holy Ghost séeing he renounced yea and that with cursing and hanning the troth whiche he him self had before knowen and confessed And yet he that shall so iudge must néeds be blamed of rashnesse and vntroth aswel because of the repentance of this Disciple as of the pardon which he obtained of his master and lord And if any wil say that there ar diuers such as the Apostle describeth euen as we wil not deny it for asmuche as these things are not written for nought and that Iesus Christ wold not haue made so expresse mention of the sin against the holy Ghost if there had not béen such a sin so likewise we say it is not so easy to be knowen as it séemeth and it is much better to suspeÌ„d our iudgment in this case and to leaue the knowledge therof to god who knoweth those that be his then lightly and rashly to condemne those that possibly God hath determined to shew mercy vnto that the more horrible the sin séemeth and void of all pardon the more he might magnifie his great goodnesse and mercy For it often commeth to passe that where sin hath abounded there grace aboundeth much more Beside this the faith which we haue in the promises of God whiche promiseth pardon to all those that repeÌ„t them from the bottom of their harts and the charitie which we bere to our neighbor prouoketh vs to hope wel of all men and to pray to God for the saluation of all sinners euen of those that séem to be the moste desperate in the world Also what shall we say by this coÌ„maundmeÌ„t that Christ gaue to his disciples saying Loue your enmies blesse those that curse you doo good to those that hate you pray for those that hurt you persecute you that ye may be the children of your father which is in heaueÌ„ for he maketh his Sun to shine vpon the good and bad and sendeth his rain vpon the iust and vniust And S. Paule saith The seruaÌ„t of the Lord must not striue but must bee gentle towards all men apt to teach suffering the euil men patiently instructing them with méeknesse that are coÌ„trary minded prouing if God at any time wil giue them repentance that they may knowe the troth and that they may come to amendment out of the snare of the Deuil whiche are taken of him at his wil. In deed the Apostle speaketh not directly of those that resist the troth that they once knew neither yet excludeth he those which are such because God is able inough to call them again to the true knowledge of the troth and to giue them that taste of Heauenly and deuine things whiche before they had lost Seeing then that we know not how God wil woork with men and that the conuersion of sinners is in his hand and that we are not sure whether they whiche resist the troth to day shall consent to morrow or whether they be misled by ignorance wekenesse or any fond zeale we cannot doo amisse to commend them to God and to pray for their conuersion and amendment Touching the answers and solutions of the former obiections we first confesse that all our prayers ought to be made in faith without the which man may not look to obtain any thing at Gods hand as S. Iames saith We confesse also that the woord of God commaundeth vs not to pray for these that sin against the holy Ghost But therwith we say that it is not easy for vs to knowe such sinners as appéereth by the reasons before alleged For they somtimes ar thought to sin maliciously and of determinate purpose that are rather misled with fond zeale and blinde ignorance then of determinate malice It may sometimes come to passe theÌ„ that amongst those that persecute the Gospel some sin of ignorance and other some of malice and so consequently against the holy Ghost But for that the intent of the hart is reserued to the knowledge of God alone the faithful ought stil to pray for all in generall As we sée S. Stephen did For though they were of his aduersaries that resisted the holly Ghost as he laid to their charge yet when he was redy to yéeld vp the Ghost he ceassed not to pray in generall without exception of this man or that man saying Lord lay not this sin to their charge for they knowe not what they doo And in déed if we should iudge who sinned against the holy Ghost in persecuting this holy man should we not put Saule in the number of them at the least For from his youth he had béen instructed in the law vnder that excellent doctor Gamaliel and could wel iudge that all that S. Steuen alleged for the defeÌ„ce of his doctrin was drawen out of the pure fountain of the holy scriptures and neuerthelesse his sudain wonderful conuersion dooth sufficiently declare that his sin was not vnpardonable as hee him self dooth sufficiently witnesse Also we sée many that séemed to be wholly cast away and desperat which neuerthelesse are so touched with the féeling of their sinnes that they ernestly repent are set foorth to others as mirrors examples of the goodnesse of God which giueth life to the dead and calleth the things that be not as though they were The example of the Corinthians and Galathians may serue to this purpose very wel for some of them were so far departed froÌ„ that pure doctrin the S. Paule had preached vnto theÌ„ that they douted of the resurrection of the dead these were strayed froÌ„ Christ which had called theÌ„ through