That the Hebrevves vvere not all the Ievves, but only a part of them, it is manifest Act. 6: vvhere the primitive Church of Hierusalem, although it consisted of Ievves only, as vve reade Act. 2, yet is said to consist of tvvo sortes, Greekes & Hebrues. Vvhich againe is manifest Phil. 3. vvhere S. Paul c&obar;paring him self with the Iudaical false-Apostles, saith, that he also is, an Hebrue of Hebrues. Finally, they seeme to haue been those Ievves vvhich vvere borne in Iurie, vvhich for the most part dwelled also there. Therefore to the Christian Ievves in Hierusalem and in the rest of Iurie, S. Paul vvriteth this Epistle, out of Italie: saying therevpon, The brethr&ebar; of Italic salute you. Heb. 13. By vvhich vvordes, & by these other in the same place. Knovv ye our brother Timothee to be dimissed, vvith vvhom (if he come the sooner) I vvil see you, it is euident, that he vvrote this, not only after he vvas brought prisoner to Rome, vvherein S. Luke endeth the Actes of the Apostles: but also after he vvas set at libertie there againe.

Many causes are giuen of the Doctors, vvhy vvriting to the Ievves, he doth not put his name in the beginning, Paul an Apostle &c. as he doth lightly in

his Epistles to the Churches and Bishops of the Gentils. ^note The most likely cause is, for that he vvas the preacher and Apostle and Maister of the Gentils. And againe in an other place he saith, that him self vvas appointed the Apostle of the Gentils, as Peter of the Ievves. Gal. 2. Only S. Peter therfore vvriting to the Ievves, doth vse this stile: Peter an Apostle of Iesvs Christ &c. because he vvas more peculiarly their Apostle as being the vicar of Christ, vvho vvas also him self ^{note note note} more specially the minister of the Circumcision, that is (as him self speaketh) not sent but to the sheepe vvhich vvere lost of the house of Israël. Mat. 15.

The Argument of the Epistle S. Paul him self doth tell vs in tvvo vvordes, calling it verbum solatij, the vvord of solace and comfort. ^note Vvhich also is plaine in the vvhole course of the Epistle, namely in the tenth chapter. v. 32. &c. Vvhere he exhorteth them to take great comfort and confidence in their manifold tribulations sustained of their ovvne countrie men the Ievves, vvhereof the Apostle also maketh mention to the Thessalonians. 1. Thess. 2. v. 14. Those persecutions then of the obstinate incredulous Ievves their countrie men, vvas one great tentation vnto them. An other tentation vvas, the persuasions that they brought vnto them out of Scriptures, to cleaue vnto the Lavv, and not to beleeue in Iesvs the dead man.

And vvhereas the Ievves did magnifie their lavv, by the Prophetes, and by the Angels by vvhom it vvas giuen, and by Moyses, and by their land of promise, into vvhich Iosue brought them, and by their father Abraham, and by their Aaronicall or Leuitical priesthod and sacrifices, by their Tabernacle, & by their Testament: he shevveth, that our Lord Iesvs, as being the natural sonne of God, passeth incomparably the Prophetes, the Angels, and Moyses: that the Rest or quietnes vvhich God promised, vvas not in their earthly land, but in heauen: that his figure Melchisedec far passed Abraham: and that his priesthod, Sacrifice, Tabernacle, and testament, far pa&esset;ed theirs. In al vvhich he shooteth often at these three markes: to take avvay the scandal of Christes death, by giuing them sundrie good reasons & testimonies of it: to erect their mindes from visible and earthly promises (to vvhich only, the Ievves vvere vvholy bent) to inuisible and heauenly: and to insinuate that the Ceremonies should novv cease, the time of their correction by Christ being novv come.

The Epistle may be deuided into these partes: the first, of Christes excellencie aboue the Prophetes; Angels, Moyses, and Iosue: c. 1. 2. 3. 4. The second, of his priesthod and excellencie thereof aboue the priesthod of the old Testament: c. 5. vnto the middest of the 10. The last part is of exhortation c. 10. v. 9. to the end of the Epistle.

