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Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. 21. Having confidence in thy compliance I wrote to thee, knowing thou wilt do even more than I say. 22. But also prepare me a lodging; for I trust through your prayers I shall be given to you.

23. Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus; 24. Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-labourers, salute thee.

25. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

T. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesi

mus a servant.

S. PAUL THE APOSTLE'S EPISTLE TO THE

HEBREWS.

CHAP. I.

CHRIST ABOVE ANGELS.

GOD having formerly spoken many times, and in various manners, to the fathers by the prophets, 2. Hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son (Luke i. 35.) whom he hath appointed heir (and possessor) of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3. Who, being the brightness of his glory, and the express impression of his person, and ruling all things by his powerful word, when he had by himself purged away our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on highr, 4. Being so much superior to the angels, as he inherited a more excellent name than they. 5. For, to which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day I have begotten thee? (Acts xiii. 33.) And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6. And again, when he brings in

the most dearly Beloved into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (Psal. xcvii. 7.) 7. But of the angels he saith, Who maketh his spirits angels, and flames of lightning his ministers. 8. But to the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom; 9. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy associates (in the offices). 10. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11. They shall perish, but thou remainest; and they shall all wax old, as a garment; 12. And as a mantle thou shalt fold them up, and they shall be changed; but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

13. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall inherit salvation?

CHAP. II.

WE MUST BE OBEDIENT TO CHRIST.

THEREFORE We ought to give the more earnest attention to the things we have heard, lest at any time we let them slip. 2. For if the words (of the Mosaic law) spoken by angels were steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of punishment; 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation; which was at first spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard him; 4. God also bearing them witness, with signs and wonders, and various mighty works, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his will? 5. For to the angels he hath not

subjected the world to come, (the last dispensation), whereof we now speak.

6. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou regardest him? 7. Thou madest him a little while lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and hast set him over the works of thy hands; 8. Thou hast subjected all things under his feet. For in subjecting all to him, he left nothing that was not to be subjected to him. But we see not all things subjected to him: 9. But we see Jesus, crowned with glory and honour, who was made a little lower than the angels to suffer death, that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to consecrate the author of their salvation thro' sufferings. 11. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified, are all of one stock; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren; 12. Saying, I will declare thy name (O God) to my brethren; in the midst of the church will I sing praise to thee, (Psal. xxii. 22. Isa. viii. 18.) 13. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children whom God hath given me.

14. Forasmuch then as the children partake of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of them; that thro' death he might depose him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15. And deliver them who thro' fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16. For verily he took not hold of the nature of angels; but he took hold of the human nature in Abraham's seed.

17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be like to his brethren; that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18. For by what he suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

CHAP. III.

CHRIST'S DIGNITY ABOVE MOSES.

WHEREFORE, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession Christ Jesus; 2. Who was faithful to him who appointed him, even as Moses was faithful in all his house (or church committed to him). 3. For he was esteemed worthy of more ho. nour than Moses, as much as the builder of the house (the head and founder of the family) has more honour than the household. 4. For every house hath some builder; but he that built all things is God. 5. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of things afterwards to be spoken (or revealed). 6. But Christ as a son in his own house, whose household we are, if we hold fast the confidence, even the glorying of our hope, firm to the end. 7. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, (Psalm xcv. 7.) 8. Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation, in the wilderness: 9. When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, They always err in their hearts, and they have not known my ways. 11. So I sware in my wrath, That they should not enter into my rest, (in Canaan).

12. Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in apostatizing from the living God. 13. But exhort one another

daily, while it is yet, To-day; lest any of you be

hardened thro' the deceitfulness of sin. 14. For we are made partakers of Christ's benefits, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the

end; 15. While it is said, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16. For some, who heard, provoked him; but not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17. But with whom was he provoked forty years? was it not with them who sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18. And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that obeyed not? 19. So we see they could not enter because of unbelief.

CHAP. IV.

HOW TO ATTAIN THE PROMISED REST.

LET us fear, therefore, tho' a promise be left us of entering into his rest, that any of us should seem to come short of it. 2. For even to them the gospel was preached, as well as to us; but the word (of promise) which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3. For we who believe enter into rest; but he said, I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my rest, tho' the works for it were finished from the foundation of the world. 4. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day thus; for God rested the seventh day from all his works. 5. And in this place again, They shall not enter into my

rest.

6. Now, therefore, an entering into it remaineth for some, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7. Again, he determines a certain day, saying by David, To-day, after so long a time; it is yet said, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8. For if Joshua had given them final rest, he would not afterward have spoken of another day.

9. There remaineth, therefore, a rest (a sabbath in heaven) to the people of God. 10. For (Christ) who is entered into his rest, hath ceased also from his own works, as God did from his.

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