grace to an other gospel so far that they thought the ceremonies of the law were necessary to saluatioÌ„ wherin they not only gainsaid the doctrin of the Apostle but also like mad men bereued them selues of the frute that all the faithful haue by the death of Iesê° Christ neuerthelesse the holy Apostle leaueth not to indeuer to bring theÌ„ bothe again into the right way of troth For the sin against the holy Ghost importeth not simply some euil or false opinion that one may holde against some or many points of Religion but a generall reuolting and apostasie from all Christianitie wheÌ„ hauing béen illuminate by the vertue of the holy Ghost resisteth of determinate malice the doctrin of the trueth with intent to resist it And it is no maruail if this sin be vnpardonable séeing that he which is is giltie of them maliciously despiseth Iesus Christ and maketh a mock of his doctrin without the which none can obtain pardon of his iniquities and we may not think it straunge and accuse God of crueltie though he pardoÌ„ not such sin séeing that they which coÌ„mit it coÌ„e not to repentance And is it reason the God shuld pardon the sin that the offeÌ„der nothing repenteth This is it that the Apostle affirmeth saying If we sin willingly after that we haue receiued the knowledge of the trueth
A TREATISE of the sin against the holy ghost made by M. Augustine Marlorate Translated out of french to the great consolation of all such as repent them of their sinnes and to the astonying of of those that mock and despise the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christe Iames. 5. verse 19.20 ¶ Breethern if any of you haue erred from the trueth and some man hath conuerted him let him knowe that he whiche hath conuerted the sinner from going astray out of his way shal saue a soule froÌ„ death and shall hide a multitude of sinnes ¶ Imprinted at London by Lucas Harison Augustine Marlorate to the christian Reader wissheth health and peace through Iesus Christe LEst any should think that in this small Treatise I like an euill Attorney would go about to defend the cause of suche as mocking God do dally with the Gospel thincking to folow it or leaue it as oft as they list as if of them selues at their ovvne choise they might make atonement vvith the sonne of God vvhom they giue ouer to opprobry I beseeche you in the name of our Lord Iesus patieÌ„tly to reed ouer this Treatise to the end So dooing I hope ye vvil iudge that mine intent heerby is onely to bring such again into the right vvay of saluatioÌ„ as hetherto haue not so vvel profited in the knovvledge of the Gospel that inestimable treasure as the excellency and great benefit thereof requireth to th' end that all such as shall heerafter hear the sound of the voice of Iesus Christe in his Churche may knovve that he is redy to iudge suche as resist dispise his vvord but cheefly those that in this great light of the Gospel greeâ—e the holy spirit of God by vvhome the faithfull are sealed for the day of their redemption Forasmuch then as the vvord of God is directed to diuers maner of people and is not receiued of all vvith one maner affection as appeereth in the similitude of the seed this Treatise may serue to bothe that the good being inspired with the holy ghost may be assured of the doctrin vvhich they folow and may be strengthned more more in the Lord and in the povver of his might couragiously to reiect all spirits yea vvere it an angel of Heauen that should teach any other doctrin for the saluation of men then that vvhiche is contained in the holy gospel and that such other as this holy and sacred doctrin hath not yet takeÌ„ so deep root in may ernestly bee moued to consider at the leÌ„gth vvherin the suretie of their saluation coÌ„sisteth that they froÌ„ hence foorth be no more like children wauering caried about with euery winde of doctrin by the deceit of men by craftines whereby they lye in waite to deceiue But vvholly may rest on Christe and submit them selues to him vvhich died is risen again for them and also to the end that they vvhiche through infirmitie or for fear of men or losse of their goods honors haue shut vp and hidden the secret of faith may vvake out of their drousy forgetfulnes heerafter open their mouthes to confesse to saluation before all men that vvhich fait harted fear hath made them so long to hide dissemble least preferring the glory of men before the glory of God they in th' end feel the effect executioÌ„ of this horrible threaning vvhich is pronouÌ„ced on theÌ„ that tempt Iesus Christ before men Finally this treatise tendeth to this end that all excuses set apart eche maÌ„ may seek for his saluation vvith fear trembling seing that God hauing so loÌ„g forborn in time of ignoraÌ„ce vvilleth novv al men in all places to repent lest he come and strike the earth to destruction Ezech. 