And let us have a charitable and tender respect one to another instead of those strange and envious dispositions and carriages that are wont to be betwixt Jews and Gentiles, let us so frame ourselves and our affections, as that we may draw on each other to mutual love and good works:

X. 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Not withdrawing and utterly separating ourselves from the assemblies of God's people, upon conceit of the peculiar rights and prerogatives, which God hath given to the Jews above the Gentiles; and standing upon the high terms of difference, as the manner of some is; but rather encouraging and exhorting one another to these holy services; and so much the rather, now, because ye know, that the day of the Lord's coming draweth on.

X. 26, 27. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

For, if we do wilfully abandon the Church of God, and fall totally away from that saving truth and holy religion, which we have received the knowledge of and professed to embrace; purposely and maliciously opposing ourselves thereunto, thus sinning against the Holy Ghost; there remaineth no way or mean to expiate our sin, since that blood of Christ, which is the only sacrifice for sin, is thus by us contemned and trodden under foot; Neither doth or can ought remain for us, in this fearful and deplorable condition, but a certain dreadful expectation of God's terrible judgments; and that wrath and indignation of his, which shall be as a consuming fire to devour the wilful adversaries of his truth.

X. 28. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

He, that did willingly violate or transgress, much more that did wilfully contemn or blaspheme, the law of Moses, suffered death, without mercy, upon the accusation and evidence of two or three witnesses:

X. 29. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despight unto the Spirit of Grace?

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall that wilful apostate be thought worthy, who, by his revolt from the profession of Christ and his contemptuous opposition to his Gospel, hath, as it were, trodden under foot the Son of God; and poured contempt and scorn upon that precious blood of Christ,

wherewith the covenant betwixt God and his people is made and ratified, and that whereupon dependeth all the sanctification of men; making no difference betwixt that sacred blood of his and the blood of brute creatures; and hath done a spiteful affront unto that good Spirit of God, whereby grace is wrought in the hearts of men, by contemning and opposing the gracious motions thereof?

X. 32. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflic

tions.

But do ye call to remembrance those good and holy beginnings of yours, when ye first received the Gospel: how that, after ye were enlightened with the knowledge of Christ, ye did cheerfully resolve to suffer for his Name; and underwent a great trial of afflictions, for your good profession.

X. 36. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

For, in these manifold and great difficulties and fiery trials, ye will have need of a strong and invincible patience; that, after ye have undergone and fulfilled the will of God, in your active and passive obedience, ye may be made partakers of the promised inheritance.

X. 37. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Neither shall ye need to fear, that ye shall linger over long, under your sufferings: for God, your sure and gracious deliverer, hath set the time, wherein he will free you from all your troubles; and that time shall not be long, neither can be protracted beyond that period which he hath limited unto it.

X. 38. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Until the accomplishment whereof, however it may seem delayed, the true and sound Christian shall live and uphold himself, by the strength of his faith; but if any man shall cowardly slink from his holy profession, and renounce that calling of his Christianity which he sees thus persecuted, my soul shall hate that man, as worthy of the displeasure both of God and man.

X. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

But we are not of them, which apostate from Christ, to their utter damnation; but of that number of believers, which persist in a lively faith and constant profession, to the saving of our souls.

XI. 1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Now this faith, whereof we speak, and which we hold fast, is that, which gives us a present confidence in and a fruition of

those things, which are only yet in hope ours; and that, which doth clearly and certainly reveal and disclose unto us those things, which are not discernible by the eye of sense or reason. XI. 2. For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Neither did our forefathers any other way find acceptation from the hands of God, than by their faith.

XI. 3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Whereas, the wisest heathens have doubtfully disputed concerning the state of the world, whether it had any beginning and how it came to have a being, we, through faith, do clearly apprehend the truth of this matter, and do certainly understand that the world was framed by the all-powerful word of God, and that it was made of nothing; so as, of that which was not at all, nor had any pre-existence in nature, was made this visible frame of heaven and earth.

XI. 4. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

It was only the faith of Abel, that made the difference betwixt his sacrifice and the sacrifice of Cain: whereupon God gave a sensible testimony of his accepting, first the person, and then the offering of Abel; and, by the virtue of that faith it was, that God regarded so the blood of Abel, as that, after he was dead, he heard the cry thereof, and took order for the revenge of it.

