WHEREFORE, leaving the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (2)of the doctrine of immersions, and of the laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3)And this we will do[6:3], if God permit. (4)For it is impossible that they who have once been enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, (5)and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6)and have fallen away, should again be renewed to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame. (7)For the earth which has drunk in the rain oft coming upon it, and brings forth herbs fit for those for whose sake it is tilled, receives blessing from God; (8)but if it bears thorns and briers it is rejected, and is near to cursing; whose end is to be burned. (9)But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. (10)For God is not unrighteous to forget your work, and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered and still do minister to the saints. (11)But we desire that each one of you show the same diligence, for the full assurance of the hope unto the end; (12)that ye may not become slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (13)For when God made the promise to Abraham, because he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself, (14)saying: Surely, blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. (15)And so, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (16)For men indeed swear by the greater; and the oath is to them an end of all gainsaying, for a confirmation. (17)Wherein God, wishing more abundantly to show to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; (18)that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible that God should lie, we may have strong encouragement, who fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us, (19)which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast, and entering within the vail; (20)where as forerunner for us Jesus entered, having become a high priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. VII. FOR this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; (2)to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all; first indeed being interpreted King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (3)without father, without mother, without table of descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life[7:3], but likened to the Son of God, remains a priest continually.