Archive for the ‘Hebrews 10:26 & 29’ Category

20
Jul

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) on Hebrews 10:26-29

   Posted by: CalvinandCalvinism

Baxter:

The 7th text, which I shall urge is, Heb. 10. 26, 27, 28, 29.

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the Truth, there remains no more Sacrifice for sins, but certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery, indignation, which shall devour the Adversaries. He that despised Moses Law, died without mercy, under two or three Witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under Foot the Son of God, and hath counted the Blood of the Covenant wherewith he was Sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of Grace?

Hence I raise two Arguments

1. Those who receive the mercies here mentioned are of the number of them for whom Christ died. But such are some Non-elect, Ergo, &c. The Blood of the Covenant is shed before it is sprinkled, or Sanctifies (shed physically or morally) and it cannot sanctify Men, before it is shed for them. For Sanctification, being some degree of application, presupposes It shed for them: I mean, If by Sanctification, be meant, either separation relative from the World to the Church, and to Christ secundum quid: Or else Sanctification real, by giving Men a temporary Faith and other Graces proportionable, and their escaping the pollutions of the World by that Faith. But some think that by Sanctification is meant that cleansing which immediately followed the Sacrifice (the word being used from the Jewish Sanctifyings;) and so by Sanctification, should be meant due conditional justification, or Cleansing which all Men have immediately from Christ crucified before any further personal application. And if this be so, then the Case is plain and past question.

The 2nd argument is from those words [there remains no more Sacrifice for sins, but, &c.] Here the Apostle proves the incurableness and desperateness of their case, in that there remains no more sacrifice: And this is proper to them when they are Apostates. Now if there were never any Sacrifice for their sins; then this reason will prove their case no more desperate since their Apostasy than before; nor will it prove the case of Apostates any more desperate than the case of all wicked Men for whom Christ died not. But that is contrary to the Text. It is either their own sin or the elects’ sin, or same other men’s for whom the Apostle says, there remains no more sacrifice. If other men’s, then that proves not their case any more desperate than it was: For a sacrifice for other men’s sins hinders nor their case from being desperate before: Besides, it is no loss to them to lose the hopes of life by such a sacrifice: For they could be no hopes. But it is mentioned here as their loss, and the sad consequence of their apostasy. If 100 soldiers be taken prisoners by the enemy, and their former prince shall redeem 50 of them by a ransom, and when he hath done shall send to all the 100 to come to him, and be true soldiers again; and hereupon they all come (though not all alike affected to him) and he tells them all [if ever you sleep on your watch and so be taken by the enemy again, or if you forsake my colors and persidiously turn to the enemy, there remains no more ransom for you,] would not any man wonder both how we 50 not ransomed should come out of prison at all? Or why the prince should tell them, There remained no more ransom for them when they were never ransomed at all? Doubtless the Holy Ghost doth not pronounce these apostates to be therefore miserable, because there remained no more sacrifice for other men’s sins: As if you should say to a man in a consumption, there is now no hope of your life, because the physician hath given one effectual receipt to your sick neighbor, and will give him no more.

But if it be acknowledged (as it must be) that the text means, there is no more sacrifice for the sins of these apostates; then it plainly intimates that there was once a sacrifice for their sin till they by rejection, deprived themselves of the benefit of it.

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13
Nov

Thomas Lever (1521–1577) on Hebrews 10:29: An Informal Reference

   Posted by: CalvinandCalvinism

Thomas Lever:

Woe, woe, woe unto you hypocrites that stumble at a straw, and leap over a block, that strain out a gnat, and swallow up a camel, that pity more the loss of men’s bribery, which was given to corrupt some men, than the treading under foot of Christ’s blood, which was shed, to save all men, that do imagine it pity to drive the thieves, murderers and wolves from among the lambs of God, redeemed with Christ’s precious blood, and committed unto your governance and keeping.

Thomas Lever, Sermons, ed. Edward Arber (London: Bloomsbury,1871), 85–86.

