1Thereforeleaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go onuntoperfection; notlayingagain the foundation of repentancefromdeadworks, and of faithtowardGod,
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Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternaljudgment.
3Andthis will we do, ifGodpermit.
4For it is impossiblefor those who were onceenlightened, and have tasted of the heavenlygift, and were madepartakers of the HolyGhost,
5And have tasted the goodword of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6If they shall fall away, to renew themagainuntorepentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of Godafresh, and put him to an open shame.
7For the earthwhich drinketh in the rain that comethoftuponit, and bringeth forthherbsmeetforthembywhomit is dressed, receivethblessingfromGod:
8But that which beareththornsandbriers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whoseend is to be burned.
9But, beloved, we are persuaded better thingsofyou, andthings that accompanysalvation, thoughwethusspeak.
10ForGod is notunrighteous to forgetyourworkandlabour of love, which ye have shewedtowardhisname, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11And we desire that every one of you do shew the samediligenceto the full assurance of hopeunto the end:
12That ye benotslothful, butfollowers of them who throughfaithandpatienceinherit the promises.
13For when God made promise to Abraham, because he couldswearbynogreater, he swarebyhimself,
14Saying, Surelyblessing I will blessthee, andmultiplying I will multiplythee.
15Andso, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16Formenverilyswearby the greater: and an oathforconfirmation is to them an end of allstrife.
17WhereinGod, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of hiscounsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18Thatbytwoimmutablethings, inwhich it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strongconsolation, whohave fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19Which hope we haveas an anchor of the soul, bothsureandstedfast, andwhichenterethinto that within the veil;
20Whither the forerunnerisforusentered, even Jesus, made an high priestforeverafter the order of Melchisedec.