warned his disciples of, and which they had in continual expectation.

But it may be said, how should the approach of this day, wherein all things seem to be dissolved, the church to be scattered, the whole nation to be consumed with blood and fire, be a motive unto redoubled diligence in attendance unto the duties of Christian assemblies? It should now seem rather to have been a time for every one to shift for himself, and his family, than to leave all at uncertainties, and unto ruin, while they looked after these assemblies.

Answ. 1st, Whatever desolations and destructions may be approaching, our best and wisest frame will be to trust unto God, in the discharge of our duty. All other contrivances will prove not only vain and foolish, but destructive unto our souls. The day here intended was coming on the people and nation, for their neglect and contempt of the gospel; it was the revenge of their murder, unbelief, and obstinacy against Christ. Wherefore, if any that made profession of the gospel were now negligent and careless in the known duties of it, they could have no evidence or satisfaction in their own minds, that they should not fall in the fire of that day. They who will in any degree partake of mens sins, must in some degree or other partake of their plagues.

2dly, It is impossible that men should go or be carried through a day of public calamity, a destructive day, comfortably and cheerfully, without a diligent attendance unto those known duties of the gospel. For, 1. The guilt of this neglect will seize upon them when their trial shall come; and they will wish, when it is too late, that they had kept at a distance from it. 2. Let men pretend what they will, this decay in those duties argues and evidenceth a decay in all graces, which they will find weak, and unfit to carry them through their trials, which will bring them unto an unspeakable loss in their own minds. 3. The Lord Christ requireth this from us in a way of testimony unto him, that we are found faithful in our adherence unto his institutions upon the approach of such a day. For hereby do we evidence both the subjection of our souls unto him, as also that we value and esteem the privilege of the gospel above all other things. 4. Because the duties prescribed, in a right discharge of them, are the great means for the strengthening and supporting of our souls in that part of the trial which we are to undergo. For such a day as that intended, hath fire in it, to try every man's work, of what sort it is, and every man's grace, both as to its sincerity and power. Therefore all ways and means whereby our works may be tried, and our graces exercised, are required of us in such a season. Wherefore,

Obs. VIII. Approaching judgments ought to influence unto especial diligence in all evangelical duties.

2. How did this day approach? It was approaching, coming, drawing nigh, it was in procinctu, gradually coming upon them; warnings of it, dispositions towards it, intimations of its coming, were given them every day. This I have before given an account of, and how the drawings nigh of this day were upon them when this Epistle was written, and how in a short time it brake forth upon them in all its severity. And these things were so evident, as that,

3. In the last place, the apostle takes it for granted, that they themselves did see openly and evidently the approaching day. And it did so in these five things: 1. In the accomplishment of the signs of its coming, foretold by our Saviour; compare Matt. xxiv. 9. &c. with the 32d, 33d, 34th verses of this chapter. And besides, all the other signs mentioned by our Sa viour, were entering on their accomplishment. 2. In that things were at a great stand as unto the progress of the gospel among the Hebrews. At the first preaching of it, multitudes were converted unto Christ, and the word continued in efficacy towards them for some season afterwards; but now, as our apostle plainly declares in this Epistle, the case was changed among them; the elect obtained, the rest were hardened, Rom. xi. The number of the elect among that people were now ga thered in, few additions were made unto the church, not daily, nor in multitudes, as formerly. And believers knew full well that when their work was all accomplished, God would not leave the people in their obstinacy, but that wrath should come upon them unto the uttermost. 3. They saw it approaching in all the causes of it. For the body of the people having now refused the gospel, were given up unto all wickedness, and hatred unto Christ; an account whereof is given at large by the historian of their own nation. 4. The time and season did manifest itself unto them. For whereas the body of that people were to be cut off, and cast off, as the apostle expressly declares, Rom. ix. x. xi. this could not be done, until a sufficient tender of the gospel and of grace by Christ Jesus were first made unto them. Notwithstanding all their other wickednesses, God would not surprise them with an overturning destruction. He had before, as types of his dealing with them, warned the old world by Noah, and Sodom by Lot, before the one was destroyed by water, and the other by fire. He would also give them their day, and make them a sufficient tender of mercy, which he had now done for nearly forty years. In this space, through the ministry of the apostles, and other faithful dispensers of the word, the gospel had been proposed unto all persons of that nation throughout the world, Rom. x. 16-20. This being now accomplished, they might evidently see that the day was ap

proaching. 5. In the preparations for it; for at this time all things began to be filled with confusions, disorders, tumults, seditions, and slaughters in the whole nation, being all of them dawnings of that woful day, whose coming was declared in them and by them.

Obs. IX. If men will shut their eyes against evident signs and tokens of approaching judgments, they will never stir up themselves, nor engage into the due performance of present duties.

Obs. X. In the approach of great and final judgments, God, by his word and providence, gives such intimations of their coming, as that wise men may discern them. Whoso is wise, he will consider these things; and they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord. The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself.' How is it that you discern not the signs of the times ?'

Obs. XI. To see evidently such a day approaching, and not to be sedulous and diligent in the duties of divine worship, is a token of a backsliding frame, tending unto final apostasy.

το λαβείν την VER. 26, 27.— Εκκσιως γαρ αμαρίανόντων ήμων μετα επίγνωσιν της αληθείας, εκ ετι περι ἁμαρτιων απολείπεται θυσία· Φοβε τις εκδοχη κρίσεως, και πυρος ζήλος εσθίειν μέλλοντος τους ὑπεο

ναντίους.

