Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Num. xiv. 29.

12 but, exhort ye one another every day, while it is called to-day; that none of you may be hardened, through the deceitfulness of sin :

13 for, we become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast our ground in him, from the beginning to the end.

14 When it is said, "To-day, "if ye will hear his voice, "harden not your hearts, as "in the provocation;"

15 who then were they, who, when they had heard, did provoke? not all that went out from Egypt by Moses:

16 and with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that sinned,

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

5 yet in this place he saith again, "That they shall not "enter into my rest :")

6 it therefore remaineth, that some entered into it; but, that they to whom it was first preached entered not in, through their unbelief. 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, "To"day," (that is, after so long a time as he had before said,)" To-day if ye will hear "his voice, harden not your "hearts:"

8 but, if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken of another day, after those things:

9 there still remaineth, therefore, a sabbath-rest for the people of God:

10 for, he who entereth into His rest, doth himself also cease from his works, as God ceased from His.

11 Let us, therefore, strive to enter into that rest; that no one may fall, after the same example of unbelief:

12 for, the Word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword; piercing even to the separating of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart:

13 neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we are to account.

CHAPTER V.

HAVING, therefore, a great High Priest, who hath entered into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession :

2 for, we have not an high priest that cannot feel for our infirmities; but, one who was tried in all things like us, yet without sin.

3 Let us, therefore, go boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and grace for seasonable help:

with the ignorant and erring, Gal. vi. 1.
since he himself also is encom-
passed with infirmity:

6 and, on account of that in-
firmity, he ought, as for the
people, so also for himself, to
make offerings for sins.

7 And no one assumeth that honour, of himself, but he only who is called to it by God, as Aaron was:

8 and so, Christ glorified not himself in becoming an high priest; but, He who said to him, "Thou art my Son, to"day I have begotten thee:" 9 (and as, in another place, he saith, "Thou art a priest Ps. cx. 4. FOR EVER; according to the "rule of Melchisedec :")

[ocr errors]

38, 39.

10 who, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers Matt. xxvi and supplications with strong crying and tears to him that was able to save him from death; and having been heard and delivered from his fear; 11 learned obedience by the things which he suffered, though he was a Son;

12 and, when he was perfected, he became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him;

4 for, every high priest taken from among men, is ordained, for the sake of men, in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 5 who is able to bear gently dull of hearing.

13 (being called by God, an High Priest, according to the rule of Melchisedec :)

14 of whom we have much to say, and hard to be ex- 2 Pet. iii. plained, since ye are become

15, 16.

15 For when, through the time, ye ought to be teachers, ye have again need of some one to teach you the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become in need of milk, not of solid food:

16 for, every one that useth milk, is unskilled in the doctrine of justification, for he is an infant:

17 but, solid food belongeth to them that are of full growth, even of those who have their perceptions exercised, by practice, to distinguish between good and evil.

CHAPTER VI.

WHEREFORE, leaving the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go forward to perfection; not laying again the foundation, of repentance from dead works, and faith toward God;

2 of the doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands; and of a resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

3 And this we will do, if God permit :

4 for, it is impossible for those c. x. 26, 27. who have been once enlightened, and who have tasted of the heavenly gift, and been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

5 and who have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come;

6 if they shall fall away from the faith, to renew their minds again to repentance; since they crucify the Son of God afresh in themselves, and expose him to open shame.

7 For, the earth that drinketh in the rain which cometh often upon it, and yieldeth herbs useful to those by whom it is tilled, receiveth a blessing from God;

8 but, that which bringeth forth thorns and briers is rejected, and nigh to cursing; whose end is to be burned.

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things in you, and which tend to salvation,

though we thus speak:

10 for, God is not unjust, to forget your work; and the love which ye have shewed toward his name, in having ministered, and still ministering, to the saints.

11 And we desire, that every one of you may manifest the same care for the fulfilling of your hope, to the end:

12 that ye become not slothful, but imitators of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises.

13 For, when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no one greater, he sware by himself;

14 saying, "Surely blessing Gen. xxii. 17. "I will bless thee, and multi"plying I will multiply thee:"

15 and so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16 For, men swear by the greater; and an oath for confirmation, is an end of all controversy between them:

17 in which, God, willing to demonstrate more abundantly to the heirs of promise the unchangeableness of his counsel, interposed an oath;

18 that, through two unchangeable things, in which it was impossible that God should speak false, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope that is set before us; 19 which hope we hold (as an anchor of the soul,) secure and steadfast,

20 entering even within the veil, whither the forerunner is entered for us; even Jesus, made an high priest for ever, (according to the rule of Melchisedec).

CHAPTER VII.

that, also King of Salem, which is, King of Peace;

3 without priestly father, without priestly mother, without priestly descent; having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, being made like the Son of God, he continueth a priest for ever.

4 Now, consider how great this man must have been, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

5 And they, indeed, that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of priesthood, have a command, according to the law, to take a tenth from the people; that is, from their own brethren, although they come out of the loins of Abraham;

6 but, he whose descent was not derived from them, received a tenth from Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises :

7 and, without any controversy, the less is blessed by the greater.

8 And here, indeed, men that

FOR, this Melchisedec, king die receive tenths; but there,

of Salem, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, was a priest of the most high God; to whom even Abraham gave a tenth part of all:

2 being, first, by interpretation, King of Justice, and after

he received them, of whom it is testified, that he liveth:

9 and (as I may say) Levi also, who now receiveth tenths, paid tenths by Abraham;

10 for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

11 If, then, perfection had c. viii. &

[blocks in formation]

iii. 25.

12 but, the priesthood being changed, a change of the priest necessarily takes place :

13 for, he of whom these words are spoken, pertained to another tribe, of which no one attended at the altar :

14 for it is evident, that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe, Moses spake nothing concerning priests.

15 And it is still more evident, if another priest was to arise, according to the likeness of Melchisedec;

16 who should be made such, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an endless life:

17 for it is testified, "Thou "art a priest FOR EVER, (ac"cording to the rule of Mel"chisedec)."

18 For, there is indeed an annulling of the former commandment, on account of its weakness and unprofitable

ness:

19 for the law completed nothing; but was the introduction of a better hope, by which we are brought near to God.

20 And, inasmuch as he was not made priest without an oath;

21 (for those were made priests without an oath; but this one with an oath, by him who said to him, The Lord sware and will not repent, "Thou art a priest FOR EVER :)"

66

22 by so much was Jesus made a security, even of a better Covenant.

23 And they indeed were many priests, because they were prevented from continuing, by death;

24 but this one, because he continueth for ever, hath an untransferable priesthood:

25 wherefore, also, he is able always to save them that come to God by him, since he always liveth to intercede for them.

26 For, such an high priest indeed behoved us, who is holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens ;

27 who needeth not, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice daily, first for his own sins, then for those of the people; for this he did, once for all, when he offered up himself:

28 for, the law maketh men, who have infirmity, high priests; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, maketh the Son High Priest, who is perfected for ever.

« AnteriorContinuar »