CHAP. VI.
He warns them of the danger
of falling by apostasy; and
exhorts them to patience and
perseverance.
1 Wherefore
leaving note the word
of the beginning of Christ,
let us go on to things more
perfect, not laying again the
foundation of penance from
dead works, and of faith towards
God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms,
and of the imposition
of hands, and of the resurrection
of the dead, and of
eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if
God permit.
4 For note it is impossible
for those, who were once enlightened,
have tasted also the
heavenly gift, and were made
partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 Have moreover tasted
the good word of God, and
the powers of the world to
come,
6 And are fallen away; to
be renewed again to penance,
crucifying again to themselves
the Son of God, and making
a mockery of him.
7 For the earth that drinketh
in the rain which cometh
often upon it, and bringeth
forth herbs meet for them by
whom it is tilled, receiveth
blessing from God.
8 But that which bringeth
forth thorns and briars, is rejected,
and very near to a
curse, whose end is to be
burnt.
9 But, my dearly beloved,
we trust better things of
you, and nearer to salvation:
though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unjust,
that he should forget your
work, and the love which you
have shewn in his name, you
who have ministered, and do
minister to the saints.
11 And we desire that every
one of you should shew
forth the same carefulness to
the accomplishing of hope
unto the end:
12 That you become not
slothful, but followers of them,
who through faith and patience
shall inherit the promises.
13 For when God made
promise to Abraham, because
he had no one greater to swear
by, he swore by himself,
-- --
14 Saying: Surely blessing,
I will bless thee, and multiplying,
I will multiply thee.
15 And so after he had
patiently endured, he obtained
the promise.
16 For men swear by one
greater than themselves; and
an oath, for confirmation, is
the end of all their controversy.
17 Wherein God meaning
more abundantly to shew to
the heirs of the promise the
immutability of his counsel,
interposed an oath:
18 That by two immutable
things, in which it is impossible
for God to lye, we
may have the strongest comfort,
who have fled for refuge,
to hold fast the hope set
before us.
19 Which we have as an
anchor to the soul, sure and
firm, and which entereth in
even within the veil;
20 Where the fore-runner
Jesus is entered for us, made
a high priest for ever according
to the order of Melchisedech.
Challoner [1752], THE NEW TESTAMENT OF Our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. Translated out of the Latin Vulgat Diligently compared with the original Greek And first published by the English College of Rhemes, anno 1582. Newly revised, and corrected according to the Clementin Edition of the Scriptures. WITH ANNOTATIONS For clearing up modern Controversies in Religion, and other Difficulties of Holy Writ () [word count] [B12000].
