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The 10th Chapter
For the law which hath but the
shadow of good things to come, and not the things in their own
fashion can never with the sacrifices which they offer year by year
continually, make the comers thereunto perfect. For would not then
those sacrifices have ceased to have been offered, because that the
offerers once purged should have had no more consciences of sins.
Nevertheless in those sacrifices is there mention made of sins every
year. For it is unpossible that the blood of oxen and of goats
should take away sins.
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith: Sacrifice
and offering thou wouldest not have: but a body hast thou ordained
me. In sacrifices and sinofferings thou hast no lust. Then I said:
Lo I come, in the chiefest of the book it is written of me, that I
should do thy will, O' God. Above, when he had said sacrifice and
offering, and burntsacrifices and sinofferings thou wouldest not
have, neither hast allowed (which yet are offered by the law) and
then said: Lo I come to do thy will, O' God: he taketh away the
first to establish the latter. By the which will, we are sanctified:
by the offering of the body of *Jesu Christ once for all.
And every priest is ready daily ministering, and often times
offereth one manner of offering which can never take away sins. But
this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, sat him down
for ever on the right hand of God, and from henceforth tarrieth till
his foes be made his footstool. For with one offering hath he made
perfect for ever them that are sanctified. And the holy ghost also
beareth us record of this, even when he told before: This is the
testament that I will make unto them: after those days saith the
Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts and in their mind I will
write them, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
And where remission of these things is, there is no more offering
for sin.
Seeing brethren that by the means of the blood of Jesu, we may
be bold to enter into that holy place, by the new and living way
which he hath prepared for us, through the veil, that is to say, by
his flesh. And seeing also that we have an high priest which is
ruler over the house of God, let us draw nigh with a true heart in a
full faith, sprinkled in our hearts from an evil conscience, and
washed in our bodies with pure water: and let us keep the profession
of our hope, without wavering (for he is faithful that promised) and
let us consider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good
works: and let us not forsake the fellowship that we have among
ourselves, as the manner of some is: but let us exhort one another,
and that so much the more, because ye see that the day draweth nigh.
For if we sin willingly after that we have received the
knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins
but a fearful looking for judgment, and violent fire, which shall
devour the adversaries. He that despiseth Moses law, dieth without
mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment
suppose ye shall he be counted worthy, which treadeth under foot the
son of God: and counteth the blood of the testament as an unholy
thing wherewith he was sanctified, and doth dishonour to the spirit
of grace. For we know him that hath said: vengeance belongeth unto
me, I will recompense saith the Lord. And again: the Lord shall
judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of
the living God.
Call to remembrance the days that are passed, in the which
after ye had received light, ye endured a great fight in
adversities, partly while all men wondered and gazed at you for the
shame and tribulation that was done unto you, and partly while ye
became companions of them which so passed their time. For ye
suffered also with my bonds, and took in worth the spoiling of your
Goods, and that with gladness: knowing in your selves how that ye
had in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away
therefore your confidence which hath great reward to recompense. For
ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God,
ye might receive the promise. For yet a very little while, and he
that shall come will come, and will not tarry. But the just shall
live by faith. And if he withdraw himself my soul shall have no
pleasure in him. We are not which withdraw our selves unto
damnation, but pertain to faith, to the winning of the soul.
*Jesu: Hebrew for Jesus.
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The 11th Chapter
Faith is a sure confidence of
things which are hoped for, and a certainty of things which are not
seen. By it the elders were well reported of. Through faith we
understand that the world was ordained by the word of God and that
things which are seen, were made of things which are not seen. By
faith Abel offered unto God a more plenteous sacrifice than Cain: by
which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of
his gifts: by which also he being dead, yet speaketh.
By faith was Enoch translated that he should not see death:
neither was he found: for God had taken him away. Before he was
taken away, he was reported of, that he had pleased God: but without
faith it is unpossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must
believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek
him.
By faith Noah honoured God, after that he was warned of things
which were not seen and prepared the ark to the saving of his
household, through the which ark, he condemned the world, and became
heir of the righteousness which cometh by faith.
