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dear brother, especially to me: but how much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord?

17 If therefore thou count me a partner; receive him as myself.

18 And if he hath wronged thee in anything, or is in thy debt, put that to my account.

19 I Paul have written it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee, that thou owest me thy ownself also. 20 Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.

21 Trusting in thy obedience I have written to thee: knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

22 But withal prepare me also a lodging. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

23 There salute thee Epaphras my fellow-prisoner in Christ JESUS.

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow-labour

ers.

25 The grace of our Lord JESUS Christ be with your spirit, Amen.

THE

EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE
HEBREWS.

ST. PAUL wrote this Epistle to the Christians in Palestine, the most part of whom being Jews before their conversion, they were called Hebrews. He en Borts them to be thoroughly converted and confirmed in the faith of Christ, clearly shewing them the pre-eminence of Christ's priesthood above the Levitical, and also the excellence of the new law above the old. He commends faith by the example of the ancient fathers: and exhorts them to patience, and perseverance, and to remain in fraternal charity. It appears, from chap. xiii., that this Epistle was written in Italy, and probably at Rome, about twentynine years after our Lord's Ascension.

CHAP. I.

God spoke of old by the prophets, but now by his Son, who is incomparably

greater than the angels.

GOD, who at sundry times and

in divers manners spoke, in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all,

to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world.

8 a Who being the brightness of his glory, and the figure of

CHAP. L

2 In these days hath spoken xapakтip;

a Wis. 7. 26.

Ver. 3, The figure, that is, the express

fail.

his substance, and upholding | same, and thy years shall not all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the majesty on high;

4 Being made so much better than the Angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.

5 For to which of the Angels nath he said at any time: Thou art my son, to-day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son?

6 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith: And let all the angels of God adore him.

7 And to the angels indeed he saith He that maketh his angels, spirits; and his ministers, a flame of fire.

8 But to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of justice is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

9 Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10 And: Thou in the beginning, O Lord, didst found the earth: and the works of thy hands are the heavens.

11 They shall perish, but thou shalt continue: and they shall all grow old as a garment.

12 And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art the self

a Ps. 2. 7.-b 2 Kings 7. 14.-c Ps. 96. 7.-d Ps. 103. 4.-e Ps. 44. 7.-Ps. 110. 26.

image and most perfect resemblance. Ibid. Making purgation. That is, having purged away our sins by his passion.

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time: Sit on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?

CHAP. II.

The transgression of the precepts of the Son of God is far more condemnable, than those of the Old Testament given by angels. THEREFORE ought we more

diligently to observe the things which we have heard, lest perhaps we should let them slip.

2 For if the word, spoken by angels, became steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward:

3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? which having pegun to be declared by the Lord, was onfirmed unto us by them that heard him.

4 God also bearing them witness by signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost according to his own will.

5 For God hath not subjected unto angels the world to come, whereof we speak.

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crowned him with glory and honour, and nust oot him over the works of thy hands.

8 Thou hast subjected all things under his feet. For in that he hath subjected all things to him, he left nothing not subject to him. But now we see not as yet all things subject to him.

9 But we see JESUS, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: that through the grace of God he might taste death for all.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, who had brought many children into glory, to perfect the author of their salvation, by his passion.

11 For both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:

12 I will declare thy name to my brethren: in the midst of the church will I praise thee.

13 And again: dI will put my trust in him. And again: Behold I and my children, whom God hath given me.

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14 Therefore because the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner hath been partaker of the same: that through death he might destroy him

a Matt. 28. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 26.-6 Phil.

2. 8.- Ps. 21. 23.-d Ps. 17. 3. Isaias 8. 18.-f Osee 13. 14. 1 Cor. 5.54.

CHAP. II. Ver. 10. Perfect by his passion. By suffering Christ was to enter into his glory, Luke xxiv. 26, which the apostle here calls being made perfect.

who had the empire of death, that is to say, the ayil:

15 And might delivem. who through the fear of deal? were all their lifetime subject to servitude.

16 For nowhere doth he take hold of the angels: but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold.

17 Wherefore it behoved hira in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high-priest before God, that he might be a propitiation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that, wherein he himself hath suffered and been tempted, he is able to succour them also that are tempted.

CHAP. III.

Christ is more excellent than Moses; and therefore we must adhere to him by faith and obedience.

