Fourthly: Some think that this Sin doth consist in final Unbelief, and impenitency: But final Impenitency and Unbelief,1 is not the Sin against the Holy Ghost; for by final Unbelief, and Impenitency, they either understand, that Impenitency and Unbelief which a man lives and dies in, or that which he purposeth to continue in to the last. The latter cannot be the Sin against the Holy Ghost; for many have purposed to continue in their Unbelief to their death, and yet have been converted and pardoned. And the first cannot be the Sin against the Holy Ghost; For, 1. The Jews (whom Christ spake unto) did then commit this Sin, and yet they had not continued in it to their death. 2. Final Unbelief is rather a Sin against the Son: but the Sin against the Holy Ghost is distinguished from that. 3. Our Saviour saith, Those that commit ⟨p. 358⟩this sin, shall not be forgiven in this world, nor in the world to come: Not in this world. If therefore, final Unbelief, or Impenitency, be this sin, then Christ should threaten, that he that dies in his sin, shall not be forgiven whilst he lives. 4. If a man sin against the Father, or Son, and die impenitently in that sin, he shall not be forgiven, either in this Life, or in the Life to come: but herein the Sin against the Holy Ghost, is worser than the Sins against the Father, or the Son, and therefore it cannot consist therein.2 5. The Apostle saith, There is a sin unto death, I say not that you pray for it: Doth he say, that we must not pray for a man, and for the forgiveness of his sin, when he is dead? 6. It is that sin for which there lies no remission, but a man may sin such a sin whilst he lives: for if any man sin wilfully, there remaineth no sacrifice for sin; and wilfully a man may sin before his Death. 7. It is such a sin as a man may know another man is guilty of whilst he lives; for saith the Apostle, There is a sin unto death, I say not that you pray for it: but final Unbelief, and Impenitency, is not known till death. 8. Our Saviour saith, He that speaketh a word against the Holy Ghost, shall not be forgiven: but a word may be spoken against the Spirit, long before a man dies, and therefore surely this sin against the Holy Ghost, doth not consist in final impenitency, and unbelief; final unbelief, and impenitency, is not this Sin against the Holy Ghost. 9.
Fourthly: Some think that this Sin doth consist in final Unbelief, and impenitency: But final Impenitency and Unbelief,1 is not the Sin against the Holy Ghost; for by final Unbelief, and Impenitency, they either understand, that Impenitency and Unbelief which a man lives and dies in, or that which he purposeth to continue in to the last. The latter cannot be the Sin against the Holy Ghost; for many have purposed to continue in their Unbelief to their death, and yet have been converted and pardoned. And the first cannot be the Sin against the Holy Ghost; For, 1. The Jews (whom Christ spake unto) did then commit this Sin, and yet they had not continued in it to their death. 2. Final Unbelief is rather a Sin against the Son: but the Sin against the Holy Ghost is distinguished from that. 3. Our Savior saith, Those that commit ⟨p. 358⟩this sin, shall not be forgiven in this world, nor in the world to come: Not in this world. If therefore, final Unbelief, or Impenitency, be this sin, then Christ should threaten, that he that dies in his sin, shal not be forgiven whilst he lives. 4. If a man sin against the Father, or Son, and die impenitently in that sin, he shal not be forgiven, either in this Life, or in the Life to come: but herein the Sin against the Holy Ghost, is worser than the Sins against the Father, or the Son, and therfore it cannot consist therein.2 5. The Apostle saith, There is a sin unto death, I say not that you pray for it: Doth he say, that we must not pray for a man, and for the forgiveness of his sin, when he is dead? 6. It is that sin for which there lies no remission, but a man may sin such a sin whilst he lives: for if any man sin wilfully, there remaineth no sacrifice for sin; and wilfully a man may sin before his Death. 7. It is such a sin as a man may know anoth•r man is guilty of whilst he lives; for saith the Apostle, There is a sin unto death, I say not that you pray for it: but final Unbelief, and Impenitency, is not known til death. 8. Our Savior saith, He that speaketh a word against the Holy Ghost, shall not be forgiven: but a word may be spoken against the Spirit, long before a man dies, and therefore surely this sin against the Holy Ghost, doth not consist in final impenitency, and unbelief; final unbelief, and •mpenitency, is not this Sin against the Holy Ghost. 9.
- 1Altissiodorensis Lib. 2. Tract. 30. in Sentent. Desperatissimos convertit Deus. August. Sic homo potest penitere de finali impenitentia. Altissiodorensis ibid.
- 21 John, •.16.
