And thou lord in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth: And the heavens are the works of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure. They all shall wax old as doth a garment: and as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. Unto which of the angels said he at any time? Sit on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool. Are they not all spirits to do service, sent for to minister for their sakes, which shall be heirs of health?
The .ij. Chapter.
Wherefore we ought much more to attend unto those things which we have heard, lest we perish. For if the word which was spoken by angels was steadfast: and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense to reward: how shall we escape if we despise so great health? which at the first began to be preached of the lord himself, and after ward was confirmed unto usward, by them that heard it, God bearing witness thereto, both with signs and wonders also, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the holy ghost, according to his own will.
He hath not unto the angels put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak: but one in a certain place witnessed, saying. What is man, that thou art mindful of him: other the son of man, that thou visitest him? After thou hadst for a season made him lower than the angels: thou crownedst him with honour and glory, and hast set him above the works of thy hands. Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. In that he put all things under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. Nevertheless we yet see not all things subdued unto him: but that Iesus which for a season was made less than the angels, we see thorow the punishment of death crowned with glory and honour: that he by the grace of God, should taste of death for all men.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, after that he had brought many sons unto glory, that he should make the lord of their health perfect thorow afflictions: For as much as he which sanctifieth, and they which are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause's sake he is not ashamed to call them brethren saying: I will declare thy name unto my brethren, and in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. And again: I will put my trust in him. And again: behold here am I and the children which God hath given me.
For as much then as the children were part takers of flesh and blood, he also himself like wise took part with them, for to put down thorow death him that had lordship over death that is to say the devil. And that he might deliver them which thorow fear of death all their life time were in danger of bondage. For he in no place taketh on him the angels: but the seed of Abraham taketh he on him. Wherefore in all things it became him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be merciful, and a faithful high priest in things concerning God, for to purge the people's sins. For in that he himself suffered, and was tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
The .iij. Chapter.
Wherefore wholy brethren, partakers of the celestial callinge, consider the ambassador and high priest of our profession Christ Iesus, being faithful to him that sent him, even as was Moses in all his house. And this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses: Inasmuch as he which hath prepared the house, hath most honour in the house. Every house is prepared of some man. But he that ordained all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a minister, to bear witness of those things which should be spoken afterward. But Christ as a son hath rule over the house, whose house we are, if we keep stedfast confidence and rejoicing in the faith unto the end.
Wherefore as the holy ghost saith: today if ye shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as when ye provoked in time of temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works xl. years long. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation and said: They ever err in their hearts: they verily have not known my ways, so that I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest. Take heed brethren that there be in none of you an evil heart, in unbelief, that he should depart from the living God: but exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you wax hard hearted, and be deceived with sin.
We are partakers of Christ, so that we keep sure unto the end the beginning of the substance, so long as it is said: today if ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as when ye provoked. For some, when they heard, provoked: but not all that came out of Egypt under Moses. But with whom was he displeased xl. years? was he not displeased with them that sinned: whose bodies were overthrown in the desert? To whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest: but unto them that believed not? And we see that they could not enter in, because of unbelief.