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¹ 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, ² he might have the greater compassion for those who sin through ignorance or mistake. and for the same reason ³ he is obliged to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for those of the people. besides, no man can assume ⁴ to himself the honour of the priesthood: he must be called thereto by God, as Aaron was. ⁵ 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." ⁶ as he saith too in another place, "thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." ⁷ 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; ⁸ for tho' he was the son of God, yet he found by his own sufferings what it was to obey, ⁹ and by a perfect obedience he procured eternal salvation for all that obey him;

¹⁰ God having declared him an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. ¹¹ On this head we have many things to say, not easily to be comprehended, because of your prejudices. ¹² for though by this time you ought to be capable of teaching others, you want to be instructed anew in the first principles of the divine oracles; and are in such a state as to stand in need of milk, rather than of solid nourishment. ¹³ now he that is disciplined like a child, is not prepared for the doctrine of justification: ¹⁴ such solid nourishment is only fit for such as are arriv'd at their full growth and strength, whose senses have been exercis'd in distinguishing what is good, and what is prejudicial.