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

for to which of the angels did he ever say, " thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be his father, and he shall be my son?

But to which of the angels did he ever say, "sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?"

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.

but Jesus, who was for a while inferior to the angels by his sufferings and death, we see was crown'd with glory and honour; when by the divine goodness, he had pass'd thro' death for every man.

Since then the children were made subject to a state of mortality, so he himself likewise was subject to the same condition: that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

for he is not the deliverer of angels; but the deliverer of Abraham's posterity.

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.

besides Moses throughout his whole administration acted in quality of a servant, representing to the people what he was order'd to say.

where your fathers provoked me to give proofs of my power forty years, tho' they saw my works.

so I swear in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest."

for some when they had heard his voice, did provoke him: however, not all that were brought out of Egypt by Moses did so.

and who were they, who, he sware, should not enter into his rest, but those that did not believe? so we see that they could not enter in,

so that there is not a creature that is concealed from his view: but all is naked and open to the eyes of him of whom we speak. Having then so great a high priest,

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;

On this head we have many things to say, not easily to be comprehended, because of your prejudices.

for when men swear by a superior, the ratifying what they say with an oath, puts an end to all further debate.

and even Levi who received tithes, pay'd tithes, if I may so say, in the person of Abraham.

This appears still more clear from another priest's arising like Melchisedec,

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

so that he has an uninterrupted power to save those, that come to God by him, because he ever lives to make intercession for them.

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.

there was the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant gilded all over with gold, wherein was the golden urn containing the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the alliance.

so Christ being once offered up to take away the sins of many; he shall appear the second time, without making any further expiation to save those who expect him.

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

He that by two or three witnesses was convicted of violating Moses's law, was put to death without mercy.

don't therefore quit that resolution you have, which will be attended with so great a reward.

and it was for their faith that our fore-fathers acquired so great a reputation.

'Tis by faith we learn that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the visible world was not made out of any thing that did appear.

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.

they desired therefore a better, that is, an heavenly country: so that God is very justly stiled their God: for he had appointed a city for them.

'Twas by faith that the parents of Moses conceal'd him for three months after his birth, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

by faith Moses when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

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.

And what shall I say more? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, of Barak, of Samson, of Jephthae, of David, of Samuel, and of the prophets:

Wherefore, since we are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every incumbrance, and the sin which does so easily embarrass us, and let us pursue with constancy the course that is proposed to us:

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

seek peace with all men, and sanctity of life, without which no man shall see the Lord:

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

and so terrible was the appearance, that Moses cry'd out, "I tremble with the fright."

so that we may boldly say, " the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

for the mind is better improv'd by the gospel-dispensation, than by the distinctions about meats, in which some have been so uselesly vers'd.