Grace and Perseverance
(Hebrews 12:1–3)

1Thou therfore my sonne be stronge in the grace that is in Christ Iesu. 2And what thynges thou hast hearde of me many bearynge witnes the same diliver to faythfull men which are apte to teache other 3Thou therfore suffre affliccion as a good soudier of Iesu Christ. 4No man that warreth entanglith him silfe with worldely busynes and that be cause he wolde please him that hath chosen him to be a soudier. 5And though a man strive for a mastery yet ys he not crouned except he strive laufully. 6The husbandma that laboreth must fyrst receave of the frutes. 7Consyder what I saye. The lorde geve the vnderstondynge in all thynges.

8Remember that Iesus Christ beynge of he sede of David rose agayne fro deth accordynge to my gospell 9wherin I suffre trouble as an evyll doar even vnto bondes. But the worde of god was not bounde. 10Herefore I suffre all thinges for ye electes sakes that they myght also obtayne that saluacion which is i n Christ Iesu with eternall glory.

11It is a true sayinge if we be deed wt him we also shall live with him.

12Yf we be pacient we shall also raigne wt him. If we denye him he also shall denye vs.

13Yf we beleve not yet abideth he faithfull. He cannot denye him silfe.

The Lord’s Approved Workman

14Of these thynges put them in remembraunce and testifie before the lorde that they stryve not about wordes which is to no proffet but to pervert the hearers. 15Study to shewe thy silfe laudable vnto god a workman yt nedeth not to be a shamed dividynge the worde of trueth iustly. 16Vngostly and vayne voyces passe over. For they shall encreace vnto greater vngodlynes 17and their wordes shall fret even as doeth a cancre: of whose nombre ys Hymeneos and Philetos 18which as concernynge the trueth have erred sayinge that the resurreccion is past all redy and do destroye the fayth of divers persones. 19But the sure grounde of god remayneth and hath this seale: the lorde knoweth them that are his and let every man that calleth on the name of Christ departe from iniquite.

20Not withstondinge in a greate housse are not only vesselles of golde and of silver: but also of wood and of erthe some for honoure and some vnto dishonoure. 21But Yf a man purdge him silfe from suche felowes he shalbe a vessell sanctified vnto honoure mete for the lorde and prepared vnto all good workes. 22Lustes of youth avoyde and folowe rightwesnes fayth love and peace with them that call on the lorde with pure herte. 23Folisshe and vnlearned questions put from the remebrynge that they do but gendre stryfe. 24But the servaunt of the lorde must not stryve: but must be peasable vnto all men and apte to teache and one that can suffre: 25the evyll in meknes and can informe them that resist yf that god at eny tyme will geve them repentauce for to knowe the trueth: 26that they maye come to the selves agayne out of the snare of the devyll which are now taken of him at his will.