20 the most holy place through the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us 21 through the veil, (that is, his flesh;) and having a 22 high-priest over the household of God; let us come near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our body 23 washed with pure water: let us hold fast the steady pro

fession of our hope; (for he is faithful that hath pro24 mised :) and let us consider one another, that we may 25 provoke each other to love and to good works: not for

26

saking the assembling of ourselves together †, as the manner of some is; but exhorting to it: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

For if we sin wilfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remaineth any 27 sacrifice for sins : but a certain fearful looking for of

judgement remaineth; and that fiery indignation which 28 will devour ¶ the adversaries. He who despised the law

of Moses, died** without mercy, under two or three wit29 nesses. Of how much greater punishment, think ye, will he be deemed worthy, who hath trodden under foot the son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, by which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and 30 hath injuriously treated the spirit of favourtt? For we know him that hath said, " Vengeance belongeth to me:

"through the blood of Jesus; that new and life-giving way, which he hath first prepared for us by passing through the veil." N. See Wakefield. As the high-priest entered into the most holy place through the veil, so believers are introduced into the Christian covenant through the flesh, i. e. the person, or, in other words, by the instruction, the example, and the death of Christ. See Sykes. tour association in the gospel, Wakefield.

Or, the custom.

|| See ch. vi. 4–6, The meaning is, that for wilful apostacy there is no hope; because, having resisted the strongest evidence, even that of miracles themselves, it is hardly possible that they should be reclaimed. See Newcome's note.

Or, which is about to devour.

** Whoso breaketh a law of Moses dieth, Wakefield.

Or, offered an indignity to. "Shewn contempt of the holy spirit, gratuitously shed on Christians." Newcome.

I will recompense;" saith the Lord. And again, "The 31 Lord will avenge his people*." It is a fearful thing to 32 fall into the hands of the living God. But call to re

membrance the former days, in which, after ye were en33 lightened, ye endured a great contest of sufferings; partly, while ye were made a spectacle by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, while ye became sharers † with 34 those who were so treated. For ye had compassion for those who were in bonds ‡, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods; knowing that ye have for yourselves 35 a better and an enduring substance ||. Cast not away

therefore your confidence, which will have great recom36 pense of reward. For ye have need of patience; that, after ye have done the will of God, ye may receive his 37 promise. For yet a very little while, and "he that is to come will come, and will not delay."

38

Now, "the just by faith shall live but if he draw 39 back, my ** soul will have no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who draw back to destruction; but of those who have faith to their own salvation ††.

CH. XI. Now faith is a confidence in things hoped for, a con

2 viction of things not seen. 3 obtained a good witness. the ages were so ordered

*Or, will judge his people.

For by it those of old time By faith, we understand that by the word of God, that the

† compassionate sharers, N.

on me, in my bonds, R. T. Or, for ye even suffered with those who were in bonds. in the heavens. R. T. and N; who marks them as doubtful. They are wanting in the Alexandrian and Clermont MSS. and in the Coptic, Ethiopie, and Vulgate versions: and are omitted by Mr. Wakefield.

"the just shall live by faith: N. Hab. ii. 3, 4. See Rom. i. 17. They who by faith are brought into a justified state, i. e. who are admitted into the Christian covenant, become entitled to the promise of life.

** i. e. I will have, N. m.

++ N. m. "to the saving of the soul," Gr. and N. t. "To the deliverance of our lives,” Wakefield. Faith under the new covenant is the condition of salvation, or of deliverance from the condemning sentence of the first covenant, and placing believers in a justified state (See ver. 38;) and giving them a title to the privileges of the new co

venant.

