It must however be remembered, that these declarations suppose that we repent and believe the Gospel ; for, without repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, no sin whatever can be pardoned.]
Before we close, it will be proper to add,
1. A word of admonition —
[We hope and trust that there are not any in this day, who are guilty of the sin, which is here declared unpardonable: but many who scoflTat religion, and deride the influences of the Spirit, may be much nearer to the commission of it than they imagine. It will be well for all such persons to pause, and
consider on what a precipice they stand • — for they may
do despite to the Spirit of grace till they have quenched his sacred motions, and provoked him to abandon them to their own delusions. The Lord grant that none of us may bring down on ourselves such a tremendous judgment !]
2. A word of consolation —
[Some are tempted to think that they have committed the unpardonable sin : but if it be true, that the commission of it is always attended with judicial blindness, and followed by final impenitence, then no one can have committed it, who is appre- hensive that he has been guilty of it : because, instead of indulging such fears, he would go on glorying in his shame, and hardening himself in his iniquities. Let all such apprehensions then be put away ; and let that other declaration of the text abide upon our minds for our comfort and encouragement under
all the accusations of a guilty conscience i — O let all of
us avail ourselves of this gracious declaration, whilst yet the proffered mercy lies within our reach ]
'» Isai. i. 18. n 1 John i. 7. and ii. 1, 2. o Acts xiii. 38, 39. 1' John xi. 26. and vi. 37. q Ps. cxxx. 7, 8.