The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-12-19
AN EXPOSITION.

There is a passage of Scripture that often
produces doubts in the minds Of ordinary
readers, as to its precise meaning, and one
that has played an important part in the
history of the church. We refer to Heb.
Vi: As. 1t seems to initiate against the
doctrine of the perseverance of the saints,
and hence to be in collision with other pas
sages that clearly assert this doctrine. 1t
played most important part in the great
Donatist schism, and led the Latin church
to deny that it was written by Paul, and in
the subsequent controversies in regard to
the doctrines of grace it was anxiously scru-
tinised on both sides, because of its appa-
rent bearing on the great points at issue
We have therefore thought that few ex-
pository remarks concerning it, might be
not uninteresting to many of our readers
The passage is as follows;
.'For 1t IS impossible for those who were
once enlightened, and have tasted of the
heavenly gift, and were made partakers Of
the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good
word of God, and the powers of the world
to come, if they shall fall away, to renew
them again unto repentance; seeing they
cruelty to themselves the Son of God afresh
and put him to an open shame"
The question respecting this passage is
whether it teaches that truly converted
person will fall away, and be finally lost
There is apparent ground for difference o
opinion, we freely grant, on this point, anc
able expositors have differed; but after care
fully bordering the passage we think thai
it does not teach this doctrine, and shall
give some of our reasons for this opinion
1t is plain that that there is ga falling
away" from something, but from what? l.
it from justified and regenerated condi
ton? Is the case that of believing chile
of God? We cannot think that it is, fol
these reasons:
First, it is not so declared in the passage
The first thing that strikes us is the re-
markablemultiplication of descriptive terms
and the omission of the very phrases b.
which a true Christian is commonly de-
scribed. If Paul meant believers in this
passage, why did he not say so7 There
are number of terms used elsewhere tt
describe true Christian, such as being il
Christ, holy, elect, sons of God, &c. &c.
and if this character was to be described
why omit all these terms that were clear
and well-known, and use others that were
ambiguous Why say nothing of faith
regeneration, spiritual life, and those cha
racteristics that really constitute a child o
God, if he meant to describe one. This
surely proves that he meant to delineate {
state short of saving faith, although one o
genuine attachments in Christianity.
The descriptive phrases in the context
lead to the same conclusion. They describe
state short of genuine saving faith. He
illustrates it in verse s, by land which
brings forth thorns and brers, is nigh unto
cursing, reprobate, and destined to be
burned, whilst the true Christian is de.
scribed in verse 7, by land which drinks il
the rain, brings forth herbs to its cultiyator
and is blessed of God. Surely if the heart
spoken of in the main passage was what the
parable OF the Sower calls good ground, il
could not be said to bring forth thorns and
briers. This metaphor proves that the
apostle meant to describe not "the good
ground" Christian, the genuine believer,
but as he declares, the thorny ground nearer,
in whose heart the seed never took deep
root, and from which the temporary growth
withered under the scorching heat of perse-
cution.
Again, he declares in verse 9, that he was
persuaded better things of the Hebrew
Christians, and things "that accompany
salvation" This proves that they of whom
he spake did not have the things that sac
company salvation, or were not in state
of saving faith.
Again, he says of those persons that it is
impossible to renew them again to repent
ance. This would be terrific conclusion
to those who maintain that true believer
may lose his faith, for it would consign every
backsHder to hopeless perdition. This
would drive the ploughshare of ruin
through many church, and forbid much of
the effort of many minister. Those who
believe that backslider may lose all his
faith, are yet among the most anxious to
reclaim the backslider, and bring him back
to the altar. If this passage relates to
him, all these efforts are worse than useless,
for they are trying to contradict fatty the
express affirmation of the passage, and
show that it is possible to renew such to re-
oentance. Either then their Interpretation
If this passage is wrong, or their practice
With backsliders is wrong for they are in
absolute contrariety. But believing, as
We do, that the poor backslder who comes
weeping with Peter, or mourning with Da-
i'd, ought to be led gently back to the mer-
v seat, we believe their exposition to be