which, while they are deaf to the truth, attentively listen to fables.

who ought to be curb'd, who pervert whole families, teaching things which they ought not, for sordid lucre.

the charge is true: wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they maybe sound in the faith;

they make a profession of knowing God; but in fact they deny him, being execrably incredulous, and utter strangers to all virtue.

but to lectures on virtue, that they may teach the young women prudence, to love their husbands,

entirely obsequious without grumbling. not to pilfer, but to show the strictest fidelity; that they may do honour to the doctrine of God our saviour in all things.

This is a secure rule, and what I would have you constantly maintain, that they who have believed in God, should take care to be examples of virtue, for that is commendable and useful to mankind.

but avoid frivolous enquiries about genealogies, and vexatious disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Let our brethren too learn some honest profession to supply their occasions, that they may not be destitute of an income.

they shall perish, but thou shalt remain: and they all shall come to an end like an old garment;

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

for both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all deriv'd from one: for which cause he is not asham'd to call them brethren, saying,

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

wherefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, they do alway err in their hearts; and they have not known my ways.

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,

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.

but in this place 'tis said, "they shall not enter into my rest."

Since there remains then a rest which some are still to enter into, for they to whom the promise was first made, did not enter in, because of their incredulity;

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.

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

'tis true they of the race of Levi, who assume the office of the priesthood, have a right by law to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brethren, though they all issued from Abraham:

besides here they that receive tithes are men who die: but there 'twas he of whom it is testified that he liveth.

not according to the alliance that I made with their fathers, when I took them by the hand, to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they have not kept my alliance, wherefore I have rejected them, saith the Lord.

but this is the alliance that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

they shall no longer instruct every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

and for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that, the transgressions that were unexpiated by the first testament, being expiated by his death, they who are called might receive the eternal inheritance, which was promised.

for then they would not have been repeated, because they who sacrificed being once purified, would not have been conscious of wanting any further atonement for their sins:

after having said, "victims, oblations, holocausts, and sacrifice for sin, thou wouldst not, neither hadst pleasure therein," tho' they are all prescrib'd by the law;

now where they are remitted, there is no need of any further oblation for sin.

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.

for they. that make such a declaration, show plainly that they seek some other country.

and truly, if that had been in their view, they might have had an opportunity of returning to the place from whence they came.

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

by faith they made the tour of Jericho for seven days, in consequence of which the walls fell down.

women recovered their children, tho' dead, by their being raised to life again: some expired under torments, refusing to be delivered; that they might obtain a better deliverance at the resurrection.

they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandred about in sheepskins, and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented:

(of whom the world was not worthy) they wandred in desarts, and in mountains, having no retreat but the dens and caves of the earth.

Tho' these were all celebrated for their faith, they did not receive the reward that was promised:

nor to the sound of trumpets, and the voice which pronounc'd such words, that they who heard, intreated they might hear it no more.

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

Take care that you be not deaf to him that speaketh: for if they did not escape, who disregarded the oracles pronounc'd on earth, much less shall we escape, if we turn away from him that delivered the oracles from heaven:

Remember those who have the rule over you, who have preach'd to you the word of God: imitate their faith; consider their conduct, and the exit they made.

We have a victim, whereof they, who still serve at the tabernacle, have no more right to eat,

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.

salute those who conduct you, and all the christians. they of Italy salute you.

but you, who despise the poor, are not you oppress'd by the rich? is it not they who drag you to their tribunals?

they who blaspheme that sacred name by which you are distinguish'd?

they who cultivate peace, enjoy the reward of their virtue.

to sanctify them by his spirit, that by their obedience they might be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. may the divine savour make you continually prosper.

when the spirit of Christ inform'd the minds of the prophets of his future sufferings, and of the glorious consequences, they were solicitous to know the circumstances of the times pointed at:

and were answer'd, that it was not they, but we, who were concern'd in the events which they predicted, events which have been now represented to you by those, whom the holy spirit from heaven inspired to preach the gospel to you: a secret which the angels desire to penetrate into.

and this they were destin'd to. but you are the chosen race, you are kings and priests, the holy nation, the peculiar people, that you might display his glory, who called you out

souls. Let your behaviour among the Gentiles be virtuous, that instead of inveighing against you as vicious, they may observe your honest behaviour,

Let the married women be subservient to their husbands, that if they happen to disbelieve the gospel, they may be gain'd by the instructive conduct of their wives,

You husbands, do you on your part behave with prudence towards your wives: who being of a more delicate make, ought to be treated with the greater tenderness: and consider they are equally intitled to the evangelical gifts, that your prayers may not be frustrated.

always maintaining a good conscience, that instead of inveighing against you as evildoers, they may be cover'd with confusion, who traduce your virtuous behaviour as Christians.

