11 be my people. And they shall no more teach, every one his neighbour, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for all shall know me from the least to the greatest of them: for I 12 will be merciful to their iniquities, and no more remember their sins and their transgressions." By calling this a new covenant 13 he hath antiquated the first. Now that which is antiquated, and grown old, is near being abolished.

IX. Now then the first covenant had the ordinances of divine 2 service and the worldly sanctuary; for a tabernacle was prepared-the first compartment, in which are the candlestick, and the table, and the presentment of the loaves-this is called 3 the Holy. And beyond the second veil is a compartment which 4 is called, The Holy of Holies, containing a golden altar and the ark of the covenant, all overlaid with gold, in which wasthe golden urn containing the manna, and the staff of Aaron which bud5 ded, and the tables of the covenant, and above it the cherubim

of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat, concerning which we 6 are not at this time to speak particularly. These things being thus prepared, the priests, performing the divine services, go 7 on all occasions into the first compartment; but into the second

the chief priest only, and but once a year, not without blood, -8 which he offereth for himself and for the errors of the people, the holy spirit plainly shewing this, that the way into the holies was not yet manifested while that tabernacle hath a 9 standing. This figurative representation was for the time being, according to which gifts and sacrifices were offered, which cannot make him who performeth service, perfect with regard 10 to the conscience, they being things imposed barely for meats, and drinks, and divers baptisms, and rules of conduct respect11 ing flesh, until the time of reformation: But Christ being come,

a chief priest of the future good things, hath entered into the holies by the greater and more perfect tabernacle-not by one 12 made with hands, that is, not of this creation; nor with the blood of goats and young bulls, but with his own blood, once 13 for all, having procured everlasting redemption. For if the

blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling 14 the unclean sanctify, to the cleansing of the flesh; how much

* Jer. 31. 31, &c.

more will the blood of the Christ, who by an eternal spirit hath offered himself without blemish to God, purify your con15 science from dead works that you may serve the living God. Indeed on the account of this he is the mediator of a NEW COVENANT, that (there having been death for a pardon of the transgressions under the first covenant) they who have been called may receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance. 16 For where there is a covenant it necessarily infers the death 17 of that by which it is established. For a covenant is ratified 18 over the dead, and it hath no validity at all while that by which 19 it is established liveth.* Whence even the first covenant was

not ratified without blood; for when every precept according to law was rehearsed by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of the calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and the BOOK, and he sprinkled it on all the people 20 saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God hath en21 joined on you.* And in like manner he sprinkled the taber22 nacle and all the utensils for the holy service with blood. And

according to the law almost all things are purified with blood. Indeed without a shedding of blood there was no remission. 23 There was therefore a necessity that the things which were symbols of those in heaven, should be purified with these, 24 but the heavenly things themselves, with sacrifices better than these. For the Christ did not enter into holies made with hands, the symbols of the true; but into heaven itself; now to ap 25 pear in the presence of God on our behalf: not that he may ma

ny a time offer himself (as the chief priest goeth every year into the holies with blood not his own) else he then must have suffered many a time from the foundation of the world; but now 26 once for all, at the end of the ages, he hath been manifested

*This alludes to the custom then in use among both Jews and Gentiles, of ratifying treaties, leagues or covenants, by killing a victim. For as with us in case of bonds, or written obligations, they are not binding until they are actually signed, sealed and delivered; so in that age a treaty or covenant was not binding until the victim, which was brought between the parties, was slain. For the mode of making and ratifying a covenant among the Jews. Sec Ex. 34 »

for the purpose of abolishing sin offerings by the sacrifice of 27 himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, and after 28 that there is a judgment; so also the Christ, being once offered

up to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without a sin offering, for the salvation of them who wait for him. X. For the law having a shadow of the good things to come and not the very image of those things, can by no means make them who present themselves, perfect for ever by those sacri2 fices which they offer year after year. Otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered? Since they who performed the 3 service, being once purified, would no more have a conscious4 ness of sins. But by these there is an annual remembrance of 5 sins. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to

take away sins. Therefore when coming into the world he 6 saith, "Sacrifices and offerings thou didst not desire, but prepa7 redst for me a body. In whole burnt offerings and offerings for

sin thou hadst no pleasure; then I said, Behold I come (in the vo 8 lume of a book it is written of me) to perform, O God, thy

will."* Having first said, "Sacrifice and offering and whole burnt offerings, and offerings for sins thou didst not desire, nor take 9 pleasure in them," (These were offered according to the law) 10 he then said, "Behold I come to perform, O God, thy will" (he

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taketh away the first that he may establish the second) by which will we are sanctified by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once only.

Though every priest hath indeed stood performing daily service, and frequently offering the same sacrifices, these can 12 by no means take away sins; but he having offered for sins 13 one sacrifice, to last for ever, sat down at the right hand of 14 God, thenceforth waiting. till his enemies are made his foot15 stool. For by one offering he hath made perfect for ever them

who are sanctified. And this indeed the holy spirit testifieth 16 to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant which I will make

with them-"After these days, saith the Lord, having adapted my 17 laws to their understandings, I will write them on their minds, 18 and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more."† Now,

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where there is a remission of these, there is no more an offering for sin.

As we, therefore, brethren, have, by virtue of the blood of 20 Jesus, free access to the holies by a new and living way, which 21 he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh; 22 and a great high priest over the house of God, let us come

with a true heart in the full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and the body washed 23 with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of this hope 24 without wavering; for he who hath promised is faithful; and 25 let us observe one another, in order to excite love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the custom of some, but comforting one another; and so 26 much the more as you see the day approaching. For if we sin

wilfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, 27 there remaineth no more any sacrifice for sins, but a certain

dreadful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which 28 will devour the adversaries. Whoever hath set at naught the

law of Moses dieth without mercy, on the evidence of two or 29 three witnesses. Of how much greater punishment, think ye, will he be thought worthy, who hath trampled upon the Son of God, and accounted the blood of the covenant, by which he was sanctified, a common thing, and treated contemptuously 30 the spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance 31 is mine, I will requite, saith the Lord;" and, again, “The Lord will judge his people."* It is a dreadful thing to fall into the 32 hands of the living God. But call to remembrance the former

days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a 33 great conflict of sufferings, being publicly exposed to re

proaches and afflictions, and at the same time sympathizing 34 with them who were thus treated: For you sympathized with

me in my bonds, and waited with joy the seizure of your 35 goods, knowing that you had in yourselves a better,—even an ever-during substance in heaven. Therefore cast not away that confidence of yours which hath a great recompense of 36 reward. For you must persevere, that when you have performed the will of God, you may receive the promised re

*Deut. 32. 35.

37 ward. For yet a little while, and he who is coming will come; 38 and will not delay; now the just shall live because of faith;

XI.

but if he, through fear, draw back; my soul hath no pleasure in him.* But we are not of them who draw back for perdition; but of them who believe for the attainment of life.

Now, faith is a confident expectation of things hoped for; a convincement of the mind with respect to the reality of 2 things not seen. By this therefore the ancients obtained reputation.

3

4.

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By faith we understand that the ages were arranged by a word of God, that the things seen should not at all be out of things which appear.

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain; by means of which he received a testimonial of being righteous, God himself giving a testimony in favour of his gifts; and by it he, though dead, still speaketh.

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him; for be 6 fore his translation he received this testimonial that he was well pleasing to God. Now without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing; for he who cometh to God must believe that he existeth, and that he is the rewarder of them who diligently seek him.

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By faith Noah, when warned of unforeseen events, with a religious concern prepared an ark for the saving of his household; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of that righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when called, shewed obedience by going to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance, 9 and set out on his journey not knowing whither he was going.

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange 10 land, and dwelt in tents with Isaak and Jacob, who were coheirs with him of the same promise. For he expected that city which hath foundations, whose architect and founder is God.

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By faith Sarah also received strength for conception, and was delivered of a son when she was past age, because she 12 judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore there

*Hab. 2. 3.