powers of the world to come, fell away from the faith of him, and put
him to open shame and disgrace; Heb. vi. 5, 6.

3. It must also be done after, and in opposition to one's own open
profession of him. "For if after they have escaped the pollution of
the world, through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter
end is worse with them than the beginning; for it had been better for
them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have
known it, to turn from the holy commandment (which is the word of
faith) delivered unto them."

4. All this must be done openly, before witnesses, in the face,
sight, and view of the world, by word and act. This is the sin that
is unpardonable; and he that hath thus done, can never, it is
impossible he ever should be renewed again to repentance, and that
for a double reason; for such an one doth say, he will not; and of
him God says, he shall not have the benefit of salvation by him.

Object. But if this be the sin unpardonable, why is it called the
sin against the Holy Ghost, and not rather the sin against the Son of
God?

Answ. It is called "the sin against the Holy Ghost," because such
count the works he did, which were done by the Spirit of God, the
works of the spirit of the devil. Also because all such as so reject
Christ Jesus the Lord, they do it in despite of that testimony which
the Holy Ghost has given of him in the holy scriptures; for the
scriptures are the breathings of the Holy Ghost, as in all other
things, so in that testimony they bear of the person, of the works,