Biblia the Byble, that is, the holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully translated in to Englyshe.

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Biblia the Byble, that is, the holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully translated in to Englyshe.
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[Southwark?,: J. Nycolson],
M.D.XXXV [1535]
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"Biblia the Byble, that is, the holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully translated in to Englyshe." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A10349.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 14, 2024.

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Page c

The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Hebrues. (Book Hebrews)

The summe of this epistle.
  • Chap. I. How God dealt louyngly with thē of the olde tyme in sendynge them his prophe∣tes, but moch more mercy hath he shewed vs in that he sent vs his owne sonne. Of the most excellent glory of Iesus Christ, which in all thinges is like to his father.
  • Chap. II. He exhorteth vs to be obedient vn∣to the new lawe which Christ hath geuen vs and not to be offended at the infirmite and lowe degre of Christ: & why? it was necessary that for oure sakes he shulde take soch an hum¦ble state vpon him, that he might be like vnto his brethren.
  • Chap. III. He requyreth vs to be obedient vn¦to the worde of Christ, which is more worthy then Moses The punyshment of soch as wyll nedes harden their hertes.
  • Chap. IIII. The Sabbath or rest of the Chris∣ten. Punyshment of vnbeleuers. The nature of the worde of God.
  • Chap. V. Christ is oure hye prest, the seate of grace, and more excellent then the hye prestes of the olde lawe.
  • Chap. VI. He goeth forth with the thīge that he beganne in the latter ende of the fyfft chap¦ter, and exhorteth them not to faynt, but to be stedfast and pacient: for so moch as God is su∣re in his promesse.
  • Chap. VII. He cōpareth the presthode of Christ vnto Melchisedech, but to be farre more excel¦lent.
  • Chap. VIII. The office of Christ is more wor∣thy then the prestes office of the olde lawe, which was vnperfecte, and therfore abro∣gate.
  • Chap. IX. The profit and worthynesse of the olde Testament, and how farre the new excel∣leth it.
  • Chap. X. The olde lawe had no power to clē¦se awaye synne, but Christ dyd it with offeryn¦ge vp his body once for all An exhortacion to receaue this goodnesse of God thāk fully with pacience and stedfast faith
  • Chap. XI. What faith is, and a commēdacion of the same. The stedfast beleue of the fathers in olde tyme.
  • Chap. XII. An exhortacion to be pacient and stedfast in trouble and aduersite, vpon hope of euerlastinge rewarde. A commēdacion of the new Testament aboue the olde
  • Chap. XIII. He exhorteth vs vnto loue, to hospi∣talite, to thinke vpon soch as be in aduersite, to manteyne wedlocke, to avoyde cuvetousnes¦se, to make moch of thē that preach Gods wor∣de, to bewarre of straunge lernynge, to be con¦tent to suffre rebuke with Christ, to be thank∣full vnto God, and obedient vnto to oure hea¦des.

[illustration]

The first Chapter.

GOD in tyme past dy∣uersly [ A] & many wayes, spake vnto ye fathers by prophetes, but in these last dayes he hath spoken vnto vs by his sonne, * 1.1 whom he hath made heyre of all thinges, by whom also he made the worl¦de. * 1.2 Which (sonne) beynge the brightnes of his glory, & the very ymage of his substaun¦ce, bearinge vp all thinges with the worde of his power, * 1.3 hath in his owne personne pourged oure synnes, and is set on the righte hande of the maiestie on hye: beynge euē as moch more excellēt thē ye angels, as he hath optayned a more excellēt* 1.4 name then they.

For vnto which of the angels sayde he at [ B] eny tyme:* 1.5 Thou art my sonne, this daye ha¦ue I begotten the? And agayne:* 1.6 I will be his father, & he shalbe my sonne: And agay¦ne, whā he bryngeth in the fyrst begottē son¦ne in to the worlde, he sayeth: * 1.7 And all the angels of God shal worshippe him. And of the angels he sayeth:* 1.8 He maketh his angels spretes, & his mynisters flāmes of fyre. But vnto ye sonne he sayeth: * 1.9 God, ye seate endu∣reth for euer & euer: the cepter of ye kyngdo∣me is a right cepter. Thou hast loued righ∣teousnes, & hated iniquyte: wherfore God (which is thy God) hath anoynted the with the oyle of gladnesse aboue ye felowes. * 1.10 And thou LORDE in ye begynnynge hast layed the foundacion of the earth, and ye heauēs are the workes of thy handes, * 1.11 they shal pe¦rishe, but thou shalt endure: they all shal waxe olde as doth a garmēt, and as a vestu¦re shalt thou chaunge them, and they shal∣be chaunged. But thou art ye same, and th yeares shal not fayle. Vnto which of the an∣gels sayde he at eny tyme: * Syt thou on my righte hāde, tyll I make thyne enemies thy fote stole? Are they not all mynistry 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spre¦tes, sent to mynister for 〈…〉〈…〉, which shalbe heyres of saluacion 〈…〉〈…〉

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The II. Chapter.

[ A] WHerfore we ought to geue the mo∣re hede vnto the thinges which we haue herde, lest we periszhe. For yf the worde which was spokē by angels, was stedfast, and euery trāsgression and dishobe∣dience receaued a iust recompence of rewar∣de, how shal we escape, yf we despyse so grea¦te a saluacion: which * 1.12 after that it began∣ne to be preached by the LORDE himselfe, * 1.13 was confirmed vpon vs, by them that her¦de it, God bearynge witnesse therto, with tokens, wonders and dyuerse powers, and giftes of the holy goost acordinge to his awne wyll.

