not touch or embrace They may look to one to whome they dare not speak Yet God hath made the promise to faith in that acting as the forecited Scripture doth shew and this he hath done mercifully and wisely for this is the only discernable way of the acting of faith of some persons sometimes such are the actings our outgoings of faith exprest in Scripture by hungring and thirsting after righteousness Mat. 5. 6. and that exprest by wâ—lling Rev. 22. 17. Again this faith goeth out sometimes in the act of recumbency or leaning on the Lord the soul taking up Christ then as a resting stone and God hath so held him out although he be a stumbling stone to others Rom. 9. 33. This acting of it is hinted in the expressions of trusting and staying on God so often mentioned in Scripture and precious promises are made to this acting of faith Isa 26. 34. God will keep them in prerfect peace whose minds are staid on him because such do trust in him Trust in the Lord for with him is everlasting strength So Psal 125. 1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion which abideth for ever I say the Lord hath made promises to this way of Faiths acting as knowing it will go often out after him in this way with many persons and this way of its acting will be most discernable to them It goeth out after God sometimes by an act of waiting when the Soul hath somewhat depending before God and hath not got out his mind satisfyingly about that thing then Faith doth wait and so it hath the Promise Isa 49. 23. Sometimes it acteth in a wilful way upon the Lord when the Soul apprehendeth God thrusting it away and threatning its ruine So Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet I will trust in him The faith of that poor woman Mat. 15. 22 28. so highly commended by Christ did go out in this way of wilful acting over the difficulties and the Lord speaketh much good of it and to it because some will be put to it to exercise faith that way sometimes and so they have that for their encouragement It were tedious to instance all the several ways of the acting of faith upon and its exercise about and outgoing after Christ I may say according to the various conditions and pressures of the soul of man the Lord hath variously held out himself and his fulness in Christ under divers notions as might most fitly meet the distress or condition of man and accordinly Faith which God hath appointed to traffick and travel between Christ and Man as the instrument of conveyance of his fulness unto man and of maintaining union and communion with him acteth variously and differently upon God in Christ for Faith is the very shaping out of a mans heart according to Gods contrivement of Salvation by Christ Jesus in whom it pleased the Father that fulness should dwell So that let Christ turn what way he will Faith turneth and pointeth that way Now he turneth all ways in which he can be useful to poor man and therefore faith acteth accordingly on him for drawing out of that fulness according to a mans case and condition As for example The soul is naked destitute of a covering to keep it from the storms of Gods wrath Christ is fine raiment Rev. 3. 17 18. Then accordingly Faiths work here is to put on the Lord Jesus Gal. 3. 27. The Soul is hungry and thirsty after somewhat that may everlastingly satisfy Christ Jesus is Milk Wine Water Bread of Life and the true Manna Isa 55. 1 2. Joh. 6. 4 51. He is the feast of Fat things and of Wine refined Isa 25. 6. Then the work and exercise of faith is to go buy eat and drink abundantly Isa 55. 1. Joh. 6. 53. 57. The soul is pursued for guilt more or less and is not Law-biding Christ Jesus is the City of refuge and the High-Priest there during whose life-time that is for ever the poor man who wins this is safe Then the work and exercise of faith is to flee thither for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us Heb. 6. 1. In a word whatsoever way he may benefit poor man so he speaketh of himself and as he holdeth out himself in the Scripture so faith doth point toward him If he be a Bridegroom faith will go out in a marriage relation If he be a Father Faith pleads the man to be a child If he be a shepherd faith pleads the man may be one of his sheep if he be a Lord faith calls him so which none can do but by the Spirit of Jesus If he be dead and risen again for our Justification faith believeth God hath raised him on that account Rom. 10. 9. wheresoever he be there would faith be and whatsoever he is faith would be somewhat proportionally For by faith the heart is shapen out in breadth and length for him yea when the fame and report of him goeth abroad in his truth although faith see not much yet it believeth on his Name upon the very fame he hath sent abroad of himself Joh. 1. 12. But here for avoiding of mistakes consider 1. That although justifying Faith acteth so variously yet every Believer who hath a good title to Christ Jesus hath not all these various actings and exercises of Faith for his condition craveth them not and also the Master is pleased not to lead out the faith of some persons at some times in some of these ways for reasons known to himself even when their necessity to their apprehension calleth for such acting of faith Surely every one dare not say Though he kill me yet will I trust in him Many would not have gon up with that woman I spake of Mat. 15. but would have been discouraged and quit the pursuit It is on this account that Christ doth highly commend the faith of some beyond the faith of others Mat. 8. 