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CHAPTER XI.

BUT, faith is the groundwork of things hoped for; the conviction of things

not seen:

2 by this, indeed, the ancients obtained their renown.

3 By faith, we apprehend that the worlds were framed by the word of God; so that the things which are seen, were Rom. iv. 18. not made of things which appeared.

4 By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony that he was justified; God bearing testimony to his gifts and by it, though he is dead, he yet speaketh.

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and became an heir of the justification which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed, by going forth to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went forth, not knowing whither he was going:

9 by faith, he sojourned in Acts, vii. 5, 6. the land of the promise, as in a foreign land; dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, joint-heirs of the same promise;

10 for, he looked for the city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith also, Sarah herself, though barren, received strength to conceive seed to child-bearing; and brought forth a child when she was past the age, because she judged him to be faithful who Rom. iv. 20. had promised it:

12 wherefore from one, and him already dead for such things, were born so many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the innumerable sand which is on the sea shore. 13 All these died in faith, not having received the promises; but, having seen and greeted them afar off; confessing, that they were only strangers and sojourners on the earth:

14 for, they who say such things declare plainly, that they seek a paternal country.

Philip. iii. 20.

Rom. iv. 5. Jam. ii. 19, 20.

15 And, indeed, if they had been mindful of that from which they had come out, they had opportunity to turn back; 16 but now, they long for a better, that is, an heavenly one; wherefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared a city for them.

17 By faith, Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was Gen. xxi. 12. said, that "In Isaac thy seed "shall be called :"

Rom. ix. 7.

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was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

24 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy for a season the pleasures of sin:

25 esteeming the reproach of c. xiii. 14. Christ, greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked from them, to the recompense of the reward :

26 by faith, he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as seeing him who is invisible :

27 by faith, he performed the passover, and the sprinkling of blood; that he who destroyed the firstborn, should not touch them.

28 By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; which the Egyptians attempting to do, were swallowed up.

29 By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encompassed seven days. 30 By faith, the harlot Rahab, having received the spies with peace, perished not with the unbelievers.

31 And, what more shall I say? for the time would fail me in telling of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephtha; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 32 who, through faith, subdued kingdoms, gained jus

Rev. vi. Il.

tification, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions; 33 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became valiant in war, routed the camps of aliens.

34 Women, received their dead raised again to life: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

35 and others, had trial of mockings and scourgings, and moreover of chains and impri

sonment:

36 they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were pierced through, they were slain with thesword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

37 (of whom the world was not worthy :) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in caves and caverns of the earth:

38 yet all these, though they obtained renown through faith, received not the promise;

39 God having provided for us something better, that they should not be made perfect, without us.

CHAPTER XII.

THEREFORE, let us also, who are encompassed with so great a cloud of witnesses,

lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besetteth us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us;

2 looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was 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 contradiction of sinners against himself, that ye may not be wearied and faint in your souls:

4 ye have not yet resisted to blood, in striving against sin. 5 And have ye forgotten the exhortation which speaketh to you all, as to children, "My Prov. iii. 11. son, contemn not thou the "chastening of the Lord, nor "faint when thou art rebuked by him;

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and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of our spirits, and live?

10 for they, indeed, chastened us for a few days according to their own pleasure; but he, for our profit, that we may partake of his holiness.

11 But, no chastening, at the present time, seemeth joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, it afterward yieldeth the peaceable fruit of justification, to them who are exercised by it: 12 wherefore, exert your listless hands, and slackened knees; Prov. iv. 26. 13 and make straight paths for your feet, that the lame turn not from the way, rather may go right.

Deut. xxix. 18.

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18 For, ye are not come to a mount that can be touched, and to a burning fire, nor to blackness, and darkness, and tempest;

12, 13

19 and to the sound of a trumpet, and to a sound of words, which they that heard entreated, that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20 (for they endured not that which was commanded, " And Exod. xix. "if even a beast touch the "mountain, it shall be stoned:" 21 and so terrible was the appearance, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and tremble :) 22 but, ye are come to a mount Sion and city of the living God, even the heavenly Jerusalem; and to an innumerable company of angels;

23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven; and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of those who are perfectly justified;

24 and to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant; and to a blood of cleansing, which speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not him who speaketh for, if they escaped not who refused him c. ii. 2. who declared the oracles of God on earth, much rather shall we not escape, if we turn away from him who declareth

them from heaven:

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Josh. i. 5.

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2 Be not forgetful of hospitality, for by it some have unknowingly entertained angels. 3 Remember those that are in bonds, as if ye were bound with them; and them that suffer adversity, as if yourselves were in their body.

4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but, whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

5 Let your conduct be without avarice; being contented with the things ye have: for he hath said, "I will not leave

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6 so that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and Ps. cxviii. 6. "I will not fear what man shall "do to me."

7 Remember them that rule over you, who have spoken to you the word of God:

8 consider the issue of their conduct; and imitate their

faith,

and xviii.

9 that Jesus is Christ, the Acts, v. 43; same yesterday, and to-day, 5, 28. and for ever.

10 Be not carried away by various and strange doctrines: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by foods, which have not profited those that have walked in them.

2 Tim. ii. 8.

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12 Now, the bodies of those (Lev. vi. 30): beasts whose blood is brought of their One into the Holiest Place by the fering, under high priest, as a sacrifice for bread and sin, are burned without the xxvi. 26. camp;

13 wherefore, Jesus also, when he sanctified the people with his own blood, suffered without the city:

14 let us, then, go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach;

15 for we have not here a continuing city, but seek that which will be:

16 through him, therefore,

the figures of

wine (Matt.

1 Cor. xi. 24).

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