Study Desk

who is passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our profession. for we have

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,

he might have the greater compassion for those who sin through ignorance or mistake. and for the same reason

he is obliged to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for those of the people. besides, no man can assume

as he saith too in another place, "thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

for tho' he was the son of God, yet he found by his own sufferings what it was to obey,

and by a perfect obedience he procured eternal salvation for all that obey him;

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.

now he that is disciplined like a child, is not prepared for the doctrine of justification:

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.

Therefore omitting for the present the principles of the christian doctrine, we shall proceed to something more sublime, without mentioning those fundamental articles of repentance from destructive vices, and of divine faith:

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightned, and have received the heavenly gifts, communicated by the holy spirit,

for the earth which drinks up the frequent show'rs that fall upon it, and produces plants fit for the use of him that cultivates it, is stiled heavenly land:

for God is too just to his promise not to regard your piety, and the love which you have shewn to the christian religion by the assistance ye have given to the saints, and still continue to give.

For when God gave his promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying,

for when men swear by a superior, the ratifying what they say with an oath, puts an end to all further debate.

that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to deceive us, we, who have no other refuge to fly to, but to maintain our present hopes,

where Jesus is gone to usher us in, having been made an high priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec.

For this Melchisedec was both king of Salem, and a priest of the most high God; 'twas he who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him:

for he was even then in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.