18.27 VVhen the wicked turneth away from his wickednes that he hath committed doth that which is lawfull and right hee shall saue his soule aliue Hebru 4.16 Let vs go boldely vnto the throne of grace that we may receiue mercy and finde grace in time of need A treatise of the sin against the holy Ghost SEeing that bolde and rash men ouershoot them selues so far as to giue iudgement of that which is knowen to one onely God and oft forgetting what they them selues ought to be and how they ought to liue according to Gods will cruelly condemne those on whome the Lord wil haue mercy It is good first to note that not all sin which séemeth to be against the holy Ghost is sin against the holy Ghost in deed for there are many that resist the trueth of the Gospel wherof if séemeth they haue had some knowledge whiche neuerthelesse sin not against the holy Ghost in as much as it is ioyned with some ignoraÌ„ce which exempteth them from this horrible sin whiche is not pardoned in this world nor in the world to come Which S. Paule signifieth saying that he obtained pardon because that through ignorance and for lack of faith he had béen a blasphemer a persecutor and oppressor wherby it foloweth that not all sin wher with man resisteth the trueth of God is sin against the holy Ghost But when man is so touched with the light of the troth that he cannot pretend ignorance and neuerthelesse of determinate malice resisteth then he sinneth against the holy Ghost and it is not possible for him to be renued by repeÌ„tance in that he hath forsaken God and is becom an Apostata or forsaker of Christianitie Such were the Scribes and Phariseyes who hauing the knowledge of the Law and seeing the manifest woorks of the power of God attributed the miracles which Iesus Christ wrought to Belzebub Such were they also which resisted S. Stephen and of determinate purpose blamed that doctrin wherof they could not be ignorant but that it procéeded from God as that holy Martir likewise reprooued them when he was redy to shed his blood in the defence of the doctrin of the Ghospel For if S. Stephen had delt with ignorant men hee would haue vsed them otherwise But seeing that they raged against God and went about to rob God of his honor he boldely pronounceth that they withstand the holy Ghost let vs theÌ„ conclude that they sin against the holy Ghost who hauing the knowledge of God trueth doo neuerthelesse of determinat malice resist the same But let vs sée whether it be lawful to pray for those that are giltye of this sin for it séemeth no by many reasons First the prayer of the faithfull ought to be made in faith which béeing grounded on the woord of God we are assured that they shal be heard And ther is no word of God the assureth vs that our prayer shal be heard for those that sin against the holy ghost but rather if saith coÌ„trary wise the there is a sin to death and I say not saith S. Iohn that thou shalt pray for such It foloweth theÌ„ that it is in vain for vs to pray for
there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes that is to say If we wittingly and obstinatly leaue of the doctrin of the Gospel which teacheth vs that Iesus Christe hath giuen him self to clense vs from all our sinnes there resteth no more sacrifice for our sinnes For there is nothing but the blood of the sonne of God that can clense vs from our sinnes that we haue committed against God. Touching that which is alleaged of Alexander the copper smith it is not to be douted but S. Paule who was ful of the holy ghost had soÌ„e perticuler reuelatioÌ„ knowledge of certain persoÌ„s with whome he had to doo by vertue of the which holy Ghost hee did disclose their wickednesse and hipocrisie and holdely detests it before all men which gift is not giuen to all men neither is it necessary for Gods wil is to keep vs within the bouÌ„ds of sobrietie and modestie And it is good reasoÌ„ that we leaue to him the knowledge of such high matters which belong to his vnsearchable and eternall councel Forasmuch then as Alexander of determinat â–ª purpose did fight against the troth whiche hee knew Saint Paule pronounceth that such wickednesse is altogither vnworthy of mercy Likewise he saith in an other place If any man looue not the Lord Iesus Christ let him be excommunicate to death And again He that troubleth you shall beare his condemnation who so euer he be And anon after Would to God they were euen cut of whiche doo disquiet you But hee that should imitate the holy Apostle héerin and pronounce sentence of cursse against those that obey not the Gospel yea or those that maliciously resist the same it is to be feared lest that whiche the Lord said to his disciples might rightly be said vnto him Ye knowe not of what spirit ye are That which is alleaged of Ieremy and Samuel confirmeth that whiche we haue said that is If any man haue certain reuelation or commaundement not to pray for those that God hath forsaken we ought to obey it For then the Lord should manifestly declare that such were out of hope of saluation But when we haue no such reuelation leauing it altogither into the hands of the Lord we ought of charitie to commit to him the saluation of all men yea and the more hainously we se them sin and approch to their ouerthrowe the more ernestly ought we to commend them to God who killeth and maketh aliue bringeth downe to the graue and raiseth vp again which S Iude commaundeth saying Haue compassion of some in putting difference and others saue with feare pulling them out of the fire S. Peeter sawe that Simon the Sorcerer was a wicked and ambitious