THE EPISTLE OF PAVL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREVVES. Let the Christian Reader note the corruption and impudent boldnes of our Aduersaries, that vpon a false priuate persuasion of their ovvne, that S. Paul vvas not the author of this Epistle, [Subnote: In the English Bible of the yere 2579.] leaue out his name in the title of the same, contrarie to the authentical copies both Greeke and Latin. [Subnote: Heretical corruption.] In old time there vvas some doubt vvho should be the vvriter of it, but then, vvhen it vvas no lesse doubted vvhether it vvere Canonical Scripture at al. [Subnote: The Epistle to the Hebrues, is S. Paules.] Aftervvard the vvhole Church (by vvhich onely vve knovv the true Scriptures from other vvritings) held it and deliuered it, as novv she doth, to the faithful, for Canonical, and for S. Paules Epistle. Notvvithstanding the Aduersaries vvould haue refused the Epistle, as vvel as they do the Author, but that they falsely imagine certaine places thereof to make against the Sacrifice of the Masse. Chap. I. God spake to their fathers by the Prophets: but to them selues by his ovvne Sonne, 14 vvho incomparably passeth al the Angels.

1    ^noteDiversely and many vvaies in times past God speaking to the fathers in the prophets:

2   last of al in these daies hath spoken to vs in his Sonne, vvhom he hath appointed heire of al, by vvhom he made also the vvorldes.

3    ^noteVVho being the ^note brightnesse of his glorie, and09Q1337 the ^note figure of his substance, & carying al things by the vvord of his povver, making purgation of sinnes, sitteth on the right hand of the Maiestie in the high places: ^note

4   being made so much better then Angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name aboue them.

5   For to vvhich of the Angels hath he said at any time, Thou art my sonne, to day haue I begotten thee? ^note and againe, I vvil be to him a father, and he shal be to me a sonne. ^note

6   And vvhen againe he bringeth

in the first begotten into the vvorld, he saith, And09Q1338 let al the Angels of God adore him. ^note

7   And to the Angels truely he saith, He that maketh his Angels, spirites: and his ministers, a flame of fire. ^note

8   But to the Sonne: Thy throne ô God for euer & euer: a rod of equitie, the rod of thy kingdom.

9   Thou hast loued iustice, and hated iniquitie: therfore thee, God, thy God hath anointed vvith the oile of exultation aboue thy fellovves. ^note

10   And, Thou in the beginning ô Lord didst found the earth: and the vvorkes of thy handes are the heauens.

11   They shal perish, but thou shalt continue: and they shal al vvaxe old as a garment.

12   And as a vesture shalt thou chaunge them, & they shal be changed: but thou art the self same, and thy yeres shal not faile. ^note &cross4;

13   But to vvhich of the Angels said he at any time: Sit on my right hand, vntil I make thine enemies the footestoole of thy feete? ^note

14   Are they not al, ^note ministring spirits: sent to minister for them vvhich shal receive the inheritance of saluation? ^{note note} Chap. II. He inferreth of the foresaid, that it shal be incomparably more damnable for them to neglect the nevv Testament then the old, 3 considering the irrefragable authoritie of the Apostles also. 5 Then he prosecuteth the excellencie of Christ aboue the Angels, 9 vvho neuertheles, vvas made lesser then Angels, to suffer and die for men, to destroy the dominion of the Diuel, 15 to deliuer men from feare of death, 17 and to be a fitte Priest for men.

1   Therfore more aboundantly ought vve to obserue those things vvhich vve haue heard: ^{note note} lest perhaps vve runne out.

