mind. "Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit." He endeavoured still more seriously to arouse them from lethargy, and to quicken their desires after augmented knowledge and more firm establishment in the gospel, by adverting to the example of persons described in the text, once numbered among the adherents of the faith, but awfully changed and fallen,— whose case was to be viewed with the deepest emotion, and presented the most momentous lesson. It was hence he enforced the practical design in view; and then, with words of comfort, returned from his digression to the subject he intended to illustrate, showing how Christian hope was connected with the priesthood of Christ about to be unfolded-" which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." This general notice of the context, which you are requested carefully to remember, will in some measure prepare for a consideration of the words we have now to discuss. That they merit a serious attention, must at once be acknowledged, and there are facts which render an accurate view of their meaning peculiarly desirable. They have frequently received interpretations they were never intended to bear ; by some they have been applied to purposes of a doctrinal controversy, which has divided the professing church; and by some they have been perused and pondered with terror, as exhibiting circumstances in which they themselves might be placed, and in which, if they became involved, they would be consigned to utter hopelessness and eternal damnation. It is our desire, not for the ends of mere disputation, but to afford satisfaction to the minds of the perplexed, and to enforce the various salutary reflections which may properly be deduced, to expound the passage according to what appear the principles of Christian truth; and if thus the spiritual benefit of any be promoted, the attempt will receive an ample and a delightful reward. I. We shall explain THE FORMER CONDITION of the persons to whom the apostle refers. It is of course understood, that they must have been persons who had once made a public and an eminent profession of the gospel, and that, in addition to the ordinary privileges of the Christian dispensation, they had been invested with some of a remarkable and an elevated kind. But it is proper at the outset to declare, that we do not regard them as having been true converts to Christianity, on whose hearts the good work of regenerating and saving grace had been performed. This sentiment many feel a strong indisposition to admit; but after much deliberation, we conclude it to be a consistent view of the inspired testimony, and with confidence advance it accordingly. It constitutes the basis of the observations we have to offer. 66 Before proceeding to the explanation of the terms, you will observe that the view now adopted and expressed, is fully sustained by the import of the subsequent verses. - Immediately after the text, the apostle says, The earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for those by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God;" this refers to the real disciples of the gospel ;-" but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned;"-this refers to the parties just exposed: and a striking illustration does the whole comparison offer, of the marked and essential difference between men on whose hearts the means of grace had operated with power, and men by whom the same privileges had been possessed in vain. From this latter class, the Hebrews addressed are told that in the mind of the apostle they are carefully distinguished, and are encouraged by an express 66 assurance, that although such examples and exhortations are presented to caution and arouse them, and in no case of Christian experience can they be deemed unnecessary or useless,they are believed to participate in a character and state vastly superior to what was ever held by those of whom they are warned. " But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you," that you possess gifts far better than those now described, even in their highest apparent elevation, " and things"-here follows his own explanation of the better things-things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak ;" things which belong to a regenerated state, and are pledges of salvation, and of which the persons fallen away were always destitute. The next verse mentions and commends, as justifying this persuasion, an interesting evidence of their conversion, which the faithfulness of God to his people could not allow him to disregard, or pass without its ordained recompence : "For God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." Then follows an earnest exhortation to continued spiritual diligence, and finally, an animating proclamation of that immutability of the divine counsel, by which the promise is assured to all who are constituted its heirs, and have " fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before them."-In conformity to the clearly defined distinction set forth in these verses, on the strength of which it is denied, that they of whom is pronounced the judgment of the text ever belonged to the true Israel of the living God, the terms describing their former state are to be understood; and they contain nothing but what is in perfect accordance with it. From these terms it will be found, that the individuals they portray had been placed in the most favourable position, and had possessed the most efficacious means for inducing their reception of the gospel in the heart; that they had been favoured with evidences of the most decisive kind, some of them identified with their own experience, in the highest degree calculated to astonish and to convince; and that they had acted publicly as the adherents of the crucified Messiah, the zealous friends and advocates of his cause. They "were enlightened, they had tasted of the heavenly gift, and been partakers of the Holy Ghost, and had tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come," passing perhaps, in the view of others, as eminent participators in the vital blessings of religion; but yet they wanted the renovation of the nature, and the devotion of the soul. The different phrases employed by the apostle, are now to receive attention in their order. |