And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it
the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out
unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. And it came to pass, when Moses
went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked
after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the
tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with
Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up
and worshipped, every man in his tent door. And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man
speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a
young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me,
Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I
know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have
found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight:
and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give
thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall
it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us?
so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. And the
Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my
sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will
make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be
gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou
canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place
by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will
put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away
mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders
obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so
that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a
more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of
his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death;
and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that
he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God
of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he
condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when
he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went
out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country,
dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a
city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received
strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him
faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the
stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in
faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and
embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such
things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from
whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better
country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared
for them a city.
ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in
error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they
may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all
those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Religion,
that they may avoid those things that are contrary
to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable
to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
