436 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XII. Spiritgreaterthan Christ,thattheywho sia againstChrist shouldobtainpardon,whilethey who offendagainstthe Holy Spiritarenotthoughtworthytoobtainit? But where thereisunityofpowerthereisno questionofcomparison. Athan. ATHAN. The ancientsindeed,the learnedOrigeu and the Ser'e*"** greatTheognostus,describethisto be theblasphemyagainst the Holy Ghost,when theywho have been countedworthy ofthe giftof theHoly Spiritin Baptism,fallback intosin. For theysaythatforthisreasontheycannotobtainpardon; Heb.6,4.as Paul says,// isimpossiblefor thosewho have beenmade partakersoftheHoly Ghosttorenewthemagain,fyc. But each adds hisown explanation.For Origen gives thisas hisreason; God the Fatherindeedpenetratesand containsallthings,but the power of the Son extendsto rationalthingsonly; the Holy Spiritisonlyin thosewho partakeof Him in the giftof Baptism. When then cate chumens and heathenssin,they sinagainstthe Son who abidethin them, yet they may obtainpardon when they become worthyof the giftof regeneration.But when the baptizedcommit sin,he saysthattheiroffencetouchesthe Spirit,aftercoming to whom theyhave sinned,and there foretheircondemnationmust be irrevocable. But Theoguostussays,thathe who hasgone beyond both thefirstand secondthresholddeserveslesspunishment,but he who hasalsopassedthethird,shallno more receivepar don. By thefirstand secondthreshold,he speaksofthedoc trineoftheFatherand theSon,butby thethirdthepartaking John16, oftheHoly Spirit.AccordingtoSt.John,When theSpiritof truthiscome,He willleadyou intoalltruth. Not asthough thedoctrineoftheSpiritwas abovethatoftheSon,but be causethe Son condescendsto thosewho areimperfect,but the Spiritisthesealofthosewho areperfect.If then not becausethe Spiritisabovethe Sou,blasphemyagainstthe Spiritisunpardonable; butbecauseremissionofsinisindeed totheimperfect,but no excuseremainstotheperfect,there foresincetheSon isintheFather,He isinthoseinwhom the Fatherand theSpiritarenotabsent,fortheHolyTrinitycan not be divided.Besidesthis,ifallthingsweremade by the Son,and allthingsconsistinHim, He willHimselfbe trulyin all; sothatitmustneedshe,thathe who sinnethagainstthe