2   For if the vvord that vvas spoken by Angels, became sure, and al preuarication and disobedience hath receiued a iust retribution of revvard:

3   hovv shal vve

escape if vve neglect so great saluation? vvhich vvhen it vvas begonne to be declared by our Lord, of them that heard vvas confirmed on vs,

4    ^noteGod vvithal testifying by signes, & vvonders, and diuers miracles, & distributions of the holy Ghost according to his vvil.

5   For not to Angels hath God made subiect the world to come, whereof vve speake.

6   But one hath testified in a certaine place, saying: Vvhat is man, that thou art mindeful of him: or the sonne of man, that thou visitest him?

7   Thou didst minish him litle lesse then Angels: with glorie and honour thou hast crovvned him, and constituted him ouer the vvorkes of thy handes.

8   Al things hast thou made subiect vnder his feete. ^{note note} For in that he subiected al things to him, he left nothing not subiect to him. But novv vve see not as yet al things subiected to him.

9   But ^note him that vvas a litle lessened vnder the Angels, vve see Iesvs, ^note because of the passion of death, crovvned vvith glorie and honour: that through the grace of God he might tast death for al.

10   For it became him for vvhom al things, and by vvhom al things, that had brought many children into glorie, to consummate the author of their saluation, by his passion.

11   For he that sanctifieth, and they that be sanctified: al of one. For the which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethr&ebar;,

12   saying, I vvil declare thy name to my brethren: in the middes of the Church vvil I praise thee. ^note

13   And againe, I vvil haue affiance in him. ^note And againe, Behold here am I and my children: vvhom God hath giuen me. ^note

14   Therfore because the children haue communicated vvith flesh & bloud, him self also in like maner hath been partaker of the same: that ^note by death he might destroy him that had the empire of death, that is to say, the Deuil:

15   and might deliuer them that by the feare of death through al their life vvere subiect to seruitude.

16   For no vvhere doth he take Angels: but ^note the seede of Abraham he taketh.

17   Vvherevpon he ought in al things to be like vnto his brethren: that he might become a merciful and faithful high Priest before God, that he might repropitiate the sinnes of the people.

18   For in that vvherein him self suffered and vvas tempted: he is able to helpe them also that are tempted. Chap. III.

By example of Christ (vvho is incomparably more excellent then Moyses also) he exhorteth them to be faithful vnto God. 7 Their revvard shal be, to enter into euerlasting rest, if they perseuere, as contrarievvise to be excluded (as vvas shadowed in their forefathers in the vvildernes) if they sinne and become incredulous.

1   Wherefore holy brethren, partakers of the heauenly vocation, consider the Apostle, & high priest of our confession Iesvs:

2   vvho is faithful to him that made him, as also ^note Moyses in al his house. ^note

3   For, this man is esteemed vvorthie of more ample glorie aboue Moyses, by so much as more ample glorie then the house, hath he that framed it.

4   For euery house is framed of some man. but he that created al things, is God,

5   And Moyses in deede vvas faithful in al his house as a seruant, for a testimonie of those things vvhich vvere to be said:

6   but Christ as the Sonne in his ovvne house: which house are vve, if vve keepe firme the confidence and glorie of hope vnto the end.

7   Vvherefore, as the holy Ghost saith, To day if you shal heare his voice,

8   harden not your hartes as in the exacerbation according to the day of tentation in the desert,

9   vvhere your fathers tempted me: proued & savv my vvorkes

10   fourtie yeres. For the vvhich cause I vvas offended vvith this generation, and said, They doe alvvaies erre in hart. And they haue not knovven my vvaies.

11   to vvhom I svvare in my vvrath, If they shal enter into my rest. ^note

12   Bevvare brethren, lest perhaps there be in some of you an euil hart of incredulitie, to depart from the liuing God.

13   but exhort your selues euery day, vvhiles today is named, that none of you be obdurate vvith the fallacie of sinne,

14   For vve be made partakers of Christ: yet so if vve keepe the ^note beginning of his substance firme vnto the end.

15   Vvhile it is said, To day if you shal heare his voice, do not obdurate your hartes as in that exacerbation.

16   For some hearing did exasperate: but not al they that vvent out of Ægypt by Moyses.

17   And vvith vvhom vvas he offended fourtie yeres? vvas it not with them that sinned, ^note vvhose carcasses vvere ouerthrovven in the desert?

