Synopsis papismi, that is, A generall viewe of papistry wherein the whole mysterie of iniquitie, and summe of antichristian doctrine is set downe, which is maintained this day by the Synagogue of Rome, against the Church of Christ, together with an antithesis of the true Christian faith, and an antidotum or counterpoyson out of the Scriptures, against the whore of Babylons filthy cuppe of abominations: deuided into three bookes or centuries, that is, so many hundreds of popish heresies and errors. Collected by Andrew Willet Bachelor of Diuinity.

THE FOVRTH PART, WHETHER all sinnes be remissible.

The Papists.

ALL sinnes are pardonable, so long as the committers of them bee in case [error 63] to repent: as they are, so long as they liue in this worlde: It is great blasphemie therefore, which the Caluinists vtter, that Apostasie and certaine other sinnes of the reprobate, cannot be forgiuen at all in this life, Rhemist. 1. Iohn. 1.5. sec. 4. And therefore they say, that blasphemie against the spirite is saide to bee irremissible, because it is hardlie forgiuen: And they define sinne against the holy Ghost, to bee nothing else, but finall impenitencie, Rhemist. Matth. 12.4.

The Protestants.

FIrst, sinne against the holy Ghost, is not finall impenitencie: euery one in∣deede that so sinneth, is finally impenitent, because hee shall neuer haue the grace to repent: But our Sauiour Christ meaneth some speciall sin, in calling it blasphemie against the holy Ghost: for many a wicked man may die impeni∣tently, and yet not blaspheme. Augustine better defineth this sinne: Cum quis aduersus gratiam ipsam, qua reconciliatus est Deo, inuidentiae facibus agitatur: When a man maliciously doth oppugne that grace, whereby he was reconciled to God: lib. 1. de serm. in mont. 41. But most perfitly is this sinne described, Heb. 10.29. where there are set downe three circumstances that make this sin: first, the person; he must be such an one as hath been lightened with grace, and been in outward appearance sanctified: therefore Iewes, Turkes, or Infidels, cannot commit this sinne; because their mindes were neuer illuminate by the truth. Secondly, his affection must bee considered, which is most deadly and hatefull in the highest degree: blaspheming the spirite, and despiting the same, crucifying and persecuting Christ againe as it were, Heb. 6.6. Wherefore they which offend of ignorance, or infirmitie and weakenes, or which fall not into horrible blasphemies, are not guiltie of this sinne. Thirdly, it is the trueth which they hate and detest, which sometime they loued, and were thereby sanctified: They count the blood of the testament as an vnholy thing. Blasphemie then against the holy Ghost, is an horrible hatred and detestation of the trueth, and grace of Gods spirite, whereby hee that now blasphemeth, was before illu∣minate.

Secondly, this sinne not onely easily shall not be forgiuen, but not at all, as our Sauiour saith, Neither in this worlde, nor the world to come, Math. 12.32. And it is impossible for them to bee renewed by repentance, Heb. 6.6. Where∣fore it is a great blasphemie in the Papists, so contrarie to the Scripture to af∣firme, that blasphemie against the spirite may be forgiuen.