This  is  a  very  awful  part  of  our  Saviour's  discourse  to  the  Phari-
sees. There  is  a  sin  v^hich  cannot  be  forgiven,  and  it  is  a  sin  of  the
tongue.  Certain  words  which  may  be  spoken  against  the  Holy  Ghost,
are  called,  "  Blasphemy  against  the  Holy  Ghost."  There  is  a  myste-
ry in  this  subject  which  we  would  not  presume  to  attempt  to  remove.
Yet  we  may  form  some  idea  of  the  nature  of  blasphemy  against  the
Holy  Ghost,  by  examining  the  conduct  of  those  whom  Jesus  now  ad-
dressed. The  Pharisees  seem  to  have  been  convinced  by  the  miracles
of  the  Saviour,  that  he  was  a  true  prophet ;  but  though  convinced,
they  were  determined  to  reject  him,  and  to  set  the  people  against  him
also.  In  this  awful  state  of  mind  they  accused  him  of  working  mira-
cles by  the  power  of  Satan,  and  not  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  Had  they
really  supposed  he  was  assisted  by  Satan,  their  sin  would  not  have
been  so  enormous  ;  then  they  would  have  sinned,  as  Saul  of  Tarsus
did,  "  ignorantly,  in  unbelief;"  but  now  they  sinned  against  the  con-
victions of  their  conscience,  and  with  deliberate  malice.
