Furthermore; Some of this sort who have received those high, though common Illuminations of the Spirit, even to such a degree as they are said to be enlightened, and to have tasted of the Heavenly Gift, 1and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, &c. that is, in the common Gifts and Graces thereof; and yet after all, they fall away, nay, and so fall, that they can never be renewed again by Repentance: Therefore some of these Persons are they who sin the Sin against the Holy Ghost, that shall never be forgiven. Profane Persons doubtless do not sin this Sin, nor can true Christians commit it; they cannot sin unto Death. No, no, these are those miserable Souls, those cursed Apostates, who are liable and in danger to sin the unpardonable Sin. Nay, and observable it is, that the Lord Jesus in the verses before he spake this Parable, intimates, that those very Pharisees, &c. were guilty of, or in danger of being charged with this Sin, see vers. 30. they showed so much Malice against our blessed Saviour, as to charge him with a Devil,2 and that he cast out Devils by Beelzebub. But when the ⟨p. 47⟩Pharisees heard it, they said, This Fellow doth not cast out Devils but by Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils. And from hence he said, All manner of Sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven to Men, but the Sin against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto Men. 3And therefore he bids them to make the Tree good, intimating, whilst the Heart was evil, and under diabolical Influences, it would or might carry them away to all horrid Words, and Blasphemy. And then presently after brings in this parabolical Speech, When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man, &c. 'Tis not a speaking of hard words against Christ and the Holy Ghost,4 but a speaking them as the Pharisees did, out of spite, designing to destroy him, and render him odious: This is dangerous. 1. 'Tis a sinning wilfully after a Person has received much knowledge; it is a Sin knowingly committed against the operations of the Holy Spirit, casting contempt or highest reproach upon Christ and the Holy Ghost, contrary to the rational Convictions of their own Consciences.5 2. There is also it appears Malice against Christ and his Spirit in the Hearts of those Men who are guilty of it; they are said to do despite to the Spirit of Grace; 6they desert the Assemblies where he manifesteth his Gifts and Graces, they reject him, viz.
Furthermore; Some of this sort who have received those high, though common Illuminations of the Spirit, even to such a degree as they are said to be inlightned, and to have tasted of the Heavenly Gift, 1and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, &c. that is, in the common Gifts and Graces thereof; and yet after all, they fall away, nay, and so fall, that they can never be renewed again by Repentance: Therefore some of these Persons are they who sin the Sin against the Holy Ghost, that shall never be forgiven. Prophane Persons doubtless do not sin this Sin, nor can true Christians commit it; they cannot sin unto Death. No, no, these are those miserable Souls, those cursed Apostates, who are liable and in danger to sin the unpardonable Sin. Nay, and observable it is, that the Lord Jesus in the verses before he spake this Parable, intimates, that those very Pharisees, &c. were guilty of, or in danger of being charged with this Sin, see vers. 30. they shewed so much Malice against our blessed Saviour, as to charge him with a Devil,2 and that he cast out Devils by Beelzebub. But when the ⟨p. 47⟩Pharisees heard it, they said, This Fellow doth not cast out Devils but by Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils. And from hence he said, All manner of Sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven to Men, but the Sin against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto Men. 3And therefore he bids them to make the Tree good, intimating, whilst the Heart was evil, and under diabolical Influences, it would or might carry them away to all horrid Words, and Blasphemy. And then presently after brings in this parabolical Speech, When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man, &c. 'Tis not a speaking of hard words against Christ and the Holy Ghost,4 but a speaking them as the Pharisees did, out of spite, designing to destroy him, and render him odious: This is dangerous. 1. 'Tis a sinning wilfully after a Person has received much knowledg; it is a Sin knowingly committed against the operations of the Holy Spirit, casting contempt or highest reproach upon Christ and the Holy Ghost, contrary to the rational Convictions of their own Consciences.5 2. There is also it appears Malice against Christ and his Spirit in the Hearts of those Men who are guilty of it; they are said to do despite to the Spirit of Grace;
- 1Heb. 6.4.
- 2Mat. 12. 24, 28.
- 3Vers. 31.
- 4What the Sin against the Holy Ghost is, that shall not be forgiven.
- 5Annotators.
- 6Heb. 10. 29
