Matthew Poole and continuators on Hebrews 10:38

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

These are as the former, the Words of the Prophet Habakkuk ch. 2.4. inforcing the former Duty pressed from the Gain of Perseverance, and the loss by withdrawing, when Christ shall come. They are used by this Apostle Paul to several Purposes, as to prove, That Righteousness is only obtained by Faith from God, and not by Man's own Works, Rom. 1.17. and Gal. 3.11. That whoever is righteous by Faith, shall live for ever, by holding that Righteousness in Faith, as here. The justified, according to the terms of the new Covenant, who hath obtained the Righteousness of God in Christ, by believing, and is renewed and sanctified by the Spirit, shall really, spiritually, happily, eternally live; and no end shall be to that Life of his, till it be perfected by Christ in Glory. And this he shall live by a real and spiritual Assent to the Gospel, and Reliance on God's Promises in it, especially by an Affiance to Christ, God-Man, as the Lord their Righteousness, by which we have him ours, and so we live. This Faith increased, continued in, and held fast amidst all Reproaches, Sufferings and Persecutions; by this only is the Life due to Righteousness, made sure to Sinners, drawing from Christ daily, and making real and present the Fulness of it promised to, and hoped for, by it. Mark 13.13. Iohn 6.47. Gal. 2.20. and Col. 3.4.

See Habak. 2.4. where [non-Latin text not transcribed] translated here [non-Latin text not transcribed], is variously rendred, as elated like a Bubble, lifted up, making Pride and Unbelief to be the Sins threatned there; and the proper sense of the word here used, is for fear, or sloth to withdraw, or leave their Understanding; so that the meaning in both amounts to this, If any, out of the Pride of their Heart, will not depend on Christ's Righteousness, as the Iews would not, or out of Fear and Sluggishness, will not hold out, but withdraw themselves, in time of Persecution, from their Faith and Confidence in Christ, professed; shrinking through Fear, or losing it through Sloth, or forsaking it by Treachery either gradually or totally, confiding in themselves, and so despising God, reject him, and draw away from him.

God himself will be so far from taking any pleasure or delight in such a Soul, or vouchsafe▪ it any Joy or Life, that his very Soul abhors it, is highly displeased with its Sin, and abominates its Person. In his Displeasure is Misery, Death, and [illegible: 1 letter]t[illegible: 1 letter]rnal Perdition. See Deut. 32.15, 18, to 21.