A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 214 (Question 83)
SERMON CCXIV.
QUESTION, LXXXIII.
ARE all the Tranſgreſſions of the Law equally heinous?
ANSWER.
SOME Sins in themſelves, and by reaſon of ſeveral aggravations, are more heinous in the ſight of God than others.
THE great deſign of the diſpenſation of the Covenant to fallen Man, is to direct him how to obtain Salvation by CHRIST, and excite him to repair to CHRIST alone for it. And there are Two Things comprehenſively required for his help in this Affair.
1. That he be perſwaded of his Neceſſity of thus repairing to Chriſt, in order to his obtaining Eternal Life.
2. That he be Instructed in the may of the New-Covenant; in which clo…e he may come to be Intituled to Chriſt, and all His ſaving Benefits.
The former of theſe may be reduced to Three Articles.
1. MANS Imp…ency contracted by the Fall, rendring him utterly unable of himſelf to Anſwer the demands of the Law, that ſo he may be driven from his own Righteouſneſs. Of which we conſidered under the former.
2. THE Heinouſneſs of Sin in its Aggravations: By Conviction whereof the Man may be rouſed from his carnal Security, and put upon ſeeking deliverance from it; and this is that which…w lies before us.
3. THE juſt Demerit of Sin; by the perſwaſion whereof, the Sinner may be diſreſted in his preſent Natural State, by the ſight of his doleful Miſery, and give himſelf no reſt till he is gotten into Chriſt; which follows in the next. The Matter then of our preſent diſquiſition, is, To conſider Sin in its Aggravations; that by the vileneſs of it we may be awakened to get from under its Domini…, and be led to the more kindly Repentance. A bare Conviction of Sin, as it is a Tranſgreſſion of the holy Law of God, tho' it be enough to ſhew us the evil and danger of it, yet it is not enough for Sinners who Naturally entertain low thoughts of it, and look upon it as no great Matter; and are apt rather to be prejudiced at the Law, which denounceth ſo ſevere threatnings againſt it, and at God Himſelf, who is the Author of the Law: but the more of evil that we diſcover in it, the more concernedneſs will it raiſe in us to eſcape the efficacy of it and to make the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the only Deliverer, the more precious to us. Now there are Two Topicks to which this may be reduced, viz. The vi…eneſs or ſinfulneſs of Sin it ſelf. And the terrih…eneſs of it in its fearful Conſequents: And tho' the latter of theſe is more apt to mo… upon the Affections of ſinful Men, and God … pleaſed to make uſe of it to ſnake Men …ut of their carnal Security; yet the former is in it ſelf the more pungent, and the Spirit of God is wont to apply it home to the Souls of Sinners in the great work of Converſion. This therefore may be accounted for in our preſent Contemplation.
NOW that we may take a more diſtinct account of this Matter, it will be proper to introduce the things contained in the Anſwer; and Two Things may be Premiſed, as worthy of our Conſideration, and to prevent our eaſy & ſ…ght Conceptions of any Sin; and the rather becauſe we are told, Prov. 14.9. Fools make a m…ck at ſin, viz.
1. THAT there is … Sin that can be, on a true account, called Little. Tho' ſpeaking comparatively, this is a leſs Sin than that; yet poſitively to ſay this is a little Sin, is contrary in to the reſentments of the H…y Scriptures. It is therefore counted falſe Divinity, to call any Sin little, ſimply, and without compariſon: and for Men to indulge themſelves in any Sin, under a pretence that it is a little one, will be found a great one, when God ſhall enter into Judgment with them. But this will further appear under the next thing, viz.
2. THAT there are diverſe reſpects in which all Sins agree, and in that regard are E…l. And the right conſideration of this will ſuff…ciently confirm the foregoing Concluſion: for the Sin to which theſe things agree, cannot be truly voted ſmall. The Stoic…s indeed accounted all Sins to be equal; but becauſe they diſtinguiſhed not, but laid down their Doctrine Univerſally, they therein miſt it: But in theſe things they are truly alike, viz.
