forasmuch as they would not be persuaded; moreover, (as) another day he appointeth, after much time; as above it is written, that David hath said, To-day if his voice ye will hear, harden not your hearts;-but if Jeshu-bar-Nun had established them in rest,1 he [would] not have spoken afterwards of another day :-Therefore, yet to enjoy a shabathism 2 is confirmed to the people of Aloha. For he who is entered into his rest hath also reposed himself from his works, as Aloha (did) from his. Let us, therefore, anxiously endeavour to enter into that rest, that we fall not after the manner of those who were not persuaded. For living is the Word of Aloha, and all-acting, and more penetrating than a two-edged sword,3 and entereth to the separation of the soul and the spirit, and of the joints, and of the marrow, and the bones, and discerneth the reasonings and counsel of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is concealed from before him; but every thing (is) naked and manifest before his eyes, to whom they shall give account.4

V.

THEREFORE having such a great High Priest, Jeshu Meshiha, the Son of Aloha, who hath ascended to heaven, let us persevere in the confession of him. For we have not an high priest who cannot suffer along with our infirmity, but (one) who, [having been] tempted in every thing as we, (was) separate from sin. Let us therefore approach with confidence 5 to the throne of his grace, that we may receive mercy,6 and find grace for help in

1 Given them rest.

2 Lemashbothu. Inf. Aphel of shabath, Quievit; celebravit diem sabbathi.

3 The sword of two mouths.

4 D'leh yohbin pethgomo, to whom giving the answer.

5 With revealed eye.

6 Mercies.

the time of affliction. For every high priest who is from among men, on the behalf of men, standeth over those things which are of Aloha, to offer oblation and sacrifices for sins and (is one) who can humble himself, and suffer with those who know not and err, since he also himself with infirmity is clothed. And on this account he is obligated as on the behalf of the people, so (also) for himself, to offer up for his sins. Yet no man to himself taketh the honour, but he who is called by Aloha, as of Aharun.7 Thus also the Meshiha glorified not himself to be a High Priest; but He [invested him with that office] who said to him, Thou art my Son, I to-day have begotten thee. So, too, in another place he saith, Thou art the Priest for ever, after the likeness of Malki-Zedek.

When also with flesh he had been clothed, prayer and supplication, with a powerful cry, and with tears, he offered up unto Him who was able from death to revive him, and was heard. And though he was the Son, yet from the fear and the sufferings which he sustained he learned obedience. And so was he perfected, and became unto all them who obey him the Cause of eternal salvation; and was named by God, The High Priest after the likeness of Malki-Zedek. But concerning this MalkiZedek himself, we have much discourse to utter, and [which is] hard to explain, because ye are infirm in your hearing.

VI.

FOR ye ought to be teachers, on account of the time [occupied] by you in learning; but now ye have need again to be taught those which are the first scriptures of the beginning-words of Aloha; and need have ye for milk, and not for solid food. But every one whose food

7 Methkree men Aloha aicano d'Aharun.

is milk is not versed in the doctrine of righteousness, because he is a babe. But for the perfect is solid food; those, (namely,) who, because exercised, have trained their senses to distinguish the good and the evil. Wherefore let us leave the beginning of the word of the Meshiha, and let us come unto perfection. Or why again another foundation lay you for repentance from dead works, and for faith which is in Aloha, and for the doctrine of ablution,8 and of imposition of the hand,9 and for the resurrection from the place1 of the dead, and for the judgment which is eternal? 2 If the Lord permit, we will do this. But they who once unto baptism have descended,3 and have tasted the gift which is from heaven, and have received the Spirit of Holiness, and have tasted the good word of Aloha, and the power of the world to come, (and) who again shall sin, cannot

8 Compare chap. ix. 10; Exod. xxix. 4; Num. viii. 7; xix. 7. 9 Lev. iv. 4; xvi. 21; Num. xxvii. 18; Deut. xxxiv. 9. Isaiah xxvi. 19; Ezek. xxxvii.

