A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 37. Of an Hypocrites fall. Verse 6.

THe Apostle having declared in the two former verses, how far an hypocrite may ascend on the ladder of salvation; In this sixth verse, he declareth how far he may fall down. The main point is expressed in this phrase, If they shall fall away. In Greek thus, and falling away; For it depends on the former, thus, It is impossible, that person inlightned, &c. And falling away, &c.

The * 1.1 Greek participle, is a compound; and here onely used: and no where else thorowout the New Testament. a 1.2 The simple verb signifieth, to fall; Of it see Chap. 3. v. 17. §. 168. b 1.3 The preposition with which it is compounded signi∣fieth, from. c 1.4 The compound verb to fall from a thing; or to fall clean away. The Metaphor may be taken from an house that is fairely built above ground, but the foundation thereof not found. The fall of such an house useth to be a totall, or universall fall, not of this, or that part alone. Christ speaking of the fall of such an house, saith, Great was the fall of it, Matth. 7. 27.

This Metaphor may also be taken from a man that having ascended high on a lad∣der, falleth down to the bottom, and so bruiseth his body, and breaketh his bones, as he is not able to rise up again. Thus the falling here spoken of, is not a falling away, onely from some particular graces and gifts received, nor from some mea∣sure of them; but a totall and universall falling from them all: as in the Angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, Jude v. 6.

That the fall here spoken of, may the better be discerned. I will here more distinctly shew how far such as profess the Gospell, (for the description before men∣tioned, v. 4, 5. is of such) may fall.

Falling away may have respect to the measure, or continuance of grace.* 1.5

In regard of the measure, some fall away in part, some in whole.

In regard of continuance, some so fall, as they recover themselves again: so•…•…e so as they can never be recovered.

Both the degrees of the measure, namely, partiall, and totall, have respect to the outward profession, and to the inward disposition of him that falleth away.

In profession he falleth away in part, who denyeth some of those principles 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Religion, which formerly he professed, as Peter, and Barnabas, Gal. 2. 12.

In disposition he falleth away in part, who thorow his own weakness, carelesn•…•… or temptations, decayeth in those graces which once he had: at least in the measure, power, and comfort of them. Hereof see Chap. 3. v. 12. §. 136.

In profession, he wholly falleth away, who renounceth all his Religion, even 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whole saith, which once he professed: as those Levites in the captivity, whom God afterwards (though they repented) would not admit to offer sacrifice before 〈◊〉〈◊〉, (Ezek. 44. 9, 10.) and many Christians in the ten fiery persecutions: and many 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our Countrymen in Queen Maries dayes.

They in disposition wholy fall away, who do not only deny the saith, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 clean put away a good conscience, 1 Tim. 1. 19. and 4. 1, 2. Hence followeth, •…•…∣tred of the truth, persecution against the Preachers, and professors thereof, and •…•…∣sphemy against Christ himself. Such were many of the Pharisees, Mark. 3. 30. H•…•…∣meneus, and Alexander, 1 Tim. 1. 20. and Iulian. These, and such other fall aw•…•… d 1.6 wholy: in outward profession, and inward disposition: in tongue and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 And e 1.7 from the whole: even from all the Articles of Christian Religion, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 f 1.8 the whole, or for ever: even with a setled peremptory resolution never to •…•…∣turn to the Religion again.—

They that fall away in these last respects, are such as are here meant.

Seeing there are such degrees of falling away, let us take heed of proc•…•… from one degree to another. Let us carefully look both to our profession and d•…•…∣position. If by our own weakness, or any temptation we be brought any way to d•…•…∣cay in grace, let us not renounce the faith. If by fear, or other temptation w•…•… Word•…•… brought to deny it, let us not put away a good conscience. If in part we be bro•…•… to do it, let us not still go on to adde one degree to another: so as we should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fall, from the whole, for ever; which is a most fearfull case.

The forementioned degrees of falling away are to be noted against the err•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Novatus. g 1.9 He lived in the year of our Lord 253. He came from Africk •…•…o 〈◊〉〈◊〉. There fell an e•…•…lation betwixt him, and Cornelius Bishop of Rome, That C•…•… had admitted into the Church, upon their repentance, some that had fallen away▪ in the seventh persecution under Decius. Hereupon Novatus published, that none 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had offered sacrifice to the heathen gods were to be admitted to repentance. He pressed this Text to justifie his error.

Some of the Latine h 1.10 Fathers, and others, i 1.11 Papists and k 1.12 Lutheran•…•…, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon a misinterpretation of this Text, and other passages in this Epistle, d•…•… the canonicall authority thereof.

Concerning the point in question, to deny this Epistle to be canonicall, be∣cause it avoucheth that it is impossible to renew again unto repentance, such as are there described, is l 1.13 to cut, not to unty the knot.

That which the Apostle here speaketh of, is the sin unto death (1 Joh. 5. 16.) which is the sin against the Holy Ghost: but every outward denying of the faith•…•… fear of persecution, is not the sin against the Holy Ghost. For Peter, did as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (Matth. 26. 70, &c.) yet upon his repentance, was continued and confirmed in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Apostleship, Ioh. 21. 15. &c.

It is said of Novatus, that he was so pu•…•…ed up against those that fell, as if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…∣mained* 1.14 no hope of salvation for them.

The Novatians affirm that not onely sacrificing to idols, but also many other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sins unto death. Thus they left no place for repentance, nor for the grace of God: 〈◊〉〈◊〉

to such as in times of persecution yeelded to Idolatry.

Hereby we see, how dangerous it is to mistake, and misapply the sense of sacred Scripture.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• b 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• c 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.5

  Divers kinde•…•… of falling a∣way.
• d 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• e 1.7

  A Toto.
• f 1.8

  In Totum.
• g 1.9

  Novatus ab ecclesia R•…•…∣mana discessit, qu•…•…d Corneli∣us Episcopus •…•…os ad communio∣nem admiserat qui in persecu∣tione a•…•… Impe∣ratore Deci•…•… excitata Dijs sac•…•…icaverant. Niceph. Histor. Eccles. Lib. II. Cap. 14.
• h 1.10

  Tertul. Cyprian. Lactant. Arnob.
• i 1.11

  Caj•…•…tan.
• k 1.12

  Magde∣burg.
• l 1.13

  Nodum scindere non solvere.
• * 1.14

  (m) Contra lapsos inflatus, qua si nulla illis reliqua, esset salutis spes. Euseb. Histor. Eccles. •…•…. 6. c. 4•…•…. Nova•…•…iani asserunt, non 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Deorum tantum, sed multa etiam alia esse peccata ad mortem. Niceph. Hist. Eccles. lib. 14. cap. •…•…4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 benignitatem Deie medio sustulerunt. Zozom. Hist. Eccles. lib. 8. cap. 1.