6 testimony borne to him that he had pleased God; but without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that draws near to God must believe that he is and becomes a 7 rewarder to them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being divinely instructed concerning the things not seen as yet, with pious forethought prepared an ark for the salvation of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to 8 faith. By faith Abraham when called obeyed in going out into a place which he was about to receive for an inheritance, and went out not knowing whither he was 9 going. By faith he sojourned in the land of the promise as a strange country, having dwelt in tabernacles, with 10 Isaac and Jacob the fellow-heirs of the same promise: for he was waiting for the city having the foundations, whose 11 framer and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also

received power to conceive seed even when she was past 12 age, since she thought him faithful who promised. Therefore sprang there even from one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the heaven in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

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These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar and saluted them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on 14 the earth. For they that say such things signify that they 15 are seeking after a native country. And if they had in

mind that from which they came out, they might have 16 had opportunity to return; but now they covet a better, that is, an heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God; for he prepared for them a city.

17

By faith Abraham, being tempted, has offered up Isaac; and he that accepted the promises for himself offered 18 up his only begotten, he to whom it was said, In Isaac 19 shall thy seed be called; reckoning that God is able to

raise even from the dead; whence also he received him in 20 a symbol. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concern21 ing things to come. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed

each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when deceasing, made mention 22 of the departing of the children of Israel, and commanded concerning his bones.

By faith Moses, when born, was hid three months by 23 his parents, because they saw that the child was fair; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By 24 faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter; having chosen rather 25 to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy sin for a while; having thought the reproach of Christ greater 26 riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he was looking unto the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the 27 passion of the king; for he endured, as seeing the invisible one. By faith he has instituted the passover, and the 28 sprinkling of the blood, lest he that destroys the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red 29 Sea as by dry land; which the Egyptians attempting were swallowed up. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after they 30 were compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the 31 harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, since she received the spies with peace.

And what can I say more? for the time will fail me if I 32 tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David also and Samuel and the prophets; who through faith subdued 33 kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, 34 escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, turned to flight camps of aliens women received their dead by a resurrection; but 35 others were tortured, not having accepted the redemption, that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others had 36 trial of mockings and scourgings, yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were tempted, 37 they were sawn asunder, they died by the slaying of the sword, they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not 38 worthy;) wandering in deserts, and mountains, and dens,

39 and in the caves of the earth. And these all, having had a testimony borne to them through faith, received not the 40 promise; God having provided some better thing with respect to us, that they should not be made perfect without us. CH. XII. WHEREFORE let us also having so great a cloud of witnesses encompassing us, having put off every weight,

and the easily besetting sin, run with patience the race that 2 lies before us, looking unto the prince and perfecter of the faith, Jesus; who for the joy lying before him endured the cross, in despising shame, and has sat down at the right 3 hand of the throne of God. For consider him that has endured such gainsaying by the sinners against himself, that ye be not wearied and faint in your souls.

For what son is

4 Not yet did ye resist unto blood, striving against the 5 sin. And ye have utterly forgotten the exhortation which discourses with you as with sons, My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when convicted by 6 him for whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges 7 every son whom he receives. Endure unto chastening, God is dealing with you as with sons. 8 he whom the father chastens not? But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have become partakers, then 9 are ye bastards and not sons. Furthermore we had the fathers of our flesh as chasteners and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be subject unto 10 the Father of spirits and live? For they for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our 11 profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. All chastening indeed for the present seems not to be matter of joy but of sorrow; yet afterward it renders peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who have been exercised thereby.

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Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down and the 13 relaxed knees; and make straight paths for your feet, that the lame be not turned out of the way, but may rather be 14 cured. Pursue peace with all men, and sanctification 15 without which none shall see the Lord; looking diligently

lest any one come short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled, lest there any fornicator, or profane per- 16 son as Esau, who for one meal gave away his birthright. For ye know that even afterward, desiring to inherit the 17 blessing he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it out with tears.

For ye are not come near unto a palpable and burn- 18 ing fire, and blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and 19 sound of a trumpet, and voice of words; which voice they that heard refused to have a word spoken to them any more for they could not endure that which was com- 20 manded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned: and so fearful was the sight, Moses said, 21 I exceedingly fear and quake; but ye are come near unto 22 mount Sion and the city of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, a general assembly, and to the church of the firstborn who have been written 23 in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, mediator of a 24 new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, speaking a better thing than Abel. See that ye refuse not him that 25 speaks; for if they escaped not for refusing him that divinely instructs on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that so instructs from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has pro- 26 mised, saying, Yet once I will shake not the earth only but also the heaven. And this, Yet once, signifies the removing 27 of the things shaken as things made, that the things which are not shaken may abide. Wherefore let us receiving a 28 kingdom which cannot be shaken have thankfulness, whereby we may serve God acceptably with piety and fear for 29 our God is also a consuming fire.

:

CH.

LET the brotherly love abide. Be not forgetful to enter- XIII. tain strangers; for thereby some entertained angels unRemember them that are in bonds, as if bound 3 with them; them that are tormented, as being yourselves also in the body. Let marriage be held in honour in all 4

awares.

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respects, and the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and 5 adulterers God will judge. Let the manner of life be without covetousness; be content with such things as ye have for he himself has said, I will never leave thee nor 6 forsake thee, so that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what shall man do unto

7

me ?

Remember them who were your leaders, who spake unto you the word of God: whose faith imitate, considering the 8 issue of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,

9 and to-day, and for ever. Be not carried away with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be confirmed with grace; not with meats, in which they who walk were not profited.

We have an altar, whereof they have no authority to eat 11 who serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high 12 priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his 13 own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth there

fore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach; 14 for here have we not an abiding city, but are seeking for 15 that which is to come. Through him therefore let us offer

up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit 16 of lips confessing his name. But to do good and to

communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is 17 well pleased. Obey your leaders and submit: for they keep watch on behalf of your souls, as those who shall render account; that they may do it with joy and not with groaning for that is unprofitable for you.

18

Pray for us for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, in all respects desiring to conduct ourselves 19 well. But I exhort you the more abundantly to do this, in order that I may be restored to you sooner.

20

But the God of peace, that brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, by virtue of the blood of 21 an everlasting covenant, our Lord Jesus, complete you in every good thing to do his will, doing in us that which is