(5.) Hereunto is added a perfect hatred and contempt of such
234: THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
as abide constant in their adherence unto and profession of the gospel. Constant observation hath approved the saying, “ Apostata est osor sui ordinis;” great apostates have been always great perse- cutors, in word or deed, according to their power. As those who love Christ do love all that are his, because they are his, so they that hate him do hate all that are his, because they are his; and their hatred, because it is against the whole kind, acts itself every way possible. They despise them as weak and foolish for adhering and trusting to the things which they have relinquished, trusting to them- selves, their reason, and gallantry of spirit. They are filled with re- venge against them, as those who censure, judge, and condemn them as guilty of the highest villany and most desperate wickedness. They know in their hearts that they have reserves against them, as persons whom their Lord will one day judge and destroy; which makes them design, if it were possible, their utter extirpation from the face of theearth. Those who crucified Christ in his own person did it but once, and could do so no more. These do so every day; for what is done unto any of his, for his sake, he esteemeth as done unto himself: “Why persecutest thou me?”
(6.) Those persons who proceed thus far do always fall into a peculiar contempt of the Spirit of God, and his whole work in the
dispensation of the gospel. The promise of the dispensation of the. Spirit is the especial privilege and glory of the gospel. He is sent
and given in an especial manner by Jesus Christ as exalted. His whole work is to glorify and exalt Jesus Christ, and to make his mediation effectual unto the souls of men; and in the things which concern him and his work lies the life and soul of the gospel. Hence those who apostatize from it have a peculiar enmity against him and his work; and this ustially is one of the first things wherein the fatal backslidings of men do manifest themselves. When once men “tread under foot the Son of God, and count the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing,” as they do in the former instances, they will assuredly “do despite unto the Spirit of grace,” Heb. x. 29. How this is done in particular shall be considered on that place, if God will, and we live thereunto. Under this head and degree the sin of apostasy becomes formally irremissible,
(7.) An open profession of a detestation of the gospel, so far as it is consistent with their worldly interests and advantages, completes the soul-ruining sin we treat of. It may be they may live in such times and places as that it would be to their secular disadvantage openly to avow their renunciation of Christ; but when that is the only curb from the declaration of themselves, the frame of their minds is esteemed for a full profession of their apostasy.
DANGERS FROM THE PREVAILING APOSTASY. 235
Now, whereas all these things, and it may be sundry others, do concur unto this sin of apostasy, I shall conclude two things concern- ing it:—1. That it is a far greater sin than that of the generality of the Jews who crucified Jesus Christ in the days of his flesh, as was before asserted. 2. That it is inconsistent with the holiness, righteousness, honour, and faithfulness of God, to renew such persons as are fully and openly guilty hereof unto repentance. Repentance may be given unto them in hell with as much advantage unto the glory of God; for when men, after trial and experiment, with some convictions of its truth and excellency, do obstinately reject the only remedy and relief that God hath provided for sinners, and therein do despite unto the whole blessed Trinity, and each person thereof in his peculiar interest in the dispensation and application of grace, God neither in his faithfulness will, nor in his holiness can, have any thing more to do with such presumptuous sinners in a way of mercy. He may and doth endure them for a while in this world, and that without any visible tokens of his indignation, satisfying his justice in the spiritual judgments that are upon them; but it is only as “vessels of wrath fitted to destruction,” and such “ whose damnation slumbereth not.” And these things may suffice to warn men of the danger of this evil; and they will be warnings unto all who shall consider them, who are not hardened through the deceitfulness of sin; and all the judgments of God, which are either impendent over or already inflicted on a wicked, apostatizing world, are calls from heaven unto a consideration of them.
Now, although the generality of men seem to be secure enough from any trouble or discomposure in their minds from the considera- tion of things of this nature, yet some there are who may by their own misapprehensions fall under such discouragements as may hinder them in that course of obedience which they would pursue. I shall therefore divert a little, to prevent or remove the objections which such persons make against themselves, and from whence their dis- couragement doth arise, adding some directions suited unto their state or condition; for,—