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38

For if they fell away, after having been enlightened,

Heb.

SECT. nicated to those that have embraced the gos- and of resurrection vi. pel, and of the resurrection of the dead, which of the dead, and of though not so clearly and fully revealed, was eternal judgment. vi. 2 assuredly believed by the Jewish Church before our Lord's appearance; and of eternal judgment, when the whole world shall be convened before Christ, and each of its inhabitants fixed by his final sentence in an unalterable eternity.

3

4

These are indeed important doctrines, and it 3 And this will we will become you constantly to bear them in do, if God permit. mind. But while I am addressing you at pres

ent, it may be more profitable for me to lead you into some higher improvements in Christian knowledge, and to build some farther Di. vine instruction upon these sure and solid foundations. And this we will do, if God permit; if God may assist us in attempting it, and this letter reach you, as I trust it will, while you continue your adherence to the Christian faith. As for those who seem to have forgot these sacred principles, and put the greatest slight sible for those who 4 For it is imposupon them, by renouncing our holy religion, I ened, and have tastwere once enlightgive them up as persons from whom I have no ed of the heavenly farther expectations; for [it is] in a manner im- gift, and were made possibled to succeed in any charitable endeavour partakers of the Howith regard to those who have once been enlightly Ghost, ened with the knowledge of such glorious truths as are essential to Christianity, and have tasted of the heavenly gift which our exalted Redeemer hath shed down upon us, and have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, in his miraculous

tism, is very enthusiastical, and absolutely destitute of proof.

For it is impossible.] This text has been the subject of great debate, which I must not by any means enter into here. Compare Limb. Theol. 5. lxxxiv. 10-19; Ghost.] Though by heavenly gift, Arche Heavenly gift-partakers of the Holy Baxter's Works, Vol. II. p. 305. the phrase enlightened, it is certain, that the stands remission of sin, urging Rom. v. 15 As to bishop Tillotson, (Vol. II. p. 485,) underancient fathers early used it to express 18 in proof of it; and distinguishes it baptism. But in this view I much question from the communication of the Holy the propriety of the phrase, and think that Ghost, and this too, as he ventures to asillumination, as well as regeneration, in the sert, in its sanctifying power and influmost important and scriptural sense of the ence; I see no necessity for making such words, were regularly to precede the ad- a distinction, or extending in this place ministration of that ordinance. think that what the Papists, and some too ordinary gifts. And I the energy of the Spirit beyond his extraready to follow them, have taught of an Acts viii. 15, (which he thinks must inBishop Hopkins quotes extraordinary illumination following the clude Simon Magus,) as a proof, that unadministration of the ordinance of bap- regenerate men might receive the Holy Ghost. Hopkins's Works, p. 520.

their case would be deplorable and desperate :

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And have SECT.

Heb.

5 And have tasted and amazing communications, the good word of tasted by some affectionate impressions on their vi. God, and the powers of the world to come; minds, the efficacy of the good word of God, and felt something of the powers of the world to vi. 5 come,f awakening in them a conviction of sin, and some desires after holiness, and resolu6 If they shall fall tions in favour of it: I say, that as for such 6 away, to renew them persons, if, after all this, they totally fall aways again unto repent- from Christianity, their case is in a manner crucify to themselves desperate, and it is impossible again to renew the Son of God a- the good impressions made on them, so as to fresh, and put him to bring them back to repentance, and to recover

ance seeing they

an open shame.

them to a sense of duty; since they reject the
strongest evidence that can be conceived, and
do, as it were, by this apostasy and blasphemy
of theirs, so far as in them lies, crucify to them-
selves the Son of God again,h and make an open
example [of him :] by renouncing that Divine
doctrine which hath been so gloriously demon-
strated to them, they do in effect declare they
look on Jesus as an impostor, who deserved
what he met with; and they seem to ascribe
the miraculous energy of the Spirit to some
diabolical agency: which Christ himself rep-
resented as the sin that should never be forgiv-
en. (Compare Mat. xii. 30, 31.)

