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Hebrews 12
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
(8,6,8,6)
Behold what witnesses unseen
encompass us around;
Men, once like us, with suff’ring tried,
but now with glory crowned.
Let us, with zeal like theirs inspired,
begin the Christian race,
And, freed from each encumb’ring weight,
their holy footsteps trace.
Behold a witness nobler still,
who trod affliction’s path,
Jesus, at once the finisher
and author of our faith.
He for the joy before him set,
so gen’rous was his love,
Endured the cross, despised the shame,
and now he reigns above.
If he the scorn of wicked men
with patience did sustain,
Becomes it those for whom he died
to murmur or complain?
Have ye like him to blood, to death,
the cause of truth maintained?
And is your heav’nly Father’s voice
forgotten or disdained?
My son, saith he, with patient mind
endure the chast’ning rod;
Believe, when by afflictions tried,
that thou art loved by God.
His children thus most dear to him
their heav’nly Father trains,
Through all the hard experience led
of sorrows and of pains.
We know he owns us for his sons,
when we correction share;
Nor wander as a bastard race,
without our Father’s care.
A father’s voice with rev’rence we
on earth have often heard;
The Father of our spirits now
demands the same regard.
Parents may err; but he is wise,
nor lifts the rod in vain
His chast’nings serve to cure the soul
by salutary pain.
Affliction, when it spreads around,
may seem a field of woe;
Yet there, at last, the happy fruits
of righteousness shall grow.
Then let our hearts no more despond,
our hands be weak no more;
Still let us trust our Father’s love,
his wisdom still adore.
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