22 By this occasion he showeth that that is so horrible an offence, the sin of the holy Ghost, that it shall not be pardoned: bringing a true definition thereof, and proving, and showing the same out of the scriptures. They sin against the holy Ghost,1 which of set purpose resist the truth of God, with the brightness whereof they are so dazzled, that they cannot pretend ignorance, which they do only to this end, to resist. They that stumble unawares against the truth of God, ⟨image 123⟩not knowing it, which do ignorantly speak evil of Christ, having yet this mind, that they would not extinguish the trueth of God, disclosed unto them, or once with one word offered him whom they had known to be the Lords anointed: these men sin against the father & the son: such ignorance was in the Jews which were carried with zeal of the law to stone Steven to death;2 and also in Paul himself, as he testifieth. 23 But the better that the place may be interpreted, he showeth that he speaketh not of one particular fall or other, but of the universal defection or departing. whereby the reprobates do forsake salvation.3 And the Novatians are deceived in the paralogism of the word, falling and sinning: For they imagine that they that have stolen or committed fornication,4 after they have bin taught by the law the contrary, may not be forgiven. But it is to be understood of them that with advised ungodliness, have choked the light of the holy spirit, have spit out against the taste of the heavenly gift, have estranged them selves from the sanctification of the holy ghost, have ⟨p. 116⟩trodden under foot the word of God & the powers of the world to come. And where he saith, there is left no sacrifice for them that sin willingly after the knowledge of the trueth received, he doth not deny that Christ is a continual sacrifice to purge the iniquities of the holy ones, which he showeth in the whole Epistle: but he saith,5 that there remaineth no other when it is once forsaken: and it is forsaken when the trueth of the Gospel is of set purpose renounced. 24 In that it seemeth very hard to some that any at all are put away from remission which fly to beseech gods mercy, is thus wiped away: Pardon is not denied to them that repent, but by the just judgement of god it is denied the reprobate for their unthankfulness,6 that they should at any time rise to repentance.
22 By this occasion he sheweth that that is so horrible an offence, the sinne of the holy Ghost, that it shall not bée pardoned: bringing a true definitiō therof, and prouing, and shewing the same out of the scriptures. They sin against the holy Ghost,1 which of set purpose resist the truth of God, with ye brightnesse whereof they are so dazeled, that they cānot pretend ignorance, which they do only to this end, to resist. They yt stumble vnwares against the truth of God, ⟨image 123⟩not knowing it, which doe ignorantly speake euell of Christ, hauing yet this minde, that they would not extinguish the trueth of God, disclosed vnto them, or once with one word offered him whō they had knowne to bée the Lordes annointed: these men sinne against the father & the sonne: such ignorance was in the Iewes which were carried wc zeale of the law to stone Steuē to death;2 and also in Paul himselfe, as he testifieth. 23 But the better that ye place may be enterpreted, he sheweth yt hee speaketh not of one particular fal or other, but of the vniuersall defection or departing. wherby the reprobates doe forsake saluation.3 And ye Nouatians are deceaued in the paralogisme of the word, falling and sinning: For they imagine that they that haue stolne or committed fornication,4 after they haue byn taught by the law the contrary, may not be forgeuen. But it is to be vnderstoode of them that with aduised vngodlinesse, haue choked the light of the holy spirite, haue spit out against the tast of the heauenly gift, haue estranged them selues from the sanctification of the holy ghost, haue ⟨p. 116⟩troden vnder foote the worde of God & the powers of the worlde to come. And where he saith, there is left no sacrifice for them that sinne willingly after the knowledge of ye trueth receiued, he doth not deny that Christ is a continuall sacrifice to purge the iniquities of the holy ones, which he sheweth in the whole Epistle: but he saith,5 that there remaimaineth no other whē it is once forsaken: and it is forsaken when ye trueth of the Gospel is of set purpose renounced. 24 In that it séemeth very hard to som yt any at al are put away frō remission which flie to beséech gods mercy, is thus wiped away: Pardon is not denied to thē that repent, but by the iust iudgement of god it is denied ye reprobate for their vnthākfulnes,
- 1Matth. 12.32 Luke. 12.10 Acts. 6.10
- 2Acts. 6.10 1. Tim. 1.13
- 32. John. 1.192. Iohn. 1.19
- 4Heb. 6.4
- 5Heb. 10.16
- 6Zac. 7.42 Eze. 18.2•
