Hebrews 3:7-8 Why (as the Holy Ghost said, To day if you will hear his voice,… 1. Natural hardness. This is the original cause of habitual hardness. If that be not taken away this will accompany it; both will be mixed together. 2. Unbelief. This makes men disrespect promises, threatenings, mercies, judgments, and all other means which are of use to soften, or break men's hearts (Deuteronomy 1:32; Deuteronomy 9:25; Psalm 78:22, 32). 3. Hypocrisy. By this men cover and hide their sin, whereby they wax bold in sinning. 4. Pride. For this is ordinarily joined with scorn, disdain, and such like vices as make men refuse and reject the means which might mollify their hearts. 5. Presumption. When sins are committed against knowledge, conscience, light of nature, and motions of the Spirit, they are as heavy weights that press out all spiritual sense and life. 6. Of committing or long lying in the same sin. Many small knocks or blows, long continued, do in time as much as a great blow at once. 7. Relapse. 8. Lewd company. Lewd companions will by evil counsel, bad example, bold encouragement, make men impudent and obstinate in sinning (Proverbs 1:10, &c.). 9. Superfluity of the things of this world; as of wealth, honour, ease, pleasure, applause, and other such things as men by nature delight in. 10. Multitude of crosses not sanctified. There are as many blows upon the smith's anvil (2 Chronicles 28:22; Psalm 78:31, 82). (W. Gouge.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,WEB: Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you will hear his voice, |
    |