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death he might destroy him who hath the power of 15 death, that is, the devil*; and might deliver those who,

through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to 16 slavery. For indeed Christ helpeth not angels † ; but he 17 helpeth the seed of Abraham. Wherefore it behoved him : to be like his brethren in all things; that he might be a compassionate and faithful high-priest in things relating to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people§. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered, having been tempted, he is able to assist those that are tempted.

CH. II. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly

calling, consider the Apostle and High-priest of our 2 profession I, Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as Moses also was faithful in all the house3 hold of God**. For this person was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who framed the 4 household hath more honour than the household. (For

every household is framed by some one; but he who 5 framed all things, is God.) And Moses indeed was faithful as a servant, in all the household of God ++; for a testimony to those things which were to be spoken after6 ward but Christ, as a Son, over the household of God++;

*the idolatrous and persecuting power. The death of Christ introduced a dispen. sation which, by gradually putting an end to heathenism and idolatry, and establishing the doctrine of a future life, abolished the power of death, and raised man above the fear of dissolution. See 2 Tim. i. 10, and Wetstein in loc.

† Or, “For truly it,” i. e, the fear of death, or death itself, “ doth not lay hold of” or seize on “angels, but of the seed of Abraham it doth lay hold." See Theol. Rep. vol. v. p. 164.

to be made like, N. brethren." Wakefield.

"It was right for him in all things to be like unto his

§ The expression is remarkable: us to inaonsola rus àpagrias, not to propitiate God, but to propitiate the sins of the people. The meaning probably is, q. d. to remove all legal obstructions and disqualifications, so that those who were excluded as sinners from the privileges of the old covenant might be admitted to the benefits of the new dispensation, and might be called and made holy. See Theol. Rep. ibid.

the heavenly calling, N.

¶ Christ, R. T. and N. in brackets. See Griesbach.

** See Wakefield. " the household committed to him," N. Gr. "in all his household." tt See ver. 2.

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whose household we are, if we keep the confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end.

Wherefore, as the holy spirit saith,

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To-day, if 8 shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the 9 provocation*, in the day of trial † in the desert: where

your fathers tried me, proved me, and saw my works 10 forty years: wherefore I was grieved with that genera

tion, and said, 'They always err in heart§; and they 11 have not known my ways:' upon which I sware in my 12 anger, They shall not enter into my rest:"" so likewise take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away 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 14 sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we retain 15 the beginning of our confidence firm to the end; while

it is said, "To-day, if ye shall hear his voice, harden not 16 your hearts, as in the provocation ." For some, when ||.”

they had heard, provoked ¶: however, not all who came 17 out of Egypt under Moses. But with whom was God

grieved forty years? was it not with those who sinned, 18 whose carcases fell in the desert? And to whom did he

swear that they should not enter into his rest, but to those 19 who believed not? So we see that they could not enter in, because of unbelief.

CH. IV. Let us fear therefore, lest, a promise being left of en

tering into his rest **, any of you should appear to come 2 short of it. For unto us glad tidings have been proclaimed, as well as unto them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those 3 that heard it. For we that have believed enter into rest††,

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++ The writer here represents the state of things under the gospel dispensation as a

sabbath, which we enter upon and solemnize by faith in Christ.
rest," N. The public version is more correct, "do enter into rest"

"Shall enter into

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as God saith; "So I sware in my anger, They shall not enter into my rest:"" although his works were finished 4 from the foundation of the world. For Moses somewhere speaketh thus of the seventh day, "And God rest5 ed on the seventh day from all his works." And in this place it is said again, "They shall not enter into my rest." 6 Since therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and those to whom glad tidings were first proclaimed en7 tered not in because of unbelief; God again limiteth a certain day, saying by David, "To-day," after so long a time, as it is said, "To-day if ye shall hear his voice, 8 harden not your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, then God would not afterward have spoken of an9 other day. There remaineth therefore a keeping of rest 10 to the people of God. For he that hath entered into God's

rest, hath rested also from his own works, as God did 11 from his. Let us earnestly endeavour*, therefore, to enter

into that rest; lest any man fall after the same example 12 of unbelief. For the word of God is lively † and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and pierceth even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and 13 intentions of the heart: nor is there any creature that is not manifest before it: but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do †

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+

Having therefore a great High-priest, that hath passed into the heavens §, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast 15 our profession. For we have not an High-priest who cannot have compassion for our infirmities; but one who was tempted in all things like ourselves, though without 16 sin. Let us therefore come with confidence to the throne of favour, that we may obtain mercy, and receive favour CH.for seasonable help. For every high-priest taken from

Y.

* Let us endeavour, N. See Wakefield.

Or, to whom we must give account. N. m.
Or, tried, N. m.

+ Or, animated.

through the heavens, Wakefield.

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among men, is appointed for men in things relating to 2 God, that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins; being one who can be mildly affected toward the ignorant, and those that wander out of the way; since he himself also 3 is compassed with infirmity. And because of this infirmity he ought, as for the people, so for himself also, to offer sacrifices for sins *.

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And no man taketh this honour to himself, but he that 5 is called of God, as was Aaron. So Christ also glorified not himself to be made a High-priest;. but God who said unto him, "Thou art my Son, to-day I have adopted† 6 thee:" as God saith also in another psalm,

"Thou art a

priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedec." 7 And Christ, when, in the days of his flesh, he had offered up prayers and supplications with a strong cry, and with tears, to him that was able to save him from death, and 8 was heard for his godly reverence, though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 and, having been made perfect, became the author of 10 eternal salvation to all that obey him; having been called

by § God a High-priest according to the order of Mel11 chisedec of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be explained, since ye are dull of hearing.

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For whereas, by this time, ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which are the first elements of the oracles of God; and are become such as, 13 have need of milk, and not of strong food. For every

one who partaketh of milk is unskilled in the doctrine, 14 of justification: for he is a babe: but strong food belongeth to perfect men, even to those who, by use 1, have their senses exercised to the discernment both of good and evil.

* In what sense Christ is said to offer a sacrifice for sin for himself is explained in

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CH. VI. Wherefore let us leave discoursing on the principles of the doctrine of Christ, and go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead 2 works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of putting on of hands, and of the resurrec3 tion of the dead, and of the everlasting judgement: and this will we do, if God permit.

4 For it is impossible to renew those unto repentance who have been once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the holy 5 spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the 6 mighty works of the succeeding age †, and yet have fallen

away; since they again crucify to themselves the son of 7 God, and expose him to public shame. For the land

which drinketh in the rain that often cometh upon it, and produceth herbage § useful to those for whom it is 8 tilled, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is near being cursed: whose end is to be burned.

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But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things which belong to salvation, though we thus 10 speak. For God is not unjust, so as to forget your work and the love | which ye have shewn toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the wants of the saints, and still 11 minister. But we desire that every one of you shew the same earnestness, to the full assurance of your hope unto 12 the end that ye be not slothful, but imitators of those

who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made his promise to Abraham, because he 14 could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying,

"It is highly difficult. Compare Mark x. 23. 27. It is impossible, because whatever could be said or done to that end had been said and done already." Le Clerc on Hammond. Newcome.

Or, of the age that was to come. "The miraculous powers of the Christian dispensation." Ch. ii. 5. Newcome.

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