The Beginning of the Doctrine of Christ, Chapter 9 – Chapter 10
CHAP. IX.
Of the ſinnes againſt mans perſon.
THus of the ſins againſt man, conſidered more ſpecially.
More generally man ſins againſt man,
Eyther with conſent of his will,
Or without conſent.
The ſinnes with conſent are,
Eyther againſt the perſon of man,
Or the purity of man,
Or the poſſeſſions and ſtate of man.
Or the name and praiſe of man.
The ſins againſt the perſons▪ of men are
Eyther againſt the whole perſons,
Or againſt their ſoules,
Or againſt their bodies.
The ſins againſt the perſons of men generally conſidered, are
Eyther by Omiſſion,
Or by Commiſſion.
1. By Omiſſion he offends,
That pitties not the afflicted, Iob 6. 14.
That releeues not the afflicted, 1. Iohn 3. 17. Math. 25. Iob 31. 19.
That is implacable, and will not forgiue, Rom. 1. 29. Iam. 2. 13.
The aggrauations are,
To profeſſe to take no charge of his brother, Gen. 4. 9.
To ſtop his eares at the cry of the poor, Pro. 21. 23.
To eſtrange our ſelues from the very ſeruants of God in their miſery, Pſal. 38. 11.
2. By Commiſſion men ſinne, 1. eyther outwardly, 2. or inwardly.
Inwardly he offends,
1. That enuies his neighbour, Gal. 1. 20. eyther
For his wealth▪ Gen. 26. 14.
For his reſpect with others, Gen. 37. 11.
For his gifts, Num. 11. 27, 28. 1. Cor. 3. 3.
The aggrauations are,
So to enuy others, as to deſire their reſtraint, Num. 11.
To enuy the very wicked, eſpecially ſo, as to deſire to partake of their delights, Prou. 24. 1.
2. That is angry vnaduiſedly, Math. 5.
The aggrauations.
To bee haſty to anger, Ecclus. 7. 9. Prou. 14. 17, 29.
To continue long in anger, Amos 1. 11.
To rage & bee confident without feare or care, Prou. 14. 16.
To bee incenſed againſt the ſeruants of God, and ſtriue with them, Eſay 41. 11
To make friendſhip with the angry man, Pro. 22. 24, 25.
3. That hates & is malicious, which ſinne is not auoyded, though the perſon thou hateſt
Be poore, Iam. 2. 6.
Be infirme, and hauehave many weakneſſes, Mat. 18. 10.
Yea, though they ſinne, Leuit. 19. 17, 18.
The aggrauations are,
To increaſe in anger and hatred vponupon eueryevery occaſion, duplicate page duplicate page Gen. 37. 8. Eze. 25. 15.
To wiſh a curſe to others Iob 31. 30.
To reioyce at their deſtruction, Prou. 24. 17. Iob 31. 29.
To recompence euil, Pro. 24. 29.
Not to bee ſatisfied with the trouble of thoſe, whom hee purſueth, Iob 19. 22.
That hates righteous men, and ſhewes it,
By wiſhing their euill, Pſal. 40. 14.
By reioycing at their hurt, Pſal. 35. 26.
By gathering ſinfull ſurmiſes into his heart, when hee comes amongſt them, and then telling them, when hee comes abroad, Pſal. 41. 6.
By iudging vncharitably of their afflictions, Pſ. 41. 8.
Eſpecially, that hates them for this reaſon, becauſe their workes are better then his, 1. Iohn 3. 12. & 2. 11.
4. That vexeth himſelfe with worldly ſorrow, and cauſes diſtractions, Prou. 17. 22. 2. Cor. 7. 10. and vſeth crying, Epheſ. 4. 31.
The aggrauations are,
To refuſe cōfort, Pſ. 17. 7.
To wiſh his owne death, Num. 14. 2. Iob 3. Ionah.
Thus of the ſins internall. The externall ſinnes are,
Eyther in geſture,
or in words,
or in workes.
1. In geſture men offend by ſhaking of the head, ſharpning of the eyes, caſting downe of the countenance, putting out of the finger, gnaſhing of the teeth, Iob 16. 4, 9. Eſay. 58. Pſal. 35. 19. & 37. 11. & 12. 5 Gen. 4.
2 In words he offends, that ſpeakes euill of any man, Tit. 3. 2. Mat. 5. whether it be
By cenſuring, Rom. 14. 10. Iam. 4. 11. Galat. 5. 15.
Or by reuiling or reproching, Math. 5.
Or by any kinde of piercing bitter words, Pr. 12. 8.
Yea it is an offence, to Render reuiling for reuiling, 1. Pet. 3. 9.
To whiſper euill of others, though neuer ſo ſecretly, Pſal. 41. 7.
To wreſt the words of others for euill, Pſal. 56. 1.
