[2.] Spiritual sloth, with the occasions of this life, is the cause in many of this sinful neglect. Other things will offer themselves in competition with the diligent attendance unto these assemblies. If men stir not up themselves, and shake off the weight that lies — upon them, they will fall under a woful neglect as unto this and all
VER. 25.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 523
other important duties. Such persons as are influenced by them will make use of many specious pleas, taken for the most part from their occasions and necessities. ‘These things they will plead with men, and there is no contending with them, But let them go to Christ and plead them immediately unto himself, and then ask of themselves how they suppose they are accepted. He requires that we should attend unto these assemblies diligently, as the principal way and means of doing that and observing that which he com- mands us,—the certain, indispensable rule of our obedience unto him. Will it be accepted with him, if, in a neglect of that, we should say unto him, we would have done so indeed, but that one thing or other, this business, this diversion, this or that attendance in our ’ callings, would not suffer us so to do? This may, indeed, fall out sometimes where the heart is sincere; but then it will be troubled at it, and watch for the future against the like occasions. But where this is frequent, and every trivial diversion is embraced unto a neglect of this duty, the heart is not upright before God,—the man draws back in the way unto perdition.
[3.] Unbelief working gradually towards the forsaking of all profession. ‘This is the first way, for the most part, whereby “an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” doth evi- dence itself; which the apostle on this consideration warns the Hebrews of, chap. ili. I say, hereby usually it first evidenceth itself. It hath unquestionably put forth its power before, within, and in a neglect of private duties, but hereby it first evidenceth itself unto others. And if this course, from this principle, be per- sisted in, total apostasy lies at the door; whereof we have multiplied instances,
Obs. I. Great diligence is required of us in a due attendance unto the assemblies of the church for the ends of them, as they are in- stituted and appointed by Jesus Christ.—Tlhie benefit we receive by them, the danger of their neglect, sense of the authority of Christ, concernment of his glory in them, with the vanity of the pretences for their neglect, call aloud for this diligence.
Obs. II. The neglect of the authority and love of Christ in the appointment of the means of our edification, will always tend to great and ruinous evils.
3. The apostle exemplifies the sin which he warns them against, in an instance of those who are guilty of it: “As the manner of some is.” The church of the Hebrews, espe- cially that at Jerusalem, had been exposed to great trials and persecutions, as the apostle declares verses 32,33. During this state, some of the members of it, even in those early days, began so far to decline from their profession as not to frequent the assem- blies of the church. They were afraid to be taken at a meeting, or
Kabas tog rigiy,
* 524 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. X.
that their known persecuting neighbours should take notice of them as they went unto or came from their assemblies. And it should seem they were not a few who were fallen into this sinful neglect; for the apostle speaks of it as a thing which was well known among themselves. Again, there were among the Hebrews at that time great disputes about the continuance of the temple-worship, with the rites and ceremonies of it, which many were entangled withal; and as that error prevailed in their minds, so did they begin gradually to neglect and forsake the worship and duties of the gos- pel; which ended with many in fatal apostasy. To prevent the effects of these two evils was the principal design of the apostle in writing this epistle, which is filled with cogent arguments against them. This was the later cause of their declension, before intimated, namely, unbelief secretly inclining unto a departure from the living God. And this is marked here as the ordinary beginning of an entrance into final apostasy, namely, that men do forsake the assem- blies of the saints. Only observe, that it is not an occasional dere- liction of them, but that which they accustomed themselves unto; it was 2é0c, their “ manner,”’—it was an ordinary way and manner of walking, which they accustomed themselves unto.
Obs. III. No church-order, no outward profession, can secure men from apostasy.—Persons were guilty of this crime im the first, the best, the purest churches.
Obs. IV. Perfection, freedom from offence, scandal, and ruinous evils, is not to be expected in any church in this world.
Obs. V. Men that begin to decline their duty in church relations ought to be marked, and their ways avoided.
Obs. VI. Forsaking of church assemblies is usually an entrance into apostasy.
SECONDLY, The apostle illustrates this great evil by the soubiuks) duty: ’AAA& rapanarodvres. All the duties of these as- semblies, especially those which are useful and needful to prevent backsliding and preserve from apostasy, are proposed under this one, which is the head and chief of them all.