A view of the threats and punishments recorded in the Scriptures, alphabetically composed with some briefe observations upon severall texts / by Zachary Bogan ...

Blasphemie against the Holy Ghost never pardon'd.

But hee that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, hath never forgivenesse (or shall * 1.1 never have forgivenesse, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 usuall in the Evangelists) but is in danger of eternall damnation, Mark. 3, 29. is in danger of eternall damnation, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: so we: but the vulgar translation (abused by the A∣dorers thereof, the Papists, for the mainte∣nance of their veniall sinnes and Purgatory) renders, is guilty of an eternall sin. And indeed (I speake it without any good will to the Popish opinion) methinkes, it were better to read as the ancient greeke copies read viz: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sinne, rather then 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 damnation. for first, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is no where else (that I remember) applied to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; only once it is applied to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and that in the Epistle to the Hebrews, which is que∣stioned, whether it were originally written in Greek or no. Neither (if we consider it) is the English more proper: viz: Eternall damnation: then, Eternall sinne; though at the first view, it seeme so: noe more then if we said, eternall Condemnation, or sentence. Secondly, In other places where we ren∣der the word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in danger, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is put in the Dative case, and not in the Genitive, as Mat: 5. 21. and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the

Accusative case with the praeposition 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 verse 22. If wee will render 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in danger, why may not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sinne, be taken for the punishment of sinne, in imita∣tion of the Hebrew? Gen. 4. 13. &c. lastly it seemes proper enough in any Language, to affirme that Sin to be eternall, the guilt whereof shall never be taken away. The Language of the Scripture concernnig sinne (as a thing that abides, till it be taken a∣way) accords very well with this expressi∣on, not only in the Greek in the New Te∣stament; as when it sayes Your sin remaineth John 9, 41. He that delivered me vnto thee hath the greater sinne John 19, 11. Ye shall die in your sinnes ch. 8, 21, speaking conern∣ing Sin not pardon'd: and so when it sayes Taketh away the sinnes of the world John 1, 29▪ Your sinnes may be blotted out Acts 3, 19. To putt away sinne Heb. 9, 26; spea∣king of the pardon of sinne: But also, in the Hebrew, in the Old Testament; as when it sayes Sin lyeth at the doore Gen: 4. 7. died in* 1.2 his owne sinne Num: 27, 3. My sinne is sealed up in a bagge Job 14, 17.* 1.3 shall beare his sinne Num. 9, 13. speaking concering sin not left unpunished; and so on the other side, when it sayes, Whose sinne is covered Ps. 32. 1. Removed our transgressions Ps. 103, 12. Blot∣teth out thy trangressions Isa 43, 25. Speak∣ing

of the pardon of sinne.

Sin is not a thing that is only so long as it is in acting; like the actions of naturall creatures, or like the indifferent actions of rationall creatures. good and bad actions even towards men (as courtesies and inju∣ries) will be such an hundred yeares hence, if you let them alone. So will good and bad actions towards God, be good and bad actions for ever: for both he that tur∣neth not away from his righteousnesse, and he that turneth not away from his wic∣kednesse, their righteousnesse and their wic∣kednesse endureth for ever. There is a Booke of remembrance for them that feare God Mal. 3. 16: and they that feare him not, their Iniquity is marked before him Jer: 2, 22. They shall in no way lose their reward, for they shall have it for certaine, and en∣joy it for ever. Sin is a debt (though it is not to be understood as when we say, pay your debts; for then sinne should be a duty, for which the word debt is many times us'd, as that to which we are engaged, not▪ which we have incurred) and a debt both is as much, and is as much a debt for ever af∣ter, till the due be paid or the debt forgiven, as it was at the first minute of default of payment.

Sinne is visible for ever, if it be not co∣vered;

legible for ever, if it be not blotted out; and durable for ever, if it be not taken a∣way. I have been the longer in this point because I heare so often those expressions of wicked men when they are told of such and such sinnes which they have commit∣ted, O, That is past and gone now! That was in my younger yeares, and the like; not con∣sidering that God's booke still is, and their bones also may be (to use Job's ex∣pression, ch: 20, 11.) Full of the sinnes of their youth, before they die. In vaine doth the Adulterous woman wipe her mouth; and the murtherer wash his hands; and the Drunkard sweep away his vomit; looking the world in the face with boldnesse, as if they had done nothing; and presuming of impunity, because sentence is not presently * 1.4 executed. They shall one day find, that Sinne has too wide a mouth, to be stopt with the narrow hand of a man: and that it is of too deep a die, to be gotten out only with wiping and washing. Yea they shall find, that not only the sinne of the Blasphemer is; but even the lest of theirs, let it seem never so venial, without true repentance will 〈…〉〈…〉 eternal sinne, 〈…〉〈…〉

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or is ne∣ver to bee forgiven, as the par∣ticiple 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, hee that pe∣risheth, for, hee that is to perish. so in the gos∣pells and e∣pistles; and so other par∣ticiples of the present tense in prophane writers ane used for participles of the fu∣ture tense; as wee say in English, such a one doth such a thin, or such a one suf∣fereth such a thing, for such a one is to do, or to suffer.
• * 1.2

  if we ren∣der it in, as we do, & not for, whcih per∣haps is bet∣ter; and the Hebrew preposition is used for both.
• * 1.3

  Usually spoken of him that was to suffer death for his sin, and therefore Christ is said to bear the sins of many Isa: 53▪ 12. be∣cause he suffered death for them.
• * 1.4

  Eccles. 8. 11.