , XI. Now, faith is a confident expectation of things hoped for; a convincement of the mind with respect to the reality of

2 things not seen. By this therefore the ancients obtained reputation.

3 By faith we" understand that the ages were arranged by a word of God, that the things seen should not at all be out of things which appear.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain; by means of which he received a testimonial of being righteous, God himself giving a testimony in favour of his gifts; and by it he, though dead, still speaketh.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him; for be-

6 fore his translation he received this testimonial that he was well pleasing to God. Now without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing; for he who cometh to God must believe that he existeth, and that he is the rewarder of them who diligently seek him.

7 By faith Noah, when warned of unforeseen events, with a religious concern prepared an ark for the saving of his household; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of that righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when called, shewed obedience b*y going to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance,

9 and set out on his journey not knowing whither he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange

10 land, and dwelt in tents with Isaak and Jacob, who were coheirs with him of the same promise. For he expected that city which hath foundations, whose architect and founder is God.

11 By faith Sarah also received strength for conception, and was delivered of a son when she was past age, because she

12 judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore there

* Hab. 2. 3,

sprang even from one, and him dead as to these things, a posterity like the stars of heaven for multitude, and like the sand on the sea shore which is innumerable.

3 These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they viewed them at a distance, and were persuaded of, and embraced them, and acknowledged that they were

4 strangers and sojourners in the land. For they who speak thus

5 shew plainly that they are seeking their father's country: Now had these been mindful of that from which they came out, they

6 might have had an opportunity of returning thither: but now they desire a better, thatis a heavenly country; therefore God is not ashamed of them—to be invoked as their God : for he

7 prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when he was put to the trial, offered up Isaak. Though he had received the promises he offered up

8 his only begotten son, in respect to whom it had been said,

9 that "in Isaak a seed shall be called for thee,"* reckoning that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which in a figurative sense, he had received him.

0 By faith respecting things to come Isaak blessed Jacob and Esau.

1 By faith Jacob, when a dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and worshipped, bowing upon the head of his staff.

2 By faith Joseph, at the close of his life, made mention of the departure of the Israelites, and gave a charge concerning his bones.

3 By faith Moses, when he was born was concealed three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a comely child, and they were not terrified by the king's edict. .:

4 By faith Moses, when he was become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, chusing rather to suffer

5 afflictions with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures

6 of sin for a season; accounting the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he had an eye to the reward.

7 By faith he left Egypt in defiance of the king's wrath; for he persevered as seeing Him who is invisible. *.-

* Gen. 21. 12.

28 By faith he celebrated the passovcr, and the pouring out of the blood, that the destroyer of the first born might not touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the red sea as on dry ground, which the Egyptians attempting to do were swallowed up.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, when processions had been made around them, for seven days.

31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with the unbelievers, she having received the spies with peace.

32 And what shall I say more ? For the time would fail me to speak of Gideon, and Barak, and Sampson, and Jephthae—

33 of David and Samuel, and the prophets, who by faith sub-

34 dued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were strengthened from weak-

35 ness, became mighty in battle, repelled armies of aliens. Women received their dead children, by a restoration of them to

36 life. As for odiers, some were tortured, not expecting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others received the trial of mockings, and scourgings, besides

37 bonds and imprisonments. They were stoned; they were sawn asunder; they were tempted ; they were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheep skins, in goats skins,

38 .destitute, afflicted, tormented, (of whom the world was not worthy) wandering in deserts, and mountains, and dens, and

39 caves of the earth. Though these all received a testimonial by

40 means of their belief, they did not obtain the promise, God having provided something better for us, that without us they should not be made perfect.

XII. As we therefore are encompassed with such a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which easily

2 entangleth us, and let us run without intermission the race set before us, looking forward to Jesus, the leader and perfecter of this faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured a cross, despising shame, and hath taken a seat at the right

3 hand of the throne of God. Consider him who bore such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you may not grow

4 wcarj', nor faint in your minds. You have not yet in your

5 contest with sin resisted to blood. And have you forgotten this exhortation which speaketh to us as to children—

" My son slight not the correction of the Lord,

6 Nor faint when reproved by him ;

For whom the Lord loveth he rcproveth,

And chastiseth every son whom he receiveth.*"

7 If you endure correction God dealeth with you as sons.

8 For what son is there whom a father doth not correct ? Now if you are without correction, of which all are partakers, you

