The knot then of this question is in these words, if they fall again. So then whosoever shall understand the force thereof, shall easily wind himself out of all difficulty. Now it must be noted that there is a double falling: the one particular, 1the other general: He which hath failed in one kind, yea be it that he hath failed in many kinds, such a one is fallen from the state of a Christian man. Thus all sins are so many falls. But the Apostle disputes not here of theft, perjury, 2murder, drunkenness, adultery, or of some such like vice; but he speaks of a final falling away from the gospel, so as the sinner offends not God only in one kind, but wholly renounceth his grace. And to the end this may be the better understood, there must be an antithesis supplied between the graces of God which he hath recited, and this fall. 3For he falls away, who revolts from the word of God, who quencheth the light of it, who deprives himself of the taste of the heavenly gift, who forsakes his participation of the holy Spirit. This is wholly to renounce God. We see now then, who they be whom he excludeth from the hope of pardon: to wit, those Apostates, who run away from the knowledge of the Gospel of Christ, which before they had received; and from the grace of God; which cannot befall any, but such a one as sinneth against the holy Ghost. For he which violates the second Table of the law, or transgresseth the first table by ignorance, is not yet guilty of such a revolting: neither doth God so deprive any of his grace (the Reprobate excepted) as that he leaves them without any hope of pardon.
The knot then of this question is in these words, if they fall againe. So then whosoeuer shal vnderstand the force thereof, shall easily winde himselfe out of all difficultie. Now it must be noted that there is a double falling: the one particular, 1the other generall: He which hath failed in one kind, yea be it that he hath failed in many kinds, such a one is fallen from the state of a Christian man. Thus all sinnes are so many falls. But the Apostle disputes not here of theft, periurie, 2murder, drunkennes, adulterie, or of some such like vice; but he speakes of a finall falling away from the gospel, so as the sinner offends not God onely in one kinde, but wholly renounceth his grace. And to the ende this may be the better vnderstood, there must be an antithesis supplied betweene the graces of God which he hath recited, and this fall. 3For he falles away, who reuolts from the word of God, who quencheth the light of it, who depriues himselfe of the tast of the heauenly gift, who forsakes his participation of the holy Spirit. This is wholy to renounce God. We see now then, who they be whom hee excludeth from the hope of pardon: to wit, those Apostatates, who runne away from the knowledge of the Gospel of Christ, which before they had receiued; and from the grace of God; which cannot befall any, but such a one as sinneth against the holy Ghost. For he which violates the second Table of the lawe, or transgresseth the first table by ignorance, is not yet guiltie of such a reuolting: neither doth God so depriue any of his grace (the Reprobate excepted) as that he leaues them without any hope of pardon.
- 1Falls, general, and particular.Falles, general, and particular.
- 2Great difference between falling into some particular sin: and a fivall apostasyGreat difference between falling into some particular sinne: and a fiuall apostacie
- 3Who they be that are excluded from hope of pardon.VVho they be that are excluded from hope of pardon.
