Well then art thou Baptized art thou signed with the Idem de Cataclysmate c. 9. Kings Seale beginnest thou to feede at the Table of thy King * Idem Epla ad Arment et Paulin Noli esse Desertor become not a flincher Remember thy Couenant * Quia iam vouisti iam te astrinxisti the vowe hath bound thee wretched art thou if thou break thy vowe to God The Heathen neuer forsake their Gods but feare reuerence and mainly defend them lest by changing their rights they should be taxed with error Illi perseuerant in falso tiâ— non perseuâ—ras in vero Shall they persist in falshood and * Chrysost homil de Ierâ—m Prophet wilt not thou abide in the truth Socrates though a Pagan hauing denied sacrifice to Apollo which was death among the Athenians being aduised by Plato to saue his life by flight said * Bonauent in Luminar Ecclesiae Serm. 5. Absit vt veritatem negem quam asserui farre be it from me to denie that truth which before I professed and therefore Plato hauing pondered with himselfe the basenesse of his Counsaile was ashamed thereof and absented himselfe from his death Who but a mad man would cast away the Anchor of his ship in a tempest who but a desperate wretch would reiect his pardon being before condemned to death or will any pitty him who knowing himselfe vnrecouerably sicke yet would cast off that Physitian who with his owne life hauing purchased a soueraigne Alexetery proffereth him certaine recouery freely if he will vse it and trust vnto him whereas otherwise except he beleeue he must dye because he despiseth the sole meanes of his preseruation Saint * Homil. 25. in oper Imperf in Math. Chrysostome expresseth the state of such persons in a familiar similitude As the house saith he that hath a firme foundation suffereth no great ruine if part of the wall or roofe do fall because it may be repaired againe but if the foundation fall then the ruine is great because the whole tumbleth down So if a Christian commit fornication adultery or manslaughter his fall is not great and vnrecouerable because hee may rise againe by repentance as Dauid did But if the foundation of his faith faile that he turne Pagan and become vnbeleeuer then his ruine is great and vnrecouerable for the whole perisheth And such sinne more heinously then those who neuer knew him or beleeued in him and Christ is more offended at them Truly spake the * Poet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sophocles There can be no greater sore then a false friend whom a man can neither fugere neque fugare shunne nor banish So Christ complaineth that if an enemie had dishonourea him he Bern. Psalm 55. could haue bare it but his companion and familiar friend to betray him made it execrable He was grieued at the Infidels vnder the Law of Nature but more at the Iewes vnder the Law of Moses because his loue was greater vnto them But most against Iudas vnder the Law of Grace for betraying him it appeareth by the diuersity of their punishments The first he drowned which was an easie death The second Gen. 7. Num. 15. he stoned which was a more greeuous death But Iudas the Traytor hung himselfe which was a most shamefull death and accursed and the rather because hee Math. 27. was of the number of those to whom he had said yee are my Ioh. 15. friends We doe worthily detest Cains iniquity Lamech his cruelty Chams subsannation Ismaelsferity Esaw his pertinacie Absalon his malice the peruersity of Ioseph his brethren But all these are nothing to that incomparable villany of Iudas in betraying his Lord and Master whom he beleeued to be the sonne of the euer-liuing God and the Sauiour of mankind this impiety was aboue all other of an Apostle who should haue bin one of the 12. Iudges sitting in glory to iudge the 12. Tribes of Israell to become a Traytor against him who called him to this high dignity and therefore because of his monstrous ingratitude the diuell entred into his heart and carried him headlong to the acting of his Treason and from thence despairing of pardon to hang himselfe where he brast asunder and his bowels gushed out Surely Iudas committed that Sinne against the Holy Ghost for so great was his malice against Christ that if it had beene possible he would haue had not his flesh onely but his soule and Diuinity also to be destroyed hee betrayed him to death whom he beleeued to be the Lord of life yet such was his most indurate malice that nothing could withhold him from his purpose though Christ vsed many meanes and admonitions vnto him Loue in washing his feete Ioh. 13. Feare when he said woe vnto him by whom the Sonne Luc. 22. of man is betrayed Sorrow when he foretold his betraying Ioh. 13. Math. 26. Shame when he said vnto Iudas Thou hast said Yea so great that he seemed after a sort to doe wrong vnto his Iustice in vsing so great mercy toward him yet hee would not be saued and because he would not he was damned yea if a man may so speake against Christs will Their Sinne who hauing once giuen their names vnto Christ entertained the