As they think it strange, that you don't concur in the same profusion of luxury, they traduce you.

but they will be call'd to account by him, who is ready to judge both the living and the dead.

for to this end was the gospel preach'd to those, who are now dead, that after having suffer'd the loss of this frail life from men, they might enjoy an immortal life with God.

for if you are possess'd of these virtues and improve therein, they will prevent the knowledge you have of our Lord Jesus Christ from being useless to others, and unprofitable to yourselves.

By their artful discourses they will make you the tools of their avarice; but their condemnation has been a long time advancing, and their ruin is far from lingring.

for since God did not spare the angels, who had sinned, but having precipitated them to hell, confin'd them to chains of darkness, where they are reserv'd for judgment:

But as for these, they have no more reason than brute beasts that are naturally made for hunting, and slaughter: so these who calumniate what they do not understand, shall receive the reward of their iniquity by perishing in their own corruption.

they place their felicity in daily pleasure: they are a vile scandal to religion: when they are present at your love-feasts they indulge their luxury:

their eyes are inflam'd with adultery, and unextinguishable vice: they insnare the souls of the inconstant. their minds are practis'd in the arts of avarice: an execrable race, who have deserted the right way,

when their language swells with vanity, by applying to the sensual passions of the licentious, they allure those who were escap'd for a while, from such deceivers:

whilst they promise others liberty, they themselves are slaves to their corrupt passions. for he that is vanquished, is a slave to the conqueror.

As for those who have renounc'd the pollutions of the world, by their owning Jesus Christ for their Lord and saviour, if they are prevail'd upon to be entangled therein again, their last state is worse than the first.

for it had been better for them, not to have made any profession of the gospel, than after they have embraced it, to abandon the holy injunction, that was delivered to them.

but they are wilfully ignorant, that the heavens were originally form'd by the divine Logos, and likewise the earth, which was separated from the water, and still subsists upon it.

as it were in all his epistles, where he takes notice of these things: in which there are some passages that are difficult to understand, which the illiterate, and unstable wrest, as they do the rest of the scriptures, to their own ruin.

they went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that it might be manifest, that they were not all of us.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

they are of the world: therefore their doctrine is worldly, and the world are their disciples.

they have made a publick declaration of your charity, and you will do well to accompany them in the most effectual manner.

for they set out upon account of the gospel, and refus'd to take any thing of the Gentiles.

As for these, they inveigh against what they do not understand: and abuse those natural instincts which regulate brute animals.

unhappy creatures! they have followed the practices of Cain, they have addicted themselves to the mercenary illusions of Balaam, and perish in their rebellion like Core.

they are a disgrace to your love-feasts, they indulge themselves at your festivals without reserve: clouds without water, transported with every wind: trees whose fruit soon withers and is useless, twice dead and rooted up:

to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the impious among them, of all the impious actions they have committed, and of all the injurious expressions, which impious sinners have utter'd against him."

These are murmurers, complainers, who pursue their own passions: their language swells with flattery, which they offer to the personages of men from a prospect of gain.

for they assur'd you, there would be impostors in the last days, who would follow their own impious passions.

these are they who distinguish themselves, though they are sensual, and have nothing that is spiritual.

See! he is coming on the clouds; and every eye shall see him, even they who pierced him: then all the tribes of the earth will smite their breasts at the sight: even so it will be.

I know thy works, thy labour, and thy patience, and that thou canst not bear those who are evil: thou hast tried those who say they are apostles, but are not; and hast found them lyars:

"I know thy works, thy tribulation and poverty (tho' thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of satan.

behold, I will confine her to her bed, and those that commit adultery with her I will severely afflict, except they repent of their actions.

but I say to the rest that are in Thyatira, who do not follow this doctrine, and have not been initiated in the depths, as they are called, of satan, I will put upon you no other burden, but what you have:

he shall rule them with a rod of iron: as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers, according to the power I have received of my father.

thou hast a few persons in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

you shall see I will make those of the synagogue of satan, who say they are Jews, and are not, but do lye: you shall see I will make them come, and throw themselves at your feet, and they shall know that you are the objects of my love.

round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty Elders sitting, cloathed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

the four animals had each of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within; and they never ceas'd day and night, crying, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS, WHO IS, AND WHO WILL BE. and when those animals gave glory,

"thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, by thy WILL they subsist, and were created."

and they sung a new song, saying, "thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every tribe, and language, and people, and nation;

When he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they maintain'd.