catalogues of
canonical books published by the general and provincial Councils. But
an argument of still greater weight is, the fact that it is inserted
in the Syriac version of the New Testament, executed at the close of
the first, or early in the second century. None certainly would
question that the Jewish believers to whom it was addressed would be
the best judges of its genuineness and authenticity, and by them it
was unhesitatingly accepted.]

Therefore one should teach after this manner: You perceive that
Christ has died for you, has taken upon Himself sin, death, and hell,
and bowed Himself under them. But in no respect were they able to
crush Him, for He was too strong for them; but He has risen up from
beneath them, and has vanquished all, and brought them in subjection
to Himself; and to this end, that you might be relieved from them,
and made to triumph over them. If you believe, you possess this. All
these things, by our own power, we could not effect; hence it was
necessary that Christ should do it, otherwise He had never needed to
come down from heaven. We can only conclude that if one preaches of
our own works, _that_ preaching does not agree and cannot consist
with this. Oh, so thoroughly as we Christians should know this! so
clear should the Epistle be to us!

V. 4. _To an imperishable and undefiled and unfading inheritance._
That is, we hope not for a blessing or an inheritance that is far
off. But we live in the hope of an inheritance that is just at hand,
and that is imperishable as well as undefiled and unfading. This
blessing is ours henceforth and forever, although we do not now
behold it. These are powerful and excellent words; into whosesoever
mind they enter, he will, I imagine, not be greatly anxious after
worldly good and pleasure. How can it be possible that one who
assuredly believes this, should yet cleave to perishable possessions
and lusts?

If worldly good is presented in contrast with this, it is at once
seen how it all passes away and endures but for a time; but this
alone lasts forever and will never consume away. Besides, _that_ is
all impure, and defiles us, for there is no man so devoted that
worldly prosperity will not soil his purity. But _this_ inheritance
alone is pure; whoever has it is ever undefiled; it will not fade; it
endures and does not corrupt. All that is on earth, however hard it
be, is yet changeable and has no permanence. Man, as soon as he grows
old, beco