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


doubted and Characteristic terms by which
such person is elsewhere delineated are
carefully avoided. Let us take them as
they come.
At first sigh there seems to be five dis
tinct phrases, but closer examination will
throw them INTO two, which are simply de-
fnitions of a single term. The passage
consists Of term, ("enlightened,' ~ which is
explained by Two other phrases drawn from
another sense, that of taste; and the things
tasted are two, the inward and outward
means of grsce, i. e. the Spirit and the
Word, the two great agencies by which all
enlightenment takes place. The "enlight-
ened" here spoken of have only tasted these
two great means, they have not inwardly
digested and received them to the life OF
their souls. Hence the passage is simply
as follows, ''it is impossible for those who
have been once enlightened as to the way
of salvatio. through Christ, if they aposta-
tise to a NAL of Christ, to be renewed
again to ? pentance." But who are the
enlightene They are those who first
have sta of the heavenly gift, u. e. been
made pa. nkers of the Holy Ghost, }" which
is the gift promised by Christ when he as
cended to eaven; and secondly who have
''tasted tn. good Word of God" i. e. the
revelation there given of "the powers of the
world to me-" These two hastings define
the enlightenment of those spoken of in the
passage. This gives clear, simple and
logical form to the whole passage and
brings out its meaning without any ambi-
guilty.
An examination of these phrases sepa-
rately will show that they are designed to
describe az apostate from Christian pro-
fession, and from certain degree of Chris
tan knowledge and attainment, and not
backslider from a regenerated and saving
condition.
Enlightened" Balaam was enlight-
ened, for he called himself "the man whose
eyes were open," and 'who knew the knowl-
edge of the Most High" The Pharisees re-
joced in the light of John, Herod heard
him gladly, many of the Jews listened tc
Jesus and saw the light, even when they
did not love it. To be enlightened is not
to be regenerated. Then what is it? Pau
defines what it means by the two hastings
First, .'tasting the heavenly gift, ever
being partakers of the Holy Ghost" The
Holy Ghost was the promised gift of the
New Testament dispensation, after the as.
cension, and many received tin its ordina-
nv and extraordinary influences, who never
received ityin its saving and regenerating
Influences. This is nanswerably clear
Christ declares that to some of those who
cast out devils, and did wonderful works ii
his name, i. e. exercised the miraculous
gifts Of th Qirit he will say, not, 81 knew
you once, You fell away" but, 81 never
knew YOU And Paul in Cor. xiii: 2
expressly afirms that man may have the
miraculous gifts of the Spirit, yet lacking
love, he is nothing. Hence love, and moi
these gifts of the Spirit constitute rea-
Christian. If then he meant to describe 6
true Christian why did he not name Glove, D
which he declares to be an infallible sign
instead of those gifts, which he expressly
declares a man may have and yet be moth.
ing7 Surely he did not mean this, or he
would have said it, when it was so easy tC
say it.
The next tasting is "the good word o.
God, i. e. the powers Of the world to come
This is the inspired word, written or spo-
ken, that reveals to us these tremendou:
"powers of the world to come" Many
have felt these powers, and yet never fec
to him who brought them to light. Felix
trembled before them and remained in sin
and so did Herod, Men may weep, anC
tremble, and exult, before the magnificent
unfoldings of eternal 5hings in Revelation
and yet never give their hearts to Jesus
who only can deliver them from the terrible
powers of the lower, and introduce them to
the unspeakable glories of the upper world
to come Judas, Simon Magus, Demas, and
many others were of this class, and are de-
scribed with an awful accuracy by these
terms.
Hence the passage is very clear and very
solemn. There is a certain rejection Of
Christ and Christianity that is not hopeless,
because it is done ignorantly and in unbe-
lief, without any sufficient enlightenment.
But there is another that is hopeless and
final. 1t is done by those who are sufi-
GENTLY enlightened by the Word and Spirit
to know that Christ is the true and only
Saviour, and who yet knowing this, deny
him, and apostatise to his open enemies
either because Of brides or threats. They
cruelty him afreSh, and have nothing but a
fearful looking for of Judgment.
If any one thinks that this is but a mere
hypothetical condition, let him read the
stories of Francis Spira, Francis Newport,
the dying hours Of Voltaire, Paine, and
others, and he will know thatit is terrible
reality, reality that is going on in every
Christian community where there are found