things; and if we say that we have no şin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." y

66

This Article therefore, teaches, that Christ partook of the ordinary nature of man, subject to infirmities and temptations, but that he was without sin; that he was a Lamb without spot," and offered himself to God as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It is our part, by uniform obedience to God's commands, in faith and repentance, to endeavour to obtain his favour, without presuming on our own merits, or sinking into despondence.

This is the fourteenth Article of those of 1552, and there intituled, "None but Christ without Sin."

ARTICLE XVI.

OF SIN AFTER BAPTISM.

Ir does not appear that in this Article is meant the outward ordinance of Baptism, or at least not that in itself, but the inward spiritual grace sig

y 1 John i. 8.

а

nified by Baptism, the new birth or regeneration. If we sin wilfully, a after we have received the knowledge of the Truth, "there remains no more sacrifice for sins." But, if every sin after Baptism be not unpardonable, as is confirmed by the fall of St. Peter, "the grant of repentance is not to be denied." "By the grace of God we may arise again, and amend our lives." c

The Sin against the Holy Ghost is represented by the three first Evangelists, as never to be forgiven. This sin is understood to consist in the final rejection of the Gospel; the truth of which the Apostles preached, and which was confirmed by miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost; as it discovered an invincible obstinacy, and an impious defiance of the mercy and goodness of

z Rom. vi. 3, 4.

a Gal. iii. 10.

x. 26, 27.

Luke xii. 40.

Rom. i. 18. 1 John v. 16. Heb.

b Mark iii. 28.

Gal. vi. 1. 2 Sam. vii. 15. Luke xxii. 32.

Tillotson, on Matt. xii. 31, 32.

Kettlewell's Measures of Obedience,

1. 5. c. 6. Pearson, on the Creed, Art. 10. p. 368. Clemens Rom. Epist. ad Cor. c. 7. Ignatius, Ep. ad Phil. Clemens Alex. Quis dives salv. c. 39.

57.

Irenæus, adv. Hær. 1. 3. c. 37.

Cyprianus Ep.

Luke xxii. 32. 1 John i. 10. 2 Cor. ii. 7, 8.

c Rom. xi. 20.

d Matt. xii. 31, 32.

Mark iii. 28, 29. Luke xii. 10.

e Heb. ii. 4.

God. It was the common opinion among the Ancient Jews, that all sins would be forgiven them in the age of the Messiah. To rectify this mistaken notion, our Saviour tells them, that the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, in particular, should not be forgiven them in that time of the Messiah, which they expected to come. It was the particular Blasphemy of the Pharisees, obstinately and maliciously to impute the Miracles of Christ to the Devil. This sin is unpardonable, because no man, guilty of it, can repent of it. He has done the utmost against the Spirit of Grace,s and it is impossible, without grace, to repent.

f

This was the fifteenth Article of 1552; and was intituled "Of Sin against the Holy Ghost." Instead of the word "forgiveness," it was "penance" in that Article. After this, another followed, which is not included in the Articles of 1562, intituled "The Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost." "The Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is then committed, when any man, out of malice and hardness of heart, doth wilfully reproach and persecute, in an hostile manner, the Truth of God's word, manifestly made known unto him. Which sort of men, being made ob

f Mark iii. 29, 30.

g Heb. x. 29.

noxious to the curse, subject themselves to the most grievous of all wickednesses; from whence this kind of sin is called unpardonable, and so affirmed to be by our Lord and Saviour."

ARTICLE XVII.

OF PREDESTINATION AND ELECTION.

h

k

"PREDESTINATION to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby, before the foundations of the world were laid, he hath constantly decreed by his counsel, secret to us, i to deliver, from curse and damnation, those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore they,' which he endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they, through grace, obey the

m

calling they be justified " freely: they be made " sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ: they walk religiously P in good works: and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity.

"As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their Faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God; so, for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the sentence of God's Predestination, is a most dangerous downfal, whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation, or into wretchlessness of most unclean living, no less perilous than desperation.

r Heedlessness, Carelessness; the Latin word is præcipitium, pre

cipice.