18   And to vvhom did he svveare that they should not enter into his rest: but to them that were incredulous?

19   And vve see that they could not enter in, because of incredulitie. Chap. IIII. That they must feare to be excluded out of the foresaid rest (vvhich he proueth out of the psalme) 12 considering that Christ seeth their most invvard secretes. 14 And that he (as their Priest vvho also him self suffered) is able and ready to strengthen them in confe&esset;ion of their faith.

1   Let vs feare therfore lest perhaps forsaking the promis of entring into his rest, some of you be thought to be vvanting.

2   For to vs also it hath been denounced, as also to them. but the vvord of hearing did not profit them, not mixt vvith faith of those things vvhich they heard.

3   For vve that haue beleeued, shal enter into the rest: as he said, As I svvare in my vvrath, if they shal enter into my rest: ^note and truely the vvorkes from the foundation of the vvorld being perfited.

4   For he said in a certaine place of the ^note seuenth day, thus: And God rested the seuenth day from al his vvorkes. ^note

5   And againe in this, If they shal enter into my rest.

6   Because then it remaineth that certaine enter into it, and they to vvhom first it vvas preached, did not enter because of incredulitie:

7   againe he limiteth a certaine day: To day, ^note in Dauid saying, after so long time, as is aboue said, To day if you shal heare his voice: doe not obdurate your hartes.

8   For if ^note Iesus had giuen them rest: he vvould neuer speake of an other day aftervvard.

9   Therfore there is left a sabbatisme for the people of God.

10   For he that is entred into his rest, the same also hath rested fr&obar; his vvorkes, as God from his.

11   Let vs hasten therfore to enter into that rest: that no man fal into the same example of incredulitie.

12   For ^note the vvord of God is liuely and forcible, and more persing then any tvvo edged svvord: and reaching vnto the diuision of the soule and the spirit, of the ioyntes also and the marowes, and a discerner of the cogitations and intentes of the hart.

13   And there is no creature inuisible in his sight. but al things are naked and open to his eies, to vvhom our speache is.

14   Hauing therfore a great high Priest that hath entred the heauens, Iesvs the sonne of God, let vs hold the confession.

15   For vve haue not a high priest that can not haue compassion on our infirmities: but tempted in al things by similitude, except sinne. ^note

16   09Q1339Let vs goe therfore vvith confidence to the throne of grace: that vve may obteine mercie, and finde grace in seasonable aide. ^note

Chap. V. That Christ being a man and infirme, vvas therein but as al Priests. and that he also vvas called of God to this office: offering as the others: 8 and suffered obediently for our example. 11 Of vvhose Priesthod he hath much to say, but that the Hebrues haue neede rather to heare their Catechisme againe.

1    ^noteFor09Q1340 euery high Priest taken from am&obar;g men, is appointed for m&ebar; in those things that pertaine to God: that he may offer giftes and sacrifices for sinnes:

2   that c&abar; haue compassion on them that be ignorant and do erre: because him self also is c&obar;passed vvith infirmitie:

3   & therfore he ought, as for the people, so also for him self to offer for sinnes.

4    ^noteNeither doth any man09Q1341 take the honour to him self, but he that is called of God, ^note as Aaron. &cross4;

5   So Christ also09Q1342 did not glorifie him self that he might be made a high priest: but he that spake to him, My Sonne art thou, I this day haue begott&ebar; thee. ^note

6   As also in an other place he saith, Thou art09Q1343 a priest for euer, according to the order of Melchisedec. ^note &cross4;

7   Vvho in the daies of his flesh,09Q1344 vvith a strong crie and teares, offering praiers and supplications to him that could faue him from death, vvas heard09Q1345 for his reuerence. &cross4;

8   And truely vvhereas he was the Sonne, he learned by those things vvhich he suffered, obedience:

9   and being09Q1346 consummate, 09Q1347 vvas made to al that obey him, cause of eternal saluation,

10   called of God a high priest according to the order of Melchisedec.

