as in the provocation? chap iii. ver. 8. against an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God? in verse 12.--against being hardened through the deceitfulness of sin? ver. 13. against falling through unbelief? chap. iv. verse 11.-against not holding fast their profession? verse 14.against falling in such a manner as to be incapable of being renewed again unto repentance? chap. vi. ver. 4, 6. against not being diligent to the end? verse 11.-against not holding fast their profession? chap. x. 23.against forsaking the assembling of themselves together? verse 25.against sinning wilfully after having received the knowledge of the truth? verse 26.-against casting away their confidence? verse 35.-against drawing back in such a manner that GOD shall have no pleasure in them? ver. 23. To suppose that the apostle would send such a number of warnings and cautions to these Hebrews, and then tell them that they were not the persons to whom these cautions belonged, is to suppose that he wrote only for the sake of absurdity and self-contradiction! But what did he mean when he said, We are not of them who draw back unto perdition? &c. Answer: we are not at present of that number. It has been observed already on chap. x. verse 25. that many of the converted Hebrews had forsaken the assembling of themselves together, and that there was danger the rest would follow their example. Now as this epistle was written on purpose to prevent this evil, the apostle, both in the passage under consideration, as well as elsewhere, lays before them the dreadful state of apostates. But that this might not discourage them, and cause them to abandon themselves to despair, he very judiciously tells them, that whatever danger they were in of becoming apostates, they were not, AT PRESENT, of that number; but rather of the number of those who yet believed to the saving of the soul. I therefore conclude, notwithstand ing all that has been said to the contrary, that the evil which the apostle here supposed the Hebrews to be in danger of, was, so to neglect this salvation as to draw back unto TOTAL and FINAL APOSTASY. 15. Another proof that falling away was the evil the apostle apprehended the Hebrews to be in danger of, is, chap. xii. ver. 3. "For consider him that ENDURED such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be WEARIED and FAINT in your mind." Kaμve, literally signifies, To be tired. The expression is agonistical, and belongs to those who are worsted, or overcome in fight, and who give over the combat through despair of suc cess. So Dr. Hammond tells us from Phavorinus, that it signifies, "To give over to despair-to play the coward or run away." He also tells us that ψυχαίς εκλύεσθαι signifies, “Το turn coward or pusillanimous, such as whose souls within them fall away like water, dissolve; and it is spoken of those who give over the attempt as hopeless, fly disheartened, or crestfallen, out of the field."* The continuators of Pool, expound the place thus: "Lest faintness, languishing, or deficiency of soul, that is, of vigour, strength, and activity of heart should befal them, and so they should LIE DOWN and CEASE to run the christian race." Suicerus says, Kauve, signifies to faint, and also to die, whence the departed are also called καμνονίες. Now this was really the case.These Hebrews had entered the list on their first receiving the gospel, and for a while had couragiously carried on the encounter; but when they saw that instead of drawing to an end, it was still growing heavier and heavier, they were so disheartened, as to think of yielding, and of giving up all for lost. And therefore to fortify them against this the apostle lays before them the example of Christ, who not only took up the cross, but also EN * See Hammond on the place, Notes (b) and (c). Pool's Comment. Thes. Eccl DURED it, verse 2. that is, who not only exposed himself, for the present, or only for a short time, to the contradiction af sinners; but ENDURED, patiently ENDURED it, to the end. Now, says the apostle, consider him, and learn from his example; so you shall not grow weary, but endure to the end, as he did before you.-Again, he tells them, verse 4. "Ye have not resisted, μexps apalos, as far as blood, striving against sin." As if he had said, You ought not to be disheartened by your present sufferings; for you have not gone so far as the Athlete of old did in the Olympic games, who did not give over after brandishing their weapons, nor after slight skirmishing; but went on to that part of the combat which was often attended with blood and death. Now your past and present conflicts, are only like their slight skirmishes; and as the prize which you contend for, is so much better than theirs, it would be very absurd for you to grow weary, and give up the encounter before you |