The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 649

THE made

AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST

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partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good

Word

SIN

and the powers of the age to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance seeing they crucify unto themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God; but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned" (Heb. vi. 4-8). Such cutting words would perplex the soul, if he had not added " But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, tho we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward His name" (vs. 9, 10). They are words of comfort, which, however, do not detract from the dead earnestness with which he speaks in the tenth chapter: " For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unclean thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know Him that saith, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God " (Heb. x. 26-31). Much more might be added. It is written of Esau that he could find no place of repentance. St. Peter and St. Jude, full of indignation, write of persons who " have gone the way of Cain," who " ran greedily after the error of Balaam," and who " perished in the gainsaying of Korach." But these words have no direct reference to the sin against the Holy Spirit. Enough has been said to convince our readers that we treat this fearful sin, not upon our own authority, but upon the authority of the Holy Spirit. of God,

;

:

We

open the discussion by emphasizing that no child

of

God

could or ever can commit this sin. It is necessary to say this to prevent many souls from being troubled. There is such unutterable distress in these words of Jesus: " All manner of sin shall be

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