IN the closing part of the year I was visiting in one of the beautiful vales which radiate from the metropolis of the lake district. I stayed the night in a small village nestled at the foot of a high range of mountains, the deep shadow of which prevents the sun shining upon the village for three months of the year.
The next day was spent in going from cottage to cottage, and in speaking a word to the inmates about the love of God to them. In one of the cottages I found a young woman, the wife of a miner. On a previous occasion, during the summer, I had had a long conversation with both husband and wife about their souls. On the morning in question I received a kindly greeting, and we read these words: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)); and again, "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that 'lath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5:9-129If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:9‑12).)
“See," said I, " eternal life is given to all who believe on the Son of God, but those who do not believe God's witness about Christ have made God a liar."
"What! said the woman to me, with an eager look, " is eternal life given to all who believe?"
“Yes, to all. God says so, therefore it must be true. Take my Bible, and read again for yourself the words I have read."
She took the proffered Bible, and read the passage. When she had done so, I said, "The words are there, are they not?”
“Yes, they are, indeed," she replied.
“Do you believe God when He says, ' He that hath the Son hath life?”
“But," asked the seeker for Christ, “can all sin be forgiven? Can all?" and she laid emphasis on the word all—" Can all sin be forgiven?"
“Yes, by virtue of the blood of Christ. We have just read that God says so. What makes you doubt His word?"
Well," said she,” I was a little girl of about twelve years of age at my home in Devon, living with my father and an elder sister, for my mother was dead. One day a wood-wagon, under the care of two men, stopped at the public-house opposite our cottage. The men entered, and remained a long time drinking.
"When they came out they were greatly excited, and one of them uttered a fearful oath, upon which his companion said to him,
There! you have sinned against the Holy Ghost; you will never be forgiven in this life, nor in the life to come.' Those words made a deep impression on my mind, which has remained ever since, and I fear lest I may have sinned against the Holy Ghost."
“What Has Satan been using this to make you despair, and thus keep you from Christ all these years? Do you think you have committed the unpardonable sin? "
“Yes, I fear I have," she said.
We turned to Mark 3:3030Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. (Mark 3:30), and read, “Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit."
" You have never said that? " said L Her countenance brightened as she answered, " No," and in a moment the stumbling-stone was removed out of the way, and the load gone. She professed to rest in the finished work of Christ. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit of God is altogether different from sinning against Him. Every sin is a sin against the Spirit of God; but to say of the Son of God, “He hath an unclean spirit," I was blasphemy.
“Let us now," I continued, “read two passages which speak of sinning against the Holy Ghost. Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.' (Acts 7:5151Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. (Acts 7:51).) They rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit; therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them.' (Isa. 63:1010But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. (Isaiah 63:10).) Surely, resisting the Spirit is sin? Rebellion against God in the presence of light, and love, and mercy, when the word is preached, is sin."
Ask yourself, dear reader, this question Have I been doing all this? All sin is sin against God the Spirit. But it is He who has written for your comfort, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." Yes, that blood makes the foulest clean that blood washes “whiter than snow." Do not let Satan keep you, by his misuse of scripture, from the joy of knowing that your sins are put away from before the eye of God by the precious blood of His Son. And because God remembers no more the sins and iniquities of His people, it is our joy to bless Him for the pardoning blood of Christ. J. H. J—g.