Rest attained by faith.

The priesthood of Christ.

HEBREWS. neration, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known powerful, and sharper than any two-edged

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 steadfast unto the end;

15 While it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden 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.

17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?

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.

CHAP. IV.

12 For the word of God is quick, and

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 creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed 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.

OR every high priest taken 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 compass-,

LET us therefore fear, lest a promise ed with infirmity.

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 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people,so also for himself, to offer forsins.

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 himself to 3 For we which have believed do enter be made a high priest; but he that said into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: I begotten thee. 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 seventh day from all his works.

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-day, after so long a time; as it is said, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

of

8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken 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.

6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

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 a 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.

God's sure promises.

CHAP. VI, VII.

Christ and Melchisedec.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them which entereth into that within the vail; that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

CHAP. VI.

THEREFORE leaving the principles of

THE

20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. CHAP. VII.

the doctrine of Christ, let us go on OR this Melchisedec, king of Salem,

priest of the most high God, who met unto perfection; not laying again the found- Abraham returning from the slaughter of ation of repentance from dead works, and the kings, and blessed him;

of faith toward God, 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of part of all; first being by interpretation, laying on of hands, and of resurrection of King of righteousness, and after that also the dead, and of eternal judgment. King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

3 And this will we do, if God permit. 3 Without father, without mother, with4 For it is impossible for those who were out descent, having neither beginning of once enlightened, and have tasted of the days, nor end of life; but made like unto heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 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 mut him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinketh in the that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth th herbs meet for them by whom it is essed, receiveth blessing from God:

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; hose end is to be burned.

19 But, beloved, we are 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:

4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better..

8 And here men that die receive tithes ; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that be liveth.

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need 12 That ye be not slothful, but follow-was there that another priest should rise ers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang 16 For men verily swear by the greater: out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake and an oath for confirmation is to them an nothing concerning priesthood. end of all strife. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for 17 Wherein God, willing more abun- that after the similitude of Melchisedec dantly to shew unto the heirs of promise there ariseth another priest, the immutability of his counsel, confirmed 16 Who is made, not after the law of a it by an oath: carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest might have a strong consolation, who have for ever after the order of Melchisedec. fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before, for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect,

Excellency of Christ's ministry. HEBREWS. Rites and sacrifices of the law. but the bringing in of a better hope did; took them by the hand to lead them out of by the which we draw nigh unto God. the land of Egypt; because they continued 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath not in my covenant, and I regarded them he was made priest: not, saith the Lord. 21 (For those priests were made without 10 For this is the covenant that I will an oath; but this with an oath, by him that make with the house of Israel, after those said unto him, The Lord sware, and will days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after into their mind, and write them in their the order of Melchisedec :) hearts: and I will be to them a God, and

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety they shall be to me a people: of a better testament. 11 And they shall not teach every man 23 And they truly were many priests, his neighbour, and every man his brother, because they were not suffered to continue saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know by reason of death: me, from the least to the greatest. 24 But this man, because he continueth 12 For I will be merciful to their unever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. righteousness, and their sins and their 25 Wherefore he is able also to save iniquities will I remember no more. them to the uttermost that come unto God 13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he by him, seeing he ever liveth to make hath made the first old. Now that which intercession for them. decayeth and waxeth old, is ready to vanish

CHAP. IX.

26 For such a high priest became us, who away. is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; THEN verily the first covenant had also 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high ordinances of divine service, and a priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his worldly sanctuary.

own sins, and then for the people's for this 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the he did once, when he offered up himself. first wherein was the candlestick, and the 28 For the law maketh men high priests table, and the shew-bread; which is called which have infirmity; but the word of the the Sanctuary.

oath, which was since the law, maketh the 3 And after the second vail, the taberSon, who is consecrated for evermore. [nacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the TOW of the things which we have spoken ark of the covenant overlaid round about

CHAP. VIII.

had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the 5 And over it the cherubims of glory true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, shadowing the mercy-seat; of which we and not man. cannot now speak particularly.

3 For every high priest is ordained to 6 Now when these things were thus oroffer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of dained, the priests went always into the necessity that this man have somewhat also first tabernacle, accomplishing the service. to offer. of God:

4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was ad- 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that monished of God when he was about to the way into the holiest of all was not yet make the tabernacle: for, See (saith he) made manifest, while as the first tabernathat thou make all things according to the cle was yet standing: pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

9 Which was a figure for the time then

6 But now hath he obtained a more ex-present, in which were offered both gifts cellent ministry, by how much also he is and sacrifices, that could not make him the mediator of a better covenant, which that did the service perfect, as pertaining was established upon better promises. to the conscience;

7 For if that first covenant had been 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, faultless, then should no place have been and divers washings, and carnal ordisought for the second. nances, imposed on them until the time of

8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Be-reformation. hold, the days come, saith the Lord, when 11 But Christ being come a high priest I will make a new covenant with the house of good things to come, by a greater and of Israel and with the house of Judah:

9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day when I

more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and

Sacrifices of the law.

