and his ministers a flame of fire. || transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom: 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11 They shall perish, but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. 13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? CHAP. II. OBEDIENCE DUE TO CHRIST. THEREFORE we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him: 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him: 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings; 11 For both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren; 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold, I, and the children which God hath given me. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. CHAP. III. CHRIST ABOVE MOSES. WHEREFORE, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus ; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Mo14 Forasmuch then as the ses, inasmuch as he who hath children are partakers of flesh builded the house, hath more and blood, he also himself like-honour than the house. wise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; || 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things, is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things 15 And deliver them, who, through fear of death, were all their life-time subject to bon-which were to be spoken after; dage. 6 But Christ as a Son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confi 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of A-dence and the rejoicing of the braham. hope, firm unto the end. 7 Wherefore, (as the Holy Ghost saith, To-day if will hear his voice, 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren ; that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. ye 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilder ness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their hearts; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest :) 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end. 15 While it is said, To-day, CHAP. IV. THE CHRISTIANS REST. LET us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest; as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, If they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the if ye will hear his voice, heard-seventh day from all his works. en not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke; howbeit, not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing, therefore, it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached, entered not in, because of unbelief: 7 (Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wil-day, after so long a time; as it is derness? 18 And to whom sware he, that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in, because of unbelief. said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.) 11 Let us labour, therefore, to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. from among men, is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron: 5 So also Christ glorified not 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any crea-himself, to be made an high ture that is not manifest in his priest; but he that said unto sight but all things are naked, || him, Thou art my Son, to-day and opened unto the eyes of have I begotten thee. him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is pass-ever, ed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. CHAP. V. OF CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD. FOR every high priest taken 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for after the order of Mel chisedec : 7 Who, in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears, unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard, in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And, being made perfect, he became the Author of eternal salvation, unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest, after the order of Melchisedec : 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered; seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For, when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk, is unskilful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. CHAP. VI. THE DANGER OF APOS TACY. THEREFORE, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth, which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. are 9 But, beloved, we persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end; 12 That ye be not slothful, 3 And this will we do, if God but followers of them, who, permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, VOL. IV. through faith and patience, inherit the promises. 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he 3 D |