Q. 150. Are all tranfgreffions of the law of God equally heinous in themfelves, and in the fight of God? A. All tranfgreffions of the law of God are not equally heinous; but fome fins in themselves, and by reafon of feveral aggravations, are more heinous in the fight of God than others". Q. 151. What are those aggravations that make fome fins more heinous than others? A. Sins receive their aggravations, 1. From the perfons offending": If they be of riper age, greater experience, or or grace"; eminent for profeffion, gifts", place, of derstand his errors? cleanfe thou me from fecret faults. Rom. 3. 9. We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under fin-and v. 19. Every mouth may be ftopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. James 3. 2. In many things we offend all-v. 8. The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poifon. m Heb. 2. 2, 3. If the word fpoken by angels was ftedfaft, and every tranfgreffion and difobedience received a just recompence of reward: how fhall we escape if we neglect fo great falvation, which at the firft began to be fpoken by the Lord? Ezra 9. 14. Pf. 78. 17, 32, 56. n Jer. 2. 8. The priests faid not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not; the pastors also tranf С с greffed against me, and the prophets prophefied by Baal. o Job 32. 9. Great men are not always wife, neither do the aged understand judgment.Eccl. 4. 13. p 1 Kings 11. 9. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Ifrael, which had appeared unto him twice. q 2 Sam. 12. 14. By this deed thou haft given great occafion to the enemies of the Lord to blafpheme. 1 Cor. 5. I. r Jam. 4. 17. To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is fin. Luke 12. 47. That fervant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, fhall be beaten with many ftripes. f John 3. 10. Jefus answered fice., guides to others, and whofe example is likely to be followed by others". 2. From the parties offended*: If immediately against God', his attributes and worship'; against Chrift, and his grace"; the Holy Spirit, and faid unto him, Art thou a mafter of Ifrael, and knoweft not these things? Jer, 5. 4, 5. t 2 Sam. 12. 7, 8, 9. And Nathan faid unto David, Thou art the man. Thus faith the Lord God of Ifrael, I anointed thee king over Ifrael,—and I gave thee thy master's houfe: Wherefore haft thou despised the commandment of the Lord to do evil in his fight? Ezek. 8. 11, 12. v Rom. 2. 21, 22, 24. Thou therefore who teachest another, teacheft thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man fhould not fteal, doft thou fteal? Thou that fayeft a man fhould not commit adultery, doft thou commit adultery?-For the name of God is blafphemed among the Gentiles through you. w Gal, 2. 14. But when I faw that they walked not uprightly, according to the truth of the gofpel, I faid unto Peter before them all, If thou being a Jew, liveft after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compelleft thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 2 Pet. 1, 2. x 1 John 5. 10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witnefs in himfelf: He that believeth not God hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. Matt. 21. 38, 39. y I Sam. 2. 25. If one man fin against another, the judge fhall judge him: but if a man fin against the Lord, who fhall entreat for him? Acts 5. 4. Thou haft not lied unto men, but unto God. z Rom. 2. 4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-fuffering, not knowing that the goodnefs of God leadeth thee to repentance? a Mal. 1. 14. Curfed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth and facrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing. 1 Cor. 10. 21, 22. Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealoufy? are we ftronger than he? b John 3. 18. He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God-verse 36. He that believeth not the Son fhall not fee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Heb. 12. 25. c Heb. 10. 29. Of how much forer punishment, suppose ye, his witness, and workings; against fuperiors, men of eminency, and fuch as we ftand efpecially related and engaged unto; against any of the faints", particularly weak brethren, the fouls of them or any other; and the common good of all or of many'. 3. From the nature and quality of the offence: If it be against the exprefs letter of the law", break many commandments, contain in it fhall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath done defpite unto the Spirit of Grace? Matt. 12. 31, 32. d Eph. 4. 30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are fealed unto the day of redemption. e Heb. 6, 4, 5, 6. For it is impoffible for those who were once enlightened, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghoft; if they fhall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance. f Num. 12. 8. Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my fervant Mofes? Jude v. 8. Ifai. 3. 5. g Prov. 30. 17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and defpifeth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley fhall pick it out, and the young eagles fhall eat it. Pf. 41. 9. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. Pf. 55. 12-14 h Zech. 2. 8. He that touch eth you, toucheth the apple of his eye. ii Cor. 8. II, 12. And through thy knowledge fhall the weak brother perish, for whom Chrift died? But when ye fin fo against the brethren, and wound their weak confcience, ye fin against Chrift. ROM. 14. 13, 15, 21. k Ezek. 13. 19. And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley, and for pieces of bread, to flay the fouls that should not die? 11 Thef. 2. 15, 16. Who both killed the Lord Jefus, and their own prophets, and have perfecuted us to fill up their fins alway; for the wrath is come upon them, to the uttermoft. Matt. 23. 34-38. m Ifai. 3. 9. They declare their fin as Sodom, they hide it not. Prov. 6. 30-33. n Ezek. 20. 12, 13. I gave them my fabbaths, to be a fign between me and them-and my fabbaths they greatly pol luted. many fins: If not only conceived in the heart, but breaks forth in words and actions", fcandalize others, and admit of no reparation': If against means, mercies, judgments", light of nature", conviction of confcience, public or o Col. 3. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupifcence, and covetoufnefs, which is idolatry. 1 Tim. 6. 10. p Mic. 2. 1, 2. Woe to them that devife iniquity, and work evil upon their beds; when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by violence. q Rom. 2. 23, 24. Thou that makeft thy boast of the law, through breaking the law difhonoureft thou God? For the name of God is blafphemed among the Gentiles thro' you, as it is written. Matt. 18. 7. r Prov. 9. 32, 33, 34 But whofo committeth adultery with a woman-a wound and difhonour fhall he get, and his reproach fhall not be wiped away. For jealoufy is the rage of a man; therefore he will not fpare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ranfom. Matt. 15. 26. What a man profited, if he fhall gain the whole world, and lose his own foul? or what fhall a man give in exchange for his foul? f Matt. II. 21, 22, Woe unto thee, Chorazin, woe unto thee, Bethfaida, for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in fackcloth and afhes. But I fay unto you, It fhall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. v. 23, 24. John 15. 22. t Deut. 32. 6. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwife? Is not he thy father, that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee? Ifai. 1. 2, 3. Ezra 9. 13, 14. v Jer. 5. 3. O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou haft ftricken them, but they have not grieved; then haft confumed them, but they have refufed to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock, they have refufed to return. Amos 4. 8-11. w Rom. I. 20, 21. For the invifible things of him from the creation of the world, are clear. ly feen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; fo that they are without excufe. x Rom. 1. 32. Who know private admonition, cenfures of the church', civil punishments"; and our prayers, purposes, promises, vows, covenants, and engagements to God or men: If done deliberately, wilfully, presumptuously, impudently', boafting ing the judgment of God, that they who commit fuch things are worthy of death, not only do the fame, but have pleasure in them that do them. Dan. 5. 22. y Prov. 29. I. He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, fhall fuddenly be deftroyed, and that without remedy. z Matt. 18. 17. If he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican, Tit. 3- 10. a Prov. 27. 22. Though thou fhouldft bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolifhnei's depart from him. b Pfal. 78, 34 36, 37. When he flew them, then they fought him; and they returned, and enquired early after God. Ne. vertheless, they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues, for their heart was not right with him, neither were they ftedfaft in his covenant. Jer. 42. 5, 6, 20, 21, 22. c Eccl. 5. 5. Better it is that thou fhouldeft not vow, than that thou fhouldeft vow and not pay. Prov. 20. 25. It is a fnare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. And I will d Lev. 26. 25. bring a fword upon you, that fhall avenge the quarrel of my covenant, Jer. 31. 32. e Prov. 2 17. Which for. faketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. Ezek. 17. 18. Seeing he defpifed the oath, by breaking the covenant (when lo, he had given his hand) and hath done all these things, he shall not escape. f Pfal. 36. 4. He devifeth mifchief upon his bed, he fet teth himself in a way that is not good, he abhorreth not evil. g Jer. 6. 16. Thus faith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and fee, and afk for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and ye fhall find reft for your fouls; buc they faid, We will not walk therein. h Num. 15. 30. But the foul that doeth aught prefump. tuoufly, whether he be born. in the land, or a stranger, the fame reproacheth the Lord; and that foul fhall be cut off from among his peuple. Exod. 21. 14. i Jer. 6. 15. Were they afhamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, nei. ther could they blush, therefore |