[ 11 ]
was the sin of the Scribes and Pharisees, Mark, iii. 22. "There were certain Scribes who came and said, This fellow hath Beelzebub, and casteth out devils by the prince of devils." Therefore saith Christ unto them, ver 28. 29, "Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven to the sons of men, and blasphemes wherewith they shall blaspheme; but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation."
Now, the reason of this speech of our blessed Saviour, is shewn in ver. 30. "Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit." Which plainly shews, that those Scribes had spoken blasphemy against the Holy Ghost; as these Scribes were great learned men, they could know no other but that Christ was the Son of God, and must know that he cast out devils by the Spirit of God, and yet they, out of spite to Christ, maliciously and blasphemously said, "That he cast out devils by Beelzebub the prince of devils." Thus the Scribes committed the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost, and that in word,
3. This sin may be committed in action too; that is, when a man being once thoroughly enlightened, having entered upon a holy course of life, and tasted the comforts of God's Spirit, and some foretaste of the joys of heaven, and not only makes profession of the gospel, but teaches it to others; yet, at last, take a dislike to the holy courses, and through spite and malice
