scudderpage238

Christ, who has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children, by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in his well beloved, &c. Eph. i. 3, 5, 6.

SECT. 4. OF FEARS CONCERNING THE SIN AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST.

There are yet some, who having heard that there is a sin against the Holy Ghost, and that it is unpardonable, are full of fears that they have committed that sin, thence concluding that they are reprobates, for they say, that they have sinned wilfully against knowledge and conscience, since they received the knowledge of the truth, and tasted of the heavenly gift, and of the good word of God.

If you who thus object, have sinned against knowledge and conscience, you have much cause for humbling yourself before God; confessing it to him, asking pardon of him, and grace to believe and repent, both which you must endeavour by all means. Yet I see no cause why you should conclude so desperately, that you have sinned against the Holy Ghost, and are a reprobate. For as few in comparison, though too many, commit this sin, so few know what it is.

All sin against knowledge and conscience is not this sin, 1 Kings xv. 5; 2 Sam. xi. 4, 6, 10, 15, 25. Nor yet all wilful sinning. It is not any one sin against the law, nor yet the direct breach of the whole law, nor every malicious opposing of the gospel, Heb. x. 28, if it be of ignorance; neither is it every blasphemy, 1 Tim. i. 13, or persecution of the gospel, and of those that profess the truth, if these be done out of ignorance or passion; nor yet is it every apostasy, 2 Chron. xvi. 10; 1 Kings xi. 4 - 6; Heb. x. 28, 29, and falling into gross sins of divers sorts, though done against know-