Letters to the Churches

let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised:

and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;

not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,

but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.

A man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses:

of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged 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 despite unto the Spirit of grace?

For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings;

partly, being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used.

For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one.

Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.

For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry.

But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him.

But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul.

Now faith is assurance ofthingshoped for, a conviction of things not seen.

For therein the elders had witness borne to them.

By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God:

and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.

By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.