Sermon XXI.
[LXXI. Ben.]
On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 32, “Whosoever shall speak a word against the Holy
Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.” Or,
“on the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.”
1. There has been a great question raised touching the late lesson of the Gospel, to the
solution of which I am unequal by any power of mine own; but “our sufficiency is of
God,”2335 to whatever degree we are capable of receiving His aid. First then consider the
magnitude of the question; that when ye see the weight of it laid upon my shoulders, ye may
pray in aid of my labours, and in the assistance which is vouchsafed to me, may find edific-
ation for your own souls. When “one possessed with a devil was brought to the Lord, blind
and dumb, and He had healed him so that he could speak and see, and all the people were
amazed and said, Is not this the Son of David? the Pharisees hearing it said, This fellow doth
not cast out devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. But Jesus knew their thoughts,
and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation,
and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. And if Satan cast out Satan, he
is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?”2336 In these words He wished
it to be understood from their own confession, that, through their not believing in Him they
had chosen to belong to the kingdom of the devil, which as being divided against itself could
accordingly not stand. Let then the Pharisees make choice of which they will. If Satan cannot
cast out Satan, they can find nothing to say against the Lord; but if he can, then let them
much more look to themselves, and depart out of his kingdom, which as being divided
against itself cannot stand.
2. But now that they may not think that it is the prince of the devils in whom the Lord
Jesus Christ casteth out devils, let them attend to what follows; “And if I,” He saith, “by
Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore shall they
be your judges.”2337 He spoke this undoubtedly of his disciples, the “children” of that people;
who as being the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ were well conscious that they had learnt
no evil arts from their Good Master, that through the prince of the devils they should cast
out devils. “Therefore,” He saith, “shall they be your judges.” They, He saith, the base and
contemptible things of this world, in whom none of this artificial malice, but the holy sim-
plicity of My power 2338 is seen; they shall be My witnesses, they shall be your judges. Then
He subjoins, “But if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils, then the kingdom of God is come
2335 2 Cor. iii. 5.
2336 Matt. xii. 22–26.
2337 Matt. xii. 27.
2338 Virtutis.
On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 32, ‘Whosoever shall speak a word against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.’ Or, ‘on the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.’
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 32, ‘Whosoever shall speak a word…