[ B] For vnto the angels hath he not subdued the worlde to come, wherof we speake. But one in a certayne place witnesseth & sayeth: * 1.14 What is man, that thou art myndefull of him? or the sonne of man, that thou vysitest him? After thou haddest for a litle season ma¦de him lower thē ye angels, thou crownedst him with honoure and glory, and hast set him aboue the workes of thy handes. Thou hast put all thinges in subieccion vnder his fete.* 1.15 In that he subdued all thinges vnto him, he lefte nothinge that is not put vn∣der him. Neuertheles now se we not all thin¦ges yet subdued vnto him. But him, which for a litle season was made lesse then the an∣gels, we se that it is Iesus: which is * 1.16 crow∣ned with honoure and glory for the sufferyn¦ge of death, that he by the grace of God, shulde taist of death for all men. For it beca∣me him, for whom are all thinges, and by whō are all thinges (after yt he had brough¦te many children vnto glory) that he shulde make the LORDE of their saluacion perfecte thorow sufferynge, for so moch as they all come of one, both he that sanctifieth, & they which are sanctified.

[ C] For the which causes sake, he is not asha∣med to call them brethren, sayenge: * 1.17 I will declare thy name vnto my brethren, and in the myddes of the cōgregacion wil I pray∣se the. And agayne: * 1.18 I wyl put my trust in him. And agayne:* 1.19 beholde, here am I and my children, which God hath geuen me.

For as moch then as the children haue flesh and bloude.* 1.20 he also himselfe likewyse toke parte with them, * 1.21 yt he thorow death, mighte take awaye ye power of him, which had lordshippe ouer death, that is to saye, ye deuell: & that he mighte delyuer thē which thorow feare of death were all their life ty∣me in 〈…〉〈…〉 bōdage. For he in no place taketh on him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ngels, but ye sede of Abra¦ham tabeth he on him. Wherfore in all thin¦ges it became him to be made * 1.22 like vnto his brethren, that he mighte be mercyfull and a faithfull hye prest in thinges concernynge God, to make agrement for the synnes of ye people.* 1.23 For in that he himselfe suffred and was tempted, he is able to sucker them that are tempted.

The III. Chapter.

WHerfore holy brethren, ye that are [ A] partakers of the heauēly callynge, consyder the Embasseatour and hye prest of or profession, Christ Iesus, which is faithfull to him that ordeyned him, euen as was * 1.24 Moses in all his house. But this man is worthy of greater honoure then mo∣ses, in as moch as he which prepareth the house, hath greater honoure in it, then the house it selfe. For euery house is prepared of some mā:* 1.25 but he that ordeyned all thinges, is God. And Moses verely was faithfull in all his house as a mynister,* 1.26 to beare witnes of those thinges which were to be spoken afterwarde: But Christ as a sonne hath ru¦le ouer his house, * 1.27 whose house are we, yf we holde fast the confidence and reioysinge of that * 1.28 hope vnto the ende.

Wherfore, as ye holy goost sayeth: * 1.29 To∣daye yf ye shal heare his voyce, harden not youre hertes, * 1.30 as in the prouokynke in the daye of temptacion in the wyldernes, where youre fathers tempted me, proued me, and sawe my workes fortye yeares longe. Wher∣fore I was greued wt that generacion, and sayde: They erre euer in their hertes. But [ B] they knewe not my wayes, so that I sware in my wrath, that they shulde not enter into my rest.

Take hede brethren, that there be not in eny of you an euell hert of vnbeleue, to depar¦te from the lyuynge God: but exhorte youre selues daylie, whyle it is called to daye, lest eny of you waxe harde harted thorow ye dis¦ceatfulnes of synne. For we are become par¦takers of Christ, yf we kepe sure vnto ye ende the begynnynge of the substāce, so longe as it is sayde: Todaye, yf ye shal heare his voy∣ce, hardē not youre hertes, as in the prouo∣caciō. For some whan they herde, prouoked. Howbeit not all they yt came out of Egipte by Moses. But with whom was he displea∣sed fortye yeares longe? Was he not displea¦sed with them yt synned, whose carcases were ouerthrowne in ye wyldernesse?* 1.31 To whom sware he, yt they shulde not enter in to his rest, but vnto thē yt beleued not? And we se yt they coulde not enter in because of vnbeleue.

Page ci

The IIII. Chapter.

[ A] LEt vs feare therfore, lest eny of vs forsakynge the promes of entrynge in to his rest, shulde seme to come behinde: for it is declared vnto vs as well as vnto thē. But the worde of preachinge hel∣ped not thē, whā they that herde it, beleued it not. (For we which haue beleued, enter in to his rest) acordynge as he sayde: Euen as I haue sworne in my wrath, They shal not enter in to my rest. And that (spake he) vere∣ly lōge after that the workes frō the begyn¦nynge of the worlde were made: For he spa∣ke in a certayne place of the seuēth daye, on this wyse: * 1.32 And God rested on the seuenth daye from all his workes. And in this place agayne:* 1.33 They shal not come in to my rest.

