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The doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of Christianity, both as a system of doctrines and as a religion. We stand in special relation to the several persons of the Trinity. All sin as against the Father or the Son may be forgiven, but the sin against the Holy Ghost can never be forgiven.

I. ITS GENERAL CHARACTER.

1. That there is such a sin which is unpardonable.

2. It is an open sin, not a sin merely of the heart. It is blasphemy. It requires to be uttered and carried out in act.

3. It is directed against the Holy Ghost, specifically. It terminates on Him. It consists in blaspheming Him, or doing despite unto Him.

II. ITS SPECIFIC CHARACTER. This includes —

1. Regarding and pronouncing the Holy Ghost to be evil; ascribing the effect which He produces to Satan or to an evil, impure spirit.

2. The rejection of His testimony as false. He testifies that Jesus is the Son of God. The man guilty of this sin declares Him to be a man only. He testifies that Jesus is holy. The other declares He is a malefactor. He testifies that His blood cleanses from all sin. The other, that it is an unclean thing, and tramples it under foot.

3. The conscious, deliberate, malicious resistance of the Holy Spirit, and the determined opposition of the soul to Him and His gospel, and a turning away from both with abhorrence.His sin supposes —

1. Knowledge of the gospel.

2. Conviction of its truth.

3. Experience of its power.It is the rejection of the whole testimony of the Spirit, and rejection of Him and His work, with malicious and outspoken blasphemy. It is by a comparison of Matthew 12:31, and the parallel passages in Mark and Luke, with Hebrews 6:6-10, and Hebrews 10:26-29 that the true idea of the unpardonable sin is to be obtained.

III. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS SIN is reprobation, or a reprobate mind.

IV. IMPORTANCE OF CLEAR VIEWS OF THIS SUBJECT.

1. Because erroneous views prevail, as(1) That every deliberate sin is unpardonable, as the apostle says "He who sins wilfully."(2) Any peculiarly atrocious sin, as denying Christ by the lapsed.

(3) Post-baptismal sins.

2. Because people of tender conscience often are unnecessarily tormented with the fear that they have committed this sin. It is hard to deal with such persons, for they are generally in a morbid state.

3. Because as there is such a sin, every approach to it should be avoided and dreaded.

4. Because we owe specific reverence to the Holy Ghost on whom our spiritual life depends.

(C. Hedge, D. D.)

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KJV: Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

WEB: Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme;