[ 10 ]
ions. Thus their sin being of the same nature with the sin against the Holy Ghost, they were excluded all hopes of pardon.
But that the sin of our first parents was not the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost is clear; for though they sinned against great light, yet they obeyed and complied with the will of God even when the tempter came, until at last they were enticed and overcome; but they did not fall maliciously, and so were not excluded all possibility of mercy.
This sin may be committed in word too; that is when a man speaketh blasphemously and maliciously of Christ and his holy ways. This was the sin of the Scribes and Pharisees Mark iii. 22. 'There were certain Scribes who came and said This fellow hath Beelzebub and casteth out devils by the prince of devils.' Therefore with Christ unto them ver 23. 29. 'Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven to the sons of men, and blasphemes wherewith they shall blaspheme: but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
Now the reason of this speech of our blessed Saviour, is shewn in ver. 30. 'Because they said he hath an unclean spirit.' Which plainly shews that these Scribes had spoken blasphemy against the Holy Ghosts; as these Scribes were great learned men, they could know no other but that Christ was the Son of God, and must know that he cast out devils by the spirit of God, and yet they out of spite to Christ, maliciously and
