And he is said to be éroupéviog, “heavenly,” or from heaven. This: may have respect unto his work and effect,—they are heavenly, as opposed to carnal and earthly; but principally it regards his mission by Christ, after his ascension into heaven: Acts ii, 33, being exalted, and having received the promise of the Father, he sent the Spirit. The promise of him was, that he should be sent from heaven, or
ye, “from above,” as God is said to be above, which is the same with « heavenly,” Deut. iv. 39; 2 Chron. vi. 23; Job xxxi, 28; Isa. xxxii, 15, D492, and chap. xxiv. 18. When he came upon the Lord Christ to anoint him for his work, “ the heavens were opened,” and he came from above, Matt. iii, 16. So Acts ii. 2, at his first
HEB. VI. 4.6 EXPLAINED. 23
coming on the apostles, there came “a sound from heaven.” Hence he is said to be dwocradsi¢ da’ odpavot,—that is, to be 4 duped rod @eot, 4 éwovpdvos, “sent from heaven,” 1 Pet. i. 12. Wherefore, although __ he may be said to be “heavenly” upon other accounts also, which _ therefore are not absolutely to be excluded, yet his being sent from heaven by Christ, after his ascension thither and exaltation there, is principally here regarded. He therefore is this 4 duped 4 éroupdnos, the “heavenly gift” here intended, though not absolutely, but with respect unto an especial work.
That which riseth up against this interpretation is, that the Holy Ghost is expressly mentioned in the next clause: “And were made partakers of the Holy Ghost.” It is not therefore probable that he _ should be here also intended.
Ans. (1.) It is ordinary to have the same thing twice expressed, in various words, to quicken the sense of them; and it is necessary it should be so, when there are divers respects unto the same thing, as there are in this place.
(2.) The following clause may be exegetical of this, declaring more fully and plainly what is here intended; which is usual also in the Scripture: so that nothing is cogent from this consideration to disprove an interpretation so suited to the sense of the place, and which the constant use of the word makes necessary to be embraced. But,—
(3.) The Holy Ghost is here mentioned as the great gift of the gospel times, as coming down from heaven, not absolutely, not as unto his person, but with respect unto an especial work,—namely, the change of the whole state of religious worship in the church of God,—whereas we shall see in the next words, he is spoken of only with respect unto external actual operations. But he was the great, the promised heavenly gift, to be bestowed under the new testa- ment, by whom God would institute and ordain a new way and new rites of worship, upon the revelation of himself and his will in _ Christ. Unto him was committed the reformation of all things in ~ the church, whose time was now come, chap. 1x. 10. The Lord Christ, when he ascended into heaven, left all things standing and continu- ing in religious worship as they had done from the days of Moses, _ though he had virtually put an end unto it [the Mosaic dispensation] ; and he commanded his disciples that they should attempt no alteration therein until the Holy Ghost were sent from heaven to enable them thereunto, Actsi. 4, 5. But when he came as the great gift ot God, promised under the new testament, he removes all the carnal worship and ordinances of Moses, and that by the full revelation of the ac- complishment of all that was signified by them, and appoints the new, __ holy, spiritual worship of the gospel, that was to succeed in their room. The Spirit of God, therefore, as bestowed for the introduction
24 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
of the new gospel state in truth and worship, is the “heavenly gift” here intended. Thus our apostle warneth these Hebrews that they “turn not away from him who speaketh from heaven,” chap, xii. 25,—that’ is, from Jesus Christ speaking in the dispensation of the gospel by the “ Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.” And there is an antithesis included herein between the law and the gospel, the former being given on earth, the latter being immediately from heaven. God, in giving of the law, made use of the ministry of angels, and that on the earth; but he gave the gospel church-state by that Spirit which, although he worketh in men on earth, and is said in every act or work to be sent from heaven, yet is he still in heaven, and always speaketh from thence, as our Saviour said of himself with respect unto his divine nature, John iii. 13.
2. We may inquire what it is to “taste” of this heavenly gift. The expression of “tasting” is metaphorical, and signifies no more but to make a trial or experiment; for so we do by tasting naturally and properly of that which is tendered unto us to eat. We taste such things by the sense given us to discern our food, and then either receive or refuse them, as we find occasion. It doth not therefore include eating, much less digestion and turning into nourish- ment of what is so tasted; for its nature being only thereby dis- cerned, it may be refused, yea, though we like its relish and savour, upon some other consideration. Some have observed, that “to taste is as much as to eat; as 2 Sam. i. 35, ‘I will not taste bread, or ought else.’” But the meaning is, “I will not so much as taste it,” whence it was impossible he should eat it. And when Jonathan says that he only tasted a little of the honey, 1 Sam. xiv. 29, it was an excuse and extenuation of what he had done. But it is unques- tionably used for some kindof experience of the nature of things: Prov. xxxi.18, 71D 31D 3 AYY,—“She tasteth that her merchandise is good,” or hath experience of it, from its increase. Ps. xxxiv. 8, “O taste and see that the Lorp is good;” which Peter respects, 1 Epist. 11. 3, “ If so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious,” or found it so by experience. It is therefore properly to make an experiment or trial of any thing, whether it be received or refused, and is sometimes opposed to eating and digestion, as Matt. xxvii. 34. That, therefore, which is ascribed unto these persons is, that they had had an experience of the power of the Holy Ghost, that gift of God, in the dispensation of the gospel, the revelation of the truth, and institution of the spiritual worship of it. Of this state, and of the excellency of it, they had made some trial and had some ex- perience; a privilege that all men were not made partakers of. And by this taste they were convinced that it was far more excellent than what they had been before accustomed unto, although now