Hebrews 6

Hebrews 6:1

LEaving] a terme taken from those which runne 〈◊〉, at publike sports, when they first set 〈◊〉. The meaning is, advancing ourselves to the utmost of our power, beyond those first principles in the understanding of Christian doctrine: Unto perfection] namely, to the highest degree of knowledge, feeling, and beliefe of these things to which man can attaine in this world; beitting persons who are of full age in the inward and spirituall man, Ephesians 4:13. Philippians 3:15. and by this means, to the perfection reserved for the Kingdome of Heaven, 1 Corinthians 13:9-10. Not laying againe] returning no more as from the beginning, to instruct and resolve you in the first grounds of the Christian Catechisme, as in a doctrine which you have forgotten, and is become unknowne, and uncertaine unto you, like a building which is wholy ruined, and must be built up againe from the foundation Of repentance] these are the heads of Christian doctrine which were taught little children, and novices, in a plaine, lowly and rough manner From edd wores] namely, from all actions of man out of Gods grace (wherein consists spirituall death) who are deprived of the life and light of Gods Spirit: are vicious, and corrupt, and cannot bring forth any fruit of life, Romans 8:6; Romans 8:13. Hebrews 9:14.

Hebrews 6:2

Of the doctrine] namely, concerning the signification, vertue, and use of the Sacrament of Baptisme, formely administred generally at certaine times. O, conceing the more common and necessary arguments of faith; upon which were examined those who were baptized, being of any growne age. Or, the fathers who presented their children to be baptized, and answered for them upon these questions, See upon 1 Peter 3:21. Of laying 〈◊〉] which was a ceremonie joyned to baptisme, for a signe of blessing and consecation to God. Some referre it to an ancient custome of laying on of hands, on them who having beene already baptized in their inancie, made confession of their faith, when they were come to the age of discretion; in igne of confirmation in their baptisme Eternall judgement] when the Sonne of God shall give judgement either to eternall death, or life.

Hebrews 6:3

This will we doe] I hope with Gods grace and help we shal all doe so?

Hebrews 6:4

For it is] he gives a 〈◊〉 of the exhortation of the ver. shewing that through the neglect and contempt of putting ones selfe forward in the faith, man by little and little wil lose it altogether; and will let the gift of the Holy Ghost be altogether extinguished, and fall into universall 〈◊〉, which is a sinne to death, and 〈…〉 Enlighned] by Gods Word, and by some eame of the holy Ghost, which notwithstanding, through their vice, hath not perated so farre as to transforme them, and regenerate them wholly to the divine image, as the elect are, 2 Corinthians 3:18. 2 Peter 2:20-21. Have tasted] have felt some transitory comfort, peace and joy of Gods grace offered by the Gospel, and received of them by a certaine shadow of faith for a time, Matth. 13. 1. John 5:35. Of the holy Ghost] of which all those that are lawfully baptized doe receive some gift, according to Christs poie, Matth. 3. 11. Acts 2:38. seeing that no man without it can say Jesus is the Lord, 1 Corinthians 12:3. but the Elect onely receive that of true and entire regeneration.

Hebrews 6:5

Have sted] have had a sleight and superficill participation of it with some delight, but have no wholly digested it, no are fully nourished, and 〈◊〉 with it, The good] namely, the sweet and saving promises of grace in Christ, oppoite to the words of the Law, which to a sinfull man are a ministery of death; ?Romans 4:15. 2 Corinthians 3:7; 2 Corinthians 3:9. The powers] the wonders, and the glorious power of Christs spirituall raigne, the time of which before his comming was called the World to come, Hebrews 2:5.

Hebrews 6:6

Full away] not by some particular sin of humane frailty, but by an intire & voltary apostaie, and renouncing of the faith, doe returne to the state of spiritual death, and totall separation from God, as they were before their vocation, See Jude 1:12. Seeing they] he shewes the impossibility of such apostata’s repentance, for they killing Christ maliciously, and with an igominous contempt, (as oe shoul say) who began to live in them by his Spirit, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 20. & 4. 19. doe make themselves accessary of Juda, and the Jewes sinne, which crucified Christ; which misdeed was by the Lord himselfe declared to be irremissible, Matth 26. 24. John 8. 21. & 17. 12 To open shame] for this spirituall death, hath this resemblance with Christs Crosse, that as it was accompanied with the drsion and scone of his enemies, so in the other the apostate doth expose Christ to the divels ignominy, as having overcome him, and driven him out of his possession.

