Obs. XV. No persons whatever ought to be, on any considera- tion, secure against those sins which present circumstances give an efficacy unto.
Obs. XVI. It is an effect of spiritual wisdom, to discern what is the dangerous and prevailing temptation of any season, and vigor- ously to set ourselves in opposition unto it.
Obs. XVII. It is much to be feared that in great trials some will draw back from that profession of the gospel wherein they are en- gaged.
Obs. XVIII. This defection is commonly durable, continued by various pretences. This is included in the word ioore/Ayras,—gra- dually and covertly to subduct himself.
(2.) The sentence denounced against this sin is obx sbdoxe? 4 Luxq
Ode eadouer ov sv avrg. The “soul” of God, is God himself; but i pox wov'y he so speaks of himself to affect us with a due appre- arg, hension of his concernment in what he so speaks, as we are with that which our souls, that is, our minds, with all our affec- tions, are engaged. in, So God promises to the church, that he will “rejoice over them with his whole heart, and with his whole soul.” So is it here. What God thus affirms of himself is, that he hath no
*VrorreiAnras
VER. 37-39.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. ‘_ 591
delight in such a person, he is not pleased with him, he shall not live before him. There is a we/worg in the words, “he shall have no delight in him;” that is, he will abhor him, despise him, and in the end utterly destroy him. But I suppose it may be thus expressed also to obviate a pretence of the Hebrews against the apostle at that season, namely, that by deserting the truth of the gospel, and returning unto their Judaism, they did that which was pleasing unto God, and wherein they should find acceptance with him. For, as they supposed, they returned again unto those institutions of wor- ship which he had been pleased withal, and which were of his own appointment. So all apostates have some pretence for what they do, wherewith they justify themselves, until their iniquity be found out to be hateful. Wherefore, to deprive them of this pretence, the apostle declares that the soul of God takes no pleasure in them. And in this negation all positive evils are included. When God will not, doth not delight in any persons, the consequent is, that he will utterly destroy them. See Jer. xv. 1.
Obs. XIX. It is our great duty to look diligently that we are of that holy frame of mind, that due exercise of faith, as that the soul of God may take pleasure in us.
Obs. XX. Though there appear as yet no outward tokens or evi- dences of the anger and displeasure of God against our ways, yet if we are in that state wherein God hath no pleasure in us, we are entering into certain ruin.
Obs. XXI. Backsliders from the gospel are in a peculiar manner the abhorrency of the soul of God.
_ Obs. XXII. When the soul of God is not delighted in any, nothing can preserve them from utter destruction.
Ver. 39.—“ But we are not of them who draw back unto perdi- tion; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
An application is made in these words unto the state and condi- tion of these Hebrews at present, at least unto them whom the apostle designs in an especial manner; as also, a transition is made unto that which now lay in his eye, namely, the full demonstration
_ of the power and efficacy of faith to make us accepted with God, and to carry us through in the course of our greatest trials and temptations with success and victory. The application he makes unto the believing Hebrews, is of the same nature and kind with that which on the same occasion he had made unto them before, chap. vi. 9. In both places, having treated of the danger of apos- tasy and the woful state of apostates, he relieves the minds of
believers by letting them know, that although, for their awakening and instruction, as for other ends, he declared the dreadful judg- wents of God against unprofitable professors and apostates, yet was
592 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. x.
it not as though he apprehended that that was their condition, or that they were cast out of the favour of God, or cursed by the law, but he was “persuaded better things of them.” Such ministerial encouragements are needful in like cases, that persons be not exas- perated through an apprehension that undue surmises are enter- tained against them, nor too much dejected with fears that their condition makes them obnoxious unto the threatening, Both which are diligently to be avoided.
The apostlo’s reckoning himself, in his niinisterial dealing with them, in their state and condition, as here, “ We are not,” hath been spoken unto elsewhere, with the reasons of it. And whereas he says, ‘“ We are not,” it is frivolous to interpret it by “ We ought not to be,” as is done by some; for so the words have nothing of com- _ fort or supportment in them, which yet is the total design of them. Nor is it an absolutely infallible declaration of the state and condi- tion of all individuals concerning whom he speaks; but he gives the interpretation of that persuasion, on what grounds it was built, and what it was resolved into; which was spoken of in the other place, whither the reader is r referred, chap. vi. 9.