VERANCE, and AGAINST APOSTASY, by many very weighty considerations, ver. 26, 27, &c.""*" The calvinian

Dickson's remark is, "That mutual edification of Christians among themselves"-" is a special help to constancy in true religion, and a preservative against APOSTASY:" which abundantly shews, that, according to the judgment of this learned Calvinist, APOSTASY was the evil which the apostle was labouring to prevent.

12. The next proof of the business in hand we have in the 26th and following verses. "For if we sin wilfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin: verse 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries : verse 28. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: verse 29. of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye,

*Hen. on the place. †Dickson on the places

shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace.

99.

Observe, 1. The sin here spoken of is, a wilful FALLING AWAY. This is evident, first, from hence, it is said to be done, xas, wilfully. The Geneva translation renders it Scientes et volentes, wittingly and willingly. They who thus sinned, did it, not through ignorance, as carnal and unenlightened people often do ; but they did it with their eyes quite open.Calvin saith, "Non loquitor de particularibus lapsibus, sed de universali defectione, qua illi ultro, scientes et volentes, se ab ecclesiæ societate et a Christo alienabant atque abdicabant :" He [the apostle] does not speak of particular falls; but of an universal defection, by which they, of their own accord knowingly and willingly, left the society of the church, and re

The

nounced THEIR INTEREST IN CHRIST.* So Baxter: "The dreadful case of apostates must deter you for if you WILFULLY forsake Christ and Christianity, after you have received the knowledge of the truth of it, BY THE SPIRIT, &c. Secondly, it is said to be done after receiving, yo της αληθείας, the acknowledgement of the truth; after they had, not only heard the truth; but after they had inwardly experienced it, and had outwardly acknowledged it. continuators of Pool, on these words say, "Who sinneth at a higher rate than a Jew against Moses' law, being an APOSTATE from the gospel, a revolter from, and a rebel against it." The Dutch Annotators say, "For if we sin wilfully-that is, wilfully FALL AWAY FROM THIS FAITH, which the apostle hath here described, as hereafter in verse 29. this sin is more largely declared, which the apostle Baxter on the place. Pool's Comment

*Calvin in loc.

also, as heretofore, chap. vi. verse 6. calleth a falling away. He speaketh not here, then, of every kind of sin or falling away; but of that sin which Christ calleth the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.*

Observe, 2. That it is TOTAL AND FINAL APOSTACY which is here spoken of. This is evident, first, from those effects of this sin which respect GoD and his grace. 1. He who hath thus sinned, hath trodden under foot the SON of GOD: that is, he hath treated him in the most contemptuous manner, as if he were dung and dross.Theophylact, Ambrose, and Prymasius, expound xalamalew," contemn and despise Christ:" and the author of Critica Sacra renders it "Extremity of contempt." 2. He hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy, novor an unclean thing. Dr. Doddridge's paraphrase is, a common or an unclean thing, like the blood of a male

*Dutch Annot. on the place.

factor justly executed for his crimes.* Pool quotes Gomarus, Estius, Menochius, Ribera, and Grotius, as saying that this passage belongs, "Adapostatam, qui eo sanctificatus dicitur, i. e. redemptus, emundatus a peccatis, &c. a vitiis purgatus, sanctusque factus, remissionem peccatorum, et sanctificationem consecutus, 99 to an APOSTATE, who on that account is said to have been sanctified, i. e. redeemed, cleansed from his sins, &c. made pure from his vices, and holy; having obtained remission of sins, and sanctification.f And the Continuators of Pool tell us that, Er w nyaon, in, or by which he was sanctified, IS BY MOST interpreters referred to the APOSTATES."When the apostle said that the apostate counted the blood of the covenant a common, unclean, or an unholy thing, he meant, that the apostate's behaviour was exactly such as if he had counted it so. 3. He hath done

*See Doddridge on the place. Syn. Crit in loc. Pool's Comment.