upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation: From whence they say, that children that are base born, are not saved unto the third and fourth generation: But this is a most erroneous interpretation of God’s word: it is those that hate him, and continue hating 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 fins, 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 a 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. 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 thiswork
