Apostate

APOSTATE. They principally are called by this name, who forsake true Religion to imbrace idolatry, Mahometism, Heresy, Schism, or any other Religion whatsoever, besides that which is approved of God, as Judaism was before the coming of Jesus Christ, and Christianity now is, since the death of our Saviour. They likewise are called Apostates, who forsake any holy profession, whereunto they have ingaged themselves by solemn vows, in order to return to a secular way of life. In Scripture the name of Apostate is not always taken in this sense. For example, in Job, God says to the King, Thou art an Apostate, as the Vulgate translates it; the Hebrew imports only, Who says to the King Belial, Thou art one of no worth, a wicked man. And in Proverbs vi. 12. The man who is an Apostate is good for nothing. The Hebrew has it, the man of Belial, the wicked man. And in Ezekiel ii. 3. Gentes apostatrices, that is, Nations that have rebell’d against the Lord. And when it is said, that wine and women will make wise men apostatize, the meaning is, that these two things are the most dangerous rocks, that man is exposed to, and ingage him most in sin and irregularity.

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