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crifice than Cain; through him too become as dead, sprang which Abel obtained witness that as many as the stars of heaven he was righteous, God witness- in multitude, and as the innuing of his gifts: and through it merable sand which is by the he, though dead, still speaketh. sea-shore. 5 Through faith, Enoch was translated, that he might not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before [his] translation he had this witness, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him for he who cometh to God must believe that God ex-country. ists, and that he is a rewarder of 15 And indeed if they had those who diligently seek him. borne in mind that country

13 All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and having hailed them, and having confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth. 14 For those who speak such things, plainly declare that they are seeking a

7 Through faith, Noah, hav-whence they came out, they ing been warned of God con- might have had opportunity of cerning things not then seen, returning to it: 16 but now they moved with godly reverence, desire a better, that is, a hea made ready an ark for preserv-venly country. Wherefore God ing his house: by which he is not ashamed to be called condemned the world, and be- their God: because he hath precame heir of the justification pared for them a city. which is through faith.

8 Through faith, Abraham obeyed, when he was called to depart into the place which he was afterward to receive for an inheritance; and departed, not knowing whither he went.

17 Through faith, Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only son: 18 with reference to whom it was said, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called:" 19 having concluded that God was able to raise him up even from the dead; whence he had also in a manner received him.

9 Through faith, he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, and dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the joint-heirs of the same promise: 20 Through faith, Isaac bles 10 for he was waiting for that sed Jacob, and Esau, concerncity which hath foundations;ing things to come. 21 Through whose framer and builder is God. faith, Jacob, when he was dy

11 Through faith, also Sarahing, blessed both the sons of herself gained strength to con- Joseph; and worshipped, leanceive, even when she was pasting on the top of his staff. 22 age, because she thought Him Through faith, Joseph, when faithful who had promised. 12 he was ending his life, menWherefore even from one, and tioned the departure of the

sons of Israel from Egypt: and gave commandment concerning

his bones.

for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Sampson, and of Jeph23 Through faith, Moses, thah; of David also, and of Sawhen he was born, was hidden muel, and of the prophets: 33 three months by his parents, who through faith subdued because they saw that he was a kingdoms, wrought righteousgoodly child; and they fearedness, obtained promises, stopnot the king's commandment.ped the mouths of lions, 34 24 Through faith, Moses, when quenched the violence of fire, he grew up, refused to be called escaped the edge of the sword, the son of Pharaoh's daughter; out of weakness were made 25 choosing rather to suffer strong, became valiant in war, cruel treatment with the peo- turned to flight the armies of ple of God, than to enjoy the other nations. 35 Women repleasures of sin for a short time; ceived their dead by a resur26 and esteeming the reproach rection to this life: but others of Christ* greater riches than were tortured, and did not acthe treasures of Egypt: for he cept deliverance, that they had respect to the recompense might obtain a better resurrecof the reward. tion. 36 And others had trial 27 Through faith, he left of scoffs and scourgings; and of Egypt, and feared not the wrath bonds also and imprisonment: of the king: for he remained 37 they were stoned, they were firm, as seeing Him who is invi-sawn asunder, they were piercsible. 28 Through faith he kepted with stakes, they were slain the passover, and the sprinkling with the sword: they went of the blood; that he who des- about in sheep-skins and in goattroyed the first-born might not skins, destitute, afflicted, crueltouch them. ly treated, 38 (of whom the 29 Through faith, the Israel-world was not worthy,) wanderites passed through the Red sea ing in deserts, and in mounas on dry land: which the tains, and in dens and caves of Egyptians attempting to do, the earth. were drowned. 30 Through faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. 31 Through faith, the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And why do I still go on?

39 And all these, though they obtained a good witness through faith, yet received not the promise: 40 God having provided a better thing for us, that they might not be made perfect without us.

CH. XII. 1 Wherefore since we are surrounded by so great

* "such reproach as Christ endured." Newcome. "such reproach as the anointed of God endured." Im. Ver. "the reproach of Christ, or, the anointed." Gr. The Israelites are called Christs, or anointed, i. e. a chosen and favoured people, Psalm cv. 15; Hab. iii. 13.

a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which easily entangleth us, 2 looking to Jesus, the leader on to faith, and also its perfecter; who, for the joy which was set before him, endured the cross, and despised its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him who endured such opposition of sinners to himself, lest ye be wearied, and faint in your minds.

4 YE have not yet resisted to blood, contending against sin: 5 and ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh to you as to sons, "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked by him: 6 for whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." 7 If ye endure chastisement, God dealeth with you as with sons: for what son is he whom his father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, of which all others are partakers, then ye are spurious, and not lawful sons.

9 Have we then had fathers of our flesh, who corrected us, and we gave them reverence: and shall not we much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they indeed chastened us during a few days, as it seemed fit to them but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastisement secmeth for the present to be joyous, but grievous:

nevertheless afterward it yield. eth the peaceable fruit of righte ousness to those who have been exercised by it.