10. and 15. 28. Many good people are much disquieted about their faith because it goeth not out in all those ways we find recorded in Scripture But there is hardly and man will be found whose faith hath acted all these ways 2. Many of these actings of faith are much intended and remitted They are sometimes strong and vigorous and discernable and sometimes they fail and misbelief doth prevail so as it were an uncertain thing to judge of a mans estate by these We find the Saints very different from themselves in regard of the actings of faith sometimes as we shewed before 3. Each one of these actings of faith speaketh good to the person in whom it is and hath promises annexed unto it as we have said Yet 4. Although these Actings of faith have promises annexed unto them they are not for that the condition of the New Conenant for then every one behoved to have each one of them which is not true as we have said before A promise is made to him who
44. Yet it were a reflection upon Christ and all he hath done to say it were a matter of insuperable difficulty as is clear Rom. 10. 6 11. it were according to that Scripture as much upon the matter as to say Christ came not from Heaven is not risen from the dead or ascended victorious to Heaven I say he hath made the way to Heaven most easie and faith which is the condition required on our part more easie than men do imagine For the better understanding of this consider that justifying faith is not to believe that I am elected or to believe that God loveth me or that Christ died for me or the like These things are indeed very difficult and almost impossible at the first hand to be obtained by those who are serious whilst natural Athiests and deluded Hypocrites find no difficulty in asserting all those things I say true justifying faith is not any of the foresaid things neither is it simply the believing of any sentence that is written or that can be thought upon I grant he that believeth on Christ Jesus believeth what God hath said about mans sinful miserable condition by nature and he believeth that to be true That there is life in the Son who was slain and is risen again from the dead c. But none of these nor the believing of many such truths do speak out justifying faith or that believing on the Son of God spoken of in Scripture for then it were simply an act of the understanding But true justifying Faith which we now seek after as a good mark of Interest in Christ is chiefly and principally an act or work of the heart and will having presupposed sundry things about truth in the understanding with the heart it is believed unto Salvation Rom. 10. 10. and although it seem vers 9 of that Chapter that a man is saved upon condition that he believe this truth God raised Christ from the dead yet we must understand another thing there and vers 10. than the believing the truth of that proposition For beside that all Devils have that Faith whereby they believe that God raised Christ from the dead So the Scripture hath clearly resolved justifying Faith into a receiving of Christ Joh. 1. 12. The receiving of Christ is there explained to be the believing on his Name it is still called a staying on the Lord Isa 26. 3. a trusting in God often mentioned in the Psalms and the word is a leaning on him it is a believing on Christ Joh 6. 29. and often so exprest in the New Testament When God maketh men believe savingly He is said to draw them unto Christ and when the Lord inviteth them to believe he calleth them to come to him Joh. 6. 37 44. The â—ingdom of Heaven is like a man â—â—nding a Jewel wherewith he falleth in love Mat. 13. 14 to 46. Now I say this action of the heart on Christ Jesus is not so difficult a thing as is conceived Shall that be judged a mysterious difficult thing which doth consist much in desire If man have but an appetite â—ey have it for they are blessed that hunger after righteousness Mat. 5. 6. If you will you are welcome Rev. 22. 17. It is a matter of such intricacy and insuperable difficulty greedily to look to that exalted Saviour Isa 45. 22. and to receive a thing that is offered held forth and declared to be mine if I will but accept and take iâ— and in a manner open my mouth and give way to it Such a thing is faith Psal 81 10. if not less Oh if I could perswade people what is justifying Faith which impropriateth Christ to me We often fright people from their just rest and quiet by making them apprehend faith to be some deep mysterious thing and by moving unnecessary doubts about it whereby it is needlesly darkened 2. Some make no use of this mark as judging it a high presumptuous crime to pretend to so excellent a thing as is the very condition of the New Covenant To those I say you need not startle so much as it as if it were high pride to pretend to it for whatsoever true Faith be men must resolve to have it or nothing at all all other marks are in vain without it a thousand things besides will not do the business Unless a man believe he abideth in the state of Condemnation Joh. 3. 18 36. 3. Others do not meddle with this noble mark of faith because they judge it a work of greatest difficulty to find out Faith where it is To those I say It is not so difficult to find it out since he that believeth hath the witness in himself 1 Joh. 5. 