let them slip," Antoτe Tapappuwμev. Dr. Hammond tells us that " Παραρρυωμεν is a phrase used from the "water, which when it is not kept within limits, falls away and runs out.'

Dr. Owen, the great champion of the Calvinists in the last century, observes on the place, that " παραρρυωμεν, is no where else used in the New Testament;" and that as it stands connected with μηποτε, it means, "Lest we fall; fall down; that is, perish." So is the word interpreted by St. Chrysostom, μnToтE Tapappuwμer, τέτεστι με απολωμεθα, μη εκπεσωμεν,” that we PERISH NOT; that we FALL NOT.‡ Pool, on the authority of Camero, Erasmus, Estius, Gerhardus and Beza, says "Hæc locutio, &c. est metaphora ducto ab aquá, que nisi quodam conceptaculo contineatur, facile defluit; quæ inutiliter effluit; quæ prorfus et irreparabiter perit: that is, This expression is a metaphor taken from water,

*See Hammond on the place. †See Dr. Owen on the Epistle to the Heb. Chrysos

tom in loc.

which if it is not contained in some proper vessel, easily runs off, flows a-. way to no purpose, and is entirely and irreparably lost.* And Grotius, speaking of this very passage, saith, "Nihil hic cavere jubemur, quod non et fieri possit, et sæpè fiat :" that is, the apostle bids us here beware of nothing, but what MAY, and DOES frequently hap-. pen. The calvinian author of Critica Sacra renders it, "let slip, like water put into a cullender or riven dish." Our margin renders it, Run out as leaking vessels. From which I would observe, 1. That the converted Hebrews had the water of this salvation in the vessels of their mind or heart. 2. That these vessels were leaky, that is, liable to let it slip or run out. 3. That if the Hebrews did not take earnest heed, this would certainly be the case this salvation would slip, or run out of their hearts; that is, they would lose it by apostasy.

*Synop. Crit. in loc.

+See Grotius in loc. See Critica Sacra, page 430.

μηποτε παραρρυωμεν,

The learned Dr. Whitby renders "lest we fall off from them;" that is, from the things which we have "heard:" and he quotes Oecumenius, Theophylact and Phavorinus, as agreeing with him.* Diodati expounds it, "Let them slip, that is to say, that we may not go away from the Communion of Christ and his church, nor forsake his faith and service." Mr. Baxter's comment is, Lest by negligence or unbelief, we should lose what we have heard, and be as leaking vessels, and be lost ourselves." Mr. S. Clark renders it, "Run out as leaking vessels,"-"viz. out of our heads, hearts, or practice, so as to depart from THE FAITH or service of Christ."§ The Assembly of Divines, on this passage tell us, that "From the former doctrine touching Christ's excellency"—St. Paul infers this following exhortation. "The scope whereof" they say, "is,

*Whitby on the place. Sce Critica, Sacra, page 430. Baxter on the place. ¡Clark on the place.

μηποτε

to stir up the Hebrews to STAND FAST in that FAITH which THEY HAD RECEIVED."* The Continuators of Pool tell us, that All forgetfulness of memory, ALL APOSTASY IN HEART or profession is that which the spirit forbiddeth in this metaphor, παραρρυωμεν.34 Mr. Christopher Love expounds it, "Lest we let them slip, as a broken and leaking vessel runs out; for unwors παραρρυωμεν, is a metaphor taken from leaking vessels." Dr. Gill observes, that "the vulgate Latin version renders it, Lest we should run out; and the Syriac version, Lest we should fall and the Arabic version, Lest we should fall from honesty."§ Father Quesnel saith, "We must not be like leaking vessels out of which the water runs." The Dutch Annotators, as -ordered by the Synod of Dort, say, "This is by some understood of the word which we have heard, and we

*Assembly's anno on the place. † Pools's Comment on the place. Combat between the flesh and the Spirit, page 191. § Gill on the place. Quesnel on the New Testa

ment.

must take care that the same in us does not run out, or leak through, as is wont to come to pass in forgetful hearers. By others it is understood of persons themselves, who are said to run out, when like water that runs out, they perish, or are lost-"* Mr. Deering, B. D. saith, "The apostle useth a metaphor taken from old tubs, which run out at the joints, and can hold no liquor"-"So we, if we take into us the sweet wine of the word of Christ, as into"-"broken vessels that it run out again, we become altogether unprofitable, all goodness falleth away, and we become as water poured on the ground-and is never after profitable any more." Once more: The author of Critica Sacra, in his Annotations, and the learned John Trapp, in his commentary. (both Calvinists,) tell us that "the Arabic renders it, lest we fall; and the Syriac, lest we PERISH"-" Accordingly,

*See Dutch Annotat. as published by Authority in 1637. + See Deering's Lectures; published in 1590.