The aggrauations are,
1. To ſpeake euill of dignitie, Iude 8.
2. To reproach Gods ſeruants, this is blaſphemy, Coloſ. 3. 8. and it is worſe when men teare their names, Pſal. 35. 15. and it is increaſed▪ when men reuile Gods Miniſters, 1. Cor. 4. 3. 2. Kings 2. 23.
3. To curſe the deafe, or put a ſtumbling blocke before the blinde, Leuit. 19. 14.
4. To deride men in miſery, Iob 3. 1.
5. To take a pleaſure in brawling and contention, Iames 4. 1. Pſalme 52. 4.
6. To hauehave a mouth full of curſing and bitterneſſe, Rom. 3. 14. Iames 3. 9. and an habit of frowardnes & peruerſneſſe of lippes, Pro. 4. 24. and an vnruly tongue that cannot be tamed, Iam. 3. 8.
7. To boaſt of his miſchiefe herein, Pſal. 52. 1.
8. To complaine of his neighbor in all places, and to be giuen to it, Iam. 5. 9.
Thus hee offends in words▪
3. In works he offends.
1. In generall, that practiſeth any way the hurt of the perſons of others, eyther by fraud or violence. The aggrauations of hurtfull practices are,
1. To adde affliction to the afflicted, Pſal. 96. 26.
2. To deale vnfaithfully with our friend, and to betray him, Pſal. 41. 9.
3. To practiſe againſt the righteous, or any way to trouble them, Pſalm. 37. 12. 14. 2. Theſsal. 1. 6. and this receiueth increaſe of aggrauation.
If thou practiſe againſt them becauſe they follow goodneſſe, Pſal. 38. 19.
If thou wrong them, when thou haſt receiued good from them: Pſalme 38. 20. and the worſe, if thou doe it daily, Pſalme 56. 1.
If thou marke their ſteps, waiting for occaſion to bring euil vponupon them, Pſal. 38. 12. & 56. 6.
If thou ſet on others to hurt them, out of delight, and with ioy, Ezech. 36. 5.
If through diſſimulation thou cauſe one priuily to betray them, Galathians 2. 4.
If thou abuſe them when they are dead▪ Pſal. 72. 9.
2 In particular.
That is contentious, Rom. 13. 13.
The aggrauations are,
Through contention to be ſcandalous, Gen. 13. 7. 1. Cor. 6. 1, 4.
To ſow diſcord, Prou. 6. 14.
To fall at ſtrife without conſideration, eſpecially to bring others in trouble too, Prou. 17. 14. & 20. 3. & 26. 17. & 19. 19.
To oppreſſe the fatherleſſe in ſuites, Iob 31. 21.
Thus of ſinnes againſt the whole perſon.
Sinnes againſt the body follow, and ſo men offend,
1. By fighting, and ſo hee offends that any way woundeth or blemiſheth another, Exod. 21. 24. Leu. 24. 19. Exo. 2. 13, 14. Whether hee ſmite in ſcorne or in fury, 1. King. 22. 24. Eſpecially, that hurts a woman with childe, Exod. 21. 22.
2. By murther, and ſo he offends that takes away the life of another willinglie.
The aggrauations of murther are,
To kil Father or Mother, 1. Tim. 1. 9.
To kill ones children, 2. Kings 3. 27. though it were done for ſacrifice.
To kill Gods ſeruants, Heb. 11. 37. Reuel. 16. 6.
To kill himſelfe.
Thus of offences againſt the body.
The ſinnes againſt the ſoule follow.
Againſt the ſoule offend,
1. Miniſters, and ſo he That is ignorant & cannot teach and warne the people of their ſins, Iſaiah 56. 10. Ezech. 31.
That is prophane in his diſpoſition and life, Ierem. 23. 14, 11.
That runnes before hee be ſent, Ier. 23. 21.
That is negligent in his calling, and vſeth not his gifts, 1. Tim. 4. 14.
That teacheth falſe doctrine, and prophecieth in Baal, Ierem. 23. 13.
That preacheth peace to wicked men, and ſtrengtheneth them in their euill courſes, Ezech. 13. 18, 22. Ierem. 23. 14, 15, 17.
That teacheth vnprofitably, doating about vaine queſtions, and ſtrife of words, vſing railing or old wiues fables, & prophane conceits, &c. or the like vnprofitable matter, 1. Tim. 1. 3, 4, 7. & 4. 7. &▪ 6. 4.
That in his teaching diſgraceth and reuileth the godly, Ezech. 13. 22. Phil. 3. 2.
2. The people, who may be guilty of murthering either others or themſelues.
Others, and ſo hee offends,
That ſuffereth his brother to ſinne, and doth not reprooue him, Leuit. 9. 17.
That giueth offence, and is a ſtumbling blocke to the weake, Rom. 14. 13. 1. Cor. 8. 12. Math. 18. 6.