11   Of vvhome vve haue great speache and09Q1348 inexplicable to vtter: because you are become vveake to heare.

12   For vvhereas you ought to be maisters for your time, you neede to be taught againe your selues vvhat be the elements of the beginning of the vvordes of God: and you are become such

as haue neede of milke, & not of strong meate.

13   For euery one that is partaker of milke, is vnskilful of the vvord of iustice: for he is a childe.

14   But strong meate is for the perfect, them that by custome haue their senses exercised to the discerning of good & euil. ^{note note note}

^{note note note note}

^{note note} Chap. VI. He exhorteth them to be perfect scholers, and not to neede to be Catechumens againe, 4 considering they can not be baptized againe: 9 and remembring their former good vvorkes; for the vvhich God vvil not faile to performe them his promis, if they faile not to imitate Abraham by perseuêrance in the faith vvith patience. 20 and so endeth his digre&esset;ion, and returneth to the matter of Christes Priesthod.

1   Vvherfore intermitting the vvord of the beginning of Christ, let vs proceede to perfection, not againe laying09Q1349 the foundati&obar; of penance from dead vvorkes, and of faith tovvard God,

2   of the doctrine of baptismes, and of imposition of handes, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal iudgement.

3   And this shal vve doe, if God vvill permit.

4   For ^note it is09Q1350 impossible for them that were once illuminated, haue tasted also the heauenly gift, and vvere made partakers of the holy Ghost,

5   haue moreouer tasted the good vvord of God, and the povvers of the world

to come,

6   and are fallen: to be renevved againe to pen&abar;ce, crucifying againe to them selues the sonne of God, and making him a mockerie.

7   For the earth drinking the raine often c&obar;ming vpon it, & bringing forth grasse commodious for them by vvhom it is tilled, receiueth blessing of God.

8   but bringing forth thornes and bryers, it is reprobate, and very neere a curse, vvhose end is, to be burnt.

9   But ^note vve confidently trust of you, my best beloued, better things and neerer to saluation: although vve speake thus.

10   For09Q1351 God is not vniust, that he should forget your vvorke & loue which you haue shevved in his name, vvhich haue ministred to the sainctes and do minister.

11   And our desire is that euery one of you shevv forth the same carefulnesse to the accomplishing of hope vnto the end:

12   that you become not slouthful, but imitatours of them vvhich by faith and patience shal inherite the promisses.

13   For God promising to Abraham, because he had none greater by vvh&obar; he might sweare, he sware by him self,

14   saying, ^note Vnles blessing I shal blesse thee, and multiplying shal multiplie thee.

15   And so patiently enduring he obtained the promise.

16   For m&ebar; svveare by a greater then them selues: and the end of al their controuersie, for the confirmation, is an othe.

17   Vvherein God meaning more aboundantly to shevv to the heires of the promise the stabilitie of his co&ubar;sel, he interposed an othe:

18   that by tvvo things vnmoueable, vvhereby it is impossible for God to lie, vve may haue a most strong comfort. vvho haue fled to hold fast the hope proposed,

19   vvhich vve haue as an anker of the soule, sure and firme, and going in into the inner partes of the vele,

20   vvhere Iesvs the precursor for vs is entered, made a high priest for euer according to the order of Melchisedec. ^note

^{note note} Chap. VII. To proue the Priesthod of Christ incomparably to excel the priesthod of Aaron (and therfore, that Leuitical priesthod novv to cease, and that lavv also vvith it) he scanneth euery vvord of the verse alleaged out of the Psalme, Our Lord hath svvorne: thou art a Priest for euer, according to the order of Melchisedec.

