Hebrews 6:4

By the enlightened here, understand those that were baptized and embraced Christianity: The ancients called baptism illumination, and baptized persons the enlightened; because of that divine illumination which was conveyed to the minds of men by the knowledge of Christianity.

By tasting the heavenly gift, and being made partakers of the Holy Ghost, understand such as had not only heard of the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost, but had some experience of them themselves; as also of the spiritual benefits conferred upon them in baptism, by the Holy Spirit. By tasting the good word of God understand some relish of the truth and goodness of the gospel, some pleasure in entertaining it, by reason of the gracious promises of eternal life and happiness contained in it.

The gospel that proclaimed remission of sins, was. good word; this good word they saw confirmed by miracles, tongues, and prophecy, and so could not but be convinced of the truth of it, which is here called. tasting it; who have tasted the good word of God; it follows, and the powers of the world to come; that is, the power of the gospel-age; for the "world to come," in the language of the prophets, doth signify the times of the Messiah: And thus, the powers of the world to come, are the miraculous powers of the Holy Ghost bestowed upon men, in order to the propagation of the gospel; such were the gifts of healing, casting out devils, woking miracles. Others, by tasting the powers of the world to come, understand some apprehensions of the resurrection and furture judgement, with affections suitable thereunto.

Now concerning these, says our apostle, if they fall away; that is, if they shall, after all this apostatize from this profession, out of love to this present world, or from fear of persecution and sufferings, if they shall relapse either to Heathenism or Judaism, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; that is, it is. thing very difficult, hardly to be hoped for, that such willful apostates should be restored again by repentance: seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame; that is, they virtually, and in effect crucify him over again, and as much as in them lies; for, by denying and renouncing of him, they declare him to be an imposter, and consequently worthy of death.

So that the plain sense of the words seem to be this: "If those that are baptized, and have received the doctrine of the gospel, and are endowed with the gifts of the Holy Ghost, shall yet, after this, apostatize from Christianity, it is very difficult, and next to an impossibility, to recover such again by repentance; seeing they are guilty of as great. crime, as if, in their own persons, they had put to death, and ignominiously used the Son of God."

Here note, That it is not. partial apostasy from the Christian religion, by any particular vicious practice, but. total apostasy from Christianity, and more especially to the Heathen idolatry, which is here intended.

From the whole learn, 1. That they which have been enlightened, awakened, and made partakers of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit in some measure, and tasted the sweetness of the word and ways of God in some degree, may yet fall away.

2. That if such do fall away, it is very difficult, though not altogether impossible, to renew them again to repentence: and that for these reasons;

1. Because of the greatness and heinous nature of the sin, it being. downright apostasy from God, against the clearest light and knowledge, and fullest conviction of. man's mind; and the highest affront to the Son of God, who revealed the Christian religion to the world, and sealed it with his blood.

2. Because those who are guilty of this sin, do renounce and cast off the means of their recovery, and therefore it becomes extremely difficult to renew them again to repentance: they reject Christ and his holy gospel, and refuse the only remedy appointed for their recovery.

3. Because it is so high. provocation to God, to withdraw his grace and Holy Spirit from such persons, by the power and efficacy whereof they should be brought to repentance: God justly leaving those who so unworthily leave him.

Lord! how fearful and fatal. condition is it, to begin in the spirit, and end in the flesh; to decay in religion, and apostatize from grace; to have had some work of the Spirit and word upon our hearts, so as to have light and love, some taste and savour of religion, some desires after, and hopes of heaven; and, after all, to cool and give over, to revolt and backslide, and have our latter end worse than our beginning?