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of him, that he will inflict their iniquities upon: For fornicators and adulterers themselves may repent and be saved; much more the children, who knew nothing, nor could help nothing: For Christ, with his own mouth, tells the Scribes and Pharisees, Matth. xxi. 31. that the publicans and harlots shall enter into the kingdom of heaven before them: For there is no sin but what is pardonable, except the sin against the Holy Ghost. But,
Thirdly This sin against the Holy Ghost is alone the sin unto death: that is, a sin unpardonable, never to be forgiven, neither in this world, nor in the world to come. Not because the merits of Christ are not sufficient to pardon it, for this sin, as well as other sins, is but finite, whereas the merits of Christ are infinite.
Object. What is the reason then that this sin cannot be forgiven?
Answ, This question brings me to the fourth thing considerable. Do but mind me a little, and I will, as plain and as clear as I can, tell you what the reason is.
This sin is called the sin against the Holy Ghost, not because it is sin against the person of the Holy Ghost, for so is all sin against his person; but it is called the sin against the Holy Ghost, because it is against the office and work of the Holy Ghost. Now, every one of the three persons have their particular work: