it is a wilful and malicious opposing the known truth, joined with final apostacy.
I shall a little explain these words, and then procced.
1. This sin unto death is an opposing sin; now to oppose a thing, is to contradict it, or gainsay it; as when a man says a thing is so and so, he denies it, and says it is not so; or when a man says a thing must ⟨be⟩ done, he says again it must not, or it shall not be done; such an opposition is in the heart of him that commits this unpardonable sin; but a man may be an opposing man, and yet may not commit this sin: Therefore,
2. It is the truth he must oppose; that is, he must utterly oppose and reject Christ, who said, I am the truth, John xiv. 9. He opposeth all his threatnings, and will not believe his promises, and counts the blood of the covenant to be an unholy thing: nay, he also opposeth the Spirit of Christ, who is the Spirit of truth; so that he will not obey his motions, and will not be led nor guided by him; but a man may oppose the truth, and do it ignorantly: Therefore,
3. It must be the known truth that he opposeth; he must be once enlightened: but you must know, it is not only a rational knowledge, and human learning, for he may know much of God, and of his will, in the letter of his word, and yet not be capable of committing this unpardonable sin: but he must be so far enlightened as to see the evil that is in sin, and the excellency of Christ; he must taste of the heavenly gift, and be made partaker of the Holy Ghost; and taste of the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come; and by the blood of the covenant, which he counts as an unholy thing, he is in part sanctified and cleansed from many sins: he must have sweet communion with God in his word and sacrament; he must have some taste of the love and favour of God, and comforts of his Spirit, and be refreshedfreshed