10. It is a thing which by some serious search may be known not only may we do much to find it out by the preparatory work going before it in many as the apprehending and believing of a mans lost estate and that he cannot do his own business and that there is satisfying fulness in Christ very desirable if he could overtake it A serious minding of this with a heart laid open for relief as also by the ordinary companions and concomitans of it viz. the liking of Christs Dominion his Kingh and prophetical Office a desire to resign my self wholly up to him to be at his disposing As also by the native consequences of it viz. the managings of the World the managings of my own conscience according to the Word a heart purifying work a working love c. I say not only may we know faith by these things but it is discernable by it self and of its own nature although I deny not but that there must be some help of Gods Spirit by which we know what is freely given unto us of God 1 Cor. 2. 12 As also that God hath allowed many evidences and marks as precious helps whereby men may clear up faith more fully to themselves 1 John 5. 13. Yet I still say that faith or believing which is some acting of the heart upon Christ in the Gospel and the transacting with him there is discernable of it self and by it self to a judicious understanding person with an ordinary influence of the spirit unless the Lord for reasons known to himself do overcloud a mans reflex light by which he should take up and perceive what is in him This justifying faith which we assert to be so discernable is in the Lords deep wisdom and gracious condescendence variously exprest in Scripture according to the different actings of it upon God and outgoings after him so as every one who hath it may find and take it up in his own mould It sometimes acted by a desire of union with him in Christ This is that looking to him Isa 45. 22. This seems to be a weak act of faith and far below other actings of it at other times perhaps in that same person Men will look to what they dare not approach to their apprehension which they dare
lay aside all thoughts of saving themselves by the Covenant of Works or inherent righteousness and will agree heartily to be saved by Christ Jesus they shall be restored to a better condition than formerly man was in and shall be saved So then to close with Gods device of saving sinners by Christ Jesus is to quit and forego all thoughts of help or salvation by our own Righteousness and to agree unto this way which God hath found out It is to value and highly esteem of Christ Jesus as the treasure sufficient to enrich poor man and with the heart to believe this record That there is life enough in him for men It is to plead this invention and to acquiesce in it as the only way to true happiness It is to point towards this Mediator as God holdeth him out in the Gospel with desire to lay the stress of our whole estate on him This is that which is called Faith or Believing the receiving of Christ or believing on his Name John 1. 12. This is that believing on the Name of the Lord Jesus commanded unto the Jaylor for his safety Acts 10. 31. This agreeth to all the descriptions of justifying faith in the Scripture this doth answer the type of looking to the Brazen Serpent lifted up in the Wilderness John 3. 14 15. and this is supposed in all these ordinary actings of Faith to which promises are annexed in the Scripture and will be found in all who have got the new heart from God and it will be found in none else As to the Second thing viz. That this is the necessary duty of all such who would be in favour with God and secure their Souls It appeareth thus 1. This closing with Gods contrivance or believing in Christ is commanded every where in Scripture by the Lord as the condition of the new Covenant giving title and right unto all the spiritual blessings of the same for it is upon the matter the receiving of Christ This is commanded whilst God bids men come and buy that is impropiate all by closing with that contrivement Isa 55. 1. the weary are commanded to come uuto him thus for their rest Mat. 11. 28. This is his commandment that we believe on the name of his Son 1. John 3. 23. this is enough to prove it a duty incumbent But further it is such a duty as only giveth title and right to a Sonship for only they who receive him are priviledged to be Sons John 1. 12. To as many as received him to them he gave power to be the sons of God even to such as believed on his name 2. It appeareth to be the necessary duty of all thus No less than this doth give a meeting unto God offering himself to be our God in Christ and no less than this doth answer our profession as we are in Covenant with him as Members of his visible Church The Lord offereth to be our God in Christ if we do not close with the offer in laying aside all thoughts of other ways by which we may attain to happiness we give no meeting to him he saith This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Mat. 17. 5. If we close not with the offer we give no answer unto God Moreover we are all baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of Sins Acts 2. 