The powers of the world to come.] This thus: or it would prove, contrary to the phrase is ambiguous. Some understand plainest fact, that it is impossible to recovit of those miraculous powers with which er Christians who have fallen into great the gospel age, (called the world to come and wilful sins. elsewhere, and particularly chap. ii. 5,) should be attended. But if the preceding clause be explained as above, it will diversify the sense more, to understand this of impressions made relating to the importance of a future state. And as we so often read of this world and the present world; the invisible state into which we pass by death, may certainly with great propriety be expressed by the phrase of the world to come; as indeed that is its common signification. But if any on the whole think it is more reasonable to interpret this clause in the former sense, and so will understand the other clauses, as explained in the former part of note, it must be observed that the apostle, in thus giving judgment upon the case, if it should happen, does not declare that it actually does.

If they totally fall away.] It is certain the words, fall away, must be understood

h Crucify to themselves, &c.] Some would interpret it, so far as in them lies they do it, that is, they pour all the contempt upon Christ in their power, and offer all the injury to him they can; and were he upon earth, and subject to the violence he once suffered, they would treat him as his worst enemies did. It seems to me that the apostle here gives up apostates, as hopeless in the general, in order to fortify Christians against the great danger to which they were exposed. But I think it cannot be inferred from hence, that, in ages where the evidence of Christianity might be less plainly demonstrative, those who had fallen into this crime with circumstances less aggravated, and professed repentance, were never to be received to the peace of the church any more; as the Donatists supposed, and on this text found. ed their inexorably rigorous discipline.

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SECT.

Heb.

And they like barren earth, nigh unto cursing.

We will therefore, without any farther

7 For the earth

the rain that cometh

vi. efforts for the recovery of such, leave them to which drinketh in the awful sentence which he hath pronounced oft upon it, and vi. 7 upon them. For whereas the earth that drink- bringeth forth herbs eth in the rain, which often cometh upon it, and meet for them by produceth herbage fit for them by whom it is cul- whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing tivated, partaketh of the Divine blessing, and from God: wears a pleasant and delightful face; so shall those souls, who improve gospel ordinances and Christian knowledge, so as to produce the fruits of holiness,be favourably accepted of God,

8 and feel a Divine joy in themselves. But as 8 But that which that ground which bringeth forth only thorns beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and briars, under the same cultivation, and the and is nigh unto same refreshing showers, [is] rejected as utter- cursing: whose end ly useless; so likewise shall the unfruitful soul is to be burned. be deserted by God in righteous displeasure, and is near to that dreadful hour, when a curse shall come upon it, never to be revoked. And as such a barren soil, whose case we have been describing, is at last burnt up by the violent heat of the sun, and becomes dry heath;i so the end of such an unhappy creature [shall be] everlasting burning, in that miserable world, where all the means of grace and influences of the Spirit of God shall be for ever withdrawn, and the soul shall be given up to incurable

9 wickedness, and eternal anguish. Such is the 9 But, beloved, case of these wretched apostates; but I will we are persuaded enlarge no farther on this awful subject; for better things of you, and things that acwe are persuaded there is room to hope much company salvation, better things of you, my beloved brethren, even though we thus things that accompany salvation, and do, as it speak. were, bring it along with them: we have this cheerful expectation concerning you, though we think ourselves obliged thus to speak; that nothing in our power may be wanting to guard you against the greatest danger.

verse

IMPROVEMENT.

In every respect, both with regard to knowledge and practice, 1, 2 let us go on to perfection: and if we cannot attain to it, let us rise as near it as we can! For this purpose, as Christians, let us

iDry heath.] Heath is the emblem of the cursed man, Jerem. xvii. 5, 6. See Dr. Whitby in loc.

Reflections on the danger of apostasy.

vi.

41

verse

remember what foundation has been already laid, of repentance SECT. and faith, of baptism, of a resurrection, and a future judgment; a judgment, eternal in its consequences, and therefore infinitely important. And let us remember, that as the building, in its highest advances, rests upon the foundation, and owes its stability to its union with it, so in like manner does our progress and advance in Christian piety stand in a near connection with our retaining these truths, though we by no means confine ourselves to them.

