What the Apostle had Doctrinally instructed the Hebrews in before, in these Verses he layeth before them under an apposite similitude. For his Design herein is to represent the condition of all sorts of Persons who profess the Gospel, and live under the Dispensation of its Truths, with the various Events that do befall them. He had before treated directly only of unfruitful and Apostatizing Professors, whom here he represents by unprofitable Ground, and Gods dealing with them as men do with such Ground when they have Tilled it in vain. For the Church is a Vine or Vineyard, and God is the Husbandman, Joh. 15. 1. Isa. 5. 1, 2, 3. But here moreover for the greater Illustration of what he affirms concerning such Persons, he compriseth in his similitude the contrary state of sound Believers and fruitful Professors, with the acceptance they have with, and blessing they receive from God. And contraries thus compared do illustrate one another, as also the Design of him who treateth concerning them. We need not therefore engage into a particular Enquiry what it is which the word For, whereby these Verses are annexed and continued unto the precedent, doth peculiarly and immediately respect, concerning which there is some difference among Expositors. Some suppose it is the dealing of God with Apostates before laid down which the Apostle regards, and in these Verses gives an account of the Reason of it, or whence it is they come unto such a woeful End. Others observing that in his whole ensuing Discourse he insists principally if not only on the state of sound Believers and their acceptance with God, suppose he hath immediate respect unto what he hath declared in the beginning of the Chapter, ver. 1, 3. concerning his Design to carry them on unto Perfection. But there is no need that we should restrain his purpose to either of these intentions exclusively unto the other; yea it is contrary to the plain scope of his Discourse so to do. For he compriseth both sorts of Professors and gives a lively representation of their condition, of Gods dealing with them, and the Event thereof. The Reason therefore that he gives is not to be confined to either sort exclusively, but extends it self equally to the whole subject treated of.
What the Apostle had Doctrinally instructed the Hebrews in before, in these Verses he layeth before them under an apposite similitude. For his Design herein is to represent the condition of all sorts of Persons who profess the Gospel, and live under the Dispensation of its Truths, with the various Events that do befall them. He had before treated directly only of unfruitful and Apostatizing Professors, whom here he represents by unprofitable Ground, and Gods dealing with them as men do with such Ground when they have Tilled it in vain. For the Church is a Vine or Vineyard, and God is the Husbandman, Joh. 15. 1. Isa. 5. 1, 2, 3. But here moreover for the greater Illustration of what he affirms concerning such Persons, he compriseth in his similitude the contrary state of sound Believers and fruitful Professors, with the acceptance they have with, and blessing they receive from God. And contraries thus compared do illustrate one another, as also the Design of him who treateth concerning them. We need not therefore engage into a particular Enquiry what it is which the word For, whereby these Verses are annexed and continued unto the precedent, doth peculiarly and immediately respect, concerning which there is some difference among Expositors. Some suppose it is the dealing of God with Apostates before laid down which the Apostle regards, and in these Verses gives an account of the Reason of it, or whence it is they come unto such a woful End. Others observing that in his wholle ensuing Discourse he insists principally if not only on the state of sound Believers and their acceptance with God, suppose he hath immediate respect unto what he hath declared in the beginning of the Chapter, ver. 1, 3. concerning his Design to carry them on unto Perfection. But there is no need that we should restrain his purpose to either of these intentions exclusively unto the other; yea it is contrary to the plain scope of his Discourse so to do. For he compriseth both sorts of Professors and gives a lively representation of their condition, of Gods dealing with them, and the Event thereof. The Reason therefore that he gives is not to be confined to either sort exclusively, but extends it self equally to the whole subject treated of.