1   For this09Q1352 Melchisedec, the king of Salem, Priest of the God most high, ^note vvho mette Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him:

2   to vvhom also Abrah&abar; deuided tithes of al: first in deede by interpretation,

^note the king of iustice: & then also king of Salem, vvhich is to say, king of peace,

3   09Q1353vvithout father, without mother, vvithout genealogie, hauing neither beginning of daies nor end of life, but likened to the sonne of God, continueth a priest for euer.

4   And09Q1354 behold hovv great this man is, to vvhom also Abraham the Patriarke gaue09Q1355 tithes of the principal things.

5   And certes ^note they of the sonnes of Leui that take the priesthod, haue commaundement to take tithes of the people according to the Lavv, that is to say, of their brethren: albeit them selues also issued out of the loines of Abraham.

6   but he vvhose generation is not numbered among them, tooke tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7   But vvithout al contradiction, that vvhich is lesse,09Q1356 is blessed of the better.

8   And here in deede, ^note men that die, receiue tithes: but there he hath vvitnes, that he liueth.

9   And (that it may so be said) by Abraham Leui also, which receiued tithes, vvas tithed.

10   for as yet he vvas in his fathers loines, vvhen Melchisedec mette him.

11   09Q1357If then consummation vvas by the Leuitical priesthod (for vnder it the people receiued the Lavv)09Q1358 vvhat necessitie vvas there yet an other priest to rise according to the order of Melchisedec, and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?

12   For the priesthod being09Q1359 translated, it is necessarie that a translation of the Lavv also be made.

13   For he on vvhom these things be said, is of an other tribe, of the vvhich, none attended on the altar.

14   For it is manifest that our Lord sprung of Iuda: in the which tribe Moyses spake nothing of ^note priestes.

15   And yet it is much more euident: if according to the similitude of Melchisedec there arise an other priest,

16   vvhich vvas not made according to the Lavv of the carnal commaundement, but according to the povver of life indissoluble.

17   For he vvitnesseth, That thou art09Q1360 a priest for euer, according to the order of Melchisedec. ^note

18   Reprobation certes is made09Q1361 of the former c&obar;maundement, because of the vveakenesse and vnprofitablenesse thereof.

19   For the Lavv brought nothing to perfection, but an09Q1362 introduction of a better hope, by the vvhich vve approche to God.

20   And in as much as it is not vvithout an othe, (the other truely vvithout an othe vvere made priestes:

21   but this09Q1363 vvith an othe, by him that said vnto him: Our Lord hath svvorne, and it shal not repent him: thou art a priest for euer) ^note

22   by so much, is Iesvs made a suretie of a better testam&ebar;t.

23   And the other in deede vvere made priestes,09Q1364 being many, because that by death they vvere prohibited to continue: ^note

24   but this, for that he continueth for euer, hath an euerlasting priesthod.

25   vvhereby he is able to saue also for euer ^note going by him self to God: ^note alvvaies liuing to make intercession for vs.

26   For it vvas seemely that vve should haue such a high priest, holy, innocent, impolluted, separated from sinners, and made higher then the heauens.

27   vvhich hath not necessitie daily (as the priestes) first ^note for his ovvne sinnes to offer hostes, then for the peoples. for09Q1365 this he did once, in offering him self. &cross4;

28   For the Lavv appointeth priestes them that haue infirmitie: but the vvord of the othe vvhich is after the Lavv, the Sonne for euer perfected. ^{note note note note}

^{note note note note}

^note

^{note note note note note} Chap. VIII. Out of the same Psalme 109 he vrgeth this also, Sit thou on my right hand, shevving that the Leuitical tabernacle on earth, vvas but a shadovv of his true Tabernacle in heauen: vvithout vvhich he should not be a Priest at all: 6 Vvhereas he is of a better Priesthod then they, as also he proueth by the excellencie of the nevv Testament aboue the old.