By faith Abraham, when he was called obeyed, to go out into a
place, which he should afterward receive to inheritance, and he went
out not knowing whither he should go.
By faith he removed into the land that was promised him, as
into a strange country, and dwelt in tabernacles: and so did Isaac
and Jacob heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for a
city having a foundation whose builder and maker is God.
Through faith Sara also received strength to be with child and
was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged
him faithful which had promised.
And therefore sprang thereof, one (and of one which was as
good as dead) so many in multitude, as the stars of the sky, and as
the sand of the seashore which is innumerable.
And they all died in faith, and received not the promises: but
saw them afar off, and believed them, and saluted them: and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They
that say such things, declare that they seek a country. Also if they
had been mindful of that country, from whence they came out, they
had leisure to have returned again: But now they desire a better,
that is to say a heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them,
even to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
By faith Abraham offered up Isaac, when he was tempted, and he
offered him being his only begotten son, which had received the
promises of whom it was said, in Isaac shall thy seed be called: for
he considered that God was able to raise up again from death.
Therefore received he him, for an example. In faith Isaac blessed
Jacob and Esau, concerning things to come.
By faith Jacob when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of
Joseph, and bowed himself toward the top of his sceptre.
By faith Joseph when he died, remembered the departing of the
children of Israel, and gave commandment of his bones.
By faith Moses when he was born, was hid three months of his
father and mother, because they saw he was a proper child: neither
feared they the kings commandment.
By faith Moses when he was great, refused to be called the son
of Pharaohs daughter, and chose rather to suffer adversity with the
people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, and
esteemed the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasure of
Egypt. For he had a respect unto the reward.
By faith he forsook Egypt, and feared not the fierceness of
the king. For he endured even as he had seen him which is invisible.
Through faith he ordained the *ester lamb, and the effusion of
blood, lest he that destroyed the first born, should touch them.
By faith they passed through the reed sea as by dry land,
which when the Egyptians had assayed to do, they were drowned.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were
compassed about seven days.
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with the unbelievers,
when she had received the spies to lodging peaceably.
And what shall I more say, the time would be too short for me
to tell of Gideon, of Barach, and of Samson, and of Jephthae: also
of David and Samuel, and of the Prophets: Which through faith
subdued kingdoms wrought righteousness, obtained the promises,
stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped
the edge of the sword, of weak were made strong, waxed valiant in
fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. And the women
received their dead raised to life again.
Others were racked, and would not be delivered, that they
might receive a better resurrection. Others tasted of mockings and
scourgings, moreover of bonds and prisonment: were stoned, were hewn
asunder, were tempted, were slain with swords, walked up and down in
sheepskins, in goatskins, in need tribulation and vexation which the
world was not worthy of: they wandered in wilderness, in mountains,
in dens and caves of the earth.
And these all through faith obtained good report and received
not the promise, God providing a better thing for us, that they
without us should not be made perfect.
*ester lamb: this is
the lamb offered at the first passover.
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The 12th Chapter
Wherefore let us also (seeing
that we are compassed with so great a multitude of witnesses) lay
away all that presseth down, and the sin that hangeth on, and let us
run with patience unto the battle that is set before us, looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, which for the joy
that was set before him, abode the cross, and despised the shame,
and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God. Consider
therefore how that he endured such speaking against him of sinners,
lest ye should be wearied and faint in your minds. For ye have not
yet resisted unto blood shedding, striving against sin. And ye have
forgotten the consolation, which speaketh unto you, as unto
children: My son despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither
faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth, him he
chasteneth: yee, and he scourgeth every son that he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God offereth himself unto you as unto
sons. What son is that whom the father chasteneth not? If ye be not
under correction (where of all are partakers) then are ye bastards
and not sons. Moreover seeing we had fathers of our flesh which
corrected us, and we gave them reverence: should we not much rather
be in subjection unto the father of spiritual gifts that we might
live? And they verily for a few days, nurtured us after their own
pleasure: but he learneth us unto that which is profitable, that we
might receive of his holiness. No manner chastising for the present
time seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward, it
bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousness, unto them which are
therin exercised.