1. IN reſpect of the Ultimate Object againſt whom they are Committed. That which properly defines Sin, is, that it is againſt GOD; and hence the Pſalmiſt hath that Expreſſion, Pſal. 41.4. Heal my ſoul, for I have ſinned againſt thee. Which he looks upon as chiefly to be taken notice of in it: and more emphatically in, Pſal. 5….4. Againſt thee, thee only have I ſinned, and done this evil in thy ſight: that th… mighteſt he juſtified when thou ſp…aketh, and he clear when thou judgeſt. David knew that by that Sin of his, he had wronged his own Soul, injured Bat…ſheba, and offered wrong to Ur…ah; but this ſwallowing up all, that it was againſt GOD. We therefore have the worſt of Sin ſet forth by the Apoſtle, Rom. 3.23. For all have ſinned, and come ſhort of the glory of God. And that ſets forth its vileneſs enought. Man's laſt F…nd to which he was bound by the Rule of ſpecial Government, was to Glorify God actively, and this would have been his happineſs. Now, tho' Man cannot by Sin touch the Eſſential Glory of God, yet in it he ſets himſelf againſt his Declarative Glory: And there is this Malignity in every Sin, even that which may be accounted the leaſt; and the reaſon of this will be evident, if we conſider,
2. IN reſpect of the Rule which is violated thereby. Herein the ſpecial Nature of Sin conſist…, that it is Ano…y; it is therefore ſo defined, 1 Joh. 3.4. Whoſoever committeth ſin tranſgreſſeth alſo the law: for ſin is the tranſgreſſion of the law. Sin doth not properly conſist in any Action as ſuch, but it comes purely under a Moral Conſideration; and that which denominates Sin, ariſeth from the Relation the Man bears to the Law of God, which requires his Conformity to the Commanding Will of God. Man owes Obedience to God; and God hath declared to him what is the Obedience that He requires of him; and therein tells him both what He will have him to Do, and what to Avoid: If therefore he neglects to do the thing commanded, or perpetrates the thing forbidden, he min in both of theſe regards char…ble with …on; becauſe he either comes ſhort of, or tranſgreſſeth the Law, both of which are included in the word Anomy; ſo that if be were not under a Law, he were incapable of …ing charged with Sin; for, Rom. 4.15. Where there is no law, there is no tranſgreſſion. Now it is the ſome Law which is violated, by the …ſt and the greateſt Sin; for which reaſon the …ſt is a Rebellion againſt God, a riſing up againſt His Government, and that cannot be …e, for He is a great King. And to break God's Law, muſt needs carry Emphaſis in it from the Author of it, who is by every ſuch Sin deſpiſed, and His Authority trampled upon.
3. IN that they do all proceed from one and the ſame fountain of Corruption in the Man. All Sin is Original or Actual: Original Sin is the root or ſpring from which all that is Actual derives; of which it is ſaid, Jer. 6.7. As a fountain caſteth out her maters, ſo ſhe caſteth out … wickedneſs. And what elſe is Original Sin, b…t that Depravation which hath Poiſoned the whole Man, and thereby rendred his Actions, as they flow from ſuch a Principle, to be Poiſonous and Mortifero…. All Actual Sins are the ſpawn or progeny of Original Sin upon which Stock they do grow, and muſt therefore be of it's Nature. So that every Sin, of what ſize or degree ſoever, comes out of the ſame …omb; and to this our Saviour refers both the ſmaller and greater, Matth. 15.19. And therefore one and the ſame Name belongs to them all, i. e. Sin. Nor is Murder or Adul…ry any more a Sin, than an idle Word, or a …i… Thought: Prov. 24.9. The thought of ſo… ishneſs is ſin.
4. THE ſame Puniſhment for Kind, is denounced in the Law of, God againſt every Sin. Among Men indeed there is a difference between …iminals and Capitals, from which there are diverſe Kinds of Penalties allotted to Offenders. But in God's Law of ſpecial Government, there is one Statute for All Sin whatſoever, Ezek. 18.4. The ſoul that ſinneth it ſhall die. And thus it was Enacted from the Beginning, Gen. 2.17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou ſhall not eat of it: for in the day that thou cates thereof, thou ſhall ſurely die. The Guilt of a ſinſul Thought, if it cleaves to the Man, holds him faſt bound to ſuſter Eternal Vengeance; and except it be forgiven to him, be muſt unavoidably Dye for it: Hence that Advice given to him, Acts 8.22. Repent therefore of this thy …ckdneſs, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of … …eart may be forgiven that. And ſurely th… …in muſt be great, that hath ſuch a deadly …ignity in it, that nothing leſs than the Life of the Soul …n ſatisfy the demands of Juſtice upon the Sinner: for the holy Law of God is Righteous, and there can be no Unrighteouſneſs in it.
