Letters to the Churches

and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them;

for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;

and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:

but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,

to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven:

whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven.

And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:

for our God is a consuming fire.

Let love of the brethren continue.

Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are ill-treated, as being yourselves also in the body.

Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.

So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?

Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever.

Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle.

For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned without the camp.

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Let us therefore go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come.