evil conscience, and our body washed with pure water: 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 the assembling of ourselves
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 gazing-stock 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
yourselves have 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."--HEB. x. 19-39 (R.V.).

The argument is closed. Christ is the eternal Priest and King, and every
rival priesthood or kingship must come to an end. This is the truth won
by the Apostle's original and profound course of reasoning. But he has
in view practical results. H