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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-DAY since you 8 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 10 REST* left for the people of God. For he who entereth into 11 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 penetrateth even to the sepa ration 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 incapa

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ble 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 4 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 thee,† as he saith also in

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

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

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 heark8 ened to, did, from a reverential awe notwithstanding his be9 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 of both good and evil. Therefore dropping the discourse of the government of the Christ,† 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 judg3 ment, proceed to the consecration. And this we will do if God 4 permit: for with regard to them who have been once enlight

VI.

ened, 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 culti8 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

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10 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.

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Now we earnestly desire that every one of you would shew the same diligent concern for the full assurance of this hope 12 to the end: that you may not become languid, but imitators 13 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, "Sure14 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 pro18 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 en20 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, no account of descent,† 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.

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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

*Gen. 22. 16. '

Literally, without a genealogy.

6 brethren descended from the loins of Abraham; but he 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 нE 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 Melchisedek 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 pre

ceding commandment on account of its weakness and inuti19 lity, (for the law made nothing perfect) and an introduction 20 of a better hope by which we draw near to God. And inas21 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 Lord hath 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.

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Again, with regard to them, many were made priests, be24 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, undefiled, 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 true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not 3 man. For every chief priest is appointed to offer gifts and sa4 crifices; hence it is necessary that HE 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 co7 venant, which is established on better promises. For if the first covenant had been faultless there would have been no oc8 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 of Judah 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 I will 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. 25. 40.

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