Seynge it foloweth thē, that some must enter there in to: and they, to whom it was first preached, entred not therin for vnbele∣ues sake, therfore appoynteth he a daye agayne after so longe tyme, and sayeth: To∣daye (as it is rehearsed by Dauid) Todaye yf ye shal heare his voyce, then harden not youre hertes. For yf Iosua had geuen them rest, thē wolde he not afterwarde haue spo¦ken, of another daye. Therfore remayneth there yet a rest vnto the people of God. For he that is entred in to his rest, ceasseth from his workes, * 1.34 as God doth from his

Let vs make haist therfore to enter in to [ C] that rest, lest eny man fall after the same en∣sample of vnbeleue. For ye worde of God is quycke, and mightie in operacion, and shar∣per thē eny two edged swerde, and * 1.35 entreth thorow, euen to the deuydinge of the soule & the sprete, and of ye ioyntes & the mary, and is a iudger of the thoughtes & intētes of the hert, nether is there eny creature invisible in ye sighte of him. But all thinges are naked & bare vnto ye eyes of hī of whō we speake.

The V. Chapter.

[ A] SEynge then that we haue a greate hye prest, euē Iesus ye sonne of God, which is entred in to heauen, let vs holde oure profession. For we haue not an hye prest which cā not haue cōpassion on or infirmities, but was in all poyntes tēpted, li¦ke as we are, but * 1.36 without synne. Let vs therfore go boldely vnto the * 1.37 seate of grace that we maye receaue mercy, and fynde gra¦ce to helpe in the tyme of nede.

[ B] For euery hye prest that is taken frō amō¦ge men, is ordeyned for men in thinges per∣tayninge to God, * 1.38 to offer giftes and sacri¦fices for synne: which can haue cōpassion on the ignoraunt, and on them that are out of the waye, for so moch as he himselfe also is compased aboute with infirmyte. Therfore is he bounde to offer for synnes, as well for him selfe as for ye people. And nomā taketh ye honoure vnto himselfe, but he that is cal¦led of God, * 1.39 as was Aaron.

Euen so Christ glorified not himselfe to [ C] be made hye prest, but he yt sayde vnto him: * 1.40 Thou art my sonne, this daye haue I be∣gotten the. As he sayeth also in another pla¦ce: * 1.41 Thou art a prest for euer after ye order of Melchisedech. * 1.42 And in ye dayes of his fleshe, he offred vp prayers & supplicacions, wt strō¦ge cryenge & teares vnto him yt was able to saue him frō death: & was herde also, becau¦se he had God in honoure. * 1.43 And though he was Gods sonne, yet lerned he obedience, by those thinges which he suffred. And he beyn¦ge made perfecte, became the cause of euer¦lastinge saluaciō, vnto all thē yt obeye him, and is called of God an hye prest after the order of Melchisedech. Wherof we haue ma¦ny thinges to saye, which are harde to be vt∣tered, because ye are dull of hearynge. * 1.44 For where as concernynge the tyme ye ought to be teachers, yet haue ye nede agayne, yt we teach you the first preceptes of the wor∣de of God: and are become soch as haue ne∣de of mylke, and not stronge meate. For eue∣ry one that is fed yet with mylte, is vnexper¦te in the worde of righteousnes, for he is but a babe. But stronge meate belongeth vnto them yt are perfecte, which thorow custome haue their wyttes exercysed to iudge both good and euell.

The VI. Chapter.

WHerfore let vs leaue the doctryne [ A] pertaynynge to the begynnynge of a Christen life, and let vs go vnto perfeccion: and now nomore laye ye founda¦cion of repētaunce from deed workes, and of faith towarde God, of baptyme, of doctry∣ne, of layenge on of hādes, of resurreccion of the deed, & of eternall iudgment. And so wil we do * 1.45 yf God permytte. * 1.46 For it is not pos∣sible, that they which were once lighted, and haue taisted of the heauēly gyfte, and are be∣come partakers of the holy goost, & * 1.47 haue taisted of ye good worde of God, and of the power of the worlde to come, yf they fall awaye (and concernynge them selues cruci∣fye the sonne of God afreszhe, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mocke off him) that they shulde be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 agayne vnto repentaunce.

For the earth, that drynketh 〈…〉〈…〉 which commeth oft vpon 〈…〉〈…〉 forth herbes mete for 〈…〉〈…〉

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receaueth blessynge of God: But yt groun∣de which beareth thornes and thistles, is no¦thinge worth, and nye vnto cursynge: whose ende is to be brent. Neuertheles (ye dearly beloued) we trust to se better of you, and yt saluaciō is nyer, though we thus speake. * 1.48 For God is not vnrighteous, that he shulde for∣get youre worke and laboure of loue, which ye shewed in his name, whan ye mynistred vnto the sayntes, and yet mynister. Yee and we desyre, that euery one of you shewe the same diligence, to the stablyshinge of hope euen vnto the ende, that ye faynte not, but folowe them which thorow faith and paciē¦ce inheret the promyses. For whan God ma∣de promes to Abraham, because he had no∣ne greater to sweare by, * 1.49 he sware by him∣selfe, and sayde: Surely I wil blesse the and multiplye ye in dede. And so he abode paciēt¦ly, and optayned the promes.

[ C] As for men, they sweare by him that is greater then them selues: * 1.50 and the ooth is the ende of all stryfe to confirme the thinge amōge them. But God, wyllinge very abun¦dauntly to shewe vnto the heyres of promes the stablenes of his councell, added an ooth yt by two immutable thinges (in the which it is vnpossible yt God shulde lye) we mighte haue a stronge consolacion: euen we, which are fled to holde fast the hope that is set be∣fore vs, which (hope) we haue as a sure and stedfast anker of oure soule. Which (hope) also entreth in, in to those thinges that are within ye vayle, whither the forerūner is for vs entred in, euē Iesus, which is made an hye prest foreuer after ye order of Melchisedech.