VER. 26, 27. For if we sin wilfully after that we have receiv ed the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin: But a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.

In these verses, the apostle gives a vehement enforcement of his preceding exhortation, from the dreadful consequences of a total neglect of it, or uncompliance with it. And this he doth, 1. By expressing the nature of the sin which lies therein. 2. By an impossibility of deliverance from the guilt of it. 3. The punishment that would unavoidably follow upon it.

Interpreters have greatly perplexed themselves and others in the interpretation and exposition of these verses, and those that follow. Their conjectures, in great variety, have proceeded principally from a want of a due attendance unto the scope of the apostle, the argument he had in hand, the circumstances of the people unto whom he wrote, and the present state of God's providence towards them. I shall not trouble the reader with their various conjectures, and censures of them; but I shall give such an evident sense, as the words themselves, and the context, do evince to be the mind of the Holy Ghost in them.

First, As unto the words, wherein the sin and state of such men is expressed, 'If we sin wilfully.' He puts himself among

them, as is his manner in comminations; both to shew that there is no respect of persons in this matter, but that those who have equally sinned, shall be equally punished; and to take off all appearance of severity towards them, seeing he speaks nothing of this nature, but on such suppositions as wherein, if he himself were concerned, he pronounceth it against himself also. We sinning, or if we sin ix, wilfully,' say we; our former translations, willingly,' which we have now avoided, lest we should give countenance unto a supposition, that there is no recovery after any voluntary sin. If we sin wilfully,' that is, obstinately, maliciously, and with despight, which is the nature of the sin itself, as is declared, ver. 28. But the word doth not require, nor will scarce bear any such sense. Willingly,' is of choice, without surprizal, compulsion or fear; and this is all that the word will bear.

The season and circumstance which states the sin intended is, after we have received the knowledge of the truth.' There is no question but that by the truth' the apostle intends, the doctrine of the gospel; and the receiving of it, is upon the conviction of its being truth, to take on us the outward profession of it. Only there is an emphasis in that word

; the word is not used any where to express the mere conceptions or notions of the mind about truth, but such an acknowledgment of it as ariseth from some sense of its power and excellency. This therefore is the description of the persons concerning whom this sin is supposed. They are such as unto whom the gospel had been preached; who, upon conviction of its truth, and sense of its power, have taken upon them the public profession of it; and this is all that is required to the constitution of this state. And what is so required may be reduced to one of these two heads. 1. The solemn dedication of themselves unto Christ in and by their baptism. 2. Their solemn joining themselves unto the church, and continuance in the duties of its worship, Acts ii. 41, 42.

On this opening of the words, it is evident what sin it is that is intended, against which this heavy doom is denounced; and that on these two considerations. 1. That the head of the precedent exhortation is, that we would hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering,' ver. 22. And the means of continuing in that profession, ver. 24, 25. Wherefore, the sin against this exhortation, is the relinquishment and renounc ing of the profession of the faith, with all acts and duties thereunto belonging. 2. The state opposite unto this sin, that which is contrary unto it, is receiving the knowledge of the truth, which what is required thereunto we have now declared. Wherefore the sin here intended, is plainly a relinquishment and renunciation of the truth of the gospel, and the promises thereof, with all duties thereunto belonging, after we have been

convinced of its truth, and avowed its power and excellency. There is no more required but that this be done ixurias, 'willingly' as, 1. Not upon a sudden surprizal and temptation, as Peter denied Christ. 2. Not on those compulsions and fears which may work a present dissimulation, without an internal rejection of the gospel. 3. Not through darkness, ignorance making an impression for a season on the minds and reasonings of men; which things, though exceedingly evil and dangerous, may befal them who yet contract not the guilt of this crime.

But it is required thereunto, that men who thus sin, do it, 1. By choice, and of their own accord, from the internal pravity of their own minds, and an evil heart of unbelief to depart from the living God. 2. That they do it by, and with the preference of another way of religion, and a resting therein before or above the gospel. 3. That whereas there were two things which were the foundation of the profession of the gospel; 1st, The blood of the covenant, or the blood of the sacrifice of Christ, with the atonement made thereby; and, 2dly, the dispensation of the Spirit of grace; these they did openly renounce, and declare that there was nothing of God in them, as we shall see on ver. 29. Such were they who fell off from the gospel unto Judaism in those days. Such are they whom the apostle here describeth, as is evident in the context. I will say no more unto the sin at present, because I must treat of it, under its aggravations, on ver. 29.

Obs. I. If a voluntary relinquishment of the profession of the gospel and the duties of it be the highest sin, and be attended with the height of wrath and punishment; we ought earnestly to watch against every thing that inclineth or disposeth us thereunto.

Obs. II. Every declension in or from the profession of the gospel, hath a proportion of the guilt of this great sin, according unto the proportion that it bears unto the sin itself. Hereof there may be various degrees.

Obs. III. There are sins and times wherein God doth absolutely refuse to hear any more from men in order unto their salvation.

Secondly, The first thing which the apostle chargeth as an aggravation of this sin, is, that it cannot be expiated: There remains no more sacrifice for sin.' Words not unlike those of God concerning the house of Eli, 1 Sam. iii. 14. I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. An allusion is had herein unto the sacrifices of the law. As there were certain sins which, from their nature, as murder, adultery, blasphemy; or from the manner of their commission, with obstinacy and an high hand; that had no sacrifice allowed for them, but those that were so guilty were to be cut off from the peo