hipocrite ready to misuse and prophane holy and spirituall things and yet after he had sharply reprooued him and shewed him the iust iudgment of God he mooueth him to repentance and putteth him in hope of obtayning pardon saying Repent of thy wickednesse and pray to God that if it be possible the thought of thine hart may be forgiuen thée for I sée thou art in the Gall of bitternesse and in the band of iniquitie S. Paule also hauing to do with Elimas the enchanter that went about to turn away the deputie from the faith pronounced not vnto him the extreme seueritie of the iudgement of God but onely after he had declared vnto him his iniquitie pronounceth that hee shal be blinde and not sée the Sun for a time to th' end that the Deputie seeing the vertue of God which wrought in his holy Apostle might be prouoked to receiue the doctrin of the gospel which he brought vnto him Although then the the wicked shew sometimes such euident signes of their wickednesse and rebellion that they seem wholly cast of desperate neuerthelesse it is not lawful for vs while they are in this present life to think the they are so far out of the way of saluation but that they may be brought home again through the mercy of him that came into this world to saue sinners As for the curses drawen out of diuers Psalmes where Dauid craueth Gods help agaist his enemyes desiring that they may bee ouerthrowen and confouÌ„ded we say as we haue said touching that which S. Paule writeth of Alexander the copper smith that is that Dauid hauing the spirit of prophecie might haue certain reuelation of the ouerthrowe of those against whome he prayed and guided by the same spirit he forsheweth and wisheth in conforming him self to the iust iudgement of God that his enemyes shall come to shame and confusion Considering also that this Prophet represented the head of the Church that is to say Iesus Christe King of Kings and onely hed of the faithful And in this respect he boldly proceedeth and saith that all they that withstand him whome God hath raised vp abooue others shal be sharply punished for their boldenesse and rashnesse for that they with stand God and his Christe We may not then defend our selues with suche like cursings as are found in many places of Scriptures seeing there are certain things perticuler to Prophets which cannot consequently belong to theÌ„ that are much inferior to such holy personages which did as it were foresee their ouerthrowe at hand whome they wished to be saued if they would haue repented As appéereth plainly by certain examples of the Scriptures Moises was the mildest and gentlest man that euer was yet seeing the hard and ambitious harts of Dathan Core and Abiron and that God was redy to take horrible vengeance on them for their murmuring said vnto the Lord not with desire of vengeance but in the spirit of Prophesie Look not vnto their offering I haue not taken so muche as one Asse from them neither haue I hurte any of them Yet neuerthelesse we sée elâ—wher how ernestly he laboureth to appease the Lords wrath whiche seemed to bee so kindled against the people for worshipping the golden Calf as though he wold vtterly destroy them who would not thinck that there were two diuers Spirits in this one person that he delt more gently with the I dolaters then with the murmurers Yea it might sée me that hee was more careful for his owne honor then of the glory of God sith he prayed to the Lord so ernestly to pardon the people their Idolatry as to desire that the Lord should rather wipe him out of the Book of life on the other side he prayeth God not to receiue their offrings which presumptuously stood vp against him his brother Aaron whiche were but mortall men But the same spirit which enforced them to craue pardon for the people prouoked them to aske vengeance on the rebells and murmurers which withstood not onely Moses and Aaron but the Lord vnder whom they exercised the charge which they had receiued of him The like we see in the Apostle S. Paule who did beare so great affection
and GalathiaÌ„s to whom he writeth thê° Awake to liue righteously sin not for soÌ„e haue not the knowledge of god And also My little children of whom I trauail in birth again vntil Christ be fouÌ„d again in you Such and like exaÌ„ples teach vs rather to prouoke by all menes possible such as are out of the right way to return back again to commit theÌ„ to the mercy of God then to cast them of as desperate or to beseech God to ouerthrowe and confound them except wee haue some certain reuelation as they had of whom we spake before If then any haue abused the benefits of God and namely the knowledge of the Ghospel and afterwarde be stricken with the feeling of their sin and oppressed with the iudgement of God if they repent and séek to reconcile theÌ„ selues to the Church let not vs be so cruel as to shut vp the entry of the kingdome of Heauen from them séeing that the very Angels are more ioyfull for a sinner that repenteth him then for nintie and nine iust men which néed no amendmeÌ„t of life Further more before we coÌ„clude it is necessary that the Readers be admoniâ—â—ed that in any wise they abuse not that which hath béen spokeÌ„ as if we would giue libertie to