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 ...

§. 43. Of the Resolution of Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6.

Heb. Chap. 6. v. 4, 5, 6.

Vers. 4.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightned, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost.

Vers. 5.

And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

Vers. 6.

If they sh•…•…ll fall away, to renew them again unto repentance: seeing they cru∣cifie to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Vers. 4. THe main scope of these three verses, is, to set out the state of Apostates. In them observe

• 1. The inference, in this causall particle FOR.
• 2. The substance, whereof are two parts.
  • 1. The Ascent.
  • 2. The Downfall of Apostates.

• 1. Their ascent consisteth of five degrees.
  • 1. Their enlightning, amplified by the time, Once.
  • 2. Their taste of the heavenly gift. In this is set down▪
    • 1. An Act, Taste.
    • 2. The object gift, amplified by the excellency of it, Hea∣venly.
  • 3. Made partakers of the Holy Ghost. Here observe,
    • 1. With what they are endowed, The Holy Ghost.
    • 2. How they are endowed therewith, Made partakers.

    Vers. 5.

  • 4. Have tasted the good word of God. Here again is expressed,
    • 1. The former act, have tasted.
    • 2. Another object. The Gospel, stiled the word: and amplified.
      • 1. By the Author, God.
      • 2. By the quality, Good.
  • 5. The powers of the world to come. Here,
    • 1. The act is understood.
    • 2. The object is
      • 1. expressed, powers.
      • 2. Amplified by the place where they are, world to come.

  Vers. 6. 2. Their downfall is,

  • 1. Propounded.
  • 2. Proved. In propounding it, there is
    • 1. A supposition: under which the kind of fall is comprised, If they shall fall away.
    • 2. An inference: wherein is noted an impossibility of recovery. This is,
      • 1. Generally expressed, It is impossible.
      • 2. Particularly exemplified in two branches.
        • 1. The kind of recovery, To renew.
        • 2. The means thereof, unto repentance.
• ...

  2. The proof of the foresaid point is taken from two effects.

  The first effect is described,

  • 1. By the kind of act, They crucifie.
  • 2. By the reiteration thereof, afresh.
  • 3. By the person crucified, The Son of God.
  • 4. By their own dammage. To themselves.

The second effect is thus set out, And put him to an open shame.