how shall we escape, if we neglect that salutary doctrine? which was first published by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those that heard him;

'Tis not therefore to the angels that he has subjected the gospel state of which we are treating.

and this is attested by a certain writer, who says, "what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him?

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.

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,

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;

whence it was necessary he should be in all things like his brethren; that he might be a merciful high priest, and faithfully discharge the divine office of expiating the sins of the people.

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.

no house is without a builder; now he that built the whole house of Israel is God.

but Christ govern'd his own house in quality of son and heir, and 'tis we that are his house, provided we stedfastly persevere unto the end in the publick profession of that hope, in virtue of which we glory.

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.

but with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with those that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the desert?

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,

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.

which shows that the people of God have a sabbath still to come.

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

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any of us by imitating their incredulity, should fall short thereof like them.

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,

us therefore approach with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may obtain the seasonable assistance of divine mercy and favour.

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,

Wherefore Christ himself did not assume the character of an high priest; but it was confirm'd by him that said, "thou art my son, to-day have I begotten thee."

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;

and by a perfect obedience he procured eternal salvation for all that obey him;

now he that is disciplined like a child, is not prepared for the doctrine of justification:

and have known by experience the truth of the divine promises, and the miracles of the age that was to come; it is impossible,

for the earth which drinks up the frequent show'rs that fall upon it, and produces plants fit for the use of him that cultivates it, is stiled heavenly land:

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

but we desire that every one of you may shew the same concern, continuing to discharge the condition upon which your hopes are founded: that ye be not unactive,

but imitate the example of those who by faith and patience have obtain'd the inheritance that was promis'd to them.

that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to deceive us, we, who have no other refuge to fly to, but to maintain our present hopes,

'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:

now 'tis past dispute, he that is blessed is inferior to him that blesses:

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

If therefore the Levitical priesthood, concerning which the people received a law, could have given perfection, what further need was there that another priest should rise, to be named after the order of Melchisedec, and not after the order of Aaron?

since it is evident that our Lord sprang out of the tribe of Juda, to which Moses never ascribed the priesthood.

by him that said to him, "the Lord has swore, and will not repent, thou art a priest for ever after the order of 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.

but he, by virtue of his immortal state, hath a priesthood that does not pass by succession.

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.

and indeed we wanted an high priest of such a character, one that is holy, innocent, undefiled, one that is separated from sinful men, and exalted above the heavens; one who was under no necessity,

every high priest being establish'd to offer gifts and sacrifices: it was necessary that he likewise should make a peculiar offering,

and officiate in the sanctuary, which was a gross representation of that in heaven, agreeable to the order given by God to Moses, when he projected the tabernacle, "be very exact, said he, in following the model which was laid before thee in the mount."

nor for that reproach, which was made to our fathers, where 'tis said, "behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new alliance with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda:

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.

for the disposition of the tabernacle was such, that in the first part named the sanctuary, were placed the candlestick, the table, and the shew-bread;

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.

the high priest only enter'd, and that but once every year, when he carried the blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.

the holy spirit showing thereby, that the way to the holy of holys, was not yet open, while the first tabernacle was standing.

This type subsists to the present time, both gifts and sacrifices being still offered, which cannot purify the mind of him that officiates

but Christ, the high priest of a better dispensation that was to come, having appeared, is enter'd into the holy of holys by a nobler and more perfect tabernacle, not the effect of human art, but of a higher nature;

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.

It was therefore necessary that what was only a type of the heavenly sanctuary, should be purified by such sacrifices; but the heavenly sanctuary itself, by a more excellent sacrifice.

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

For the law being only an allusion to a future dispensation that was more excellent, and not an exact imitation of such a state, cannot by the anniversary sacrifices, which are offered, entirely purify those that present themselves.

And indeed it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats, should take away the guilt of sin.

for by one single oblation he has purified for ever those that are sanctified.

"this is the alliance that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their mind will I write them:

by a new and living way which he has first open'd for us, thro' the veil, that is, thro' his flesh;

Let us stedfastly maintain the hope which we have avow'd, since he is faithful that has promised:

and nothing is to be expected but that dreadful judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour all such adversaries.

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

don't you think then that he deserves a much greater punishment, who hath despised the son of God, and counted the blood of the covenant wherewith be was sanctified, to have been justly shed, thereby offering an indignity to the spirit of grace?

for we know who it is that has said, "vengeance belongeth unto me, I will repay." and again, "the Lord shall revenge his people."

for you were passionately affected for those who were in bonds, and were pleas'd at the seizing of your goods, knowing that you have what is more excellent and lasting.

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

for it is necessary you should persevere, that after having perform'd what God has commanded, you may receive what he has promised.

only wait but a little while, and he that is to come, will come without delay.

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.

'Twas by faith that Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he was declared righteous, God himself having testified that he accepted his offering, and after he died for his faith, he was not silent.

By faith Enoch was translated that he might avoid dying; and he could not be found, because God had translated him: for 'tis recorded, that before his translation he was approved by God.

now without faith it is impossible to be acceptable to him: for he that presents himself to God, cannot but believe he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who make their addresses to him.

'Twas by faith that Noah being divinely warned of unforeseen events, with a religious concern built an ark to the preservation of his family; whereby the world became inexcusable, and he obtained the reward of that righteousness which is by faith.

'Twas by faith that he who was named Abraham, showed his obedience in travelling to a foreign country, which he was afterwards to inherit; and began his journey without knowing where he was going.

'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.

'Twas likewise through faith that Sara, though barren, received the power of becoming pregnant, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

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.

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 Abraham, when put to the trial, offered up Isaac: HE offered up his darling son, to whose posterity the promises were to be made good:

concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the grave; from whence, in a figurative sense, be may be said to have been recover'd.

'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.

through faith he celebrated the passover, and sprinkled blood, that the destroying angel might pass by the first-born.

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.

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

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:

having Jesus in our view, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God.

but if you were exempted from that discipline which others are subject to, then are you bastards, and not sons.

clear the way for your feet, lest that which is lame should be quite out of joint, instead of being redress'd."

take care not to deprive yourselves of the divine favour: and that no poisonous root spring up, and spread a general infection among you.

for you know that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: not being able to make Isaac to retract, though he importun'd him with tears.

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."

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