scoffers mockers to dally with God to forsake the troth as oft as they list for the nature malice of meÌ„ seeketh alwaies these wicked extremityes neuer kéepeth measure in deuine heaueÌ„ly thingê but findeth alwaies somwhat to carp at to blame the pure doctrin of the troth As If we declare what the Scripture teacheth touching election and reprobation that is that God hath chosen some yea before the foundatioÌ„ of the world to giue them eternall life and that this election is frée and that God hath mercy on whome he wil haue mercy and whom he wil he hardeneth straight waies the carnall naturall man which comprehendeth not the thingê the are of the spirit of God concludeth thervpon the we need not to passe for wel liuing For if I be saith he predestinat to saluation euerlasting life I cannot perish séeing the the chosen are out of daunger and contrary wise if I be a reprobate I can not force the wil of God which hath appoiÌ„ted me to perdition so the flesh wil take occasioÌ„ to liue at pleasure as if the end of our election were not the we should be holy without blaÌ„e before him in loue And if we say as the troth is the faith iustifieth that our work caÌ„not satisfy the iudgemeÌ„t of god to obtaiÌ„ grace righteousnes yea wheÌ„ we haue done all that is commaunded vs to doo we must confesse our selues to be vnprofitable seruants straight waies they cry out that this doctrin is falce and hereticall that it maketh men carelesse and slouthful to doo good woorks seeing that if the opinion of merit be taken away we shal neuer doo any thing with good courage But these poore ignorant men or rather Hipocrites consider not that when we attribute to faith the meanes of iustifiing we comdemne not good woorks whiche are the effects and frutes therof seeing that a true and liuely faith woorketh by charitie and that the end of our vocation is that we walke in newnesse of like For that it is written Euery frée that bringeth not foorth good frute shal be hewen down and throwen into the fire Also Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good woorkê and glorifie your father which is in heauen Also If a maÌ„ abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and withereth and men gathereth them and cast them into the fire and then burn And S. Paule saith Belooued bréethern be you stedfast vnmoouable abundant alwaies in the woork of the Lord for asmuch as ye knowe that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. And again We are his woorkmanship created in Christe Iesus vnto good woorks which God hath ordayned that we should walke in them In an other place Do these things saith hee and the God of peace shal be with you And speaking of Iesus Christe he saith Who gaue him self for vs the hee might redeme vs froÌ„ all iniquitie purge vs to be a perticuler people vnto himself zealously giuen to good woorks S. Péeter also writeth after this sort Haue your coÌ„uersation honest among the Gentles that they which speake euil of you as of euill dooers may by your good woorks which they shall see glorify God in the day of the visitation To be short the whole Scripture teacheth vs to bestowe the time of our whole life in dooing good woorks séeing that we are like trees planted to glorify God and that he hath not called vs to vncleannesse but vnto holinesse And neuerthelesse the same Scripture therwithall teacheth vs the we are saued by grace through faith and that not of our selues for it is the gift of God not through woorks lest any man should boast him self For I count that the afflictions of this preseÌ„t time are not worthy of the glory whiche shal be shewed vnto vs. And euen as of these two former points man goeth about to conclude and maliciously to gather that it is in vain to endeuer to walke in holynesse of life so likewise I knowe that some may so take the contents of this treatise touching the repentance of sinners as if we would qualify the sin of those which after knowledge of the truth of the gospel stick not shamefully to ronounce and forsake the same either vnder pretence of wekenesse or fear of men or torments or losse of goods or honors of this world or any other cause what so euer it be But when we go about to bring again those that are gone astray into the right way of saluation it is not to giue occasion to others to stray out of the way When we teach those that ar sick or hurt a méet remedy to heal them it is not to cause such as are whole to giue theÌ„ selues soÌ„e deadly wound to see if the remedy which we taught the other wil help them When we receiue the strayed shéep into the flock of Christe it is not to make the other which were there long before to depart out and to say that they wil come into the flock again as oft as they list Again when we set foorth to the sinner what so euer hee be the blood of Iesus Christe wich is ready to clense his conscience from the woorks of death to serue the liuing God it is not to giue any occasion to abuse the same or to tread it vnder feet For he that despiseth Moses law dieth without mercy vnder two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be worthy whiche treadeth vnder foot the Sonne of God and counteth the blood of the Testament as an vnholy thing