Thomas Boston, Works, 4:308:
The example of others that have fallen by unbelief, should quicken us to all diligence about our salvation. By unbelief the Israelites fell in the wilderness, and never saw the promised land. By unbelief, many that have a flourishing profession have turned apostates from God; see these, John 6:60, 66. The Jews fell out of the visible church by this, Rom. 11; and by this, hypocrites in all ages have fallen short of heaven. For this end they are recorded, that we may escape the rocks on which others have split. Our hearts are all alike by nature; “as in water, face answereth to face; so the heart of man to man.” We may stumble on the stumbling stone on which others have broken to pieces, if we do not take heed.
The example of others that have fallen by unbelief, should quicken us to all diligence about our salvation. By unbelief the Israelites fell in the wilderness, and never saw the promised land. By unbelief, many that have a flourishing profession have turned apostates from God; see these, John 6:60, 66. The Jews fell out of the visible church by this, Rom. 11; and by this, hypocrites in all ages have fallen short of heaven. For this end they are recorded, that we may escape the rocks on which others have split. Our hearts are all alike by nature; “as in water, face answereth to face; so the heart of man to man.” We may stumble on the stumbling stone on which others have broken to pieces, if we do not take heed.