9 are indeed bastards and not sons. Well then : we have had fathers of our flesh who have corrected us, and we have reverenced them; sliall we not much more submit ourselves to

10 the father of our spirits, and live ? For they indeed for a few days corrected us as they thought fit; but he for our advan-

11 tage, that we may partake of his holiness. Now all correction seemeth, for the present, not to be matter of joy, but of grief; yet afterwards it produceth the peaceful fruit of right-

12 eousness to them who are exercised therewith. Therefore lift

13 up the hands which hang down, and the knees which are feeble, and make straight tracks with your feet, that that which is

14 lame may not be sprained, but rather healed. Follow peace with all men, and that holiness without which none shall see

15 the Lord, watching diligently that none fall short of the favour of God—that no root of bitterness spring up and occasion

16 trouble, and many be defiled by it—that there be no fornica- tor, nor profane person like Esau, who for a single meal sold

17 his birth right; for you know that afterwards when he wished to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no way

to change his father's mind,f though he earnestly sought it with

18 tears. For you are not come to a mountain which might be touched, and to blazing fire, and to gloom, and darkness, and

19 a turbid tempest, and to the sound of a trumpet, and a sound of words, the hearers of which entreated that the discourse

*Prov. 3. 11, 12. f The Greek word /mtwo/z properly signifies a change of mind and that it was his father's mind is evident from what follows. It is frequently used to express a change of one's own mind from evil to goody, and then means reformation.

20 might not be continued to them; for they could not bear this threat, "And if even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be

21 stoned or pierced through with a dart."*' And so awful was the appearance, that Moses said, " I am exceedingly terrified

22 and tremble :"f but you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to my-

23 riads of angels—to the general assembly and congregation of first born, enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and

24 to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling which

25 speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that you do not reject him who speaketh. For if they did not escape who rejected him who gave forth oracles on earth, how much less

26 shall we who reject him who is from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth, but he hath now announced, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth but the heaven also."J

27 Now this expression, "Yet once more" signifieth the removal of the things shaken, as having been made, that the things which are immoveable may remain.

28 As we have therefore received a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have gratitude by which we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and holy awe: for our God

XIII. is a consuming fire. Let brotherly love continue. Be

2 not unmindful of hospitality; for by this some have unknow-

3 ingly entertained angels. Remember them who are in bonds, as if you were bound with them ; them who suffer ill-treat-

4 ment, as being yourselves in the body. Let marriage be held in esteem by all, and its bed be undefiled: for whoremongers

5 and adulterers God will judge. Let your conduct be free from avarice. Be content with what you have; for he hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor will I ever forsake thee.$"

6 So that we may say with confidence, "The Lord is my help.

7 er, I will not fear what man can to do me." Remember your leaders, who spake to you the word of God. Observing care-

8 fully the issue of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus

9 Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. Be not led

* Ex. 19. 12, &c. fSee Deut. 9. 19. J Hag. 2, G.
Josh. 1. 5,

away by various and strange doctrines, for it is better to have the heart strengthened with favour than with meats which have not profited those versed in them. We have an altar from

10 which they who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat.

11 For the bodies of those animals, the blood of which is carried by the chief priest into the holies for a sin offering, are burn-

12 ed without the camp. And therefore Jesus, that he might by his own blood sanctify the people, suffered without the gate.

13 Let us then go out to him, without the camp, bearing his re-

14 proach. For we have no abiding city here, but are seeking

15 one to come. By him therefore let us offer up continually to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips, praising

16 his name; and forget not beneficence and contribution: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey your leaders

17 and yield to them(for they are watching over your souls,^(as they who must give an account) that they may doit with joy and not with grief; for this would be unprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, being desirous of conducting ourselves honourably in

19 all things, and I exhort you to this with the more earnestness, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

20 Now may the God of this peace, who raised from the dead the shepherd of the flock, who is great by the blood of an everlast-

21 ing covenant, namely, our Lord Jesus, perfect you in every good work, that you may do his will, working in you what is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ: to whom be the glory for the ages of the ages. Amen.

22 Now I beseech you, brethren, bear with this word of ex-

23 hortation, for I have sent it to you in brief. You know that our brother Timothy is set at liberty, with whom, if he come soon, I will see you.

24 Salute all your leaders and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

The favour be \vith vou all. Amen.

Vol. iv.