Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER XIT.
187
are really against Christ, and " scatter abroad," who
yet flatter themselves that they are workers together
with him, and in the number of his friends !
" 31. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner
of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men :
but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not
be forgiven unto men."
There is nothing more contrary to the Holy
Ghost and his grace, than to withstand manifest
truth, to decry good doctrine and Christian maxims,
in opposition to particular persons, and to attribute
to an evil spirit that which proceeds from the Spirit
of God. This is the sin of arrogant scholars, and of
selfish, envious, and opinionative bigots, out of which
they scarce ever recover. The forgiveness of this
sin is not absolutely impossible, but only very rare :
because the conversion of such persons is very rare
and difficult. The people are converted in crowds,
but very few Scribes and Pharisees yield to the truth.
" 32. And whosoever speaketh a word against the
Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever
speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be for-
given him, neither in this world, neither in the world
to come."
Jesus Christ, who came to be abased, has endured
all manner of humiliation in his flesh—but he will
not be abased in his Spirit. Whatever ignominies
and persecutions he suffered in his life and death at
the hands of the Jews, were forgiven those who re-
ceived the faith, after the mission of the Holy Ghost:
but there is no mercy for such as have rejected the
testimony of this Holy Spirit in the preaching of the
apostles, in the miracles, gifts, and other marvellous