Iesus Christe yester daye, and to daye, and the same continueth for euer. Be not caried aboute wyth diuerse and strange lernynge. For it is a good thynge that the heart be sta∣blyshed with grace, not with meates, whych haue not profyted them that haue had their pastyme in them. We haue an aulter whereof they maye not eate whych serue in the ta∣bernacle. For the bodies of those beastes whose bloude, is broughte into the holye place by the hygh pryeste to pourge sinne, are burnt without the tentes. Therefore Iesus also to sanctifie the people with his owne bloude suffered without the gate. Let vs go futthe therefore vnto by mout of the tentes, and suffer rebuke wyth hym. For here haue we no continuyng citie: but we seke one to come.
For as Iesus Christ was yesterdaye, and is to daye, and euermore shalbe tyme without ende, and neuer shalbe chaunged: so shall his doctryne continue for euer. Therefore abyde you stable and stedefast herein, and be not as menne, leanyng vpon no sure foundation, caryed aboute with newe and diuerse lear∣nyng. The lawe of Moyses taught no other thyng then the gospell nowe tea∣cheth, but after an other fashion. It is a poynte of foly to sticke styll vnto sha∣dowes, after that veritie is come to lyght. And yet are there some which renewe agayne the olde iewyshe religion nowe abrogate and dysanulled, holdyng opi∣nyon that bettue and godlye lyuynge standeth in meates and corporall fode, the whiche thynges suche as haue supersticiously obserued, haue nothyng pro∣fited therby to thattaynyng of ryghtuousnesse. Whoso desyreth to attayne perfyte and true godlynesse, which hath not an onelye shadowe of ryghtuous∣nes, but stablysheth the mynde with a cleare conscience before God: lette hym cantinew in grace and fayth, and leane vpon this foundacion whiche Christe hath layde, and then shall he not wauer with Iewyshe superstions. Let the Iewes counte it a holy thyng to absteyne frome certayne meates, euen frome suche as are offred vp in sacrifice. We also haue a muche holyer aulter, wher∣of it is not lawfull for them to eate, who beyng gyuen as yet vnto the ceremo∣nies of the lawe, knowe not the grace of the gospel, wher by is gyuen true soule health and saluation. For, accordyng vnto the prescription of the law, the car∣kases of those beastes whose bloude is accustomably offred for sinne by the hie priest in the tabernacles called holy, are by commaundement burned withoute the tentes, as though the bloude had in it some holy thyng, notwithstandynge the bodies, as thynges vncleane and defyled, are caryed oute to be burned in vnholye places, and therefore they absteine from them, as from vncleane mea∣tes. These folkes haue the shadowe, but we embrace that which the shadowe hath signified. They were neuer the holier in minde after they were sprynkled with bloud, neither were they any whit the cleaner because they absteined from eatyng of y• bodies, sens their soules were wholy dysteyned wt sinne & vicious∣nes. We embrace Iesus our sacrifice & hie priest, who, as it were alludyng to the figure of the lawe, would be crucified without the gate of the citie of Ieru∣salem, there to pourge his people with his most precious bloude, whose exāple we must not supersticiously, but deuoutely folowe. And this shall we do, yf we also take vp our crosse, & folow him goyng out frō the cōpainye of men, as frō a knot or felowship of mischeuous persons. Let vs likewise go out, & departe frō meadlyng with this world, & take more pleasure to suffre reproch for Chri∣stes sake, thē to take y• fruition of worldly glory. Let vs byd this earthly city∣fare well, who haue not here a contynuyng citie, but loke after one to come, whiche is celestiall and euerlastynge.