ports. So Gregory Nazianzen, Ato σε αίθειν ετυμολογηταί, δια δαπανητικον των μοχθηρων έξεων, και γαρ τους καταναλίσκον ENTEUDEU REYETα. It (the words) is derived from ade, to consume; on account of his power of consuming vicious affections.* So Damascenus: Το Θεός ονομα λεγεται εκ τε αίθει, ο επι καιειν ο γαρ Θεος πυρ καταναλίσκον πάσαν κακιας 251° "The name, Gop, is taken from ay, which is, to burn; for God is a fire, consuming all wickedness."t And these words are added by the apostle, as a reason to enforce the performance of the aforesaid duties; as if he had said, Hold fast the grace you have, that therewith, or thereby, you may serve GOD in a manner which shall be acceptable unto him. For if you do not, you shall experience him to be a consuming fire, in causing his fiery indignation to devour you, chap. x. verse 27, or as the Dutch Annotators have it, "As a

*Greg. Nazianzen. Orat. 36. fol. 589. Damasc. Orthod. Fidie, lib. cap, 13.

consuming fire towards them that are disobedient or APOSTATES."* It is therefore certain from the nature of the punishment which is here threatened (which none but those who apostatize TOTALLY and FINALLY, are capable of) that the apostle here in tended TOTAL and FINAL APOSTASY.

But it may be objected, that "In the xiiith chap. and 5th verse, God hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. In which words, according to the original, there are five negatives, Ου μη σε ανώ, ουδ' ου μη σε yxaraλo that is, I will not leave thee, neither will I not forsake thee or thus; I will not, I will not leave thee, I will never, never, never førsake thee." To this I answer, that the number of negatives, suppose they were five hundred, or five thousand does not in the least degree shew the sense of the place: the very most that they can do is, to shew that whatever the sense is, it is emphatical; and

* Dutch Annot. on the place.

therefore, let any one declaim as he will on his five negatives, it is infallibly sure, that nothing more than this can be inferred from them.

But what is the meaning of the words, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee? I answer, It is impossible for them to mean, I will not leave it in thy power to neglect this salvation; I will not, no, I will not suffer thee to let it slip, I will never, never, never suffer thee to let go thy confidence or the rejoicing of the hope; to harden thy heart as in the provocation; to have an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living GOD; to be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin; to fall so as to be incapable of being renewed again unto repentance; to fall by unbelief, after the example of the Israelites of old; to cast away thy confidence which hath great recompense of reward; to draw back unto perdition; to be wearied and faint in thy mind; to fall from the grace of God; or to let it depart in such a manner, as to

know by experience that he is a consuming fire. I say, it is impossible for the meaning to be, I will not, I will not so leave thee, I will never, never, never so forsake thee, as to render it possible for thee to fall into those evils which I have so often declared thou art in danger of, and which I have so often warned thee against.

But what then do they mean? That God would not fail to provide for his people while they were obedient to, and trusted in him.-As this promise was originally made to Joshua, and afterwards unto these Hebrews, it respected temporal things and these only. As it was made to Joshua, it only respected his conquest of Canaan. So we read, Josh. i. 1."The Lord spake unto Joshua saying, verse 2. Moses my servant is dead, now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give unto them, even to the children of Israel. Verse 3. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I giv

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en unto you. Verse 4. From the wil derness and this Lebanon, even unto the great river Euphrates-verse. 5. There shall not be a man able to stand before thee all the days of thy life as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee nor forsake thee." It is therefore evident that here is nothing promised but temporal success.

And that this promise was conditional, is clear beyond a doubt. For when the people fell into disobedience, their enemies were so far from being unable to stand before them, that they were not able to stand before their enemies. So we read, chap. vii. verse 5. "And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate, even unto Shebazim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted and became as water." Verse 11: GoD informs Joshua of the cause of this disaster. "Israel hath sinned, and they have trangressed my covenant