Him. Are we doing good in the world ? If not, we are doing harm.
The principle here laid down is one which it concerns us all to remember. Let ug settle it in our minds, that we shall never have peace, and do good to others, unless we are thorough-going and decided in our Christianity. The way of Gamaliel and Erasmus never yet brought happiness and usefulness to any one, and never will.
In the third place, let us gather from these verses the exceeding sinfulness of sins against hnoivledge.
This is a practical conclusion wdiich appears to flow naturally from our Lord's words about the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Difficult as these words un- doubtedly are, they seem fairly to prove that there are degrees in sin. Offences arising from ignorance of the true mission of the Son of Man, will not be punished so heavily as offences committed against the noontide light of the dispensation of the Holy Ghost. The brighter the light, the greater the guilt of him \Vho rejects it. The clearer a man's knowledge of the nature of the Gospel, the greater his sin, if he wilfully refuses to repent and believe.
The doctrine here taught is one that does not stand alone in Scripture. St. Paul says to the Hebrew^s, ^^ It is impossible for those who were once enlightened — if they shall fall aw^ay, to renew them again unto repentance." " If w^e sin wilfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacri- fice for sins, but a fearful looking for of judgment." Heb. vi. 4 — 7, and x. 26, 27.) It is a doctrine of which we find mournful proofs in every quarter. The unconverted