1 House of the dead.

2 Dan. xii. 2.

3 Honun d'chado zaban l'mahmuditho nechathu. The Greek reads, Tous apax photisthentas, "they who have been once enlightened." The rendering of the Peschito here harmonizes with the emblematical way of speaking of baptism, as the mysterion photismatos, "the sacrament of illumination," that prevailed in the ancient church; and to which an allusion is made so early as the middle of the second century, in the Apology of Justin Martyr. (Apol. i. cap. 80.) The epithet of "the illuminated" might have been applied to the baptized, in primitive days, both because the administration of the ordinance betokened a recognition, on the part of the church, of a certain measure of divine knowledge in the candidate, as well as that it was in itself a medium through which the BELIEVER had the privilege of receiving more of the illuminating grace of the Holy Spirit. Still we have no evidence that, in the tous photisthentas of the Greek text, there was any specific allusion to baptism. In this and the parallel place, in chap. x. 32, the Greek phrase plainly refers to inward and spiritual illumination, or, as it is expressed in the explanatory terms of verse 26 of that chapter, the receiving the knowledge of the truth.

again be renewed unto conversion, who would afresh crucify and put to shame the Son of God. For the earth that hath drunk the rain which hath come upon it many times, and shall have brought forth the herb that is useful for them on whose account it is cultured, receiveth blessing from Aloha; but that which shall produce thorns and briers hath reprobation; nor is it far from the curse, but its end is burning. But we are persuaded concerning you, my brethren, those things which are good, and that draw nigh unto salvation, though thus we speak. For not unrighteous is Aloha, that he should forget your works and your charity which ye have manifested in his name, who have ministered unto the saints, and do minister. But we desire that every one of you manifest the same diligence for the full completion of your hope until the end; and that it be not cut off from you, but that ye be imitators of them who by fidelity and patience have become heirs of the promise.

:

For when to Abraham Aloha gave promise, because there was no one greater than himself to swear by, he sware by his own Self, and said, Blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so he waited patiently, and obtained the promise. For men swear by one greater than themselves and every controversy which occurs among them hath a sure conclusion in the oath. On this account Aloha, willing abundantly to manifest to the heirs of the promise that his engagement is changeless, hath bound it in an oath that by two things that are not changed, in which it cannot be that Aloha should lie, great consolation should be ours who have fled unto him: and that we may retain the hope that is promised to us, [and] which we have as an anchor that holdeth our soul, that it may not be moved,

4 Tethkatao lecun. [Katao, abscidit. Ethpaal, abscissus est.] 5 Prolongedness of spirit.

S

and entereth within the veil, where Jeshu hath first entered for us, and become the Priest for ever in the likeness of MALKI-ZEDEK.

VII.

FOR this Malki-Zedek is king of Sholim, the priest of Aloha the Most High. And he (it was who) met Abraham when he returned from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him. And to him Abraham separated the tenth from every thing which he had with him. Now his name, being expounded, (is,) the King of Righteousness; and again, Malek-Sholem, which is, King of peace: whose father and mother were not written in the genealogies; neither the beginning of his days, nor the conclusion of his life; but in the likeness (of that) of THE SON OF ALOHA standeth his priesthood for ever.

But see how great this (person was,) that Abraham, head of the fathers, gave to him the tenths and the choicest things. For they of the sons of Levi who have received the priesthood, have a commandment of the law to receive tenths from the people, they from their brethren, they also from the loins of Abraham having sprung. But he who is not written in their genealogies took tithes from ABRAHAM, and blessed him who had received the promise. But, without controversy, he who is less is blessed by one who is Greater than himself. And here the sons of men who die receive the tithes ; but there [it was] he concerning whom the scripture testifieth that he liveth. And as one may say, by the hand of Abraham, even Levi, he who taketh tithes, himself also is tithed. For he was yet in the loins of his father when he met Malki-Zedek.

If, therefore, Perfection 6

were to be through the

6 Or, the consummation.