against the Holy Ghost doth consist. Now there are several opinions in the world about it, but I will endeavour, through God’s help, to lead you to the plain sight of it by the light of the holy Scripture.
Now, in the first place, you must know, that there are two sorts of people that cannot commit this unpardonable sin.
The true believers cannot commit it, because it is a sin against great light and knowledge. Indeed the greatest part of the world shall be damned; yet among the greatest part there are but few of them that can commit that unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost.
Some have both light and grace, these shall not commit the unpardonable sin. Again, some have neither light nor grace, these cannot commit that unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost. Now there must be two ingredients to make up this unpardonable sin; that is, light in the head, and malice in the heart; without these two, the sin against the Holy Ghost cannot be committed; for to sin against great light and knowledge, is not that sin; nor yet to sin ignorantly without malice, is that sin; but they must both join together, to make up this unpardonable sin. This we see plainly by the example of St Peter and St. Paul; Peter denied Christ, and forsware himself too, and that grievously, against light and knowledge: for he knew Christ to be the only begotten Son of God, and he knew God in him; he was one of Christ's disciples, and one of his beloved disciples too; he was taught of Christ and had experimental knowledge of his love and favour, and ⟨yet⟩ he wickedly with an oath denied him. Now if Peter had done this out of malice and spite, then he had committed that sin unto death, for which there is no forgiveness; but Peter had no malice in his heart all this while, even at the time when be denied Christ, as you may see in Matth. xxvi. 34 35. When Christ told him, before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice; he answered, If I shoulddie