13
Nov

William Bates (1625-1699) on Hebrews 10:29

   Posted by: CalvinandCalvinism

William Bates:

1]
The Son of God hath emptied all the treasures of his love, to purchase deliverance for guilty and wretched captives; he hath past through so many pains and thorns to come and offer it to them ; he solicits them to receive pardon and liberty, upon the conditions of acceptance and amendment, which are absolutely necessary to qualify them for felicity: now if they slight the benefit and renounce their redemption, if they sell themselves again under the servitude of sin and gratify the devil with a new conquest over them, what a bloody cruelty is this to their own souls, and a vile indignity to, the Lord of glory! And are there any servile spirits so charmed with their misery, and so in love with their chains who will stoop under their cruel captivity, to be reserved for eternal punishment? Who can believe it? But, alas, examples are numerous and ordinary. Saviour, and love that which is the only just object & hatred, and hate him who is the most worthy object of love. It is a most astonishing consideration, that love should persuade Christ to die for men, and that they should trample upon his blood, and choose rather to die by themselves, than to live by him that God should be so easy to forgive, and man so hard to be forgiven! This is a sin of that transcendent height, that all the abominations of Sodom and Gomorrah are not equal to it. This exasperates mercy, that dear and tender attribute, the only advocate in God’s bosom for us. This makes the Judge irreconcilable. The rejecting of life upon the gracious terms of the gospel, makes the condemnation bf men most just, certain, and heavy. William Bates, The Harmony of Divine Attributes in the Contrivance and Accomplishment of Man’s Redemption, (New York: Published by Jonathan Leavitt, 1831), 157-8.

2] It is true, those who sin against the Holy Ghost, are excepted from pardon; but the reason is, because the death of Christ was not appointed for the expiation of it; and there being no sacrifice, there is no satisfaction, and consequently no pardon, Heb. x. 26. The wisdom and justice of God requires this severity against them; for if “he that despised Moses’ law died without mercy, of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace?” Heb. x. 28, 29; that is, they renounce their Redeemer as if he were not the Son of God, and virtually consent to the cruel sentence passed against him, as if he had blasphemed when he declared himself to be so; and thereby out-sin his sufferings. How reasonable is it they should be for ever deprived of the benefit who obstinately reject the means that purchased them! William Bates, The Harmony of Divine Attributes in the Contrivance and Accomplishment of Man’s Redemption, (New York: Published by Jonathan Leavitt, 1831), 199.

13
Nov

David Paraeus (1548-1622) on Hebrews 10:29: An Informal Reference

   Posted by: CalvinandCalvinism

David Paraeus:

Furthermore other places occur which seem to impart unto the wicked the benefit of redemption; as when Peter says that they “deny the Lord which has bought them,” that they were “purged from their old sins” (2 Pet. 2:1, 1:9), and Paul also says that they are “sanctified with the blood of the Testament” (Heb. 10:29): all which the Scripture elsewhere enforces us to interpret either of the vain glorying of Hypocrites of their redemption and sanctification: or else to understand them no otherwise then of the extent and sufficiency of Christ’s satisfaction.

Source here.

13
Nov

Peter Martyr Vermigli (1499-1563) On Hebrews 10:29

   Posted by: CalvinandCalvinism

Peter Martyr Vermigli:

Further also, seeing by the mercy of God, through the death of Christ, we are so steadfastly placed; we must take heed, that through wicked and shameful acts, we throw not ourselves down headlong from thence. For they, which after they have been once reconciled, persist in defiling themselves with vices, do not only fall headlong from their most excellent state and condition; but also (as it is written unto the Hebrews) do tread under foot the Son of God (Heb. 10:29), and pollute his blood, which was shed for them. By this place also we are taught to love our enemies, not after that ordinary manner; as when men are wont to say, that it is enough to wish well unto their enemy, they will put no endeavor, either to amend him, or to bring him to salvation. And that, which is more grievous, they not only are not beneficial towards their enemies; but also through their slothfulness, they suffer the weak brethren to perish. They wink at their faults, neither do they use their admonitions and reprehensions to amend them.

Peter Martyr, The Common Places, trans., and compiled by Anthonie Martin, 1583, part 2, p., 611.