The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-07
SERMON.
THE BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE
HOLY GHOST.
BY REV. 7 s. GUTHRIE,
(Muncie, Ind.)

blasphemy against the Holy Gno5I SHALL
not be forgiven unto men. And who
soever speaketh word against the Son
of man it shall be forgiven him; but
whosoever speaketh against the Holy
Ghost it shall not be forgiven him,
neither in this world, neither in the
world to come.-Matt. XII. 81. 80.
GAN sins shall be forgiven unto the
sons of men and blasphemies where
whatsoever they shall blaspheme; but
he that shall blaspheme against the
Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness,
but is in danger of eternal damna-
ton. MARX III. 2S, 20.
There is in all probability no portion
of Scripture that by perversion and
misinterpretation has caused more
chaos and confusion than what is known
as the sin against the Holy Ghost. 1t
is more than likely to day that there
are more men and women in our luna
tic asylums, who have had their minds
unbalanced by presuming that they
could and have sinned against the Holy
Ghost, than from any other evil, not
excepting the demon, intemperance
itself.
Now, the Gospel of Jesus properly
understood, properly interpreted, pro-
duces no such results. No, the relig-
ion of Jesus Christ is called 1.-THE glori-
GUS Gospel of the blessed God" and
the first sound of its trumpet was,
Fear not, for behold bring you good
tidings ofgreat joy, which shall be unto
all people," AT that glad signal the
long, bright host that surrounded the
throne of the eternal, and bent in 81
lence to hear the message delivered.
plumed their golden wings and in the
new raptures of their spirits shouted
"glory to God in the highest, on earth
peace and good will to men,"
When the Saviour of the world
preached, the people wondered at the
gracious words that proceeded out Of
his mouth. When Philip went down
to Samaria and preached Christ unto
them, the raving maniacs heard the
word and were made whole and there
was great joy in the city. Such was
the Gospel in ancient times, and such
would be it's glad tidings to-day if it
were properly understood and its spirit
cOmprehended.
But some one might ask if these
texts do not teach the doctrine of an
objectionable sin. We answer, by no
means. God has never exposed His
children to an infinite evil, or given to
them an agency by the use of which
his eternal purpose or mans final good
would be jeopardized. Further than
this, God being good unto all and be-
ing without variableness or even shad-
ow of turning, he has not. he does
not, nor will he ever give an existence
to being and stamp his own divine
impress upon him, unless in the end Of
said beings existence it shall prove
blessing and not curse, which would
not be if man was to be estranged to
all eternity from God, and his sins I'M
forgiven.
We desire to further say, that the
brighter lights in the so-called ortho.
dox church would agree with US that
there is no sin but on repentance God
will forgive. Athanasius says, 'Christ
does not say to him that blasphemeth
and repenteth, but to him that bias
phemeth, for with God there is no sin
that is objectionable" Gilpin, an ap-
proved commentator, says in reference
to the same point, Nobody can suppose,
considering the whole tenor of Christian
ity, that there can be any sin which on
repentance may not be forgiven" But
do you ask if those hardened Pharisees,
who sinned against the Holy Ghost, re-
pented and were saved in this world
We answer, no. When then, if it ever
does, will such an event take place.
We answer, in the "dispensation of
the fullness of time, when he shall
have gathered together in one, all
things in Christ, both which are in
heaven and earth, ever in him." For
the promise is, Though your sins be
as scarlet they shall be white as snow,
and though they be like crimson, they
shall be as WOOL" Again, 1.-The blood
of Jesus Christ, his son cleanseth US
from all sin'-nOt excepting the sin
against the Holy Ghost. Does it, my
brethren, strike you unfavorably, the
thought that salvation will be granted
through repentance in the world inn
mortal? 1t is one of the sins of our
day and generation, akin to the sin
against the Holy Ghost, to suppose that
Gods saving grace is limited to this
short life of ours. In fact, none are
fully saved on this side of Jordan. All
must look to be perfected and more
fully saved after lust and passion have
passed away.
But, the skeptic comes up with his
plea and says that in Matthew's Cos
pei there is contradiction, for it says
that all sins and blasphemy shall be
foroivaD unfO man and "a the hlaa