12 WHEREFORE lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees; 13 and make straight paths for your feet, that the lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men; and the ho liness, without which no one shall see the Lord: 15 looking diligently lest any one fall short of the favour of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and by it many be defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator, or any profane person. as Esau, who for one meal sold his birth-right. 17 For ye know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place for change of mind in Isaac, though he earnestly sought it with tears.

18 For ye are not come near to the mount which might be touched,* and which burned with fire, nor to blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 and to the blast of the trumpet, and to the sound of words; which sound those who heard, entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20 (for they could not bear what was commanded; "If even a beast touch the moun. tain, it shall be stoned;" 21 and [[so terrible was the sight, that]] Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and tremble:") 22 but

* Conj. "might [not] be touched." See v. 20.

5 Let your manner of life be without covetousness. Be content with such things as ye have: for God himself hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor utterly forsake thee." 6 So that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man can do to me." 7 Remember those who preside over you, who spake to you the word of God: whose faith imitate, considering the end of their behaviour.

we are come to Mount Sion, ( some have unknowingly enterand to the city of the living tained angels. 3 Remember God, the heavenly Jerusalem,† those who are in bonds, as if and to myriads of messengers bound with them; and those From God, 23 to the general who are cruelly treated, as beassembly and congregation of ing yourselves also in the bohe first-born that are enrolled dy. 4 Marriage is honourable n heaven, and to God the judge among all, and the bed undefilof all, and to righteous men ed: but fornicators and adulwho are made perfect, 24 and terers God will condemn. o Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, which speaketh better thing than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not im who speaketh. For if those escaped not who refused him when he uttered oracles on earth, much less shall we escape, f we reject him speaking from heaven: 26 whose voice then hook the earth: but now he ath promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven."‡ 8 Jesus Christ is the same 27 Now this expression, "Yet yesterday, and to day, and to once more," signifieth the re- the ages. 9 Be not carried aside moving of the things shaken, by various and strange docas of things which are made, trines: for it is a good thing hat the things which are not that the heart be strengthened haken may remain. by the gracious gospel, not by 28 Wherefore, since we re-meats, which have not profited ceive a kingdom which cannot De shaken, let us hold fast on Favour, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For even our God is a consuming fire.

those who have attended to them.§ 10 We have an altar from which they who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought CH. XIII. 1 LET brotherly into the sanctuary by the highkindness continue. 2 Be mind-priest, as a sin-offering, are burnFul of hospitality: for by this ed without the camp. 12 Where

The writer describes a state present, not future: the state of believers under the gospel, as pposed to Israelites under the law, not the state of the virtuous in heaven.

The Christian church, figuratively represented by the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem. The shaking of heaven and earth denotes convulsions in the political and moral world; and, s the writer explains it, the abolition of the Jewish dispensation, to make way for the aionian kingdom of the Messiah. See Acts. ii. 19, 20.

Gr. in which, those who have walked, have not been profited.

fore Jesus also, that he might | I more especially beseech you sanctify the people through to do this, that I may be shortly

his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 (Let us therefore go out to him without the camp, bearing his reproach: 14 for here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.) 15 Through him therefore let us offer up the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips which render thanks to his name. 16 But to do good, and to distribute, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

restored to you.

20 NOW the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, who is the great shepherd of the sheep in the blood of the aionian cove nant, 21 make you perfect in every good work, that ye may do his will; working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ: to whom be glory to the ages [of ages]. Amen.

a letter to you in few words. 23 Know

that our brother

22 NOW I beseech you, 17 Obey those who preside brethren, bear with this word of over you, and submit your-exhortation: for I have written selves: for they watch for your benefit, as those who must give account: that they may do it Timothy is set at liberty: with with joy, and not with grief: whom, if he come shortly, I for this would be unprofitable will see you. 24 Salute all those to you. 18 Pray for us: for we who preside over you, and all trust that we have a good con- the saints. They of Italy salute science, desiring to behave our-you. 25 The favour of God be selves well in all things. 19 But with you all. [Amen.]†

May we not conjecture that is wanting before dia ßgaxwv, when it would read thus: "for even [not] in few words have I written an epistle to you." This seems better to agree with the connexion, and (if this epistle be alluded to) more agreeable to the fact.

"The epistle to the Hebrews is the first of those books which are distinguished by Eusebius, as having been disputed in the primitive ages of Christianity, and which, therefore, are not to be received as of equal authority with the rest. This epistle, however, which contains many important observations and many wholesome truths, mingled, indeed, with some far-fetched analogies and inaccurate reasonings, was probably written before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, for it contains no allusion to those calamitous events. But by whom it was written is uncertain. Origen says, that no one can tell who was the author of it. It has been ascribed to Paul, to Barnabas, to Luke, and to Timothy: but if Origen, the most learned and inquisitive writer in the third century, could not discover the author, it is in vain for us to at tempt it; and we must be content to remain in ignorance." Im. Ver. note.

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