38. Now unless we close with Christ as is said we falsifie that profession therefore since this is the thing which doth answer Gods offer in the Gospel and make good our profession as members of his Church it is a necessary duty lying upon us 3. Whatsoever a man hath else if he do not thus close with Gods Invention about Christ Jesus and do not receive him it doth not avail either as to the accepting of his person or of his performances or as to the saving of his soul Men are accepted only in Christ the beloved Eph. 1. 6. Abel and his offering are accepted by faith Heb. 11. 4. Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. and He that believeth not is condemned already and shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3. 18. 36. for want of this no external title doth avail the Children of the Kingdom are cast out if this be wanting Mat. 8. 10 11 12. The people of Israel are like other Heathens in regard of a graceless state lying open to the wrath of God Jer. 9. 25 26. If men do not believe that he who was slain at Jerusalem who was called Christ Jesus and witnessed unto by the Prophets and declared to be the Son of God by many mighty works I say if men do not believe that he is the way and close not with him as the only way they shall dye in their sins John 8. 24. We say then it is a most necessary duty thus to close with Christ Jesus as the blessed relief appointed for sinners every one who is come to years of understanding and heareth this Gospel is obliged to take to heart his own lost condition and Gods gracious offer of peace and salvation throngh Christ Jesus and speedily to fly from the wrath to come by accepting and closing with this offer heartily acquiescing therein as a satisfying way for saving of poor Sinners And that all may be the more encouraged to set about this duty when they hear him praying them to be reconciled unto them let them remember that peace and salvation is offered to the people in universal terms to all without exception If any man will he shall be welcome Rev. 22. 17. If any thirst although after that which will never profit yet they shall be welcome here on the condition aforesaid Isa 55. 2 3. all are commanded to believe 1 John 3. 23. The promises are to all who are externally called by the Gospel God excludes none if they do not exclude themselves Acts 2. 39. so that if any have a mind for the thing they may come forward he will in no wise cast them out John 6. 37. being able to save to the utmost them who come to God through him Heb. 7. 25. And these who have long delayed to take this matter to heart had now the more need to look to it lest what belongs to their peace be hid from their Eyes but all these words will not take effect with people until God pour out his Spirit from on high Isa 32. 15. to cause men to approach unto God in Christ yet we must still press mens duty upon them and beseech and charge them by the appearing of the Lord Iesus Christ and their reckoning to him in that day that they give the Lord no rest until he send out that Spirit which he will give to them who ask it Luke 11. 13. and cause them to know what belongs unto their peace and bring them up to their duty We come now to speak of the Third thing viz.
hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ is their ignorance of some special principles of Religion as 1. That it was free love in Gods bosome and nothing in man that moved him to send a Saviour to perfect the work of Redemption Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the World that he sent c. Men are still seeking some ground for that business in themselves which leads away from suitable and high apprehensions of the first spring and rise of Gods Covenant-favour to his people which hath no reason cause or motive in us and so they cannot come to the knowledg of their interest 2. They are ignorant how that love doth effectually discover it self to a mans heart so as he hath ground to lay claim to it viz. That ordinarily it doth first discover his broken state in himself because of sin and corruption defiling the whole man and any thing in him that might be called a righteousness all these things are loss and dung Phil. 3. 6 7 Secondly It discovereth Christ as the full and satisfying treasure above all things The man finds a treasure for which with joy he selleth all c. Mat. 13. 44 46. Thirdly it determineth the heart and causeth it to approach unto a living God in the ordinances Psal 65. 4. and causeth the heart to wait upon him and him alone 62. 5. My soul wait thou only upon God Thus having dropped in the seed of God in the heart and formed Christ there Gal. 4. 19. The heart is changed and made new in the aforesaid work Ezek. 36. 26. and Gods Law is so stamped upon the heart in that change Jer. 31. 33. that the whole yoak of Christ is commended to the man without exception Rom. 7. 12. 16. The Law is acknowledged good holy just and spiritual upon all which from that new principle of life there flow out acts of a new life Gal. 5. 6. Faith worketh by love Rom. 6. 18 22. and the man becometh a servant of righteousness and unto God which doth especially appear in the spirituality of worship Joh. 4. 24. Rom. 7. 6. men then serve God in spirit and truth and in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter and tenderness in all manner of conversation The man then exerciseth himself how to keep a conscience void of offence c. Acts 24. 