deeds; blasphemy is vented by words : comp. 1 Tim. i. 13, note. Where blasphemy is added, the guilt is in the very worst degree aggravated ; Mark iii. 29.
30. Toi/ g/Vovra, Him, who hath said} GOD, who does not threaten in vain. — 1/W, to me) See Rom. xii. 19, note, from Deut. xxxii. 35. — *•«>./ v, again] after a few words intervening in the same song of Moses. — Kvpio$ xpivs? rbv Xabv auroD, the Lord will judge His people) Deut. xxxii. 36, LXX., xpivs? Kvpio$ rbv Xabv avrov. This epistle has very often a reference to the song of Moses and to Deuteronomy, a book which is well explained by it. He will judge, in grace and in anger, according as He shall find each individual.
31. To ef&irsffety to fall) It is a good thing to fall into God's hands with faith, 2 Sam. xxiv. 14 : it is a terrible thing to fall rashly into His hands, ver. 27 ; comp. Sir. viii. 1.
32. ' Ava/jupvqffxeffde, remember) The Imperative. He subjoins consolation. — <puri(r6'evrs$9 being enlightened) i.e. immediately after <pun<rftbv9 i.e. Christian baptism, ch. vi. 4. In baptism, Christ is put on : Christ is the light ; therefore the light is put on in baptism. Enlightening denotes that further accession to the force and power of the Spirit, pre-existing for us from the Old Testament, which is gained from the vigour of the New, in the case of those who were baptized. This was the first en trance into Christianity : baptism was the means of salvation in the case of those who were properly fitted for it. I am of opinion, that these divine ordinances, even in theory, are not so highly esteemed as they ought to be. In the very baptism of Christ, His holy human nature was magnificently enlightened. He was previously the Son of God ; and yet the power of the Divine testimony to His Sonship, at His baptism, long af fected Him in a lively manner. But, as man consists of body and soul, so divine ordinances have this double relation. We must, therefore, make no separation [between the ordinances and the grace], nor [on the other hand] is the glass to be taken for the liquor which it contains, nor should the sheath be grasped instead of the sword.
33. TOUTO' roDro) A pronoun with an adverbial meaning. Two heads are set before us, which are explained in inverse order by Chiasmus, ver. 34.