[This, though not adverted to in the text, is necessary to a just view of the subject, and is expressly mentioned in the same connexion in a subsequent part of this epistle''. It is not possible but that such apostates must have experienced on many occasions " the strivings of the Holy Spirit" with them; they must have felt many secret checks and remonstrances of conscience ; all of which they must have resisted, before they could prevail upon themselves to throw off their profession of religion, and to " make shipwreck of their faith." In short, they must have altogether " quenched the Spirit," and " seared their consciences as with a hot iron." What prospect then is there that such persons should be renewed luito repentance ? If they could not maintain their ground when they had the assistances of the Holy Spirit, how shall they recover it when he is departed from them ? And what reason is there to hope that the Holy Spirit, whom they have so " grieved," and " vexed," by their misconduct, should again dwell in them, and increase his gracious communications in proportion as they have accumulated their transgressions ? If the contempt which they pour upon this Divine Agent amount to what is called the sin against the Holy Ghost, their damnation is sure ; it is decreed in heaven, and sealed by their own act and deed. And, though it fall short of this unpardonable sin, still is their case almost hopeless : they are like " the earth, which, bearing only thorns and briers, is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned ^"]
This awful subject must not be concluded without a few words of advice —
1. Guard against the means and occasions of apostasy —
[He that would not fall must take heed to his steps, and be careful on what ground he treads. Now we are told by God himself, that worldly cares, worldly pleasures, worldly company are the bane of religion ; and that we must guard against them all, if we would be steadfast in the faith. We quite mistake, if we think that nothing but what is palpably sinful in itself is dangerous : almost all apostasy arises from secret neglects of duty, and from a want of necessary self-denial. By going to the utmost boundaries of what is lawful, we are easily and imperceptibly drawn into what is unlawful. There- fore watch : watch against error ; watch against temptation ; watch against the cares and pleasures of life ; watch against secret declensions : in short, " let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."]
r ver. 28, 29. » ver. 8.