The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-11
atnTs PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.


objectionable Siu.'
Rev Thomas Sweet delivered sermon yesterday
morning on "rne objectionable SIM Ut the North
Presbyterian church. corner OF Ninth avenue and
Thirty. first street. Prelacing his sermon with the
reading OF the third chapter OF Paus Episte TO the
Hebrews he SAID scarcely any question arising from
Scripture instruction has caused more apprehension
than that which IS known as the objectionable
sn.n Sinners have been deferred from effort by the
belief that they have committed 1t, and many
weak Christians have grown discouraged as
they have magni1ed their defects to embrace
1t. The objectionable sin has been referred
to by all the Evangellsts, by Matthew, Mark
and Luke in their Gospels, ana by John in
his first Epist.e; Matthew xii, u and 81; Mark Ill.,
2s to &c. and Luke xiii, TO- all assert that sins and
basphemies even agalns. the Son OF Man, shall be
forgiven but that plasphemies against the Holy
Ghost shall never be forgiven John. In his FIRST
Ep;stc, w. ID probably aude go. to cer ahe
lie says:-"If any man see his brother sin sin
which Is not unto death he shall ask and he shall
give HIN lie Tor them that sin not unto death. There
is sin unto death. do not say that he shall pray
for it," This all that said IN the Bible about the
objectionable sin. Tne circumstances in which
these declarations In the Gospel were made were
these:-rhe Pharisees had spoken most blasphemous
words against Christ and His miracles, which
Holy Ghost, but not under the immediate dispense
tlon OF the Spirit They had gone as far IN lmpiey
ness. They had spoken basphemy against the Son
OF Man and ascribed His miracles to tae power Of
the dcv still they might be pardoned, and one lur.
ther EFFORT would be used to convince them. In
short time, He, tho promised Messiah, would be
cruceu rise from the dead and ascend into Heaven,
whence He would send forth the Holy Spirit on His
apostles and disciples, enabling them 10 perform
their testimony concerning His resurrection aad
ascension. Whoever, therefore, should baspheme
this last and most complete attestaton TO Jesus as
TO Him ana His Kingdom deliberately ascroe the
operations Of the Holy Spirit to satan That man
would be gwen up TO fnal o0duracy anu impenl-
tency, and thus be pardoned. Then only those
commit this sin who ascrlbe the miracles OF Christ
to the power OF the devil. None who beiieved then
or believe now that Jesus is the Son Of God are in
this unsalvabe etae. The whole tenor OF Gospel
teaching is AGAINST It. me preacher then viewed
dispensations Of grace found In the history OF the
Church. Tho first was that Of the Father, prepard-
tory state. IN Which the doctrine OF atoneInent was
taught through visible sacrifices ana human priest
hood; the second was that OF the Gospel when Jesus
wrought miracles TO attest that claim; the third
was the Iioly Spirit who was manifested in Pente-
Nothing more was given. II q man reject God in
His atherly relations, II he reject Jesus, anu then
e mon ma hpar and e conscience 70 ead h
| TO repentance thea there 10 no room for pardon
he abandons himself entirely to SIN, as II there
were God, eternity; as II soul and body died
together when life ceased. The Osce OF the IL oily
SPIRIT is the most important conceivable; God sent
spiritual influence to commune with our spiritual
nature, plead with the SOUL and soften our hearts,
and II fail to work with 1t, while it works in us,
we fail entirely, since we have no inclination ut
other tines 70 perform single religious duty.
There Is limit to this influence, since God SAYS
that II shall not always strive with men. Hence
the sin against the Holy Ghost is deadly, since II
closes every door 10 repentance and is 30 by its
being continuous rejection OF the Holy Spirit,
and not one act OF fearful enOrni upon which the
mind Ii inclined to rest with adherence. These six
points were then adduced-l. The direct stu
against the Holy Ghost consists in ascribng ChrlsLs
miracles TO the power OF the devil. q When gnor-
insufficient information led to this fault, out
that the error was seen afterwards and retracted,
there was room for pardon. g. The only manner In
which the sin can be committed consists in reject
ing the influence OF the Spirit upon the heart.
1. This sin not the result Of at but In the
continued hardening Of the heart against Gods
appeals 8. The abn0rrence OF sinful lie winch
may lead to despair and the fear that the unparlon
aolc sin mas been committed Is, on the contrary the
best evidence that the Holy Spirit is operating upon
the thus afflicted soui. 6. When man has become
insensble to religious feelings, and whose con-
science Is undsturbed by his SINFUL life. that man
should beware, for towards him GOD il pointing,
saying, ale Is past feeling; let HIM alone"