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§. 49. Of being nigh unto Cursing.
TO adde the greater terror, the Apostle thus aggravateth the fearfull case of the fore-mentioned sinners, in this phrase, And is nigh unto Cursing.
a 1.1 The Greek word translated, Cursing, is a compound. b 1.2 The simple nou•…•…, signifieth Cursing: namely such cursed speech as proceedeth out of the bittered spi∣rit of corrupt man, Rom. 3. 14. It seemeth to be derived from an c 1.3 Hebrew 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which signifieth to curse. The simple noune is but once used in the New Testa•…•….
The preposition with which the word of my Text is compounded, adde•…•… a kind of aggravation. It is put for the curse of the Law, Gal. 3. 10, 13. And t•…•… participle compounded with this preposition is applied to such as are devoted to hell-fire, Mat. 25. 41.
The word here signifieth that the curse which God will inflict, is not only by word of mouth, but also in act and deed.
Yet by way of mitigation this word d 1.4 nigh, is added. Where he spake of good ground he absolutely said in the time present, It receiveth blessing: but here, as p•…•…∣ting off revenge for a time, he saith is nigh cursing. This gives proof of Gods P•…•…∣tience, whereof see Chap. 3. v. 9. §. 101.
The connexion of this cursing, upon the forementioned rejecting, is an evid•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gods curse following such as are rejected of him; Instance Saul, the nation of t•…•… Iewes, and other Churches before mentioned.
Such seem to be past hope. They have deprived themselves of blessing, and so made themselves liable to Cursing.
This is a further aggravation.