The VII. Chapter.

[ A] THis Melchisedech * 1.51 kynge of Salem (which beynge prest of the most hye God, met Abraham as he returned agayne from the slaughter of the kynges, & blessed him, vnto whom Abraham also gaue tithes of all the goodes) first is by interpreta¦cion kynge of righteousnes: after that is he kynge of Salem also (that is to saye, kynge of peace) without father, without mother, without kynne, and hath nether begynnyn¦ge of dayes, ner ende of life: but is likened vn¦to the sonne of God, and contynueth a prest for euer.

But cōsider how greate a man this was, to whom the Patriarke Abraham gaue ti∣hes of the spoyles. * 1.52 And verely the children 〈…〉〈…〉, whan they recea•••• the presthode, 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••mmaundement acordynge to the 〈…〉〈…〉 he tithes of the people, that 〈…〉〈…〉 their brethrē, though they also came out of the loynes of Abraham.

But he whose kynred is not counted amō¦ge [ B] them, receaued tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promes. Now is it so without all naysayenge, that the lesse re∣ceaueth blessynge of ye better. And here men that dye, receaue tithes. But there he recea¦ueth tithes, of whom it is witnessed that he lyueth. And to saye the trueth, Leui himsel∣fe also which receaueth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham: for he was yet in the loynes of his father Abraham, whan Melchisedech met him.

Yf now therfore perfeccion came by the presthode of the Leuites (for vnder the same (presthode) the people receaued the lawe) what neded it then furthurmore, that ano∣ther prest shulde ryse after the order of Mel∣chisedech, and not after the order of Aaron?

* 1.53For yf the presthode be trāslated, thē of necessite must the lawe be translated also. For he of whom these thinges are spoken, is of another trybe, of the which neuer man ser¦ued at the altare. [ C]

For it is euidēt,* 1.54 that oure LORDE spron¦ge of the trybe of Iuda, to the which trybe Moses spake nothinge cōcernynge prestho¦de, And it is yet a more euident thinge, yf af∣ter the symilitude of Mechisedech there ary∣se another prest, which is not made after ye lawe of the carnall commaundement, but after the power of the endlesse life (For he testifieth:* 1.55 Thou art a prest for euer after the order of Melchisedech) then the commaun∣dement that wente before, is disanulled, be∣cause of his weaknesse, and vnprofitablenes. For the lawe made nothinge perfecte, but was an introduccion of a better hope, by yt which hope we drawe nye vnto God. And for this cause is it a better hope, yt it was not promysed without an ooth. Those pres∣tes were made without an ooth, but this prest with an ooth, by him that sayde vnto him: The LORDE sware, and wyl not re∣pente: Thou art a prest for euer after the or∣der of Melchisedech. Thus is Iesus become a stabliszher of so moch a better Testamēte.

And amonge them many were made pres¦tes, [ D] because they were not suffred to endure by the reason of death. But this man, becau¦se that he endureth euer, hath an euerlastin∣ge presthode. Wherfore he is able also euer to saue them, that come vnto God by him: & lyueth euer, * 1.56 to make intercession for vs.

For it became vs to haue soch an hye prest as is holy, innocent, vndefyled, separate from synners, and made hyer then heauen:

Page cij

which nedeth not daylie (* 1.57 as yonder hye prestes) to offre vp sacrifice first for his awne synnes, and then for the peoples synnes. For that dyd he once for all, whan he offered vp him selfe.* 1.58 For the lawe maketh men prestes which haue infirmitie: but the worde of the ooth, that came sence the lawe, maketh the sonne prest, which is perfecte for euermore.

The VIII. Chapter.

[ A] OF the thinges which we haue spo∣ken, this is the pyth: * 1.59 We haue soch an hye prest, that is set on ye righte hande of the seate of maiestie in heauē: and is a mynister of holy thinges, and of the true Tabernacle, which God pitched, & not man. For euery hye prest is ordened to offre giftes and sacrifices: Wherfore it is of necessite, yt this man haue somwhat also to offer. For he were not a prest, yf he were vpon earth, where are prestes yt acordynge to the lawe offer giftes (which prestes serue vnto the ensample and shadowe of heauēly thinges, euen as the answere of God was geuen vn∣to Moses, whan he was aboute to fynish the Tabernacle:* 1.60 Take hede (sayde he) that thou make all thinges acordinge to the pa¦trone shewed the in the mount.) But now hath he optayned a more excellent office, in as moch as he is the mediatour of a better Testament, which was made for better pro¦myses. For yf that first (Testament) had be∣ne fautles, then shulde no place haue bene soughte for the secōde. For in rebukynge thē he sayeth: * 1.61 Beholde, the dayes wyll come (sayeth the LORDE) that I wyl fynish vpō the house of Israel, and vpon the house off Iuda, a new Testament: not as the Testa∣ment which I made with their fathers, in that daye whan I toke them by the han∣des, to lede them out of the londe of Egip∣te: * 1.62 for they contynued not in my Testa∣ment, and I regarded them not, sayeth the LORDE.

[ C] For this is the Testament, that I wil ma¦ke wt the house of Israell after those dayes, sayeth the LORDE. I wyl geue my lawes in their mynde, and in their hertes wyl I wry∣te them: * 1.63 And I wil be their God, and they shal be my people: and they shal not teach euery mā his neghboure, and euery man his brother, sayenge: knowe ye LORDE, for they shal knowe me from the leest to the most of them: for I wil be mercifull ouer their vn∣righteousnesses: And on their synnes & on their iniquyties wyl I not thynke eny more. In that he sayeth: A new, he weereth out ye olde. Now yt which is worne out and waxed olde, is ready to vanish awaye

The IX. Chapter.

