VERSE 39.
THen followes an application of it to the Hebrewes▪ which is partly negative, partly affirmative.
Though I have spoken of some unfaithfull persons, that with-draw themselves or depart from the living God: yet I would not have you imagine, that I meane you, that I put you into that black bill: nay you, are of another stamp, you are birds of another fea∣ther: yea he includes himselfe in their number, that they might con∣ceive the better of it, to be coupled in the same yoke with him.
1. He tells them what they are not.
Wee are not of the withdrawing. Either the preposition 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 must be supplyed, after the manner of the Grecians; or the noune 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, according to the custome of the Hebrewes: we are not the Children of the withdrawing, to the destruction of our soules: but we are the Chil∣dren of faith, to the conservation of our soules in this Sea of mise∣ries, wherein we are tossed.
1. Here wee learne, that when the Preacher hath occasion to terrifie the wicked, hee must comfort the godly, least they take it to themselves and bee discouraged. So Hebr. 6.9. 1 Thes. 5.4. 2 Thes. 2.13. Many weake consciences are soone cast downe, and ready to apply that to them, which the Preacher never meant of them: therefore we must use this wise and heavenly discretion, that the Apostle doth.
2. Here we see, that good Christians must be no withdrawers of themselves. Wee must withdraw our selves from the wicked:* 1.1 come out, come out my people from the middest of them. We must not with∣draw our selves from the Church of God, because of some preten∣ded spots in her, as the sectaries doe, but we must withdraw our selves from Gods enemies. There is a time also, when we must withdraw our selves from the company of our friends into our secret cham∣bers, and pray to God, as Daniel did. But in the time of persecuti∣on we must not withdraw our selves through infidelity, and run out of the field, wherein God hath set us. We may read of some with∣drawers, Ioh. 6.66. Demas was a withdrawer: so was Iulian the Apo∣stata: but let not us be such. Let us say with them, Ioh. 6.68. to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternall life. Iosua would be no withdrawer: choose yee whom you will serve; but I and my house will serve the Lord, Ios. 24.15. Saint Peter would be no withdrawer: