IX. Whether and how the Holy Ghost may be lost.
Hypocrites, and reprobate sinners lose the gifts of the Holy Ghost totally and finally, by which we mean that the Spirit at length leaves them so completely that they never recover his gifts or enjoy any of his precious influences. It is different, however, with those who have been truly regenerated. They may indeed lose many of his gifts, but they never lose them totally; for they always retain some, as the example of David fully testifies: “Restore unto me the joys of thy salvation.” “Take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” (Ps. 51:11, 12.) Nor can they fall away finally, because they are at length led to see and to repent of their sins and backslidings.
Obj. But the Holy Spirit left Saul who was one of the elect. Therefore he may leave others also. Ans. It was not the Spirit of regeneration and adoption which forsook Saul, but the spirit of prophecy, of wisdom, courage, and other gifts of a similar character with which he was endowed. Neither was he chosen unto eternal life, but merely to be king, as Judas was chosen to the apostleship. It is still further objected: The Spirit of regeneration may also forsake the elect; for David prayed, “Restore unto me the joys of thy salvation.” To this we reply that the godly may, and often do lose many of the gifts of the Spirit of regeneration; but they do not lose them wholly: for it cannot possibly be that they should lose every particle of faith, inasmuch as they do not sin unto death; but from the weakness of the flesh, not being perfectly renewed in this life. This the apostle John expressly affirms when he says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9.) David in his fall, lost the joy which he had felt in his soul, the purity of his conscience, and many other gifts which he earnestly prayed might be restored unto him; but he had not wholly lost the Holy Spirit, or else he would not have said, “Take not thy Holy Spirit from me,” from which it is plain that he had not wholly lost the Spirit of God. “A man” said Bernard, “never remains in the same state; he either retrogrades or goes forward” This distinction must be observed for the purpose of solving the question; how can the godly be certain of their perseverance and salvation, seeing that they may lose the Holy Spirit? which is, that they are never wholly and finally forsaken of the Spirit of God.
There are many ways in which the Holy Ghost may be lost. These are the opposite of those by which he may be retained.
1. He may be lost by a contempt of the ministry of the church.
2. By a neglect of the study of the doctrine of the gospel, and meditation thereon. Paul, therefore, commanded Timothy to stir up the gift of God which was in him, and also gives instruction as to the mariner in which he might accomplish this, viz, by giving himself to reading, exhortation and doctrine.
3. By carnal security, by plunging heedlessly into all kinds of wickedness, and by indulging in such sins as wound the conscience.
4. By a neglect of prayer.
5. By abusing the gifts of the Holy Ghost, which is done when they are not used in such a manner as to promote the glory of God, and the salvation of our fellow-men. “He that hath, to him shall be given; and he that hath not, from him shall be taken, even that which he hath.” (Mark 4:25.)