I SERMON XI.. The Danger of Apoftacy from the True Religion. HEB. X. 38.' But if any Man draw back, my Soul fhall have no pleafure in him. TH E great Defign of this ERiiftle (whoever was the Author of it, which I lhall not now enquire into) is plainly this, to confirm the Yews, who were but newly conv'erted to Chrifiianity, in the ftedfaft Profef- fion of that Faith which they'had embraced, and to arm them againft that Temptationwhich Chriftians were then expofed to, viz. the fierce and cruel Perfecutions which threaten'd thofe of that Profeffion. And to this purpofe, he reprefents to them the Excellency of that Religion, above any other former Revelation, that God had made of himfelf to the World, both in refpe& of the Author and Revealer ofit, who was the Son of God, and in refped of the Revelation it Pelf; which, as it contains better and more perfet Dire&ions for a Good Life, fo likewife more powerful and effectual Motives there- to, better Promifes, and more terrible Threatnings, than wereannexed to the Ob- fervation of the Jetn& Law, or clearly and certainly difcoverabie by the Light of Nature. From thefe Confiderations, he earneftly perfwades them , all along throughout this Epifile, to continue conftant in the Profeffion of this, Faith, and not to fuffer themfelves to be frighted out of it by the Terror of Perfecution ; Chap. 2. Verfe s. Therefore we ought togive the more earnefl heed to the things whichwe have heard, left at any time we fhould let them flip ; and Chap. 4. r. Let us therefore fear, left a Promife being left us ofentring intohis reff, any of you fhould come Port ofit; and Verfe the 23d of this Chapter, Let us holdfait the Profeon of our Faith, without wavering ; and to encourage them to Con- ftancy, he fets before them the glorious Rewards and Recompences of the Gofpel; Verfe 35. Call not away therefore your Confidence, wiiv 7rttppaoíav J edw, your free and open Profeon ofChri/Iianity, which bath great recompence of Reward. And then on the other.hand, to deter them fromApoftacy from this Profeffion, he reprefents to them the horrible Danger of it, here in the Text, But if any Man draw back, my Soul(hall have nopleafure in him. I fhall briefly explain the Words, and then profecute that which I mainly in- tended in them. If any an draw back, 'Ev i07mmHA, i : Thefe Words, with the foregoing, are cited out ofthe Prophet Habbakuk, Chap. 2. Verfe 3, 4. and they are cited by the Apoftle, according to the Tranflation of the LXX, which differs fomewhat from the Hebrew ; and the Difference arifeth from the various Readings of the HebrewWord, which is render'd by the LXX, to draw back ; but, by the Change of a Letter, fignifies to be liftedup, as we render it in the Prophet; but however that be, the Apoftle follows the Tranflationof the LXX, 'and accommodates it to his purpofe. 'Èáv ,i ç'e1urmut, if any Man draw back ; the Word fignifies to keep back, to withdraw, to iieak and flink away out of. Fear, to fail or faint in any Enterprize': And thus this Word is render'd in the New Teftament. Ails 20. 20. ,s v ú ç.H1<dµ3w, I did not with-hold, or keep back any thing that was profitablefor you; and fo itis faid of St. Peter, Gal. 2, 12. á?ríu v h -rei, he flunk away, or withdrew himfeif, fearing them of the Cir- ewaciVon ; and the Hebrew Word which is here render'd, by the LXX, to draw back, is elfewhere render'd by ÉxhÑUe+v, which is tofail or faint ; from all which it appears, that by drawing back, the Apoftle here means, Mens quitting their Profefluon ofChriftianity, and flunking out of it, for fear offufferini; for it M ./11y
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