THat first Tabernacle verely had or∣dinaunces, and seruynges off God [ A] and outwarde holynes. * 1.64 For there was made a foretabernacle, wherin was ye candilsticke, and the table, and the * 1.65 shewe bred: and this is called ye Holy. But behyn∣de the seconde vayle was the Tabernacle which is called Holiest of all, which had the golden censor, and the * 1.66 Arke of the Testa∣ment ouerlayed rounde aboute with golde, wherin was the * 1.67 golden pot with Manna, and Aarons rodd * 1.68 that florished, and the tables of the Testament: Aboue therin were the Cherubins off glory ouershadowynge the Mercyseate: Of which thinges it is not now to speake perticularly.

When these thinges were thus ordeyned, the prestes wente allwayes in to the first Tabernacle, and excuted ye seruyce of God. * 1.69 But in to the seconde wente the hye prest alone once in the yeare, not without blou∣de, which he offred for himselfe and for the ignoraunce of the people. Wherwith the [ B] holy goost this signifyeth, that the * 1.70 waye of holynes was not yet opened, whyle as yet the first Tabernacle was stondynge. Which was a symilitude for the tyme then present, in the which were offred giftes and sacrifices, and coulde not make perfecte (as partaynynge to the conscience) him, that dyd the Gods seruyce onely with meates and drynkes, and dyuerse waszhinges, and iustifienges of the flesh, which were ordey∣ned vnto the tyme of reformacion.

But Christ beynge an hye prest of good thinges to come, came by a greater and a more perfecte * 1.71 Tabernacle, not made with handes, that is to saye, not of this maner buyldynge: nether by the bloude of goates or calues: * 1.72 but by his owne bloude entred he once for all in to the holy place, and hath founde eternall redempcion. For yff the bloude off oxen and off goates, * 1.73 and the aszhes off the cowe whan it is spren∣kled, haloweth the vncleane as touchyn∣ge the purificacion of the flesh, How moch more shal the bloude of Christ (which tho∣row the eternall sprete offred him selfe without spot vnto God) pourge oure con∣science from deed workes,* 1.74 for to serue t••••ge¦uynge God? And for this cause is, & ••••••e¦diatour of the new 〈…〉〈…〉 tho∣row death which chaursed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 redemp∣cion of those trāsgressons (that were vnder

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the first Testament) they which were called mighte receaue the promes of eternall inhe∣ritaunce. For where soeuer is a Testament, there must also be the death of him that ma¦keth the testament.

* 1.75 For a Testamēt taketh auctorite whan men are deed: for it is of no value, as longe as he that made it is alyue. For the which cause that first Testamēt also was not ordey¦ned without bloude. For whan all the com∣maundementes (acordinge to the lawe) we∣re red of Moses vnto all the people, he toke ye bloude of calues and of goates, with wa¦ter and purple woll and ysope, and sprenkled the boke and all the people, sayenge: * This is the bloude of the Testament, which God hath appoynted vnto you. And the Taber∣nakle and all the vessels of the Gods seruyce sprenkled he with bloude likewyse. And all∣most [ D] all thinges are pourged with bloude after the lawe: and without sheddynge of bloude is no remyssion. It is necessary then, that the symilitude of heauenly thinges be purified with soche: but ye heauenly thinges themselues are purified with better sacrifi∣ces, then are those.

For Christ is not entred in to the holy pla¦ces yt are made with handes (which are but symilitudes of true thinges) but in to the ve¦ry heauen, for to apeare now before the face of God for vs: Not to offer himselfe off * 1.76 as the hye prest entreth in to the holy pla∣ce euery yeare with straunge bloude: for thē must he often haue suffred sence the worlde beganne. But now in the ende of the worl∣de hath he appeared once, to put synne to flight, by the offerynge vp of himselfe. And as it is appoynted vnto mē yt they shal on∣ce dye, and then cōmeth the iudgmēt: * 1.77Euē so Christ was once offred, to take awaye the synnes of many. And vnto them that loke for him, shal he appeare agayne without syn¦ne vnto saluacion.

The X. Chapter.

FOr the lawe * which hath but the shadowe off good thinges to come, and not the thinges in their awne fashion, can neuer by the sacrifices which they offer yeare by yeare continually, make the commers there vnto perfecte: Els shul∣de they haue ceassed to haue bene offred, be∣cause that the offerers once pourged, shul∣•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had nomore conscience of synnes. 〈…〉〈…〉 in those sacrifices there is ma∣e but a ••••••••••braunce of synnes euery yea∣e.* For 〈…〉〈…〉 yt the bloude of oxen nd of goates shulde take awaye synnes. Wherfore whan he commeth in to the worl¦de, he sayeth: * 1.78 Sacrifice & offerynge thou woldest not haue, but a body hast thou or∣deyned me. Burnt offerynges and synneof∣ferynges hast thou not alowed. Then say∣de I: Lo, I come. I the begynnynge of the boke it is wrytten of me, that I shulde do ye wyll O God. Aboue whā he had sayde: Sa¦crifice and offerynge, and burntsacrifices & syn offerynges thou woldest not haue, ne∣ther hast alowed (which yet are offered af∣ter ye lawe). Thē sayde he: Lo, I come to do wil thy O God: there taketh he awaye the first, to stablyszhe the latter: In the which wyll we are sanctified by the offerynge vp of the body of Iesus Christ once for all.

