Chapter 2

58:009:014 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

58:009:015 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

58:009:016 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

58:009:017 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

58:009:018 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

58:009:019 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

58:009:020 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

58:009:021 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

58:009:022 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

58:009:023 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

58:009:024 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

58:009:025 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

58:009:026 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

58:009:027 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

58:009:028 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.

58:010:001 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

58:010:002 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

58:010:003 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

58:010:004 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

58:010:005 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

58:010:006 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

58:010:007 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

58:010:008 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;

58:010:009 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

58:010:010 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

58:010:011 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

58:010:012 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

58:010:013 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

58:010:014 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

58:010:015 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

58:010:016 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

58:010:017 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

58:010:018 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

58:010:019 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

58:010:020 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

58:010:021 And having an high priest over the house of God;

58:010:022 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.

58:010:023 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

58:010:024 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

58:010:025 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

58:010:026 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

58:010:027 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

58:010:028 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

58:010:029 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

58:010:030 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.

58:010:031 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

58:010:032 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

58:010:033 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

58:010:034 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

58:010:035 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

58:010:036 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

58:010:037 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

58:010:038 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

58:010:039 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

58:011:001 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

58:011:002 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

58:011:003 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

58:011:004 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

58:011:005 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

58:011:006 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

58:011:007 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

58:011:008 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

58:011:009 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:

58:011:010 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

58:011:011 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

58:011:012 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

58:011:013 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

58:011:014 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

58:011:015 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

58:011:016 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.

58:011:017 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

58:011:018 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

58:011:019 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

58:011:020 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

58:011:021 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

58:011:022 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

58:011:023 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

58:011:024 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

58:011:025 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

58:011:026 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

58:011:027 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

58:011:028 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

58:011:029 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

58:011:030 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

58:011:031 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

58:011:032 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

58:011:033 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

58:011:034 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

58:011:035 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

58:011:036 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

58:011:037 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

58:011:038 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

58:011:039 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

58:011:040 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

58:012:001 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

58:012:002 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

58:012:003 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

58:012:004 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

58:012:005 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

58:012:006 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

58:012:007 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

58:012:008 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

58:012:009 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

58:012:010 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

58:012:011 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

58:012:012 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

58:012:013 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

58:012:014 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

58:012:015 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

58:012:016 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

58:012:017 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

58:012:018 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

58:012:019 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

58:012:020 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

58:012:021 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

58:012:022 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

58:012:023 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

58:012:024 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel.

58:012:025 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

58:012:026 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

58:012:027 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

58:012:028 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

58:012:029 For our God is a consuming fire.

58:013:001 Let brotherly love continue.

58:013:002 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

58:013:003 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

58:013:004 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

58:013:005 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

58:013:006 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

58:013:007 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

58:013:008 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

58:013:009 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

58:013:010 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

58:013:011 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

58:013:012 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

58:013:013 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

58:013:014 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

58:013:015 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

58:013:016 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

58:013:017 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

58:013:018 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

58:013:019 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

58:013:020 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

58:013:021 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

58:013:022 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

58:013:023 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

58:013:024 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

58:013:025 Grace be with you all. Amen.