5. NOTHING leſs th… the …lood of Chriſt could be ſufficient to expi…te the Guilt of … leaſt Sin. The Juſtice of the Law demands Satisfaction for Sin, in order to the Sinners eſcaping the Wrath of God, and Vengence of Hall: We are therefore aſſured in, Heb. 9.22. Without ſhodding of blood there is no re…i…hen. And tho' the Blood of Chriſt hath a ſufficiency in it, to remove the Guilt of the greateſt Sin, and to appeaſe the Wrath fo God againſt the moſt profligate Sinner; as 1 Joh. 1.7. The blood of Jeſus Chriſt his ſon clea…ſeth … from all ſin. Yet, if He had not D…d for us, the… is no Sin ſo little, but it would have …e…troyed us forever: Hence that, Gal. 3.10. For as many o… are of the works of the law, are under the curſe: for it is written, Curſed is every one that conti…eth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. And, Jom. 2.10. The Popiſh Diſtinction of Sin into Venial and Mortal, … they apply it, is a meet D…ſſion; for God ſtands upon every Apex of His Law, Matth. 5.18. And if it be ſo, it is in vain for any to out any dim…itive Epithets upon Sin, thereby to indulge our ſelves in it. There is no better Glaſs fix us to make a true Proſpect of any Sin by, th… that which repreſents to us what is Coſt the Son of GOD for us, when He ſtood in our room to Anſwer the demands of Juſtice for us, And ſurely, if the leaſt Sin would Crucify the Son of God, it is a madneſs to call it little.
THESE things being thus premiſed, we may now procced to a …o…e diſtinct Conſideration of the things that by before us in the Anſwer. And here, that we may have a clear Diſcovery of this matter, let us obſerve;
1. THE Thi… in general aſſerted is, That there are Degrees of ſinning; or that there are thoſe Reſpects in which ſome Sins are to be accounted greater that others, and that in God's ſight, who Judgeth righteous Judgment. The Truth of this will be more fully cleared, when we come to take an Account of the things wherein this Difference conſiſts. But that it is ſo, may be gathered from the Word of God; and I ſhall only mention Two Evidences of it:
(1.) GOD Himſelf puts ſuch a Note of Diſſtinction in His Word; and for this many Scripture Teſtimonies might be alledged: Sometimes the Epithet Great, is ſingly mentioned; which tho' it doth not intimate that any Sin is Poſitively Little, the contrary to which is already proved; yet it ſerves to put an Emphaſis upon that Sin to which it is joyned: And thus we have M…ſes gloſſing upon the Sin of the Golden …f, …od. 32.31. This people have finned a great fin, and have mo… them gods of gold. And thus David reflects upon his Sin, when he requeſts Forgiveneſs for it; Pſal. 25.11. For thy nat… ſake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity, for it … great. Sometimes this is ſet forth by the Rule of Compariſon, which directly & plumply aſſerts the thing: Among others, we have ſuch …marks, 1 Kings 16 35.2 Chron. 33.9. Jer. 7.26. They did worſe than their Fathers. Joh. 19.11. He that delivered …e unto thee hath the greater ſin. …. 2 Tim. 3.13. Evil men and ſeducers ſhall wax worſe & worſe.
(2.) THE Word of God alſo threatens ſorer Judgments againſt ſome, than others, on the Account of their Sins. And that; not only temporal, but ſpiritual and eternal Plagues. And this muſt needs bear a reſpect to the greatneſs of the Sins for which they are ſo threatned: For though God uſeth much of His Sovereignty, in His diſpenſing of His Judgments in this World, it being a Place wherein His Mercy moderates His Wrath, in the Executions of it; yet, in the Life to come, He diſtributes to every one according to their Works, 2 Cor. 5.10. And tho' the leaſt Sin deſerves as much of Wrath as the Creature is capable of ſuſtaining, yet where the greater meaſures of Wrath are inflicted in the Day of Recompence, it ſaith that the Sins of ſuch were Aggravated here: Nor need we look any further to clear up this, than with what our Saviour o…ce and again expreſſed in this Caſe, Matth. 10.15. Verily I ſay unto you, It ſhall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Go…orrha, in the day of judgment, than for that city. And, 11.22. Wherein this difference in Puniſhment conſiſts, doth not come under our preſent Diſquiſition, and may probably be too curious an enquiry to be made.
2. BUT as to the Aggravations of Sin; by which they become more heinous and provoking unto God; we have conſidered it Negatively under the Preliminaries; and we are to proceed to the Poſitive part of it: And this our Catechiſm reduced to Two Heads, which may be ſpoken to apart.
