Sinner, this is the sin against the Holy Ghost. What sayst thou?
Hast thou committed it? Nay, I know thou hast not; if thou wouldst be saved by Christ. Yea, it is impossible that thou shouldst have done it, if indeed thou wouldst be saved by him.
No man can desire to be saved by him, whom he yet judgeth to be an impostor, a magician, a witch. No man can hope for redemption by that blood which he yet counteth an unholy thing. Nor will G.o.d ever suffer such an one to repent, who has, after light and profession of him, thus horribly and devil-like contemned and trampled upon him.
True, words and wars and blasphemies against this Son of man are pardonable; but then they must be done ignorantly and in unbelief.
Also all blasphemous thoughts are likewise such as may be pa.s.sed by, if the soul afflicted with them indeed is sorry for them; 1 Tim. i.
13-15; Mar. iii. 28.
All but this, sinner, all but this! If G.o.d had said, he will forgive one sin, it had been undeserved grace; but when he says he will pardon all but one, this is grace to the height.
Nor is that one unpardonable otherwise, but because the Saviour that should save them is rejected and put away.
We read of Jacob"s ladder; Christ is Jacob"s ladder that reacheth up to heaven, and he that refuseth to go by this ladder thither, will scarce by other means get up so high.
There is none other name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved. There is none other sacrifice for sin than this; he also, and he only, is the Mediator that reconcileth men to G.o.d. And, sinner, if thou wouldst be saved by him, his benefits are thine; yea, though thou art a great and Jerusalem transgressor.