The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of God

To the first I answer, that two sorts of people may fall into this sin: namely, they who profess Christ and his Gospel, and they who never professed it.

To the first I answere, that two sorts of people may fall into this sinne: namely, they who professe Christ and his Gospell, and they who neuer professed it.

Professors that sin against the Holy Ghost,¹ are called Apostates, that is, departers away, namely, from the faith, or from the profession of the Gospel (for the Greek word,² which according to the notation of it, signifieth Apostasy, is translated a departing, and a falling away) not that all who depart away, and in that general sense are called Apostates, do commit this sin, as was noted^* before: but because they that fall into this sin, are most notorious⟨p. 606⟩ Apostates: denying the truth, not in tongue only, but in heart also: not through fear, but in malice, utterly renouncing, and bidding defiance to the faith: not contenting themselves to deny it, but showing themselves deadly enemies against it, and persecuting all that are friends unto it: having in that respect a very diabolical property, not enduring that any should reap benefit by that which they have rejected: such an Apostate was Alexander the Copper-smith, and Julian.⁴

Professors that sin against the Holy Ghost,¹ are called Apostates, that is, departers away, namely, from the faith, or from the profession of the Gospell (for the Greeke word,