And euery prest is ready daylie mynistrin¦ge, and oftymes offereth one maner of offe∣rynges, which can neuer take awaye synnes. But this man whan he had offred for syn∣nes, one sacrifice which is of value for euer, sat him downe on the righte hande of God, and from hence forth tarieth, * 1.79 tyll his foes be made his fote stole. For with one offeryn∣ge hath he made perfecte for euer, thē that are sanctified. And the holy goost also bea∣reth vs recorde of this, euen whan he sayde before:* 1.80 This is the Testament, that I wyl make vnto them after those dayes, sayeth ye LORDE: I wyl geue my lawes in their her∣tes, and 〈…〉〈…〉 myndes wyl I wryte them, and their synnes and iniquities wil I remē∣bre nomore. And where remyssion of these thinges is, there is nomore offerynge for synne.

Seynge now brethrē, that we haue a * 1.81 fre¦sure [ C] intraunce in to that Holy place, by the bloude of Iesu (which he hath prepared vn∣to vs for a new and lyuynge waye, thorow the vayle, that is to saye, by his flesh) and seynge also that we haue an hye prest ouer the house of God, let vs drawe nye with a true hert in a full faith, sprenkled in oure her¦tes from an euell conscience, and washed in oure bodies with pure water: and let vs ke∣pe the profession of oure hope without wa∣uerynge (for he is faith full that hath pro∣mysed) and let vs considre one another to ye prouokinge of loue and of good workes: and let vs not forsake the fellishippe that we ha¦ue amōge oure selues, as the maner of some is: but let vs exhorte one another, and that so moch the more, because ye se that the daye draweth nye.

* 1.82 For yf we synne wylfully after that we haue receaued the knowlege of the trueth, there remayneth vnto vs nomore sacrifice

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for synnes, but a fearfull lokynge for iudg∣ment; and violente fyre, which shal deuoure ye aduersaries.* 1.83 He yt despyseth Moses lawe, dyeth without mercy vnder two or thre wit¦nesses: Of how moch sorer punyshment (sup¦pose ye) shal he be counted worthy, which treadeth vnder fote the sonne of God, and [ D] coūteth the bloude of ye Testamēt (wherby he is sanctified) an vnwholy thinge, & doth dishonoure to the sprete of grace? For we knowe him that hath sayde:* 1.84 Vengeaunce is myne, I wil recompence, sayeth the LOR∣DE. And agayne:* 1.85 The LORDE shal iudge his people. It is a fearfull thinge to fall in to the handes of the lyuynge God.

But call ye to remēbraūce ye dayes yt are past, ī yt which after ye had receaued lighte, ye endured a greate fighte off aduersities: partly whyle all mē wōdred & gased at you for the shame and tribulacion that was do∣ne vnto you: and partly whyle ye became cō¦panyons of them which so passed their ty∣me. For ye haue suffred with my bōdes, and toke a worth ye spoylinge of youre goodes, and that with gladnes, knowynge in youre selues, how that ye haue in heauen a better & an enduringe substaunce. Cast not awaye therfore yor confidence, which hath so grea∣te a rewarde.* 1.86 For ye haue nede of pacience, that after ye haue done the wil of God, ye mighte receaue the promes. * 1.87 For yet ouer a litle whyle, and then he that shal come, wyl come, and wyl not tary.* 1.88 But the iust shal lyue by his faith: And yf he withdrawe him∣selfe awaye, my soule shal haue no pleasure in him. As for vs, we are not of those which withdrawe them selues to damnacion: but of them that beleue to the wynnynge of the soule.

The XI. Chapter.

[ B] FAith is a sure confidence of thinges which are hoped for, and a certayn∣te of thinges which are not sene. By it ye Elders were well reported of. Thorow faith we vnderstonde, that the worlde and all the thinges which are sene, were made of naughte by the worde of God.

* 1.89 By faith offered Abell vnto God a mo∣re plenteous sacrifice: by the which he optay¦ned wytnesse, that he was righteous: God testifyenge of his giftes, by the which also he beynge deed, yet speaketh.

* 1.90By faith was Enoch takē awaye, that he shulde not se death: and was not foun∣de, because God had taken him awaye. For afore he was taken awaye, he had recorde that he pleased God. But without faith it is vnpossible to please God. For he that com¦meth [ B] vnto God, must beleue that God is, & yt he is a rewarder of them that seke him.

* 1.91 By faith Noe honoured God, after yt he was warned of thinges which were not sene, & prepared the Arke, to ye sauinge of his housholde: thorow the which Arke he con∣demned the worlde, and became heyre of the righteousnes, which commeth by faith.

By faith Abraham (whā he was called) obeyed, to go out in to the place,* 1.92 which he shulde afterwarde receaue to inheritaunce: and he wente out, not knowynge whither he shulde go.

By faith was he a straunger in the lōde of promes as in a straunge countre, & dwelt in tabernacles: and so dyd Isaac & Iacob, heyres with him of the same promes: for he loked for a cite which hath a foundacion, whose buylder and maker is God.

By faith Sara also receaued strength to [ C] be with childe,* 1.93 and was delyuered of a childe whan she was past age, because she iudged him to be faithfull which had promysed. And therfore spronge there of one (yee euen off one which was as good as deed concer∣nynge the body) so many in multitude * 1.94 as the starres off the skye, and as the sonde off the See shore, which is innumerable.

