Therefore some say,
"I cannot tell whether I have sinned against the Holy Ghost or not: if I
have committed that sin, I know I shall be damned." But I tell you what
ye shall do: despair not of the mercy of God, for it is immeasurable. I
cannot deny but that there is a sin against the Holy Ghost, which is
irremissible: but we cannot judge of it aforehand, we cannot tell which
man hath committed that sin or not, as long as he is alive; but when he
is once gone, then I can judge whether he sinned against the Holy Ghost
or not. As now I can judge that Nero, Saul, and Judas, and such like,
that died in sins and wickedness, did commit this sin against the Holy
Ghost: for they were wicked, and continued in their wickedness still to
the very end; they made an end in their wickedness. But we cannot judge
whether one of us sin this sin against the Holy Ghost, or not; for though
a man be wicked at this time, yet he may repent, and leave his wickedness
tomorrow, and so not commit that sin against the Holy Ghost. Our Saviour
Christ pronounced against the scribes and Pharisees, that they had
committed that sin against the Holy Ghost; because he knew their hearts,
he knew they would still abide in their wickedness to the very end of
their lives.
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