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utterly forsaken, opposes and persecutes those good ways of God, which he before professed and taught. But, to sum up this point, this unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost, is fully described by the apostle to the Hebrews, Chap. x. 26, 27, 29. "For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but a fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.—Of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace?" Likewise, Heb. vi. 4, 5, 6. "For it is impossible for those who are made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves afresh the Son of God, and put him to open shame."
Now, the sin against the Holy Ghost, is briefly this: It is a wilful and malicious opposing the known truth, joined with final apostacy.
I shall a little explain these words, and then proceed.
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