truth of his Gospell and resolued their consciences thereof yet shall after fall away from the same is like vnto that which Iudas the Traytor committed for such Crucifie to themselues againe the Sonne of God and make a mocke of him and are said to despite the Spirit of Grace which is the true sinne against the Holy Ghost By faith we are made the sonnes of God which faith is wrought in our hearts by the Holy Ghost and is called in this respect the Spirit of Adoption whereby we crie Abba Father bearing Rom. 8. witnesse with our Spirit that we are the Children of God by this Spirit wee are sealed vnto the day of Redemption Ephes 4. Some Translations haue it in the day of Redemption the Fathers expound it in the day of Baptisme and the reading and exposition is good for the Holy Ghost sealeth vs in Baptisme by faith and maketh vs to be de Regio grego nor suffereth Théophylact vs to stand among the guilty and damned and hath seperated vs to Redemption Noli ergo Signaculum illud dissoluere If thou fall away from thy faith thou doest despite the Holy Ghost who did worke this in thee thou haddest receiued a Benefit and reiectest it after thou despisest the giuer he made thee the Sonne of God thou wilt be the Seruant of the Diuell he came to saue thy Soule and thou doest thrust him out of dores and seeke to bring him to confusion thou doest herein resist plainely and persecute the Holy Ghost and like Iudas art a Traytor vnto him The Second Circumstance IT sufficeth not a Christian to haue Faith to Beleeue but hee must haue Vnderstanding and Knowledge ioyned to his
Math. 12. where with hee was possessed was by the Phurises enuiously accused to haue cast it out by the power of Belzebub the Prince of the Deuils Whereupon our Sauiour hauing conuicted them sheweth their dangerous estate and dreadfull Sinne which hee termeth Sinne against the Holy Ghost which consisted herein that they Blasphemed the Holy Ghost and Blaspemy importeth the intended derogation of ones good Name St. Mathew giueth some light hereunto and saith it is to speake against the Holy Ghost And St. Marke specifieth it for they said Hee hath an vncleane Spirit So that they did attribute to the Deuill those Actions Mark 3. which they knewe to bee proper vnto God as the Eiection of Deuils Neither did they this Ignorantly for Intelligentes Christum principem daemoniorum esse dicebant though they knew him to bee the Sonne of GOD yet they termed him Ierom. Belzebub and our Sauiour said They knew him whence hee was Yea graunt they had beene deceiued by the vayle Joh. 7. of his Flesh yet could they not haue beene Ignorant that the casting out of Deuils was the proper worke of God But they did it of Malice for though they knew him to bee the Heyre yet they conspired to slay him And thus they termed him a Samaritane notwithstanding they heard him Math. 22. Dispute of the Resurrection and the Iudgement to come Ioh. 8. both which the Samaritans deny So that they did euen against their knowledge and conscience impugne the grace of God and kingdome of Christ who came to the end hee might dissolue the workes of the Deuill and they beheld his effectuall performance thereof in many his Miracles all tending to the Glory of God to the good of Man and to the downfall of Sathan the Spirit also testifying to their Spirit that it was the power of God all which notwithstanding they blasphemed CHRIST Out of the premises I deduce this Definition of Sinne against the Holy Ghost Sinne against the Holy Ghost is a to all Apostacy from Christ and his Gospell A reiecting resisting suppressing blaspheming and persecuting in thought in word in Act causlesly wilfully malitiously of the true Christian Religion the which religion the party before embraced and professed and in which Christ hee verily beleeued and did farther know by plaine and infallible Euidence the same Christ and his Religion to be the whole true and sole meanes of Saluation The which Sinne is termed by our Sauiour Blasphemie against the Holy Ghost whether by the Holy Ghost as by an essentiall Name hee would designe vnto vs the whole Antoxin part 2. tit 8. Cap. 8. Trinity euery person whereof is a Spirit and is Holy and hee who offendeth one offendeth euery one or else which I take to bee more proper the Third person in the Trinity by his personall Name one of whose Attributes is to enlighten Ioh. 16. Ioh. 1. Epist 5. with the Truth and to testifie to the Truth So that I conclude this point That as no man can say that Iesus is the Lord but onely by the Holy Ghost So no 1. Cor. 12. man speaking by the Holy Ghost can say that Iesus is execrable But such a one resisteth the Holy Ghost and speaketh Rom. 8. a word against him because the Spirit testifieth to his Spirit that Iesus is the Lord and such make the Holy Ghost a Lyar which is Blasphemie in the highest degree 1. Ioh. 5. The Sequel or effect of this Sinne viz. Destitution of remedy In these wordes There remaineth no more Sacrifice for Sinne. THe whole Gospell is a