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 ...

§. 87 Of setting before professors the utmost danger of Apostacy.

Vers. 26.

For if we sin wilfuly after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin.

THe Apostle in this and some other verses following layeth down a generall rea∣son to enforce all the forenamed duties: especially to enforce his caution against Apostacy, in the beginning of the former verse. The reason is taken from the fearfull issue that may follow upon neglect of the foresaid duty, and upon for∣saking their holy profession.

Before he declareth the doome, he setteth down the greatnesse of the sin, where∣unto

they are like to fall; that so the justice of the punishment might more clearly appeare.

The causall particle that is premised, a 1.1 For, plainly demonstrateth, that the description of the fin, and declaration of the punishment, are brought in as a reason to make Christians the more watchfull against the beginning of Apostacy.

Of the notation of the Greek word, Sin, how it is taken from an Hebrew word which signifieth to imbitter, hath been shewed, Chap. 3. v. 13. §. 148. In which sense it is said, whosoever abideth in Christ *sinneth not, 1 John 3. 6. The word* 1.2 also implyeth persisting in sin and making a trade thereof.

This being the nature of sin to imbitter God, and to grieve his good Spirit, no marvell that the aggravation thereof, so far as is here set down, doth cause so great vengeance as is here expressed.

The Apostle doth not simply charge the Hebrewes with committing the sin here described, but to keepe them far from it, he sets it down by way of supposition, thus, If we sin, or as it is in the Greek, b 1.3 sinning. This participle is equivalent to a conditionall conjunction; for it layes down a case, sinning, or in case we sin, which is all one with our English, If we sin: So as this manner of setting down this sin is a mittigation of the point, to move them to give the better heed thereto.

There is also another degree of mitigation in this pronoune, c 1.4 we•…•…, whereby he includes himself as well as them, and sheweth that even he himself could not looke to escape the Vengeance here denounced, if he should fall into the sin here described.

The inference of this reason upon that which went before, sheweth the uttermost danger whereunto professors may fall, is to be made known unto them. See Chap. 6. v. 4. §. 30.

Notes

• a 1.1

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• * 1.2

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• b 1.3

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• c 1.4

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