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work of the Holy Ghost. Now every one of the three persons have their particular work; The work of the Father is to create; the work of the Son is 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 enlightened by the Holy Ghost, that he comes to know the evil of sin, and his lost and undone condition without Christ, and that nothing but the merits of Christ can save him, and notwithstanding wilfully and maliciously oppose him, and the work of the spirit, and refuse to be beholden to him for salvation: now for such a one I say to be forgiven is utterly impossible.
Object, But why is it impossible. Nothing is impossible with God.
Object, Nothing is impossible with God that does not imply a contradiction; but that God will forgive the sin committed against the Holy Ghost, implies a contradiction; for how can he have a pardon given him, that utterly reject it. As for instance,
A man through ignorance, may deny Christ nay, maliciously fall from the profession of the truth into all kinds of wickedness, as did St Paul and the Jews that crucified Christ, yet not failing against light and knodwledge, there is room for the Holy Ghost to work upon him, to enlighten him, and convince him of his folly, and so make way for conversion. But for a man