5

It is by a continual care to improve in them, that we shall most happily escape the danger, the dreadful danger of apostasy, 4 to which we may otherwise be exposed. And O! let the awful passage before us be duly attended to in this view! Let us not rest in any enlightening we may have received, in any taste we may have had of the heavenly gift, of the good word of God, or the powers of the world to come; nor in any operation of the Spirit of God upon our minds, to form them to the most splendid talents, and qualify us for the most pompous external services. Men may have all these, and yet fall away, and their guilt become more aggravated: they may injure the Redeemer so much the more in proportion to all they have known of him; and indeed will be capable of wounding him the deeper by their apostasy, and of exposing him to greater infamy. Let us daily pray to be delivered from so great an evil! We are not left to be like a barren wilderness; the rain from on high comes often upon us, 7 and we enjoy the choicest cultivation : may we bring forth fruits meet for him by whom we are dressed, the genuine fruits of practical, vital religion. So shall we receive a blessing from God, and flourish more and more, till we are transplanted to the paradise

above.

But as for those unhappy creatures who still continue to bring 8 forth briars and thorns, let them dread that final rejection which will be the portion of those who persist in abusing the Divine goodness; let them dread the curse, the awful, the irrevocable curse, to be pronounced on such; let them dread the everlasting dearth with which their souls shall be parched, when ordinances, when the workings of the Spirit of God, when the common comforts and supports of this mortal animal life, shall be no more. 9 Gladly do the ministers of Christ entertain better hopes concerning those committed to their care, while yet there is room for hope, though faithfulness to God, and to the souls of men, obliges them to speak in the language of such cautions as these. May Divine grace apply it to those who are particularly concerned in it, and plant what hath hitherto been a barren and abandoned desert, with such fruits of holiness, as may transform it into the garden of the Lord.

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БЕСТ. vii.

Heb.

But God will never forget the labours of his saints;

SECT. VII.

Addressing himself to sincere believers, the apostle comforts them with a view of the goodness of God, and his fidelity to those sucred engagements into which he hath condescended to enter ; the performance of which is farther sealed by the entrance of Christ into heaven as our forerunner. Heb. VI. 10, to the end.

HEBREWS VI. 10.

HEBREWS VI. 10.

I JUST now mentioned my hopes of your FOR God is not

labour of love, which

and do minister.

complete salvation; and I have reason to unrighteous, to entertain such hopes, as well knowing the be- forget your work and vi 10 nevolent and pious dispositions which many of ye have shewed toyou have expressed. For God [is] not unright- ward his name, in eous, or unmindful of his gracious promises, so that ye have minisas to forget your diligent work and labour in his tered to the saints, service, animated by a principle of unfeigned love, which you have manifested, not only to your brethren, but to his name also, in having ministred, and in still ministring, as his providence gives you opportunity, to the necessities 11 of the saints. And we heartily wish that this 11 And we desire, temper were as universal as it is commendable that every one of you where it prevails; so that every one of you, into do shew the same diligence, to the full whose hands this epistle may come, might shew assurance of hope the same diligence, and exert the same studious unto the end: care, in order to establish the full assurance of your hope, even unto the end of your Christian course; by which hope you must still be sup

ers of them who

12 ported, while in this world: That so on the 12 That ye be not whole you may not be sluggish and indolent, but slothful, but followimitators of those, who, through the exercise of through faith and faith and long suffering, do now reap the blessed patience inherit the fruit of these graces, and inherit the promises promises. which God hath made to support and cherish them in the hearts of his people through every

age. 13. And a glorious confirmation you will find these promises to be, when you come to com

• Through faith and long suffering inherit the promises. Mr. Peirce explains this of the Gentiles who were converted to Christianity. If it be intended as a hint to stir up the Jews to emulation, as he supposes, it is indeed a very obscure one; for comparatively it is a low sense, in which Christians in this imperfect state can be said to inherit the promises. I rather think

13 For when God

it refers to all good men, who were departed out of our world, whether in former or latter days, and under whatever dispensation they died. Taking it in this view, it will be (as several have observed) an argument against the soul's continuing in a state of sleep during the intermediate period between death and the resurrection.

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