But the sense of these words hath been the subject of great con- tests on other occasions also; for some do suppose and contend that they are real and true believers who are deciphered by the apostle, and that their character is given us in and by sundry inseparable adjuncts and properties of such persons. Hence they conclude that such believers may totally and finally fall from grace, and perish eternally; yea, it is evident that this hypothesis of the final apos- tasy of true believers is that which influenceth their minds and judgments to suppose that such are here intended. Wherefore
_ others who will not admit that, according to the tenor of the cove-
nant of grace in Christ Jesus, true believers can perish everlastingly, do say that either they are not here intended, or if they are, that the words are only comminatory, wherein, although the consequence in them in a way of arguing be true, namely, that on the supposition
_ laid down the inference is certain, yet the supposition is not asserted
in order unto a certain consequent, whence it should follow that
_ true believers might so really fall away and absolutely perish. And _ these things have been the matter of many contests among learned
2!
men. Again; there have been sundry mistakes in the practical applica-
tion of the intention of these words unto the consciences of men,
mostly made by themselves who are concerned; for whereas, by rea- son of sin, they have been surprised with terrors and troubles of con- science, they have withal, in their darkness and distress, supposed
_ themselves to be fallen into the condition here described by our
a apostle, and consequently to be irrecoverably lost. And these appre- -hensions usually befall men on two occasions; for some having been
16 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
overtaken with some great actual sin against the second table, after they have made a profession of the gospel, and having their cov: sciences harassed with a sense of their guilt (as it will fall out where men are not greatly hardened through the deceitfulness of sin), they judge that they are fallen under the sentence denounced in this Scripture against such sinners, as they suppose themselves to be
whereby their state is irrecoverable. Others do make the same judg- ment of themselves, because they have fallen from that constant com- pliance with their convictions which formerly led them unto a strict performance of duties, and this in some course of long continuance.
Now, whereas it is certain that the apostle in this discourse gives no countenance unto that severity of the Novatians whereby thes excluded offenders everlastingly from the peace and communioi of the church; nor to the final apostasy of true believers, which he testifieth against in this very chapter, in compliance with innumer~ able other testimonies of Scripture to the same purpose; nor doth he teach any thing whereby the conscience of any sinner who desires te return to God and to find acceptance with him should be discouraged or disheartened; we must attend unto the exposition of the words in the first place, so as not to break in upon the boundaries of othe: truths, nor transgress against the analogy of faith. And we shal! find that this whole discourse, compared with other scriptures, anc freed from the prejudices that men have brought unto it, is both remote from administering any just occasion to the mistakes before mentioned, and is a needful, wholesome commination, duly to be ¢on- sidered by all professors of the gospel.
In the words we consider,—1. The connection of them unto those foregoing, intimating the occasion of the introduction of this whole discourse. 2. The subject described in them, or the persons spoken of, under sundry qualifications, which may be inquired into jointly and severally. 3. What is supposed concerning them. 4. What is affirmed of them on that supposition.
1. The connection of the words is included in the causal conjunc- tion, yap, “for.” It respects the introduction of a reason for what had been before discoursed, as also of the limitation which the apostle added expressly unto his purpose of making a progress in their farther instruction, “If God permit.” And he doth not herein express hig judgment that they to whom he wrote were such as he describes, for he afterward declares that he “hoped better things” concerning them; only, it was necessary to give them this caution, that they might take due care not to be such. And whereas he had manifested that they were slow as to the making of a progress in knowledge and a suit- able practice, he lets them here know the danger that there was in: continuing in that slothful condition; for not to proceed in the ways
HEB, VI. 4-6 EXPLAINED. iby
of the gospel and obedience thereunto is an untoward entrance into a total relinquishment of the one and the other. That therefore they might be acquainted with the danger hereof, and be stirred up to avoid that danger, he gives them an account of the miserable condi- tion of those who, after a profession of the gospel, beginning at a non-proficiency under it, do end in apostasy from it. And we may see that the severest comminations are not only useful in the preach- ing of the gospel, but exceeding necessary, towards persons that are _ observed to be slothful in their profession.