1. In the Explication we may premise, That there is one Sin which, in the Gospel, is exempted from forgiveness, and but one. It is true, all Sin impenitently persisted in unto death, leaves the Sinner unpardoned; for there is neither Saving Repentance, nor forgiveness to be obtained in another World, by one that dies in his Sins: but it is not because former impenitency may not be pardoned upon Repentance, but because the Sinner hath, by persisting in it, lost the opportunity of a day of Grace. But there is one that in it self puts the man, in this life, out of all hope of pardon, and that is called The Sin against the Holy Ghost, of which our Saviour so speaks. Mark 3.28, 29. This is that which is called the Sin unto Death, which puts the man out of our Prayers▪ 1 Joh. 5.16. And this is that which is described to us. Heb. 6 4, 5. Nor indeed is this Sin unpardonable, because its Guilt out-bids the value of the Atonement, but because by it, the man puts himself out of the road of forgiveness, according to the Divine Ordination, and by a malicious renouncing of the Gospel, and the Spirit of God in it, after great illuminations, and an high profession, he provokes God to give him over to hardness of heart, and searedness of Conscience, whereby he is Sealed to final impenitence, there being a total and final withdrawing of the Spirit from him. Concerning which, I shall only say thus ⟨p. 29⟩much, that the person who is troubled and grieved in himself, for fear lest he have committed this Sin, hath therein a good evidence that he hath not, since the Gospel seems to give that as one inseparable concomitant of it, viz. an obstinate and a malicious hatred of the Gospel way of Salvation. B•• ••is sin only excepted, all other sins whatsoever are pardonable: yea, and we have the instances of such, as have been guilty of them, and yet obtained forgiveness: Let me a little open this in the following remarks.
1. In the Explication we may premise, That there is one Sin which, in the Gospel, is exempted from forgiveness, and but one. It is true, all Sin impenitently persisted in unto death, leaves the Sinner unpardoned; for there is neither Saveing Repentance, nor forgiveness to be obtained in another World, by one that dies in his Sins: but it is not because former impenitency may not be pardoned upon Repentance, but because the Sinner hath, by persisting in it, lost the opportunity of a day of Grace. But there is one that in it self puts the man, in this life, out of all hope of pardon, and that is called The Sin against the Holy Ghost, of which our Saviour so speaks. Mark 3.28, 29. This is that which is called the Sin unto Death, which puts the man out of our Prayers▪ 1 Joh. 5.16. And this is that which is described to us. Heb. 6 4, 5. Nor indeed is this Sin unpardonable, because its Guilt out-bids the value of the Atonement, but because by it, the man puts himself out of the road of forgiveness, according to the Divine Ordination, and by a malicious renouncing of the Gospel, and the Spirit of God in it, after great illuminations, and an high profession, he provokes God to give him over to hardness of heart, and searedness of Conscience, whereby he is Sealed to final impenitence, there being a total and final withdrawing of the Spirit from him. Concerning which, I shall only say thus ⟨p. 29⟩much, that the person who is troubled and grieved in himself, for fear lest he have committed this Sin, hath therein a good evidence that he hath not, since the Gospel seems to give that as one inseparable concomitant of it, viz. an obstinate and a malicious hatred of the Gospel way of Salvation. B•• ••is sin only excepted, all other sins whatsoever are pardonable: yea, and we have the instances of such, as have been guilty of them, and yet obtained forgiveness: Let me a little open this in the following remarks.
