492 The danger of Apofiacy from Chrij1ianity. Vol. I. As, 2 Pet. 2. 20, s I. If after they have efcaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord andSaviour 7efus Chrifi, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worfe with them than the beginning. For it had been bet- ter for them, not to have known theway of Righteoufnefs, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto them. Therefore we may do well toconfider ferioufly what we do, when, under the Means and Opportunities of Knowledge which the Gofpel affords us, and the ineftimable Bleungs and Fa- vours which it confers upon us, we live in any wicked and vicious courfe. Our Sins are not of a common rate, when they have fo much of wilfulnefs and unwor- thinefs in them. If Men thal1 be feverely punifh'd for living againft the Light of Nature; what vengeance (hall be poured on thofe who offend againft the Glori- ous Light of theGofpel? This is the Condemnation, that Light iscome, &c. 3d/y, TheConfideration of what hath been Paid is Matter of Comfort to thofe, who upon every Failing and Infirmity are afraid they have committed the unpardonable Sin, and that it is impoffible for them to be re(tor'd by Repentance. There are many who being of adark and melancholy Temper, are apt to reprefent things worfe to themfelves than there is reafon for, anddo many times fancy them- felvesguilty of great Crimes, in the doing or negle&ing of thofe things which in their nature are indifferent, and are apt to aggravate and blow up every little Infir- mity into anunpardonable Sin. Molt Men are apt to extenuate their Sins, and not to be fenfible enough of the Evil and Heinoufnefsof them; but it is the peculiar infelicity of Melancholy Perfons to look upon their Faults as blacker and greater, than in truth they are; and whatfoever they hear and read in Scripture, that is fpo- ken againft the groffe(t and molt enormous Offenders, they apply to themfelves; and when they hear of the Sin againfl the Holy Gho(i, and the Sin unto Death, or read this Text which I am now treating of, they prefently conclude that they are guilty of thefe Sins, and that this is a defcriptionof their Cafe. Whereas the Sin againfl the HolyGhofl is of that nature, that probably none but thofe that faw our Saviour's Miracles are capable of committing it; and excepting that, there is no Sin whatfoever that is unpardonable. As for theSin unto Death, and that here fpoken of in the Text, I have (hewn that they are a total Apo(tacy from the Chri- flian Religion, more efpecially to the Heathen Idolatry; which thefe Perlons I am fpeaking of, have no reafon to imagine themfelves guilty of. And though great and notoriousCrimes committed by Chri(tians, may come near to this, and it may be very hard for thofe who are guilty of them, to recover themfelves again to Re- pentance; yet to be lure, for the common Frailties and Infirmities of Human Na- ture, there is an open way of Pardon in the Gofpel, and they are many times for- given to us upon a General Repentance; fo that upon account of there, which is commonly the cafe of the Perlons I am (peaking of, there is not the leaft ground of Defpair 5 and though it be hard many times for fuch Perlons to receive Com- fort, yet it is eafy to give it, and that upon lure Grounds, and as clear Evi- dence of Scripture, as there is for any thing; fo that the fir(t thing that Inch Per fons, who are fo apt to judge thus hardly of themfelves are to be convinced of (if po(lible) is this, that they ought rather to truft theJudgment of others con- cerning themfelves, than their own Imagination, which is fo diftemper'd, that it cannot make a true Reprefentation of things. I know that where Melancholy does mightily prevail, it is hard toperfuadePeople of this : but till they be perfwaded of it, I am lure all the Keafonin the World will fignify nothing to them. 4thly, This(hould make Men afraid ofgreat and prefumptuousSins, which come near Apoftacy from Chriftianity; fuch as deliberate Murder, Adultery, grofs Fraud and Oppref lion, or notoriousand habitual Intemperance. For what great difference is there, whether Men renounce Chriftianity; or profef ìng to believe it, do in theirWorks deny it? Some of thefe Sins which I have mention'd, particu- larly Murder andAdultery; were ranked in the fame degree with Apo(tacy, by the Ancient Church ; and fo fevere was the Difcipline of many Churches, that Perfons guiltyof thefe Crimes, were never admitted to the Peace and Commu- nion of the Church again, whatever Teftimony they gave of their Repen- tance. I will not fay but this was too rigorous; but this (hews how íncon- fi(tent
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