A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

This was the very case wherein the Apostle testifieth his persuasion concerning them unto these Hebrews. His design was to admonish them of some faults, sins and miscarriages, that had already been among them; and moreover to charge them with a Care about Apostasy from the Gospel, which the way wherein some of them were, seemed to have a tendency unto. But lest this his dealing with them which had an appearance of much severity, should have begotten prejudices in their minds against his Person and Ministry on the one hand, or too much dejected and cast them down on the other, he secures his procedure on both sides with this testification of his confidence concerning their Spiritual condition, thereby at once assuring them of his Love, and evidencing the Necessity of his Admonition. And herein hath he in the Example of the Wisdom bestowed on him for this End, given us an inviolable Rule of our proceeding in like cases.

This was the very case wherein the Apostle testifieth his perswasion concerning them unto these Hebrews. His design was to admonish them of some faults, sins and miscarriages, that had already been among them; and moreover to charge them with a Care about Apostafie from the Gospel, which the way wherein some of them were, seemed to have a tendency unto. But lest this his dealing with them which had an appearance of much severity, should have begotten prejudices in their minds against his Person and Ministry on the one hand, or too much dejected and cast them down on the other, he secures his procedure on both sides with this testification of his confidence concerning their Spiritual condition, thereby at once assuring them of his Love, and evidencing the Necessity of his Admonition. And herein hath he in the Example of the Wisdom bestowed on him for this End, given us an inviolable Rule of our proceeding in like cases.

The best persuasion we can arrive unto concerning the Spiritual condition of any, leaves yet room, yea makes way for, Gospel Threatenings, Warnings, Exhortations, and Encouragements. ¹There is nothing more common then to charge the ways of some, than that by persuading men of their Regeneration and Saintship, they render them secure, and the threatenings of the Gospel in an especial manner unuseful unto them. Neither is there any question but that this, as all other ways of God, and his Grace, may be abused. But those who manage the Charge in general may do well to fix it in the first place on the Apostles. For there is not any of them, but testify the same persuasion concerning all them to whom they wrote, and there is no doubt but that their way of Preaching and Writing was the same. But yet this hindered them not from the use of all sorts of Evangelical Comminations, Exhortations and Encouragements, from whence we are to take our Example and Warranty for the same practice. This therefore lies evident in their procedure which is our Instruction and Rule, namely, that looking on men as Believers, or being persuaded of their good Spiritual condition, we yet ought to apply unto them all the means appointed by Christ for the begetting, increase and continuance of Grace in them. And the reasons hereof are evident, for (1) Although that persuasion which men may have of their Spiritual condition, or which others may have or declare concerning them, may strengthen their peace, yet it neither doth nor ought to incline them unto security. Thou standest by Faith, saith the Apostle, be not high minded