Who these words concern

But so that none may misunderstand these awful words, it should be carefully observed, first, who they are that are spoken of here, namely they, and they only, who were once thus enlightened. They only who did taste that heavenly gift and were thus made partakers of the Holy Spirit. So that all who have not experienced these things are wholly unconcerned in this scripture. Second, what that falling away is which is spoken of here. It is an absolute, total apostasy. A believer may fall, and not fall away. He may fall and rise again. And if he should fall, even into sin, yet this case, dreadful as it is, is not desperate. For we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1), and he is the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). But let him above all things beware, lest his heart be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13), lest he should sink lower and lower until he wholly falls away, until he becomes as salt that has lost its savor. For if we thus sin willfully, after we have received the experimental knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 10:26), but a certain fearful looking for of fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries (Hebrews 10:27).