XI. 5. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him.

It was upon the faith of Enoch, that he was, in an extraordinary and supernatural manner, translated from earth to heaven; without passing through the gates of death, which is the common way of mankind, and was no more to be found upon earth, because God had miraculously translated him.

XI. 7. By the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

By which example of his obedience and faith, he condemned the unbelief and obstinacy of the world; and shewed, by his preservation, that the world did justly perish, for not being warned by him; whose word, if they had obeyed, they had escaped that destruction.

XI. 10. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

He was content to dwell awhile in those moving tents, because his heart was set upon the expectation of a fixed and during city in heaven; the foundations whereof are eternal; whose builder and maker is God.

XI. 11. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed.

By faith, Sara herself, though at first she laughed distrustfully, recollecting herself, received strength to conceive.

XI. 12. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars &c.

Therefore sprang there of one, even Abraham, who was, in respect of any likelihood of propagation, as good as dead, an innumerable issue.

XI. 13. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off.

These all died in faith, not having received the performance of those gracious promises, concerning the coming of the Messiah in the flesh, and the accomplishment of his Spiritual Kingdom; but having seen them afar off.

XI. 14. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

They, that do confess themselves to be strangers and pilgrims on earth, do therein plainly declare, that their thoughts and endeavours are bent upon their glorious home in heaven.

XI. 15. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

It was not in respect of Mesopotamia, whence they came, that they accounted themselves strangers; for, if they had had a mind thither, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

XI. 16. But now they desired a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

But, accounting themselves strangers, both in Chaldea and in Canaan, they raised up their hearts to the desire of a better country, that is, a heavenly: and God respected them accordingly not disdaining to entitle himself particularly by their name, as stiling himself their God; having prepared for them that blessed city and country of heavenly glory, which they looked for.

XI. 19. From whence also he received him in a figure.

From whence also, in a sort, he received him; in that the sudden and inexpected ereption of Isaac from that his imminent and intended death, was, as it were, a figure and resemblance of his raising from the dead.

XI. 20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

By faith, Isaac did so bless Jacob and Esau, concerning their future estate, as that he both knew and signified, that the elder should serve the younger; and gave a greater benediction to Jacob, than to his elder brother.

XI. 21. And worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. And, being now so weak with age, that he was not able to stand upright, he, leaning upon the top of his staff, worshipped God; and prayed for a blessing on Ephraim and Manasseh. XI. 23. And they were not afraid of the king's command

ment.

And feared not the danger of not fulfilling the edict of Pharaoh, concerning the drowning of the males.

XI. 26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.

Esteeming that reproach (which he, together with God's people, suffered, in and for the expectation of Christ, whom he foresaw to come,) greater riches, than all the treasures of Egypt.

XI. 27. By faith he forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

By faith, he, having forsaken Egypt upon the slaughter of the Egyptian, returned to bring God's message for the deliverance of his people; not fearing the wrath of king Pharaoh, but resolved to undergo all dangers; as setting before his eyes that powerful God, which is invisible, whom he knew to be both able and willing to rescue him.

XI. 28. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Through faith, he kept that passover, which God ordained and appointed; and caused the posts and lintels of the Israelites' doors to be sprinkled with blood, that the destroying angel, which slew the firstborn of the Egyptians, might not touch them.

XI. 33. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Who, through faith, subdued kingdoms, as Joshua and David; wrought righteousness, carrying themselves justly in their government, as Samuel and David; obtained the promises made unto them by God, as Abraham of a son, Caleb and Joshua of the promised land, Gideon and Jepthah of victories; stopped the mouths of lions, as Samson and as Daniel;

XI. 34. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Quenched the violence of the fire, not being so much as scorched therewith, as the three children; escaped the edge of the sword, as David the sword of Saul, Elijah of Jezebel; out of weakness were made strong, as Job and Hezekiah; became valiant in battle, as Joshua, Samson, Shamgar, and David; turned to flight the armies of aliens, as Samson, Jonathan, Jehoshaphat.