present state of things arose not from what did then ap4 pear. By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain; by which Abel obtained witness that he was righteous, God witnessing of his gifts: and by it 5 he, though dead, still speaketht. By faith, Enoch was translated, that he might not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his 6 translation he had this witness, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he who cometh to God must believe that God exists, and that he 7 is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. By faith, Noah, having been warned of God concerning things not then seen, moved with godly reverence, made ready an ark for preserving his household: by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the justification 8 which is by faith. By faith, Abraham obeyed, when he was called to depart into the place | which he was afterward to receive for an inheritance; and departed, not 9 knowing whither he went. By 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 pro10 mise for he was waiting for¶ that city which hath foun11 dations; whose framer and builder †† is God. By faith,

Sarah herself also gained strength to conceive‡‡, even when she was past age, because she thought him faithful

*See Wakefield and Sykes, who observes that alaves properly signifies ages, or periods of time, and that there is no instance in the New Testament where more than this seems to be meant by the word. Sykes's note on Heb. i. 3. In the present instance the author's meaning is, that it was so contrived that Christ's coming into the world, which we see, was brought about by means which could not be seen." Sykes's note in loc. and Rosenmuller. The Primate takes the words in the popular sense. His version is, "By faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God; so that the things which are seen were not made of things which appeared."

But some read aλital, he is still spoken of."" Newcome's note. Or, "speaketh of himself." Wakefield.

†† Or, builder and ruler, Sce Macknight. # and brought forth, even, etc. R. T.

12 that had promised. Wherefore even from one*, and him too become as dead, sprang as many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the innumerable sand which is 13 by the sea-shore. 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 14 strangers and foreigners on the earth. For those who speak such things, plainly declare that they are seeking|| 15 their country. And indeed if they had borne in mind that

country whence they came out, they might have had op16 portunity of returning to it¶: but now they desire a

better country, that is, a heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: because he hath pre17 pared for them a city. By faith, Abraham, when he was 18 tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the

promises offered up his only son**; with reference †† to whom it was said, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called :" 19 having concluded that God was able to raise up Isaac

even from the dead; whence he had also in a manner ‡‡ 20 received him. By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob, and Esau, 21 concerning things to come. By faith, Jacob, when he

was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and wor22 shipped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith, Joseph, when he was ending his life, mentioned the departure of the sons of Israel from Egypt; and gave commandment 23 concerning his bones. By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a goodly child: and they feared not the king's 24 commandment. By faith, Moses, when he grew up¶¶, 25 refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choos

of one, N.

† and having been persuaded of them, and having hailed them, R. T.
Or, strang rs and pilgrims in the land. Wakefield.

to return, N.

only-begotten son, Gr. and N.

sought, N. + even he, N.

By Isaac's miraculous birth Abraham had, as it were, received him from the

dead." Newcome.

A worshipped God, N.

Or, after he was grown up.

*

ing rather to suffer cruel treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time; 26 and esteeming† such reproach as the anointed of God

endured greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for 27 he had respect to the recompense of the reward. By faith he left Egypt, and feared not the wrath of the king for 28 he remained firm, as seeing Him that is invisible. By faith, he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood; that he who destroyed the first-born might not 29 touch them. By faith, the Israelites passed through the Red sea as on dry land: which the Egyptians attempted 30 to do, and were drowned. By faith, the walls of Jericho

fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven 31 days. By 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? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Sampson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and of Samuel, and of the 33 prophets who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought

righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of 34 lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in war, turned to flight the armies of other 35 nations. Women received their dead by a resurrection to this life but others were tortured, and did not accept deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 And others had trial of scoffs and scourgings; and of 37 bonds also and imprisonment: they were stoned, they

+ esteemed, N.

* and chose, N. Gr. the reproach of Christ, or, of the anointed. The Israelites are called Christs. or anointed, i. e. a chosen and favoured people, Psalm ev. 15. Hab. iji. 13. "The meaning is," says Dr. Sykes in loc., "that Moses looked upon the contempt and indignity which he underwent on account of his professing himself a Jew, as much preferable to all the riches and honours of Egypt." See also Whitby in loc. Dr. Newcome's version is, "such reproach as Christ endured;" which is also the interpretation of Photius, Crellius, and Mr. Lindsey, Sequel, p. 278.