16. Now this way doth the love God discover it self unto man and acteth on him so as he hath ground of laying some good claim to it so as he may justly think that the love which sent a Saviour had respect to such a man as hath found these things made out unto him Surely Ignorance of this doth hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ for if a man know not how God worketh with a person so as he may justly lay claim to his love which was from eternity he will wander in the dark and not come to the knowledge of an interest in him 3. Many are also ignorant of this That God alone is the hope of his people he is called the hope of Israel Jer. 14. 8. Although inherent quallifications are evidences of it yet the staying of the heart upon him as a full blessing and satisfying portion is faith 1 Pet. 1. 21. the faith and hope must be in God and the only proper condition which giveth right to the saving blessings of the Covenant Rom. 4. 5. To him that worketh not but believeth faith is imputed for righteousness Indeed if any person take liberty here and turn grace into wantonness there is without doubt in so far a delusion since there is mercy with him upon condition that it conciliate fear to him Psal 130. 14. Yea hardly can any man who hath found the foresaid expressions of Gods love made out upon him make a cloak of the Covenant for sinful liberty without some measure of a spiritual conflict In this respect he that is born of God doth not sin and he who doth so sin hath not seen God 1 Joh. 3. 6 9. I say God is the hope of his people and not their own holiness If they intend honestly and long seriously to be like unto him many failings should not weaken their hope and confidence for it is in him who changeth not Mal. 3. 6. And if any man sinneth he hath an Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. Now when men place their hope in any other thing beside the Lord it is no wonder they be kept in a staggering condition according to the changes of the thing which they make the ground of their hope since they give not to God the Glory due to his Name and which he will not give unto another compare Psal 9. 10. They who know thy Name will put their trust in thee with Isa 42. 9. My glory will I not give to another I am the Lord that is my Name 4. Many are ignorant of the different wayes and degrees of Gods working with his people and it doth much darken their knowledge and reflex acts of their interest in him This ignorance doth run mainly on three heads 1. They are ignorant of the different degrees and ways of that Law-work which ordinarily dealeth with men and of the different way how the Lord bringeth home people at first to Christ They consider not that the Jaylor is not kept an hour in bondage Acts 16. Paul is kept in suspence three days Acts 9. Zacheus not one moment Luke 19. 2. They are ignorant of or at least do not consider how different the degrees of Sanctification are in the Saints and the honourable appearings thereof before men in some and the sad blemishing thereof in others Some are very blameless and more free of gross outbreakings adorning their profession much as Job Job 1. and Zachariah Luke 1. Those are said to be perfect walking in all the Commandements of God Others were subject to very gross and sad evils as Solomon Asa c. 3. They are ignorant of the different communications of Gods face and expression of his presence Some do walk much in the Light of Gods countenance and are much in sensible fellowship with Him as David was others are all their days kept in bondage through â—ear of death Heb. 2. 25. Surely the ignorance of the different ways of God's working and dealing with his people doth very much darken the knowledge of their Interest in him whilst they usually stint the Lord to one way of working which he doth not keep as we have shewed in the former examples The second thing which doth darken men about their interest in Christ is There is one thing or other wherein their heart in some respect doth condemn them as dealing deceitfully and guilefully with God It is not to be expected that these can come to clearness about their interest whose heart doth condemn them for keeping up some known transgression against the Lord which they will not let go neither are using the means which
The wrong is done against the Son of God Heb. 6. 6 and the blood of the Covenant and the Spirit graciously offering to apply these things Heb. 10. 29. Secondly In the description consider the qualification of this object It is singularly made out to the party by the Spirit of God both in the truth and good thereof This saith 1. That there must be knowledge of the truth and way of Salvation The Pharisees knew that Christ was the heir Mat. 21. 38. The party hath knowledge Heb. 10. 26. 2. That knowledge of the thing must not swim only in the head but there must be some half heart-perswasion of it Christ knew the Pharisees thoughts and so did judge them Mat. 12. 25. and that the contrary of what they spake was made out upon their heart There is a tasting Heb. 6. 4 5. which is beyond simple enlightning yea there is such a perswasion ordinarily as leadeth to a deal of outward sanctification Heb. 10. 29. 3. This perswasion must not only be of the verity of the thing but of the good of it The party tasteth the good Word of God and he apprehendeth the thing as eligible Heb. 6. 5. 