CHAP. X.

Weakness of law-sacrifices. calves, but by his own blood, he entered of the things, can never with those sacriin once into the holy place, having ob-fices which they offered year by year contained eternal redemption for us. tinually, make the comers thereunto per

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, fect. and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the 2 For then would they not have ceased unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the to be offered? because that the worshippers flesh : once purged should have had no more

14 How much more shall the blood of conscience of sins.

Christ, who through the eternal Spirit 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reoffered himself without spot to God, purge membrance again made of sins every year. your conscience from dead works to serve 4 For it is not possible that the blood of the living God? bulls and of goats should take away sins. 15 And for this cause he is the mediator 5 Wherefore, when he cometh into the of the new testament, that by means of world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou death, for the redemption of the trans- wouldest not, but a body hast thou pregressions that were under the first testa- pared me: ment, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

6 In burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God.

8 Above, when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt-offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 19 For when Moses had spoken every 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy precept to all the people according to the will, O God. He taketh away the first, law, he took the blood of calves, and of that he may establish the second. goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people,

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21 Moreover, he sprinkled likewise with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God;

13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

23 It was therefore necessary that the 14 For by one offering he hath perfected patterns of things in the heavens should for ever them that are sanctified." be purified with these; but the heavenly 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a things themselves with better sacrifices witness to us for after that he had said than these.

before,

24 For Christ is not entered into the 16 This is the covenant that I will holy places made with hands, which are the make with them after those days, saith the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, Lord; I will put my laws into their hearts, now to appear in the presence of God forus: and in their minds will I write them; 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself 17 And their sins and iniquities will I

often, as the high priest entereth into the remember no more.

holy place every year with blood of others;

18 Now, where remission of these is,

26 For then must he often have suffered there is no more offering for sin. since the foundation of the world: but now 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness once in the end of the world hath he ap- to enter into the holiest by the blood of peared to put away, sin by the sacrifice of Jesus,

himself. 20 By a new and living way, which he 27 And as it is appointed unto men once hath consecrated for us, through the rail, to die, but after this the judgment: that is to say, his flesh; 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

21 And having a high priest over the house of God;

22 Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our

Of holding fast the faith.

HEBREWS.

What farth is.

faith without_wavering; for he is faithful not made of things which do appear. that promised: 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more 24 And let us consider one another, to excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he provoke unto love, and to good works: obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much 5 By faith, Enoch was translated, that the more, as ye see the day approaching. he should not see death; and was not 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we found, because God had translated him: have received the knowledge of the truth, for before his translation he had this testithere remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, mony, that he pleased God.

27 But a certain fearful looking for of 6 But without faith it is impossible to judgment and fiery indignation, which please him: for he that cometh to God shall devour the adversaries. must believe that he is, and that he is a re28 He that despised Moses' law, died warder of them that diligently seek him. without mercy under two or three wit- 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, 29 Of how much sorer punishment, sup- prepared an ark to the saving of his house; pose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who by the which he condemned the world, hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and became heir of the righteousness which and hath counted the blood of the covenant, is by faith.

nesses:

wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called thing, and hath done despite unto the Spi-to go out into a place which he should after rit of grace? receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out not knowing whither he went.

30 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.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath 32 But call to remembrance the former foundations, whose builder and maker is days, in which, after ye were illuminated, God. ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

11 Through faith also Sara herself re33 Partly, while ye were made a gaz-ceived strength to conceive seed, and was ing-stock both by reproaches and afflic-delivered of a child when she was past tions; and partly, while ye became com-age, because she judged him faithful who panions of them that were so used. had promised.

34 For ye had compassion of me in my 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of and him as good as dead, so many as the your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand have in heaven a better and an enduring which is by the sea-shore innumerable. substance. 13 These all died in faith, not having 35 Cast not away therefore your con- received the promises, but having seen fidence, which hath great recompense of them afar off, and were persuaded of them, reward. and embraced them, and confessed that 36 For ye have need of patience, that, they were strangers and pilgrims on the after ye have done the will of God, ye earth. might receive the promise.

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw. back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

NOV

CHAP. XI.

TOW faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not

seen:

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only

2 For by it the elders obtained a good begotten son,

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac

report. 3 Through faith we understand that shall thy seed be called: the worlds were framed by the word of 19 Accounting that God was able to God, so that things which are seen were raise him up, even from the dead; from