without wavering, for he is faithful that promised; 24. And let us consider to excite one another to love, and to good works: 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting to it; and so much the more as ye see the last day approaching.

28.

26. For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more atonement for sins, chap. vi. 4. Numb. xv. 30. 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, to devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29. Of how much severer punishment, think ye, shall he be counted worthy, who hath (as it were) trampled on the Son of God (by sinning boldly), and counted the blood wherewith he was consecrated, and the new cove. nant ratified, a common thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace. 30. For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth to me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall avenge his people. 31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32. But remember the former days, wherein, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions. 33. Partly, whilst ye were made a spectacle by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became partakers with them that were so used. 34. For 34. For ye had compassion on those who were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing for yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and enduring substance.

35. Therefore cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompence. 36. For ye have need of patience; that, having done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37. For in a little while, he that shall come will come, and will not delay.

38. Now, the just shall live by faith; but if any

draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him, 39. But we are not of them who draw back to perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

CHAP. XI.

THE NATURE AND EFFECTS OF FAITH.

Now faith is the confident expectation of things hoped for, the conviction of the things not seen, (iii. 14. 2 Cor. ix. 4. and xi. 17.) 2. For by it the ancients obtained an honourable testimony.

3. 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 ap peared. 4. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, whereby he obtained testimony that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and thereby though he be dead, he yet speaketh.

5. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6. But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he rewards them that diligently seek him.

7. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning things not yet seen, feared, and prepared an ark for saving his household, whereby he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness obtained by faith.

8. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and went, not knowing whither he was going. 9. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the joint heirs

of the same promise; 10. For he expected a city which hath (immoveable) foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11. By faith also Sarah received strength to become prolific, and had a child when she was past age, because she accounted him faithful who promised. 12. Therefore, from even one, and he as it were dead, there sprung as many as the stars in multitude, and as the sand by the sea-shore innumerable.

13. These all died in faith, not having received · the things promised, but having seen them afar off, being persuaded of them, they embraced them (by faith) and confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14. For they that confess such things declare plainly that they seek a (paternal) country. 15. And truly, if they had been mindful of the country whence they came, they might have had opportunity to turn back.

16. But now they desire a better country, that is an heavenly; therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; as he hath prepared for them a (heavenly) city.

17. By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac, yea, he that had received the promises offered up his darling son; 18. Of whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called; 19. Accounting God able to raise him up, even from the dead, from whence he also received him in a manner.

20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed both Joseph's sons, and worshipped leaning on the top of his staff. 22. By faith Joseph, when dying mentioned the departing of the Israelites, and gave command concerning his bones.

23. By faith Moses, when born, being a goodly child, was hid three months by his parents, so they were not deterred by the king's command. 24. By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be ealled the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25. Choos

ing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. 26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he viewed the recompense of the (eternal) reward. 27. By faith he forsook Egypt, not being deterred from his duty by the king's wrath, (Exod. xiv.) for he received fortitude, as seeing the invisible one. 28. Thro' faith he kept the passover, with the sprinkling of blood; that he who destroyed the first-born should not touch them. 29. By faith they passed thro' the Red sea as on dry land; which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after being encompassed seven days.

31. By faith Rahab the hostess perished not with the unbelievers, after she received the spies in peace.

32. And why should I say more? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephthae; David also and Samuel, with the prophets; 33. Who by faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the sword, out of weakness were made strong, be came valiant in faith, turned to flight the armies of other nations. 35. Women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a re surrection to a better life. 36. And others had trial of cruel mockings, and scourgings, and also of bonds and imprisonment. 37. They were stoned, sawn asunder, pierced with stakes, slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins; being destitute, afflicted, maltreated; 38. They of whom the world was not worthy, wandered in deserts, in mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

39. Now these all having obtained a good testi

mony thro' faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided a better thing for us, that they should not be made perfect without us. (1 Thess. iv. 16.)

CHAP. XII.

THE GREAT EFFECTS OF TRUE FAITH.

THEREFORE, being encompassed with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, (1 John ii. 15.) and the sin, (Rom. vii. 20.) which most easily entangles us, and run with patience the race set before us, 2. Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. For consider him who endured such opposition of sinners to himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4. Ye have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin. 5. And have ye forgotten the exhortation which speaketh to you as to children, My son, neglect not the Lord's chastisement, nor faint when rebuked of him: 6. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son he receiveth.

7. If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as sons; for what son is there whom the father chastiseth not? 8. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all sons are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9. Now, if we had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we reverenced them, shall we not rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10. For they verily for a few days chastised us as they saw fit; but he for our profit, that we might partake of his holiness.

11. Now, no chastening for the present seems