N00341:63
The greatest sinners exhorted and encouraged to come to Christ, and that now without…
The greatest sinners exhorted and encouraged to come to Christ, and that now without delaying. Also, the exceeding danger of men's deferring their repentance. : Together with a discourse about the day of judgement. And on several other subjects. / By Increase Mather teacher of a church at Boston in N. England. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]
printed by R.P. for Joseph Brunning i.e, 1686
Title page typeset from the transcription.
John 6.37. —And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Ans. The Reason why they that commit that sin perish, is not because Christ is not able to save ⟨p. 30⟩them, or that their is not merit enough in the Blood of Christ to obtain forgiveness for so great a sin as that is, but because they have not an heart to come to Christ. The Unpardonable Sin is always attended with final Impenitency, and everlasting Hardness of heart. And this Objection is a mere Temptation of Satan, who seeketh thereby to discourage souls from coming to Christ, He useth to tell those who never did nor ever shall commit the great Transgression, they have been guilty of it. Tell me, hast thou any desire to come to Christ? Dost thou prize his blood? then 'tis certain thou never wast guilty of the unpardonable sin, for such trample under foot the Son of God, and count his blood an unholy thing. Heb. 10.24. Art thou a malicious persecutor of the ways and People of God? if not, I dare pronounce unto thee, that thou wast never guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost; for there never was any man guilty of that sin, but that he was given up to a spirit of persecution; He is filled with rage against the Servants of God, because they fear his Name, and dare not sin against him. Yet again, Didst thou ever maliciously blaspheme or speak evil of that which thou knowest was the work of God's Spirit? If thou hast not done despite to the Spirit of Grace, thou hast not committed the sin against ⟨p. 31⟩the Holy Ghost. I must confess it is to be feared, that many of the malignant adversaries of the Truth in these late days, have bin judicially given up by God to commit that sin; yet I will say, I am persuaded there is not one soul in this Congregation this day▪ that ever was guilty of it. O yet let not this, nor any other Objection discourage any one among you from coming to Christ.
Ans. The Reason why they that commit that sin perish, is not because Christ is not able to save ⟨p. 30⟩them, or that their is not merit enough in the Blood of Christ to obtain forgiveness for so great a sin as that is, but because they have not an heart to come to Christ. The Unpardonable Sin is alwaies attended with final Impenitency, and everlasting Hardness of heart. And this Objection is a meer Temptation of Satan, who seeketh thereby to discourage souls from coming to Christ, He useth to tell those who never did nor ever shall commit the great Transgression, they have been guilty of it. Tell me, hast thou any desire to come to Christ? Dost thou prize his blood? then 'tis certain thou never wast guilty of the unpardonable sin, for such trample under foot the Son of God, and count his blood an unholy thing.