The vvhole-armor of God: or A Christians spiritual furniture, to keepe him safe from all the assaults of Satan First preached, and now the second time published and enlarged for the good of all such as well vse it:whereunto is also added a treatise of the sinne against the Holy Ghost. By VVilliam Gouge B.D. and preacher of Gods Word in Blacke Fryers London. ...

§. 18. Of the difference betwixt the sinne against the Holy Ghost, and other sinnes.

BY the forenamed definition may the sinne against the Holy Ghost be distinguished from many other sinnes which come neere vnto it, as,

1 From many sinnes against knowledge: yea and against

conscience also: for they may be without malice of heart, which this cannot be. The elect may fall into them: but not into this.* 1.1 Dauid and Peter sinned both against know∣ledge,* 1.2 and also against conscience.

2 From many sins committed on malice against Christ and his Gospell:* 1.3 which may be done on ignorance.

3 From blasphemie and persecution: which may be done alsoa 1.4 on ignorance,b 1.5 or in passion.

4 From deniall of Christ, which may be done on feare (instance Peters example) or other like temptations.* 1.6 It is an ancient heresie of the Nouatians to deny repentance and pardon to such as haue once denied Christ.* 1.7

5 From Apostasie from the faith, and profession of re∣ligion, which also may bee done not on malice, but through the violence of some temptation. It is noted of Salomon,* 1.8 that he continued not to follow the Lord, but turned after other gods, through the perswasion of his wiues. When a Kingdome changeth Religion, as England in Queene Maries dayes, many prooue Apostates, and fall away from the profession of the Gospell, and professe idolatrie for feare of persecution, or for too much loue of this world, to hold their places and offices, their honors and dignities, their houses and lands, or else on an infirme and weake perswasion, that they can keepe their hearts pure, and their faith sound, though with their bodies they out∣wardly subiect themselues to idolatry. The Leuites which in the captiuite fell away,* 1.9 though they were barred from medling with the holy things, yet they were admitted to doe other seruices in the Temple, whereby it is manifest that they fell not into this vnpardonable sinne.

6 From Presumption and sinning with an high hand, as Manasseh did.* 1.10

7 From Hardnesse of heart,* 1.11 from impudencie, and com∣mitting

sin with greedinesse. For so did the Gentiles which had not the Gospell supernaturally reuealed vnto them.

8 From Infidelitie and impenitencie, yea from finall in∣fidelitie and impenitencie, whereinto all the reprobate fall. If finall impenitencie should be the sin against the Ho∣ly Ghost (as some do take it) then should euery one that is damned sinne against the Holy Ghost: yea then could not this sinne be committed till death: and then in vaine should the caueat of Saint Iohn be,* 1.12 concerning not pray∣ing for them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. Sam. 24. 4.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 26. 69.
• * 1.3

  1. Tim. 1. 13.
• a 1.4

  Ibid.
• b 1.5

  2. Cro. 16. 10
• * 1.6

  Mat. 26. 69.
• * 1.7

  Aug. lib. de her. & lib. de quaest.
• * 1.8

  1. King. 11. 4, 5, 6.
• * 1.9

  Ezek. 44. 10. &c.
• * 1.10

  2. Cro. 33. 13.
• * 1.11

  Ephe. 4. 17. 18
• * 1.12

  1. Ioh. 5. 16.