Song either of Ioy and Melody or of Sorrow and Lamentation deliuering either the glad tydings of Saluation to inuite vs to seeke after it or the heauy Doome of euerlasting Damnation to deterre and affright vs from Sinne and Impiety In these wordes those who haue receiued the true Faith of Christ and know likewise Saluation to consist therein and yet wilfully renounce it and maliciously persecute it are presented with their fearefull estate which is to be destitute and depriued of that Benefit which Christ imparted to all constant Beleeuers viz. to bee a sacrifice for their sinnes Wee know that Sacrifices in the olde Law were ordained one for to bee a Propitiatory sacrifice for the sinnes of the people to pacifie the wrath of God against those sinnes and to wash them cleane from their Iniquity The other consisted in a kinde of Latreia or forme of Seruice done vnto God not that they in themselues were effectuall to reconcile man vnto Gods grace and fauour and to blot out his Sinne but that they might typically resemble that true Sacrifice which was after fully offered by Christ on the Altar of the Crosse In which one Oblation and most perfect Sacrifice wee haue perfectly whatsoeuer the law of Nature or Moses did either figure or vnperfectly represent For by this our Sinnes are blotted out for hee was deliuered for our Sinnes By this wee receiue that grace whereby Rom. 8. we are saued For Christ being consecrate was made the Author of Eternall Saluation for all that did obey him Heb. 5. By this wee obtaine the perfection of glory for by the Blood of Iesus wee may bee bolde to enter into the holy place Heb. 10. Oh saith a deuout man God hath giuen vs a liuely pure Gers Sup. Magnisicat Sacrifice full of goodnes full of those effects for which the Legall Sacrifice was wont to bee offered vp wilt thou haue thy sinnes blotted out Behold the Lambe of God which taketh Ioh. 1. away the Sinnes of the world wilt thou giue thankes vnto God Christ gaue it vnto his Father wilt thou auoyd euill Hee healeth thee and setteth thee free for he tooke our Infirmities on himselfe wilt thou obtaine a speedy Esay 53. good at his hand Aske the Theefe and hee will tell thee What Christ promised and confirmed vnto him in his Euening Sacrifice Verily I say vnto thee this day shalt thou bee Luc. 23. with me in Paradice In the Leuiticall Law hee was resembled by a Galfe a Ramme a Goate a Lambe which were to bee offered But neither the blood of Bulls and Goates nor the ashes of an Heyfer nor the Flesh of Lambes and Goates could pacific the Heb. 9. wrath of GOD against Sinne for hee tooke no pleasure therein But the Blood of Christ which through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without fault to God to purge our Consciences from dead workes and hath obtained Eternall redemption for vs. A Lambe hee was called because of his Innocence a Ramme because of his power a Goate because of his likenes * Appearing in the similitude of sinfull Flesh to Sinne a Calfe because of the vertue of his Crosse Glos ord in 1. Cap. Leuit. Yea all these signified the Flesh of Christ which was a most perfect Sacrifice and that in foure respects First because the Flesh of mans
the mercy of God and it would not be grieuous vnto me to be tormented in the pit of Hell many Millions of yeares so that I might haue any hope of deliuerance Whereupon Doctor Gribaldus said Oh Francis I am not desperate of thy deliuerance Happily it pleaseth God to make thee feele his wrath in this life and in the life to come to shew thee his mercy Hee answered I doe certainly know that I am a Reprobate Gribaldus asked him whither he would kill himselfe if a knife were deliuered vnto him seeing he desired so earnestly to die he said lend me one and you shall see what I will doe Notso said Gribaldus but declare thy minde wholy vnto vs He answered I know not the reason of my will or minde Vergerius the Bishop spent much labour in vaine to comfort him and could hardly draw him to call vpon God in the Lords prayer wherein though at length he assented vnto him yet it was not done with the like earnest zeale as before but he confessed that his minde was so alienated from God that he could not call him Father Hee entreated all that were present that they would no longer spend their labour in vaine in comforting him for that all hope of obtayning Faith and Mercy at Gods hands was cut off So that it was more likely that a Craine of Mustardseed should fill vp the whole world then that God should giue him Faith and Grace As hee was carried into a Horselitter to be transported to Citadell casting about his eyes in a furious manner by chance he espied a knife whereon he laid hold and had slaine himselfe therewith had not two of his Sonnes who were about him wrested it perforce out of his hands Soone after he died at Citadella This is the fearefull History of Francis Spiera which I present to the consideration of all such who thinke it a small matter to dally with Religion I doe not say that