1   Bvt the summe concerning those things vvhich be said, is: Vve haue such an high priest, vvho is sette on the right hand of the seate of maiestie in the heauens,

2   a ^note minister of the holies, and of the true tabernacle, vvhich our Lord pight & not man.

3   For euery high priest is appointed to offer giftes and hostes, vvherfore it is09Q1366 necessarie that he also haue some thing that he may offer:

4   09Q1367if then he vvere vpon the earth, neither vvere he a priest: vvhereas there vvere that did offer giftes according to the Lavv,

5   that ^note serue the exampler & shadow of09Q1368 heauenly things. As it vvas ansvvered Moyses, vvhen he finished the tabernacle, ^note See (quod he) that thou make al things according to the exampler vvhich vvas shevved thee in the mount.

6   But novv he hath obtained a better ministerie, by so much as he is mediatour of a better testament, vvhich is established in better promises.

7   For ^note if that former had been void of fault, there should not certes a place of a sec&obar;d been sought.

8   For blaming them, he saith: Behold the daies shal come, saith our Lord: and I vvil consummate vpon the house of Israel, and vpon the house of Iuda a nevv Testament:

9   not according to the testament vvhich I made to their fathers in the day that I tooke their hand to bring them out of the land of Ægypt: because they did not continue in my testament: and I neglected them, saith our Lord.

10   For this is the testament vvhich I vvil dispose to the house of Israel after those daies, saith our Lord: Giuing my lavves09Q1369 into their minde, & in their hart vvil I superscribe them: and I vvil be09Q1370 their God, and they shal be my people:

11   and euery one09Q1371 shall not teach his neighbour, and euery one his brother, saying, Knovv our Lord: because al shal knovv me from the lesser to the greater of them:

12   because I wil be merciful to their iniquities, & their sinnes I wil not now remember. ^note

13   And in saying a nevv, the former he hath made old. And that vvhich grovveth auncient and vvaxeth old, is nigh to vtter decay. ^note

^{note note note note note} Chap. IX. In the old Testament, that secular Sanctuarie had tvvo partes: the one signifying that time, vvith the ceremonies therof for the emundation of the flesh: the other signifying heauen, vvhich then vvas shut, vntil our High priest Christ entered into it, and that vvith his ovvne bloud, shed for the emundation of our consciences. Wherevpon he concludeth the excellencie of his tabernacle and host aboue the old. 25 Noting also the difference, that he entered but once (so effectual vvas that one blouddy offering of him self, for euer) vvheras the Leuitical High priest entered euery yere once.

1    ^{note note}The former also in deede had iustificati&obar;s ^note of seruice, and a secular sanctuarie.

2   For the tabernacle vvas made, the first, vvherin vvere, the candlestickes, and the table, and the proposition of loaues, vvhich is called Holy.

3   But after the second vele, the tabernacle, vvhich is called Sancta Sanctorum:

4   hauing a golden censar, and the arke of the testam&ebar;t couered about on euery part vvith gold, in the vvhich vvas 09Q1372 a golden potte hauing Manna, and the rod of Aaron that had blossomed, & ^note the tables of the testament,

5   and ouer it vvere ^note the09Q1373 Cherubins of glorie ouershadovving the propitiatorie. of vvhich things it is not needeful to speake novv particularly.

6   But these things being so ordered, in the first tabernacle in deede the priests alvvaies entered, acc&obar;plishing offices of the sacrifices.

7   But in the second, ^note once a yere the high priest only: not vvithout bloud vvhich he offereth for his ovvne and the peoples ignorance:

8   the holy Ghost signifying this, that the vvay of the holies was ^note not yet manifested, the former tabernacle as yet standing.

9   vvhich is a ^note parable of the time present: according to vvhich are offered giftes and hostes, vvhich can not concerning the conscience make perfect ^note him that serueth,

10   onely in meates and in drinkes, and diuerse baptismes, and iustices of the flesh laid on them09Q1374 vntil the time of correction.