That inſtructs not others when hee may and ought.
That maketh or partaketh in any Schiſme in the Church, 1. Cor. 10. 11, 12.
Our ſelues, and ſo he offends,
That neglects Viſion, or the meanes of knowledge, and Grace, Hoſh. 4. 6.
That is ſubiect to no ſetled Miniſtry, but hath itching eares, and ſeeks a heap of Teachers, 2. Tim. 4. 3.
That is wilfull in impenitency, Ezech. 18.
That forſakes the fellowſhip of the Saints, Hebr. 10. 25.
That refuſeth admonition, 2. Chron. 16. 10. Prou. 29. 1.
That reſiſteth the Truth, 2. Tim. 3. 8.
Thus of ſinnes againſt the perſons of men.
CHAP. X.
Shewing the ſinnes againſt Chaſtity.
THe ſinnes againſt the purity of men follow, and are eyther more groſſe and vnuſuall, and againſt the light of nature, or elſe more vſuall.
The groſſe offences are
1. Buggery, Exod. 22. 19
2. Sodomitry, Rom. 1. 27. 1. Tim. 1. 9.
3. Inceſt, Leuit. 18.
4. Poligamy, Mal. 2. 15
5. The vnnaturall filthineſſe of women one with another, Rom. 1. 26.
6. Selfe-pollution, or the tranſgreſſion of Onan, Gen. 38. 9.
7. The ſinnes about diuorce, ſo hee offends,
That puts away his wife, and not for fornication, Math. 5. 32.
That marrieth her that is vniuſtly diuorced.
That marrieth himſelfe againe, after hee hath vniuſtly put away his wife, Math. 19. 9.
8. Fornication, Eph. 5. 3.
9. Whoredome or adultery, 1. Cor. 6. 9. Iude 15.
The aggrauations of whoredome are
1. To force any to it, 2. Sam. 13. 14.
2. That a man and his Father ſhould goe in to a maide, Amos 2. 7.
3. To condemn it in others, & yet commit it himſelfe, Rom. 2. 22.
4. To intiſe others, Gen. 39. 7. Prou. 2. 14.
10. To marry the daughter of a ſtrange god, Mal. 2. 11. Nehem. 13. 27. 2. Cor. 6. 17.
The more vſuall ſinnes ſinnes follow:
And ſo men offend eyther internally, or externallie.
Internally he offends,
That hath impure thoughts, Math. 5. 19. Epheſians. 2. 3. 1. Theſſal. 4. 5.
That hath inordinate affections, and burning luſts, Coloſ. 3. 5.
Externally men offend,
1. In their ſenſes, as by impure lookes, Iob 31. 1. Math. 5. 27. 2. Pet. 2. 14.
2. In their geſtures, and ſo they are guilty of chambering and wantonneſſe, Rom. 13. 13.
3. In their words, by filthy ſpeaking, Col. 3. 8.
4. By vſing the meanes, or occaſion of vncleannes.
And in reſpect of the meanes of vncleanneſſe he offends,
That makes light of the fornication of others, 1. Corinthians. 5. 2. 2. Peter 2. 7.
That keepeth company with fornicators, 1. Cor. 5. 9. Prou. 29. 3.
That giues himſelfe to eaſe and pleaſure, Amos 6. 4, 5, 6. Tit. 1. 12.
That vſeth laſciuious dancing, Zeph. 1. 9. Marke 6. 22.
That vſeth laſciuious bookes or pictures, 1. Theſſal. 5. 23. 1. Corinthians 15. 35.
That hauing not the gift of Continency, doth not marry, 1. Cor. 7. 2.
That diſpoſeth not his children in mariage, 1. Cor. 7. 37.
That ſorteth with winebibbers, and the riotous, Prou. 23. 20.
That is deſirous of dainties, or any way giuen to gluttony, Prou. 23. 3. Ierem. 5. 7, 8.
That is giuen to pratling or idle gadding from houſe to houſe, Prou. 7. 11. 1. Tim. 5. 13.
That vſeth whooriſh attire, or perfumes, Prou. 7. 10, 16, 17. Zephaniah 1. 8.
That vſeth the attire of another ſexe, Deuteronomy 22. 9.
That beguiles another in marriage by error of perſon, ſtate, or diſeaſe, or the like, Geneſis 29. 25.
That marrieth without conſent of parents, Geneſ. 26. 34, 35.
That is guilty of drunkenneſſe, or vſeth exceſſiue drinking, 1. Pet. 4. 4.
The aggrauations of drunkenneſſe, are,
To take a pride in it, Eſay 28. 1.
To be mighty to drinke wine, Eſay 5. 22.
To continue long at it, Eſay 15. 11. Prouerbs 23. 30 33.
To make others drunk, Hab. 2. 15.
Thus of ſinnes againſt Chastity.