OLBGrk;

But that which beareth thorns and briers: de but, introduceth the state and end of a sinful apostate, that ill earth, showered upon as well as the good; the unregenerate soul, that had gospel dews and spiritual rain by the word and ordinances dropped down on it from heaven; yet bringeth forth, or out of it, not herbs or fruits fit for its owner or dresser, but briers, thorns, and thistles: so apostates, under all enlightenings and tasting of these supernatural dews of the Spirit, bring forth from a stony, unregenerate soul, nothing but corruptions and evils, their rooted lusts thrust out and sprung together with their common gifts, Luke 8:7,13,14; the words and deeds of whom are pernicious, dishonouring God and hurting men, as unbelief, hypocrisy, apostacy, described, 2 Peter 2:1 Jude 1:4,8,10,12,16,19. Is rejected; adokimov it is refuse land neglected by the owner, he takes no care of it; such are these apostates, of a reprobate mind, approving evil, rejecting good, and are so rejected of God, who withdraws his spiritual dews and ordinances, and the concurrence of his Spirit with them, as unworthy of them, and useless as to any good fruit to be produced there. And is nigh unto cursing; such are looked upon as the mountains of Gilboa, accursed, 2 Samuel 1:21; and to be dealt with by the owner as the fruitless fig tree by Christ, Matthew 21:19 Mark 11:21. So these apostates are under the curse, 2 Peter 2:14 delivered up judicially by Christ to blindness of mind, and hardness of heart, and even to Satan himself, as the unbelieving Jews were, 1 Thessalonians 12:40, and those apostates, 1 Timothy 1:19,20. Whose end is to be burned; the end of briers and thorns is the fire, they are to be burnt up by it; and this will be the final issue with apostates, to be destroyed by a Christ whom they have rejected, with eternal fire Hebrews 10:27, Hebrews 12:29 Matthew 2:12; Matthew 3:41 2 Thessalonians 1:7.

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