Take care that no one fails to use the loving help of God, 'that no bitterness is allowed to take root and spring up, and cause trouble,' and so poison the whole community.

Do not forget your Leaders, the men who told you God's Message. Recall the close of their lives, and imitate their faith.

True; it was because of their want of faith that they were broken off, and it is because of your faith that you are standing. Do not think too highly of yourself, but beware.

Therefore let the man who thinks that he stands take care that he does not fall.

A promise

There is, then, a Sabbath-Rest still awaiting God's People.

What follows then? Some, no doubt, showed a want of faith; but will their want of faith make God break faith? Heaven forbid!

If we lose our trust, he is still to be trusted, for he cannot be false to himself!'

His

Upon that Rest we who have believed are now entering. As God has said-- 'In my wrath I swore--"They shall never enter upon my Rest;"' Although God's work was finished at the creation of the world;

While in my wrath I swore-- "They shall never enter upon my Rest."'

Any

Not every one who says to me 'Master! Master!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven.

But, should he be a bad servant, and say to himself 'My master is a long time in coming,'

Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

But should that servant say to himself 'My master is a long time coming,' and begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,

When once the master of the house has got up and shut the door, while you begin to say, as you stand outside and knock, 'Sir, open the door for us.' His answer will be--'I do not know where you come from.'

For all have sinned, and all fall short of God's glorious ideal,

I, therefore, run with no uncertain aim. I box-not like a man hitting the air.

General references

But many who are first now will then be last, and those who are last will be first.

The whole Church and all who heard of these events were appalled.