Hebrews 6:7

For the earth] as the earth which is well aured and watered with raine, is answerable thereunto, by 〈◊〉 with good plants, and the more it is bettered by art, and care, the more fruitfull it is made by Gods blessing. And contrarywise that whose boldnesse makes the labour which is taken about it to prove vaine, and the raine that fals upon it to doe no good, is at the last forsaken as esperate Land; and becomes either a horrid and accursed Wildernesse, condemned to perpetuall drought, or the plants which grow upon it, are consumed by the fire, being good for nothing else: So man, that is manured by Gods Word, and watered by the gifts of his Spirit, if he doe beare fruits of regeneration, receiveth confirmation, and encreses of Gods graces. And if he doe the contrary, God doth reject him, and takes away his gifts from him, and doth reserve him for everlasting punishment, Matth. 25. 29, 30.

Hebrews 6:8

Is rejected] is desperate in its malignity, nd abandoned as of no value.

Hebrews 6:9

That accompanie] namely, by which one doth assuredly come to salvation, which make no interruption in the course of meanes thereunto, and are as in the linke, and seuel thereof.

Hebrews 6:10

For God] that is to say, the hope which I have of you is founded upon God, who according to the truth of his promises, will reward your first workes, with the confirmation and encrease of his grace and vertue, to keepe you from this danger, and to accomplish your salvation, See Phl. 〈◊〉. 12, 13. Your worke] namely, all your good workes, brought forth by the root of a true and lively faith Toward 〈◊〉 name] namely, towards himselfe, in the person of those who call upon his Name, and for the love of him, see Matth. 10. 41, 42. & 25. 40.

Hebrews 6:11

T the full] the meaning is, that as they have begun, so they should psevere unto the end, that they may be fully assured and confirmed in the hope of eternall good.

Hebrews 6:12

Of them] namely, of constant beleevers, who by faith have been made the children of God, and in this quality have obtained the heavenly inheritance by means of perseverance.

Hebrews 6:13

For wen] he proveth by Abrahams example, who was the father of all beleevers and the depositary of the promises of grace, that they are indeed most firm, but yet, that the accomplishment of them is obtained by faith and patience, See Romans 4:1-25. 〈◊〉, 18. Gal. 3 7, 9.

Hebrews 6:15

He obtained] namely, he is come to the heavenly inheritance, by the righteousnesse of faith, which is the true blessing of God, Gal. 3. 6 8. and God hath endlesly encreased his spiritually progeny, Romans 4:13; Romans 4:18. of which things the temporall blessings promised him by God, were but onely figures.

Hebrews 6:16

For men] he sheweth that Abrahams faith could not be frustrat of its expectation, being grounded upon Gods promises, confirmed by an oath, to which if there be credit given amongst men, because God is called as a witnesse, and a Judge: how much more ought we to beleeve it, when it is made use of by God himselfe, from whom depends the vertue of all oathes? For confirmation] namely, an oath being taken for a sufficient proofe in a doubtfull and an unknowne case, upon which the Judge groundeth his judgement.

Hebrews 6:17

More abundantly] besides his Word and promiseUnto the eires] namely to his spirituall children, comprehended in Abrahams holy posterity according to the faith, who were also to be heires of the everlasting goods, as Abraham was, see Romans 4:16. Confirmed it] bound himselfe, and gave assurance thereof by himselfe. Or made use of an oath therein.

Hebrews 6:18

By two] namely, by the word, and the oath Who have sed] who have ely forsaken the world and the rest of our Nation, Acts 2 40. to come into the Church as a place of safety, as Abraham came out of his Countrey, and from his kindred.

Hebrews 6:19

As an ancre] by which in the uncertainty of the Sea of this world, ourfloating soules are staied in Christ, who is gone up into heaven, and 〈…〉ified. Which is the foundation of the hope that we his members have that we shall come likewise there where he is, and be like unto him, by the indissoluble union which we have with him our head, Romans 6:5. 1 Corinthians 15:13; 1 Corinthians 15:30. Which entereth] as an Ancre firmely fixed in a sound bottome Within the vail] namely of Heaven; figured by the most holy place of the ancient Tabenacle and of the Temple; before which the great Vaile or Curtaine was drawne Exod. 26. 31. 1 King. 6. 21. and within which the high Priest, image of Christ, entered once a yeere, See Heb. 9. 7. 24.

Hebrews 6:20

Forcrunner] namely, he that hath first ended the race, and that is the head of all those who run the same race, or saile in the same Sea, Hebrews 12:2. See Acts 26:23. 1 Corinthians 15:20. Colossians 1:18. For us] to intercede for us, Romans 8:34. Heb. 7. 25. & 9. 24. and also to take reall possssion of the heavenly Kingdome for himselfe, and all his John 14. 2. 3.