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whether he comes to him of his own presumptuous mind。 Therefore we
are bid； as to come； so to arm ourselves with that armour which God
has provided； that we may resist； quench； stand against； and
withstand all the fiery darts of the devil； Eph。 vi。 11…18。
If； therefore； thou findest Satan in this order to march against
thee； remember then thou hadst this item about it； and betake thyself
to faith and good courage； and be sober； and hope to the end。
Object。 But how if I should have sinned the sin unpardonable； or
that called the sin against the Holy Ghost？
Answer。 If thou hast； thou art lost for ever； but yet before it is
concluded by thee that thou hast so sinned； know that they that would
be saved by Jesus Christ through faith in his blood； cannot be
counted for such。
1。 Because of the promise； for that must not be frustrated： and
that says； 〃And him that cometh to Christ； he will in no wise cast
out。〃 And again； 〃Whoso will； let him take of the water of life
freely；〃 John vi。 37； Rev。 xxi。 6； chap。 xxii。 17。
But I say； how can these scriptures be fulfilled； if he that would
indeed be saved； as before； has sinned the sin unpardonable？ The
scriptures must not be made void； nor their truth be cast to the
ground。 Here is a promise； and here is a sinner； a promise that says
he shall not be cast out that comes； and the sinner comes； wherefore
he must be received： consequently he that comes to Christ for life；
has not； cannot have sinned that sin for which there is no
forgiveness。
And this might suffice for an answer to any coming soul； that fears；
though he comes； that he has sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost。
2。 But again； he that has sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost
cannot come； has no heart to come； can by no means be made willing to
come to Jesus Christ for life； for that he has received such an
opinion of him； and of his things； as deters and holds him back。
1。 He counteth this blessed person； the Son of God； a magician； a
conjuror； a witch； or one that did； when he was in the world； what he
did by the power and spirit of the devil； Matt。 ix。 34； chap。 xii。
24； 25； &c。； Mark iii。 22…30。 Now he that has this opinion of this
Jesus； cannot be willing to cast himself at his feet for life； or to
come to him as the only way to God and to salvation。 And hence it is
said again； that such an one puts him to open shame； and treadeth him
under foot； that is； by contemning； reproaching； vilifying； and
despising of him； as if he were the vilest one； or the greatest cheat
in the world： and has therefore； as to his esteem of him； called him
accursed； crucified him to himself； or counted him one hanged； as one
of the worst of malefactors； Heb。 vi。 6； chap。 x。 29； 1 Cor。 xii。 3。
2。 His blood； which is the meritorious cause of man's redemption；
even the blood of the everlasting covenant； he counteth an unholy
thing； or that which has no more virtue in it to save a soul from sin
than has the blood of a dog； Heb。 x。 29。 For when the Apostle says；
〃he counts it an unholy thing；〃 he means； he makes it of less value
than that of a sheep or cow； which were clean according to the law；
and therefore must mean； that his blood was of no more worth to him
in his account than was the blood of a dog； an ass； or a swine； which
always was； as to sacrifices； rejected by the God of heaven； as
unholy or unclean。
Now he who has no better esteem of Jesus Christ； and of his death and
blood； will not be persuaded to come to him for life； or to trust in
him for salvation。
3。 But further； all this must be done against manifest tokens to
prove the contrary； or after the shining of gospel light upon the
soul； or some considerable profession of him as the Messiah； or that
he was the Saviour of the world。
1。 It must be done against manifest tokens to prove the contrary；
and thus the reprobate Jews committed it when they saw the works of
God； which put forth themselves in him； and called them the works of
the devil and Beelzebub。
2。 It must be done against some shining light of the gospel upon
them。 And thus it was with Judas； and with those who； after they
were enlightened； and had tasted； and had felt something of the
powers of the world to come； fell away from the faith of him； and put
him to open shame and disgrace； Heb。 vi。 5； 6。
3。 It must also be done after； and in opposition to one's own open
profession of him。 〃For if after they have escaped the pollution of
the world； through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ； they are again entangled therein； and overcome； the latter
end is worse with them than the beginning； for it had been better for
them not to have known the way of righteousness； than after they have
known it； to turn from the holy commandment （which is the word of
faith） delivered unto them。〃
4。 All this must be done openly； before witnesses； in the face；
sight； and view of the world； by word and act。 This is the sin that
is unpardonable； and he that hath thus done； can never； it is
impossible he ever should be renewed again to repentance； and that
for a double reason； for such an one doth say； he will not； and of
him God says； he shall not have the benefit of salvation by him。
Object。 But if this be the sin unpardonable； why is it called the
sin against the Holy Ghost； and not rather the sin against the Son of
God？
Answ。 It is called 〃the sin against the Holy Ghost；〃 because such
count the works he did； which were done by the Spirit of God； the
works of the spirit of the devil。 Also because all such as so reject
Christ Jesus the Lord； they do it in despite of that testimony which
the Holy Ghost has given of him in the holy scriptures； for the
scriptures are the breathings of the Holy Ghost； as in all other
things； so in that testimony they bear of the person； of the works；
sufferings； resurrection； and ascension of Jesus Christ。
Sinner； this is the sin against the Holy Ghost。 What sayst thou？
Hast thou committed it？ Nay； I know thou hast not； if thou wouldst
be saved by Christ。 Yea； it is impossible that thou shouldst have
done it； if indeed thou wouldst be saved by him。
No man can desire to be saved by him； whom he yet judgeth to be an
impostor； a magician； a witch。 No man can hope for redemption by
that blood which he yet counteth an unholy thing。 Nor will God ever
suffer such an one to repent； who has； after light and profession of
him； thus horribly and devil…like contemned and trampled upon him。
True； words and wars and blasphemies against this Son of man are
pardonable； but then they must be done ignorantly and in unbelief。
Also all blasphemous thoughts are likewise such as may be passed by；
if the soul afflicted with them indeed is sorry for them； 1 Tim。 i。
13…15； Mar。 iii。 28。
All but this； sinner； all but this！ If God had said； he will forgive
one sin； it had been undeserved grace； but when he says he will
pardon all but one； this is grace to the height。
Nor is that one unpardonable otherwise； but because the Saviour that
should save them is rejected and put away。
We read of Jacob's ladder； Christ is Jacob's ladder that reacheth up
to heaven； and he that refuseth to go by this ladder thither； will
scarce by other means get up so high。
There is none other name given under heaven among men whereby we must
be saved。 There is none other sacrifice for sin than this； he also；
and he only； is the Mediator that reconcileth men to God。 And；
sinner； if thou wouldst be saved by him； his benefits are thine； yea；
though thou art a great and Jerusalem transgressor。
End