hee was damned neither doe I say that he was saued howsoeuer hee standeth or hath fallen to his Rom. 14. owne Master I will not presume to iudge another mans seruant But I will take heede to my selfe and aduise all my brethren to the same least that while wee thinke that wee stand we should fall Let vs not be high minded but feare 1. Cor. 11. Rom. 11. If he perished through vnbeliefe was hee broken off Tu autem fide sta Stand thou fast by faith if thou doest stand fast it is Gods mercy not thy merit for thou bearest not the roote but the roote thee Lastly I will conclude with a consolation to all such tender consciences who are rapt into despaire by giuing ouermuch eare to the Soule slaughtering Doctrine of the austere Nouatians and furious brainsicke Anabaptists of our time Who would perswade that Repentance is not auaileable to those who fall into any notorious Sinne after Baptisme Aepin Sup. Psal 9. and hearty conuersion vnto GOD as if hee would by no meanes pardon the Repentant Soule when as the Scriptures confirme in Doctrine and examples the contrary As is manifest in Dauid notwithstanding his Adulterie 1. Sam. 12. Math. 9. Luk. 19. Gal. 1. Math. 26. 2. Chron. 33. and Murther in Mathew and Zacheus though Vsurers and Extortioners In St. Paul though he persecuted the Church In St. Peter though he denied Christ with Imprecations and Oathes and aboue all in Manasses though he fell away from God and followed all the abominations of the Heathen and vsed Witchcraft and Charming and Sorcerie and familiar Spirits and Southsayers Yet when hee humbled himselfe and prayed vnto the Lord The Lord was entreated by him and heard his prayer and forgaue him his sinne Heare the Lord himselfe As I liue saith hee I desire not the death of the wicked but that hee turne from his way Ezech. 33. and liue If thy Sinne be Great his Mercie and Goodnesse is Greater If thy Sinnes be Many according to the Multitude of Psal 51. his mercies he will doe away thine affences Were thy Sin more weighty thē the heauē thē the earth then the Sea hee who created these can peize thy Sinne and Rom. 5. where Sin hath abounded cause grace much more to abound Though thou fall backe neuer so often through infirmity yet he is Almighty and both can will raise thee vp againe if thou put thy trust in him For who so putteth his trust in the Lord mercy embraceth him on euery side Psal 31. Excellently spake Chrysostome against the Nouatians Apud Chytr Sup cap. 2. Apccalyps 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though thou fall backe neuer so often through Infirmity yet vpon hearty Repentance thou shalt be receiued and no lesse comfortably St. Augustine Toties apparet opus Dei Ibid. miserentis quoties fit confessio poenitentis God doth as often take compassion as the penitent Sinner maketh his confession Magnitudinem morbi vides Medici potentiam non vides If thou art terrified by the greatnesse of thy Sinne yet August Sup. Psal 55. be comforted by the power of the Physitian When thou art in greatest despaire Grata superueriet quae Psal 68. non sperabitur hora God will come vnto thee in an houre when thou lookest not for him hee will bring thee from the deepe of the Sea Hee calleth as well in the last houre as in the first I will iudge no man I will despaire of no man I will pray for all men while Gods patience in this life leadeth them to repentance A man saith Augustine may be a Pagan to day an vnbeleeuing Iew to day an Haereticke to day a Schismaticke to day Quid si cras amplectatur Catholicam fidem c. What if the next day hee doth embrace the Catholick faith Aug. apud Lumb 1. Sent. dist 43. and follow the Catholicke truth What if so be those whom thou doest see tainted with any kinde of Error and doest condemne them as most desperate fellowes should repent before they end this life and finde true rest and life in the world to come Iudge no man before the time therefore I know not why any man should despaire seeing God is louing true and powerfull but that we may be confident in him with the holy Father because of the Truth of his promise Bernard the loue of his Adoption and the Ability of his performance Pater eligit filius diligit Spiritus Sanctus coniungit et vnit The Father hath chosen vs the Sonne loueth vs the Cyprian Ser. de Baptisma Christi tom 2. Holy Ghost ioyneth and knitteth vs vnto God who then shall be able to separate vs from the loue of Christ I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities Rom. 8. nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. I conclude the whole with the words of our Sauiour All sinnes shall be forgiuen vnto the children of men and Blasphemies wherewith they blaspheme But he that blasphemeth Mark 3. against the Holy Ghost shall neuer haue forgiuenesse but is culpable of eternall damnation from the which Sinne God keepe vs in Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be ascribed praise and glory and wisedome and thankes and honor and power and might for euermore Amen FINIS