11   But ^note Christ assisting an high Priest of the good things to come, by a more ample and more perfect tabernacle not made vvith hand, that is, not of this creation:

12   neither by the bloud of goates or of calues, but by his ovvne bloud entered in once into the Holies,09Q1375 eternal redemption being found. &cross4;

13   For ^note if the bloud of goates and of oxen & the ashes of an heifer being sprinkled, sanctifieth the polluted to the cleansing of the flesh:

14   hovv much more ^note hath the bloud of Christ vvho by the holy Ghost offered him self vnspotted vnto God, ^note cleansed our conscience from dead vvorkes, to serue the liuing God?

15   And therfore he is the mediatour of the nevv Testament: that death being a meane, vnto the redemption09Q1376 of these preuarications vvhich vvere vnder the former testament, they that are called may receiue the promise of eternal inheritance. &cross4;

16   For ^note vvhere there is a testament: the death of the testatour must of necessitie

come betvvene.

17   For a testament is confirmed in the dead: othervvise it is yet of no value, vvhiles he that tested, liueth.

18   Vvherevpon neither vvas the first certes dedicated vvithout bloud.

19   For al the commaundement of the Lavv being read of Moyses to al the people: he taking the bloud of calues and goates vvith ^note vvater and scarlet vvool and hyssope, sprinkled the very booke also it self and al the people,

20   saying, ^note09Q1377 This is the bloud of the Testament, vvhich God hath commaunded vnto you.

21   The tabernacle also & al the vessel of the ministerie he in like maner sprinkled with bloud.

22   And al things almost according to the lavv are cleansed with bloud: and vvithout sheading of bloud there is not remission.

23   It is necessarie therfore that09Q1378 the examplers of the cœlestials be cleansed vvith these: but the celestials them selues vvith better hostes then these.

24   For Iesvs is not entred into Holies made vvith hand, examplers of the true: but into heauen it self, that he may appeare novv to the countenance of God for vs.

25   Nor that he should09Q1379 offer him self often, as the high priest entereth into the Holies, euery yere in the bloud of others:

26   othervvise he ought to haue suffered often from the beginning of the vvorld: but novv once in the c&obar;summation of the vvorldes, to the destructi&obar; of sinne, he hath appeared by his ovvne host.

27   And as it is appointed to men to die once, and after this, the iudgement:

28   so also Christ vvas offered once ^{note note} to exhaust the sinnes of many. the second time he shal appeare vvithout sinne to them that expect him, vnto saluation. ^note

^{note note note note}

^{note note note}

Chap. X. Because in the yerely feast of Expiation vvas only a commemoration of sinnes, therfore in place of al those old sacrifices the Psalme telleth vs of the oblation of Christes body. 10 Vvhich he offered blouddily but once (the Leuitical Priests offering so euery day) because that once vvas sufficient for euer, 15 in that it purchased (as the prophet also vvitnesseth) remi&esset;ion of sinnes. 19 After al this he prosecuteth and exhorteth them vnto perseuêrance, partly vvith the opening of Heauen by our high-priest, 26 partly vvith the terrour of damnation if they fall againe: 32 bidding them remember hovv much they had suffered already, and not lose their revvard.

1    ^noteFor the lavv hauing09Q1380 a shadovv of good things to come, not the very image of the things: euery yere vvith the self same hostes vvhich they offer incessantly, can neuer make the commers thereto perfect:

2   othervvise09Q1381 they should haue ceased to be offered, because the vvorshippers once cleansed should haue no conscience of sinne any longer.

3   but in them there is made a c&obar;memoration of sinne euery yere.

4   for it is09Q1382 impossible that vvith the bloud of oxen and goates sinnes should be taken avvay.

5   Therfore comming into the vvorld he saith:09Q1383 Host and oblation thou vvouldest not:09Q1384 but a body thou hast fitted to me:

6   Holocaustes and ^note