comfortable thing that can be in the world.  O what a comfortable thing is this, when Christ saith, Remittuntur tibi peccata, “Thy sins are forgiven unto thee!” And this is a standing sentence; it was not spoken only to the same one man, but it is a general proclamation unto all us:  all and every one that believeth in him shall have forgiveness of their sins.  And this proclamation is cried out daily by his ministers and preachers; which proclamation is the word of grace, the word of comfort and consolation.  For like as sin is the most fearful and the most horriblest thing in heaven and in earth, so the most comfortablest thing is the remedy against sin; which remedy is declared and offered unto us in this word of grace and the power to distribute this remedy against sins he hath given unto his ministers, which be God’s treasurers, distributers of the word of God.  For now he speaketh by me, he calleth you to this wedding by me, being but a poor man; yet he hath sent me to call you.  And though he be the author of the word, yet he will have men to be called through his ministers to that word.  Therefore let us give credit unto the minister, when he speaketh God’s word:  yea, rather let us credit God when he speaketh by his ministers, and offereth us remission of our sins by his word.  For there is no sin so great in this world, but it is pardonable as long as we be in this world, and call for mercy:  for here is the time of mercy; here we may come to forgiveness of our sins.  But if we once die in our sins and wickedness, so that we be damned, let us not look for remission afterwards:  for the state after this life is unchangeable.  But as long as we be here, we may cry for mercy.  Therefore let us not despair:  let us amend our lives, and cry unto God for forgiveness of our sins; and then no doubt we shall obtain remission, if we call with a faithful heart upon him, for so he hath promised unto us in his most holy word.

The holy scripture maketh mention of a sin against the Holy Ghost, which sin cannot be forgiven, neither in this world, nor in the world to come.  And this maketh many men unquiet in their hearts and consciences:  for some there be which ever be afraid, lest they have committed that same sin against the Holy Ghost, which is irremissible.  Therefore some say, “I cannot tell whether I have sinned against the Holy Ghost or not:  if I have committed that sin, I know I shall be damned.”  But I tell you what ye shall do:  despair not of the mercy of God, for it is immeasurable.  I cannot deny but that there is a sin against the Holy Ghost, which is irremissible:  but we cannot judge of it aforehand, we cannot tell which man hath committed that sin or not, as long as he is alive; but when he is once gone, then I can judge whether he sinned against the Holy Ghost or not.  As now I can judge that Nero, Saul, and Judas, and such like, that died in sins and wickedness, did commit this sin against the Holy Ghost:  for they were wicked, and continued in