4. This perswasion is not made out only by strength of Argument but also by an enlightning work of Gods Spirit shining on the truth and making it conspicuous Therefore is that sin called the sin against the Holy Ghost Mat. 12. Mark 3. The persons are said to have received the Holy Ghost Heb. 6. 4. and to do despight unto the spirit of grace who was in the nearest step of a gracious operation with them Heb. 10. 29. Thirdly In this description consider the acting of the party against the object so qualified It is a rejecting and opposing of it which importeth 1. That men have once some way at least been in hands with it or had the offer of it as is true of the Pharisees 2. That they do reject even with contempt what they had of it or in their offer The Pharisees deny it and speak disdainfully of Christ Mat. 12. 24. They fall away intending to shame Christ Heb. 6. 5 6. 3. The men set themselves against it by the spirit of persecution as the Pharisees did still They rail against it Therefore it is called Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost Mat. 12. 24. 31. They would Crucifie Christ again if they could Heb. 6. 6. They are Adversaries Heb. 10. 27. Fourthly consider the properties of this acting 1. It is avouched that is not seeking to shelter or hide it self The Pharisees speak against Christ publickly Mat. 12. 24. They would have Christ brought to an open shame Heb. 6. 6. They forsake the Ordinances which savour that way and 10. 25. and despise the danger For looking for indignation they trample that blood still Heb. 10. 27 29. 2. The party acteth freely it is not from unadvisedness nor from force or constraint but an acting of free choice nothing doth force the Pharisees to speak against and persecute Christ They Crucifie to themselves they re-act the murder of their own free accord and in their own bosome none constraining them Heb. 6. 6. They sin of free choice as the word is spontaneously Heb. 10. 27. 3. It is acted willfully They are so resolute they will not be disswaded by any offer or the most precious means as is clear in the aforesaid Scriptures 4. It is done maliciously so as it proceeds not so much if at all from a tentation to pleasure profit or honour It proceedeth not from fear or force or from any good end proposed but out of heart-malice against God and Christ and the Advancement of his Glory and Kingdom So that it is the very nature of Satans sin who hath an irreconcileable hatred against God and the remedy of sin because his glory is thereby advanced This is a special ingredient in this sin The Pharisees are found guilty of heart-malice against Christ since they spake so against him and not against their own children casting out Devils and this is the force of Christs Argument Mat. 12. 27. They do their utmost to Crucifie Christ again and to bring him to an open shame Heb. 6. 6. They are adversaries like the Devil Heb. 10. 27. 5. It is done despightfully The malice must bewray it self The Pharisees must proclaim that Christ hath correspondence with Devils Met. â—2 He must be put to an open shame and crucified again Heb. 6. they must tread under foot that blood and do despite to the Spirit Heb. 10. 29. so that the party had rather perish a thousand times than be in Christs debt for salvation The last thing in the description is the ordinary attendant or consequence of this sin it breedeth Desperate and Hopeless fear They fear him whom they hate with a slavish hopeless fear such as Devils have Heb. 10. 27. They know that God will put out his power against them they tremble in the remembrance of it and if they could be above him and destroy him they covet it and since they cannot reach that they hate with the utmost of heart-malice and do persecute him and all that is his with despite As for the third thing proposed viz. The Conclusions to be drawn from what is said whereby we will speak directly to the Objection 1. As I hinted before since the sin against the Holy Ghost is so remarkable and may be well known where it is none should charge themselves with it unless they can prove and make good the charge for it is a great wrong done unto God to labour to perswade my soul that he will never pardon me It is the very way to make me desperate and to lead me unto the unpardonable sin Therefore unless thou canst and darest say that thou dost hate the way which God hath devised for saving of sinners and dost resolve to oppose the thriving of his Kingdom both with thy self and others out of malice and despite against God thou oughtest not to suspect thy self guilty of this sin 2. Whatsoever thou hast done against God if thou dost repent it and wish it were undone thou canst not be guilty of this sin for in it heart-malice and despight against God do still prevail 3. If thou art content to be his debtor for pardon and wouldest be infinitely obliged unto him for it then thou canst not in that case be guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost for as we shewed before they who are guilty of it do so despite God that they would not be his debtors for salvation 4. Whatsoever thou hast done if thou hast a desire after Jesus Christ and dost look with a desiring after him and canst not think of parting with his Blessed Company for ever Or if thou must part with him yet dost wish well to him and all his thou needest not suspect thy self to be guilty of this unpardonable sin For there can be no such hatred of him in thy bosome as is necessarily required