He is so much superiour to the angels, as the authority he possesses is more excellent than theirs.

and of the angels, he saith, who employs his angels like the winds, and flames of fire as his ministers."

as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall never end."

are not all those spirits dispatch'd as ministers to take care of those who shall belong to the christian church.

for if the law deliver'd by angels was put in execution, and every transgression and disobedience was justly punish'd as it deserv'd;

God also giving an additional testimony both by signs, by prodigies, by divers miracles, and gifts of the holy spirit, which he distributes as he pleases.

thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet." now since he has put all in subjection to him, he left nothing that is not subjected to him. however we do not see as yet that all things are put under him.

who was faithful to him that constituted him such, as Moses likewise was faithful in all his administration of God's house.

but as the architect is of much greater dignity than the house he has made; so the glory which Christ received was greater than that of Moses.

Wherefore as the holy spirit saith, "since to-day you hear his voice,

harden not your hearts, as at Meriba and Massa in the desart:

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you such incredulity as to make you desert the living God.

which is imply'd by, "to-day since ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as at Meriba."

for to us was the good promise made, as well as to them: but the word address'd to them was not effectually receiv'd with faith by those that heard it.

Whereas 'tis we who have believed that shall enter into rest, as he said, "wherefore I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my rest." which is different from that rest, at the beginning of the world, when the work of creation was finished.

then he that enters into divine rest, will indeed rest from his works, as God did from his.

not an high priest who is incapable of compassionating our miseries; since he was exposed to the same trials as we are, sin only excepted. let

For every high priest is appointed to officiate for men in religious matters, offering gifts and sacrifices for their sins: being chosen from among the people. that as he himself is surrounded with infirmities,

he is obliged to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for those of the people. besides, no man can assume

to himself the honour of the priesthood: he must be called thereto by God, as Aaron was.

as he saith too in another place, "thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

this was Jesus, who while he was in a mortal body, having offered up prayers and supplications, with strong cries, and with tears, to him that was able to save him from that death, was heard so as to be delivered from his fear;

for though by this time you ought to be capable of teaching others, you want to be instructed anew in the first principles of the divine oracles; and are in such a state as to stand in need of milk, rather than of solid nourishment.

such solid nourishment is only fit for such as are arriv'd at their full growth and strength, whose senses have been exercis'd in distinguishing what is good, and what is prejudicial.

if they shall fall away, to re-instate themselves by repentance: seeing, as far in them lies, they crucify the son of God afresh, and expose him to open shame.

but that which bears thorns and briars, is look'd upon as lying under a curse; whose end will be to be burnt.

But though we speak in this manner, my dear brethren, we expect better things of you, and such as are more suitable to your salvation.

might have strong consolation to serve as a sure and stedfast anchor to the soul: till it arrives within the veil,

so that Jesus was made guarantee of an alliance so much the more excellent, as it was not without the solemnity of an oath.

as those high priests of the law were, to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people: having done this once for all, by offering up himself.

Our high priest then has obtained a priesthood so much the more excellent, as he is the mediator of a better alliance, established upon better promises.

for Christ is not entred into a sanctuary made by human art, such as is only representative of the true one, but into heaven itself, to appear from henceforth in the presence of God on our behalf:

nor to make a frequent offering of himself, as the high priest every year enters into the holy of holies with other blood than his own.

for then must he have suffered several times since the beginning of the world, when in the consummation of the ages, he has appeared once for all to expiate sin by offering himself as a sacrifice.

as then it is appointed that men should die but once, after which the judgment ensues;

then said I, lo I come, as in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God."

as some do; but encourage one another: even so much the more, as you see the day approaching.

for if we wilfully apostatize, after having received the knowledge of the truth, it is as a sin for which there is no sacrifice appointed.

as for us, we are not such as desert to their own destruction; but such as persevere in the faith, to the saving of our souls.

'twas by faith that he sojourned in a land that was promised, as in a strange country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were equally entitled to the same promise.

so that even a single person whose vigour was gone, gave rise to a posterity as numerous as the stars of the sky, or the sands on the sea-shore, which cannot be numbred.

These all died in faith, without receiving what was promised, having only a distant view of what they eagerly expected, professing to live as strangers and pilgrims in the land.

by faith he left Egypt without being apprehensive of the king's resentment: for he remain'd firm, as if he saw him who is invisible.

By faith they passed thro' the red sea, as by dry land: which the Egyptians attempting to do, were drowned.

have you forgot the exhortation which is address'd to you, as to children? "my son, despise not thou the chastning of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.

if you are to endure chastisement, God treats you as his children: for where's the son whom his father does not chastise?

let there be no licentious or profane person, such as Esau, "who sold his birth-right, for a single mess."

nor could they endure that threat, "if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned."

to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the aspersion of that blood which cries for pardon, and not for vengeance as that of Abel.

remember those that are in chains, as if you were confin'd with them; and those who suffer adversity, as being your selves of the same body.

Confide in your guides, and be respectful: that they who are vigilant, as being accountable for your souls, may discharge themselves with cheerfulness, and not with anxiety, which would be to your prejudice.