Letters to the Churches

Neither vnto the sounde of a trumpet, and the voyce of wordes, which they that heard it, excused themselues, that the word should not be spoken to them any more,

(For they were not able to abide that which was commanded, yea, though a beast touche the mountaine, it shalbe stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

And so terrible was the sight which appeared, that Moses said, I feare and quake.)

But ye are come vnto the mount Sion, and to the citie of the liuing God, the celestiall Hierusalem, and to ye company of innumerable Angels,

And to the assemblie and congregation of the first borne, which are written in heauen, and to God the iudge of all, and to the spirits of iust and perfite men,

And to Iesus the Mediatour of the new Testament, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel.

See that ye despise not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not which refused him, that spake on earth: much more shall we not escape, if we turne away from him, that speaketh from heauen.

Whose voyce then shooke the earth and nowe hath declared, saying, Yet once more will I shake, not the earth onely, but also heauen.

And this worde, Yet once more, signifieth the remouing of those things which are shaken, as of things which are made with hands, that the things which are not shaken, may remaine.

Wherefore seeing we receiue a kingdome, which cannot be shaken, let vs haue grace whereby we may so serue God, that we may please him with reuerence and feare.

For euen our God is a consuming fire.

Let brotherly loue continue.

Be not forgetfull to intertaine strangers: for thereby some haue receiued Angels into their houses vnwares.

Remember them that are in bondes, as though ye were bounde with them: and them that are in affliction, as if ye were also afflicted in the body.

Mariage is honorable among all, and the bed vndefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will iudge.

Let your conuersation be without couetousnesse, and be content with those things that ye haue, for he hath said,

I will not faile thee, neither forsake thee:

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is mine helper, neither will I feare what man can doe vnto me.

Remember them which haue the ouersight of you, which haue declared vnto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering what hath bene the ende of their conuersation. Iesus Christ yesterday, and to day, the same also is for euer.

Be not caried about with diuers and strange doctrines: for it is a good thing that the heart be stablished with grace, and not with meates, which haue not profited them that haue bene occupied therein.

We haue an altar, whereof they haue no authoritie to eate, which serue in the tabernacle.

For the bodies of those beastes whose blood is brought into the Holy place by the high Priest for sinne, are burnt without the campe.

Therefore euen Iesus, that he might sanctifie the people with his owne blood, suffered without the gate.

Let vs goe foorth to him therefore out of the campe, bearing his reproch.

For here haue we no continuing citie: but we seeke one to come.