W THEREFORE, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly vocation, consider the apostle and high-priest of our confession JESUS:

2 Who is faithful to him that made him, as was also & Moses. in all his house.

3 For this man was counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, by so much as he that hath built the house, hath greater honour than the house.

4 For every house is built by some man: but he that created all things is God.

5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a

g Num. 12. 7.

Ver. 16. Nowhere doth he, &c. That is, he never took upon him the nature of angels, but that of the seed of Abraham.

servant, for a testimonul those things which were to be said: 6 Christ as the Son in his house: which house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and glory of hope unto the end.

7 Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith: To-day if you shall hear his voice,

8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation; in the day of temptation in the desert,

9 Where your fathers tempted me, proved and saw my works 10 Forty years: For which cause I was offended with this generation, and said: They always err in heart. And they have not known my ways,

11 As I have sworn in my wrath: If they shall enter into my rest.

12 Take heed, brethren, lest perhaps there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, to depart from the living God.

18 But exhort one another every day, whilst it is called today, that none of you be ened through the deceitfulness

of sin.

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18 And to whom did he swear that they should not enter into his rest? but to them that were incredulous ?

19 And we see that they could not enter in, because of unbelief.

CHAP. IV.

The Christian's rest: we are to enter
into it, through Jesus Christ.
ET us fear therefore lest the

promise being left of entering into his rest, any of you should be thought to be wanting.

2 For unto us also it hath been declared, in like manner as unto them. But the word of hearing did not profit them, not being mixed with faith of those things they heard.

3 For we who have believed, shall enter into rest: As he said: As I have sworn in my wrath: If they shall enter into my rests and this indeed when the works from the foundation of the world were finished.

4 For in a certain place he hard-spoke of the seventh day thus: d'And God rested the seventh day from all his works.

14 For we are made partakers of Christ: yet so if we hold the beginning of his substance firm unto the end.

15 While it is said, To-day if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in that provocation.

16 For some who heard did provoke: but not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

17 And with whom was he offended forty years? Was it not with them that sinned,

whose carcasses were overthrown in the desert?

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5 And in this place again :) If they shall enter into my rest.

6 Seeing then it remaineth that some are to enter into it, and they, to whom it was first preached, did not enter because of unbelief:

7 Again he limiteth a certain day, saying in David: To-day, after so long a time, as it is above said: To-day if you shall hear his voice; harden not your hearts.

8 For if Jesus had given c Ps. 91. 11. Gen. 2. 2.- Supra, 3. 7.

CHAP. IV. Ver. 8. Jesus. Josus, who in the Greek is called Jesus.

them rest: he would never have afterwards spoken of another day.

9 There remaineth therefore a day of rest for the people of God.

10 For he that is entered into his rest, the same also hath rested from his works, as God did from his.

11 Let us hasten therefore to enter into that rest: lest any man fall into the same example of unbelief.

12 For the word of God is living and effectual, and more piercing than any two-edged sword: and reaching unto the division of the soul and the spirit, of the joints also and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13Neither is there any creature invisible in his sight: but all things are naked and open to his eyes, to whom our speech is. 14 Having therefore a great high-priest that hath passed into the heavens, JESUS the Son of God: let us hold fast our confession.

dained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins:

2 Who can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err: because he himself also is compassed with infirmity:

3 And therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4 Neither doth any man take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.

5 So Christ also did not glorify himself that he might be made a high-priest: but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

6 As he saith also in another place: Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.

7 Who in the days of his flesh with a strong cry and tears offering up prayers and supplications to him that was able to save him from death, was heard for his reverence.

8 And whereas indeed he was 15 For we have not a high- the Son of God, he learned obepriest, who cannot have com-dience by the things which he passion on our infirmities: but suffered : one tempted in all things like as we are, without sin.

16 Let us go therefore with confidence to the throne of grace: that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in seasonable aid.

CHAP. V.

The office of a high-priest. Christia

our high-priest.

9 And being consummated, he became, to all that obey him, the cause of eternal salvation.

10 Called by God a highpriest according to the order of Melchisedech.

11 Of whom we have much to say, and hard to be intelligibly uttered: because you are become weak to hear.

12 For whereas for the time

FOR every high-priest taken you ought to be masters; you

from among men, is or

a Ps. 33. 16. Eccli. 15. 20.

Exod. 28. 1. 2 Par. 26. 18.- Pa 2. 7. Ps. 109. 4.

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