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and maliciouſly: But there wicked wretches (illegible text)11 wilfully and maliciouſly, and ſo fall finally: againſt ſuch, the door of mercy is ever ſhut. Concerning ſuch St Peter ſpeaketh, 2 Pet. ii.1, 22. There is ſuch another dreadful place (illegible text)f ſcriptore againſt theſe apoſtates, that is, leb. X. 26.
Objection. But what is the reaſon then, that this ſin cannot be forgiven?
Anſw. The reaſon ariſes from the nature of this ſin; for this ſin by whomſoever it is committed, hardens the heart, and fears the concience, ſo that there is no place for repentance to be wrought, neither for that nor anyther ſin. This ſin is called a ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, becauſe it is a ſin against the perſon of the Holy Ghoſt; ſo is all ſin againſt this perſon; but it is called a ſin against the
Holy Ghoſt, becauſe it is again the officea work of the Holy Ghoſt. Now, every one of the three perfonſ have their particular works: The work of the Father is to create; the work of the Son to redeem loſt ſinners; and the work of the Holy Ghoſt is to enlighten, convince, ſanctify, and convert them. Now, a man committing this unpardonable ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, rejects all this work of the Spirit Now, for a man to be thoroughly enlightend by the Holy Ghoſt, that he comes to know the evil of ſin, and of his loſt and undone condition without Chriſt, and that none but the merits of Chriſt can ſave him; then for him wilfully and maliciouſly to oppoſe-
