Matthew Poole and continuators on Hebrews 10:29

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, , shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified , an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace?

The Expostulation aggravates both the Sin and the Punishment in the Consequent on the former Assertion; a Punishment heavier, bitterer, sorer, more grievous, and unexpressibly greater than Death.

You your selves being Judges, to whom I appeal about it; what can you suppose, think, or determine of it?

Doth he fully deserve, and is liable to, by the Judgment of Man, but much more by the righteous and inexorable Judgment of God.

Who sinneth at an higher rate than a Iew against Moses's Law, being an Apostate from the Gospel, a Revolter from, and a Rebel against it, discovering it by as much as in him lieth, tearing from his Throne God the Son incarnate, and treading him under his Feet, wickedly undervaluing, and horribly vilifying him, treating him with the greatest Contempt that can be expressed by such an action, as if he were the vilest Malefactor. A Person so much greater and excellenter than Moses, to be so used; so as if he were here on Earth, he would tread him (who is higher than the Heavens, and had done and suffered so much for him) as the Dust and Dirt under his Feet; and this by a contemptuous forsaking his Church-Assemblies, wherein he was set out in all his Excellencies.

Accounting and so deserting the Blood of Christ (which ratified the everlasting Covenant of Grace, by whose Virtue it was made unalterable, firm, and effectual in all the Promises of it of Pardon, Righteousness, Holiness, Grace and Glory, unto penitent believing Sinners) as either the common Blood of Men, or the Blood of Malefactor, to have not so much Excellency in it as the Blood of Bulls or Goats, or Rams, or Birds under the Law, as not sanctifying Souls, but polluted.

[non-Latin text not transcribed], in, or by which he was sanctified, is by most Interpreters referred to the Apostate, as aggravating his Sin, to despise that Blood by which he thought he was so, and boasted of it, and was so reputed by the Church upon his Baptism and Profession of his Faith, and as a Member of the Church, had a visible Relation to it, partaking of those Ordinances wherein its Fruits were conveyed, and enjoying the eternal Priviledges purchased by it. Others refer it unto Christ himself, the Blood whereby he was consecrated to God as a holy Sacrifice, Ioh. 17.19. All this was discovered by his forsaking the Church-Assembly, wherein this was declared to be the only Way and means to Justification of Life and Salvation.

Injuring, wronging, despising, greatly grieving, not a Creature, but God the Spirit, the quickning Spirit of dead Sinners, who fits them for Union to God, and in order to it, uniteth him to Christ and his God, animateth it; who graciously communicated to these Apostates the Knowledg natural and supernatural, which they had and abused, ch. 6.5. by the Desertion of the Assemblies, where he manifested his Gifts and Graces. They reject him with them, and treat his Gifts and Motions, as if they were the Delusions and Impostures of an evil Spirit; and this wilfully done out of Malice to Christ, and Abhorrence of his Church and Religion. A Sin like the Devils, for them to forsake God loving, Christ redeeming, his Blood justifying, his Spirit renewing, and so wilfully refuse to be saved, and expose themselves to the severest Punishment God can inflict on such Sinners, and they do deserve.

Marginal references: 1 Cor. 11.29.