The counterfeit Christian, or, The danger of hypocrisy opened in two sermons

such who never passed under an effectual change of Heart, but were, whilst they made a great or high profession, like unclean Beasts. A restraint may be put on an evil Beast, or on a filthy and unclean Nature; where there is not a change of nature, 'tis one thing to have the Life washed or cleansed, and another to have the Heart cleansed.

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,