All these dyed acordinge to faith and re∣ceaued not the promyses, but sawe thē afar¦re off, and beleued them, and saluted them: * 1.95 and cōfessed, that they were straungers & pilgrems vpō earth. For they that saye soch thinges, declare, that they seke a naturall countre. And doutles yf they had bene myn¦defull off that countre from whence they ca¦me out, they had leysure to haue returned agayne. But now they desyre a better, that is to saye, a heauēly.* 1.96 Wherfore God is not ashamed of thē, euē to be called their God: for he hath prepared a cite for them.

By faith Abrahā offered vp Isaac, whā [ D] he was tempted,* 1.97 and gaue ouer his onely be∣gotten sonne, in whom he had receaued the promyses, of whom it was sayde: In Isaac shal thy sede be called: For he considered, yt God was able to rayse vp agayne from the deed. Therfore receaued he him for an en∣sample.

By faith Isaac blessed Iacob and Esau,* 1.98 concernynge thinges to come.

By faith Iacob, whan he was a dyenge,* 1.99 blessed both the sonnes off Ioseph, & bowed himselfe towarde the toppe of his cepter.

By faith Ioseph whan he dyed,* 1.100 remem∣bred ye departynge of the childrē of Israel, &

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gaue cōmaundemēt concernynge his bones.

* 1.101By faith Moses whā he was borne, was hyd thre monethes of his Elders, because they sawe that he was a proper childe, ne∣ther feared they the kynges cōmaundemēt.

* 1.102By faith Moses whan he was greate refused to be called the sonne of Pharao doughter: and chose rather to suffre aduersi∣te with the people of God, then to enioye ye pleasures of synne for a season: and estemed the rebuke of Christ greater riches, then the treasure of Egipte: for he had respecte vnto the rewarde.

[ E] By faith he forsoke Egipte, and feared not the fearcenes of the kynge:* 1.103 for he endu∣red, euē as though he had sene him which is inuisible.

* 1.104 By faith he helde Easter, and the effu∣sion of bloude, lest he which slewe the firstbor¦ne, shulde touche them.

* 1.105By faith they passed thorow the reed See as by drye londe: which whā the Egip¦cians assayed to do, they were drowned.

By faith the walles of Iericho fell, whā they were compased aboute seuen dayes.

By faith the harlot Raab perished not with the vnbeleuers, whā she had receaued the spyes to lodginge peaceably.

And what shal I more saye? yt tyme wol¦de be to shorte for me to tell of * 1.106 Gedeon, of * 1.107Barac, and of * 1.108 Samson, & of Iepthae, * 1.109 and of Dauid, and * 1.110 Samuel, and of the prophetes, which thorow faith subdued [ F] kyngdomes, wroughte righteousnes, optay¦ned ye promyses, stopped ye mouthes of lyōs * 1.111 quenched the violēce of fyre, escaped ye edge of the swerde, of weake were made stronge, became valeaunt in batayll, turned to fligh∣te the armyes of the aleauntes, * 1.112 the wemen receaued their deed agayne from resurrec∣cion. But other were racked, and accepted no delyueraunce, that they mighte optayne the resurreccion that better is.

Other taisted of mockinges and scourgin¦ges, of bondes also and presonment:* 1.113 were stoned, were hewen a sunder, were tempted, were slayne with the swerde, * 1.114 wente aboute in shepe skynnes and goates skynnes, in ne∣de, in tribulacion, in vexacion, which (men) the worlde was not worthy of: they wan∣dred aboute in wyldernesses, vpon moun∣taynes, in dennes and caues of the earth. And these all thorow faith optayned good reporte, and receaued not ye promes: becau¦se God had prouyded a better thinge for vs, that they without vs shulde not be made perfecte.

The XII. Chapter.

WHerfore seynge we haue so greate a [ A] multitude of witnesses aboute vs * 1.115 let vs also laye awaye all yt pres∣seth downe, and the synne that hangeth on, and let vs runne with pacience vnto the ba¦tayl that is set before vs, lokynge vnto Ie∣sus ye auctor and fyniszher of faith: * 1.116 which whan the ioye was layed before him, abode the crosse, and despysed the shame, and is set downe on ye righte hāde of ye trone of God. Cōsidre him therfore that endured soch spea¦kinge agaynst hī of synners, lest ye be weery and faynte in youre myndes: for ye haue not yet resisted vnto bloude, stryuynge agaynst synne, and haue forgotten the consolacion, which speaketh vnto you as vnto children: * 1.117My sonne, despyse not the chastenynge off the LORDE, nether faynte whan thou art re¦buked of him: * 1.118 for whō the LORDE loueth, him he chasteneth, yee and he scourgeth eue∣ry sonne that he receaueth.

Yf ye endure chastenynge, God offereth [ B] himselfe vnto you as vnto sonnes. What sonne is that, whom the father chasteneth not? Yf ye be not vnder correccion (wherof all are partakers) then are ye bastardes and not sonnes. Morouer seyenge we haue had fathers off oure flesh which corrected vs, & we gaue them reuerence, shulde we not then moch rather be in subieccion vnto ye father of spirituall giftes, yt we mighte lyue? And they verely for a few dayes nurtred vs af∣ter their awne pleasure: but he lerneth vs vnto yt which is profitable, that we mighte receaue of his holynes. No maner chastisyn¦ge for the present tyme semeth to be ioyous, but greuous: neuertheles afterwarde it brin¦geth the quyete frute of righteousnes, vnto them which are exercysed therby. * 1.119 Life vp therfore the handes which were let downe, and the weake knees, and se that ye haue straight steppes vnto youre fete, lest eny hal¦tinge turne you out of the waye, yee let it ra∣ther be healed.

