1 Apostles ?—Ep,
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HEB, VI. 4.6 EXPLAINED, 19
was used mystically to express baptism. In the whole Scripture it _ hath another sense, denoting an inward operation of the Spirit, and _ not the outward administration of an ordinance. And it is too much _ boldness to take a word in a peculiar sense in one single place, diverse _ from its proper signification and constant use, if there be no circum- _ stances in the text forcing us thereunto, as here are not. And for the word éraé, “once,” it is not to be restrained unto this particular, but refers equally unto all the instances that follow, signifying no more but that those mentioned were really and truly partakers of them. duwriCouas is to give light or knowledge by teaching, the same with 1}, which is therefore so translated ofttimes by the Greeks; as by Aquila, Exod. iv. 12, Ps. cxix. 33, Prov. iv. 4, Isa. xxvii. 11, as Drusius observes. And it is so by the LXX., Judges xiii. 8, 2 Kings xii. 2, xvii. 27. Our apostle useth it for to “ make mani- fest,”—that is, to “bring to light,” 1 Cor. iv. 5; 2 Tim.i.10. And the meaning of it, John i. 9, where we render it “lighteth,” is to teach. And guwrioué¢ is knowledge upon instruction: 2 Cor. iv. 4, Els rd BN wiydous airois roy Quriouly rod edayyerfouv'—“ That the light of the gospel should not shine into them,’—that is, the knowledge of it. So verse 6, Ipd¢ Quriouoy rhs yveoews'—“ The light of the knowledge.” _ Wherefore, to be “ enlightened” in this place is to be instructed in the doctrine of the gospel, so as to have a spiritual apprehension _ thereof; and this is so termed on a double account:— 1. Of the objects, or the things known or apprehended; for “life and immortality are brought to light through the gospel,” 2 Tim. i. 10. Hence it is called “light,’—“ The inheritance of the saints in light.” And the state which men are thereby brought into is so called in opposition to the darkness that is in the world without it, 1 Pet. ii. 9. The world without the gospel is the kingdom of Satan: “O xbomos Or0g ev rm wovnpw xsirus, 1 John v.19. The whole of the world, and all that belongs unto it, in distinction from and opposi- tion unto the new creation, is under the power of the wicked one, _ the prince of the power of darkness, and so is full of darkness. It is rémog adynpés, 2 Pet. i. 19,—“ a dark place,” wherein ignorance, _ folly, errors, and superstition do dwell and reign. By the power and _ efficacy of this darkness are men kept at a distance from God, and _ know not whither they go. This is called “walking in darkness,” 1 John i. 6, whereunto “ walking in the light,’—that is, the know- _ ledge of God in Christ by the gospel,—is opposed, verse 7. On this account is our instruction in the knowledge of the gospel called “ il- lumination,”’ because itself is light. 2. On the account of the subject, or the mind itself, whereby the _ gospel is apprehended; for the knowledge which is received thereby ~ expels that darkness, ignorance, and confusion which the mind be-
20 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
fore was filled and possessed withal. The knowledge, I say, of the doctrines of the gospel concerning the person of Christ, of God’s being in him reconciling the world to himself, of his offices, work, and mediation, and the like heads of divine revelation, doth set up © a spiritual light in the minds of men, enabling them to discern what before was utterly hid from them, whilst alienated from the life of God through their ignorance. Of this hght and knowledge there are several degrees, according to the means of instruction which men do enjoy, the capacity they have to receive it, and the diligence they use to that purpose; but a competent measure of the knowledge of the fundamental and most material principles or doctrines of the gospel is required unto all that may thence be said to be illuminated, —that is, freed from the darkness and ignorance they once lived in, 2 Pet. i. 19-21. i
This is the first property whereby the persons intended are de- scribed: they are such as were illuminated by the instruction they had received in the doctrines of the gospel, and the impression made thereby on ther minds by the Holy Ghost; for this is a common work of his, and is here so reckoned. And the apostle would have us know that,—
I. It is a great mercy, a great privilege, to be enlightened with the doctrine of the gospel by the effectual working of the Holy Ghost. But,—
Il. It is such a privilege as may be lost, and end in the aggra- vation of the sin, and condemnation of those who were made par- takers of tt. And—
Ill. Where there is a total neglect of the due improvement of this privilege and mercy, the condition of such persons is hazardous, as inclining towards apostasy.
Thus much lies open and manifest in the text. But that we may more particularly discover the nature of this first part of the cha- racter of apostates, for their sakes who may look after their own con- cernment therein, we may yet a little more distinctly express the na- ture of that illumination and knowledge which is here ascribed unto them; and how it is lost in apostasy will afterward appear. And,—