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because it binds a man over to eternal death, without any possibility of recovery. Now, some there are, that go on from one degree of sin to another; they heighten and aggravate their sin more and more, until they are brought to that height at last, as to commit that sin for which there is no forgiveness.
There is no mere man since the fall, can live without sin, for all are sinners; But yet there are degrees of sin; some sins, in their own nature, are small; others are more great and henious. Many sins there are that are great, yet pardonable; and one sin there is, unpardonable: And, whosoever commits that one siu, shall have no forgiveness, but must for ever bear the weight and punishment both of that and of all his other sins. There is such a sin as St John speaks of here in my text, that is, 'A sin unto death.' And now I come to the explication of the words; from whence I shall raise his point of doctrine.
Doct 'That amongst all the sins committed by fallen mankind, there is only one sin, that is, 'A sin unto death;' and whosoever committeth that, he hath no forgiveness, neither in this world nor in the world to come.'
Now, for my further proceeding on this subject, I shall lay open to you,
What, 'The sin unto death,' is,
Secondly, That all other sins, how great and henious soever may be forgiven.
Thirdly, That this sin alone, shall never be forgiven.
