Study Desk

Fayth is the grounde of thynges hoped for, the euidence of thynges not seene.

For by it, the elders obtayned a good report.

Through fayth, we vnderstande that the worldes were ordeined by the word of God, and that thynges whiche are seene, were made of thynges whiche were not seene.

By fayth Abel offered vnto God a more excellent sacrifice then Cain: by whiche he was witnessed to be ryghteous, God testifiyng of his gyftes: by which also he beyng dead, yet speaketh.

By fayth was Enoch translated, that he shoulde not see death, neither was he founde, for God had taken hym away: For afore he was taken away, he was reported of to haue pleased God.

But without fayth it is vnpossible to please hym: For he that cometh to God, must beleue that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seeke him.

By fayth Noe beyng warned of God of thinges not seene as yet, moued with reuerence, prepared the arke to the sauyng of his house, through the whiche [arke] he condempned the worlde, and became heire of the righteousnes which is by fayth.

By fayth Abraham when he was called, obeyed, to go out into a place whiche he shoulde afterwarde receaue to inheritaunce: and he went out, not knowyng whyther he shoulde go.

By fayth he remoued into the lande of promise, as into a straunge countrey, whe he had dwelt in tabernacles, with Isaac and Iacob, heires with hym of the same promise:

For he loked for a citie hauyng a foundation, whose buylder and maker is God.

Through fayth also Sara her selfe receaued strength to conceaue seede, and was delyuered of a chylde whe she was past age, because she iudged hym faythfull which had promised.

And therfore sprang there of one, euen of one whiche was as good as dead [so many] in multitude, as are the starres in the skye, and as the sande the whiche is by the sea shore innumerable.

These all dyed according to fayth, not hauing receaued the promises, but seing them a farre of, and beleuyng, and salutyng, and confessyng that they were straungers and pilgrimes on the earth.

For they that saye suche thynges, declare that they seke a countrey.

Also yf they had ben myndfull of that [countrey] from whence they came out, they had leasure to haue returned:

But nowe they desire a better, that is, a heauenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a citie.

By fayth Abraham offered by Isaac when he was proued: and he that had receaued the promises, offered vp his only begotten sonne:

To whom it was saide, that in Isaac shall thy seede be called.

For he considered that God was able to rayse the dead vp agayne, fro whence also he receaued hym in a similitude [of the resurrection.]

By fayth did Isaac blesse Iacob and Esau, concernyng thynges to come.

By fayth Iacob when he was a dying, blessed both the sonnes of Ioseph, and worshypped towarde the toppe of his scepter.

By fayth Ioseph when he dyed, remembred the departyng of the chyldren of Israel, and gaue commaundement of his bones.

By fayth Moyses whe he was borne, was hyd three monethes of his father and mother, because they sawe he was a proper chylde, neither feared they the kynges commaundement.

By fayth Moyses when he was great, refused to be called the sonne of Pharaos daughter:

Chosyng rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God, then to enioye the pleasures of sinne for a season:

Esteemyng the rebuke of Christ, greater riches, then the treasures of Egypt: For he had respect vnto the recompence of the rewarde.

By fayth he forsoke Egypt, fearyng not the wrath of the kyng: For he endured, euen as though he had seene him which is inuisible.

Through fayth, he ordeyned the Passouer and the effusion of blood, lest he that destroyed the first borne, shoulde touche them.

By fayth, they passed through the redde sea, as by drye lande: which the Egyptians assaying to do, were drowned.

By fayth, the walles of Iericho fell downe, after they were compassed about seuen dayes.

By fayth, the harlot Rahab perished not with them that were disobedient, when she had receaued the spyes with peace.

And what shall I more say? for the tyme woulde fayle me, to rehearse of Gedeon, of Barac, and of Sampson, and of Iephte, of Dauid also and Samuel, and of the prophetes:

Which through faith subdued kingdomes, wrought righteousnesse, obteyned the promises, stopped the mouthes of the Lions,

Quenched the violence of fyre, escaped the edge of the sworde, out of weakenesse were made strong, wared valiant in fyght, turned to flyght the armies of the aliantes.

The women receaued their dead, raysed to lyfe agayne: Other were racked, not lokyng for deliueraunce, that they might receaue a better resurrectio.

And others were tryed with mockynges, and scourgynges: Yea, moreouer with bondes and prisonment:

They were stoned, were hewen asunder, were tempted, were slaine with sword, wandred about in sheepskinnes, and goates skinnes, beyng destitute, afflicted [and] tormented:

Of who the worlde was not worthie: They wandred in wildernesse, and in mountaynes, and in dennes, and caues of the earth.

And these all through fayth, obteyned good report, and receaued not the promise:

God prouidyng a better thyng for vs, that they without vs shoulde not be made perfect.