Folowe after peace with all men, and ho∣lynes, [ C] without the which no man shal se the LORDE, ād loke well, that no mā be destitu¦te of the grace of God, lest there sprynge vp eny bytter rote, and cause disquyetnes, and therby many be defyled: that there be no whoremonger, or vncleane person, as Esau, * 1.120 which for one meate sake solde his byrth righte. For ye knowe, how that afterwarde whan he wolde haue inhereted the blessyn∣ge, he was put by: for * 1.121 he foūde no place of repētaunce, though he desyred (ye blessynge)

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with teares. For ye are not come to ye moūt that can be touched * 1.122 and burneth with fy∣re, nether yet to myst and darcknes, and tem¦pest of wedder, nether to the sounde of the trompe, and ye voyce of wordes: which they that herde, wyszhed awaye, that the worde shulde not be spoken to them, for they were not able to abyde that which was spoken. * 1.123 And yf a beest had touched the mountay∣ne, it must haue bene stōed, or thrust thorow with a darte. And so terrible was the sighte which appeared, that Moses sayde: I feare and quake. But ye are come to the mount Sion, and to the cite of the lyuynge God, to the celestiall * 1.124 Ierusalem, and to the multi∣tude [ D] of many thousande angels, and vnto the congregacion of the first borne, which are wrytten in heauen, and to God the iud∣ge of all, and to the spretes of iust and perfec¦te men, and to Iesus the mediatoure of the new Testament, and to the sprenklynge off bloude, that speaketh better then the bloude of * 1.125 Abel.

Se that ye despyse not him that speaketh vnto you: for yf they escaped not which refu¦sed him that spake on earth, moch more shal we not escape, yf we turne awaye from him that speaketh from heauē: whose voyce sho¦ke the earth at that tyme. But now promy¦seth he, & sayeth: * 1.126 Yet once more wyl I sha∣ke, not the earth onely, but also heauen. No doute that same that he sayeth yet once mo∣re, signifieth the remouynge awaye of those thinges which are shaken, as off thinges which are made: that ye thinges which are not shakē, maye remayne. Wherfore, seynge we receaue the vnmoueable kyngdome, we haue grace,* 1.127 wherby we maye serue God, & please him, with reuerence and godly feare. * 1.128 For oure God is a consumynge fyre.

The XIII. Chapter.

[ A] LEt brotherly loue cōtynue.* 1.129 Be not forgetfull to lodge straungers: for therby haue dyuerse receaued an∣gels in to their houses vnawares. Remem∣bre them that are in bondes, euē as though ye were bounde with them: and be mynde∣full off them which are in aduersite, as ye which are also in the bodye. Let wedlocke be had in pryce in all poyntes, & let ye cham¦ber be vndefyled. For whorekepers and ad∣uouterers God wil iudge. Let youre conuer¦sacion be without couetousnes,* 1.130 and be con¦tent with that ye haue allready, for he hath sayde: * 1.131 I wyl not fayle the nether forsake the, so that we maye boldely saye: * 1.132 The LORDE is my helper, and I wyl not feare what man maye do vnto me. Remembre thē which haue the ouersighte of you, which haue declared vnto you the worde of God. The ende of whose cōuersacion se that ye lo¦ke vpon, and folowe their faith.

Iesus Christ yesterdaye and * 1.133 Todaye, [ B] & the same cōtinueth foreuer. Be not caried aboute wt dyuerse and straunge lernynges: for it is a good thinge that the herte be sta∣blyszhed with grace, and not with meates, which haue not profited them, that haue had their pastyme in them. We haue an al∣tare, wherof they haue no power to eate, which serue in the Tabernacle. For the bo∣dies of those beestes * 1.134whose bloude is brough¦te in to the holy place by ye hye prest to pour¦ge synne, are brent without the tētes. Ther∣fore Iesus also, to sanctifye ye people by his awne bloude,* 1.135 suffred without ye gate. Let vs go forth therfore out of the tentes, and suffre rebuke with him:* 1.136 for here haue we no contynuynge cite, but we seke one to come.

* 1.137 Let vs therfore by him offre allwayes [ C] vnto God the sacrifice of prayse: that is to saye, the frute of those lippes which confesse his name. To do good and to destribute for∣get not, * 1.138 for wt soch sacrifices God is plea∣sed. Obey them that haue the ouersighte off you, and submytte youre selues vnto them: for they watch for youre soules, euen as they that must geue accōptes therfore, that they maye do it with ioye, and not with grefe: for that is an vnprofitable thinge for you. Praye for vs. We haue confidence, because we haue a good cōscience in all thinges, and desyre to lyue honestly. But I desyre you ye more abundauntly, that ye so do, yt I maye be restored vnto you the more quyckly.

The God of peace (that broughte agay¦ne [ D] frō the deed oure LORDE Iesus the * 1.139 grea¦te shepherde of the shepe thorow the blou∣de of the euerlastinge Testament) make you perfecte in all good workes, to do his wyll, workynge in you that which is pleasaunt in his sighte thorow Iesus Christ, to whom be prayse for euer and euer Amen. I beseke you brethren, suffre the worde of exhortacion, for I haue wrytten vnto you in few wordes. Knowe or brother Timotheus, whom we haue sent from vs, with whom (yf he come shortly) I wil se you. Salute thē that haue the ouersighte of you and all ye sayntes. The brethren of Italy salute you. Grace be with you all, Amen.

Sent from Italy by Timotheus.

Notes

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