Sermons on Some of the First Principles and Doctrines of True Religion Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1815 Excerpt: ... SERMON XVtt ON THE UNPARDONABLE SIN. I John V, 16. There is a sin unto death. THE Apostle is here speaking upon the subject of prayer. He encourages all who believe in Christ, to call upon God with freedom and confidence. He assures them, if they pray according to the will of God, either for themselves or others, their prayers shall certainly be heard and answered. But he observes, it is not their duty to pray for any who are known to have committed the sin unto death, because that is a peculiar sin, which God has determined never to forgive. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death." According to this representation of the sin unto death, it is evidently that sin, which our Savior said should never be forgiven, and that which is commonly called the Unpardonable Sin. Here it may be proper, first, to point out the peculiar properties of this sin; and, then, to inquire why it is unpardonable. Though few, perhaps, have ever committed the unpardonable sin; yet many have been greatly exercised with apprehensions of its guilt, and some have been driven to the very borders of despair. Careless and stupid persons have but little dread of sinning the...