Stretch forth therefore again the hands which were let down,
and the weak knees, and see that ye have straight steps unto your
feet, lest any halting turn out of the way: yee let it rather be
healed. Embrace peace with all men and holiness: without the which,
no man shall see the Lord. And look to, that no man be destitute of
the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness spring up and
trouble, and thereby many be defiled: and that there be no
fornicator, or unclean person, as Esau, which for one breakfast sold
his birthright. Ye know how that afterward when he would have
inherited the blessing, he was put by, and he found no means to come
thereby again: no though he desired it with tears.
For ye are not come unto the mount that can be touched, and
unto burning fire nor yet to mist and darkness and tempest of
weather, neither unto the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words:
which voice they that heard it, wished away: that the communication
should not be spoken to them. For they were not able to abide that
which was spoken. If a beast had touched the mountain, it must have
been stoned, or thrust through with a dart: even so terrible was the
sight which appeared. Moses said, I fear and quake. But ye are come
unto the mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the
celestial Jerusalem: and to an innumerable sight of angels, and unto
the congregation of the first born sons, which are written in
heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just and
perfect men and to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to
the sprinkling of blood that speaketh better then the blood of Abel.
See that ye despise not him that speaketh. For if they escaped
not which refused him that spake on earth: much more shall we not
escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: whose
voice then shook the earth, and now declareth saying: yet once more
will I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. No doubt the same
that he sayeth, yet once more, signifieth the removing away of those
things which are shaken, as of things which have ended their course:
that the things which are not shaken, may remain. Wherefore if we
receive a kingdom which is not moved we have grace, whereby we may
serve God and please him with reverence and godly fear. For our God
is a consuming fire.
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The 13th Chapter
Let brotherly love continue. Be
not forgetful to lodge strangers. For thereby have diverse received
angels into their houses unawares. Remember them that are in bonds,
even as though ye were bound with them. Be mindful of them which are
in adversity, as ye which are yet in your bodies. Let wedlock be had
in price in all points, and let the chamber be undefiled for
whorekeepers and *advoutrers God will judge. Let your conversation
be without covetousness and be content with that ye have already.
For he verily said: I will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: that
we may boldly say: the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what
man doeth unto me. Remember them which have the oversight of you,
which have declared unto you the word of God. The end of whose
conversation see that ye look upon, and follow their faith.
Jesus Christ yesterday and today, and the same continueth for
ever. Be not carried about with diverse and strange learning. For it
is a good thing that the heart be stablished with grace, and not
with meats, which have not profited them that have had their pastime
in them. We have an altar whereof they may not eat which serve in
the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is
brought into the holy place by the high priest to purge sin, are
burnt without the tents. Therefore Jesus, to sanctify the people
with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth
therefore out of the tents, and suffer rebuke with him. For here
have we no continuing city: but we seek one to come.
For by him offer we the sacrifice of *laud always to God: that
is to say, the fruit of those lips, which confess his name. To do
good, and to distribute forget not, for with such sacrifices God is
pleased. Obey them that have the oversight of you, and submit
yourselves to them, for they watch for your souls, even as they that
must give accounts: that they may do it with joy, and not with
grief. For that is an unprofitable thing for you. Pray for us. We
have confidence because we have a good conscience in all things, and
desire to live honestly. I desire you therefore somewhat the more
abundantly, that ye so do, that I may be restored to you quickly.
The God of peace that brought again from death our Lord Jesus,
the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the
everlasting testament, make you perfect in all good works, to do his
will, working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through
Jesus Christ. To whom be praise for ever while the world endureth.
Amen.
I beseech you brethren, suffer the words of exhortation: For
we have written unto you in few words: know the brother Timothy,
whom we have sent from us, with whom (if he come shortly) I will see
you. Salute them that have the oversight of you, and all the saints.
They of Italy salute you. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Sent from Italy by Timotheus
*advoutry: prefix "a" meaning not or without, devout: devotion;
plain hearted to God, being devoted to something or some one else.
see James 2 for adultery. *laud (praise, honor)
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