I. SOME Sins are in themſelves greater and more heinous than others. This is to be warily conſidered, elſe we ſhall Contradict what hath, been already ſaid. When therefore it is ſaid that they are ſo in themſelves, we are not to underſtand it, as they are Sins, for ſo they are Equal; for Sin as to it's general Nature is, a Tranſgreſſion of the Law; which Definition equally belongs to every Sin, of what Denomination ſoever: And here we are to obſerve, that tho' all the Precepts of God are of Equal Authority, as they proceed from One Lawgiver, who requires Obedience to them; yet there are ſome Reſpects in which they do Morally differ; and that with reſpect to the Matter enjoyned in them, or the Object to which they nextly direct our Service. It is true, all our Obedience is to be directed to God Ultimately; but then there are the things themſelves, in which this Obedience is to be performed, and to which it is nextly and immediately directed: And in this regard Sins will admit of Aggravation from the conſideration that there is a difference between theſe. And here a few things may be obſerved for our help in a right Apprehenſion of this:
1. THO' the Law is one, yet the things Commanded or Forbidden in the Law are diverſe. The Law bears a reſpect to the whole. Concerns of Man, as he was made for the Service of God, to whom he is to conſe…te his whole Life: and hath, for that end Pr…p… given referring to the whole and every part of it, in every Station, Relation, Occaſion; and therefore we have that Rule given us, 1 Cor. 10.31. Whether therefore ye out or drink, or whatſoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Nor is there ſo much as a Thought, Wo…d or Deed, but comes under the Regulation of the Command: and ought to be ſquared according to it. All theſe therefore are to be accounted for, to God, as. He is our Judge: Hence that, Heb. 4.12. The word of God is a diſcerner of the thoughts and intents of the …eart, And, Matth. 12.36. I ſay unto you, That w…y idle word this men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For which reaſon the Pſalmiſt hath that requeſt, Pſal. 19.14. Let the words of my mouth, and the … ditation of my heart be acceptable in thy…ſight, O Lord my ſtrength and my redeemer.
2. THAT the Law it ſelf is reduced is Two Heads, with reſpect to the next Immediate Object which we are pointed to. We may obſerve that God, when He revived the Law on Mount Sinai, wrote the ſeveral Precepts of it upon Two Tables, which carries Matter of inſtruction in it. And tho' we are not …old in the Hiſtory, how it was divided in them; yet our Saviour Chriſt gives us a ſufficient intimation about it, in that He reduceth all to Two comprehenſive Commands; the one reſpecting, God, the other in regard of our Neighbour, Matth. 22:37, 38, 39. And on this Account Paul when he aſſerts his Uprightneſs, reduceth it to theſe Two Heads; Acts 24.16. And herein do I exerciſe my ſelf to have always a conſcience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Intimating that he had Conſcientiouſly done his Duty towards Both.
3. THAT in reſpect of Both theſe, there are the Degrees of Sinning, in regard of the Matter which they are nextly applied unto. My meaning is, that the thing it ſelf puts a difference in the Atrociouſneſs of the Sin, with reſpect to the things Commanded, notwithſtanding the Obligation of the Law is the ſame. For tho' God gives us no Diſpenſation to allow our ſelves in any Sin; yet ſome Sins are more Vile than others, becauſe they are in things which in their own Nature are greater and more abominable: And the reaſon is, becauſe there are the great things of the Law, which infers that there are leſſer, as is evident from that of our Saviour in, Matth. 23.23. And have omitted the weigh…ter matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith. Hence God ſo greatens the Sins of His People in that, Hoſ. 8.12 I have written to him the great things of my law. And on this account we have that to the Prophet, Ezek 8. …. The great abomi…ations that the houſe of Iſrael c…mmitteth. 1…. Turn thee yet again and thou ſhalt ſee greate… …omi…ations that they do.
HERE then we may more particularly obſerve theſe things;
1. SINS againſt the Firſt Table cre…re hei…ous than ſuch as are againſt the Second. And the reaſon of this is, becauſe they are more directly Committed againſt GOD, whereas the next Object of the other is our Neighbour; and …s God is greater than Man, ſo the Aſtront that is offered to Him, muſt needs be more daring, and more unreaſonable: This is intimated in that, 1 Sain. 2.25. If one man ſin againſt another, the judge ſhall ju…ge him: but of a man ſin againſt the Lord, who ſhall intreat for him? In this regard it is more horrid for Men to Deny God, to Worſhip Idols, to Blaſphame God's Name, and to trample upon His Honour, than to Wr…g, … Injure a Man like our ſelves. And altho' there are more ſevere Puniſhments inflicted upon Men for ſome Breaches of the Second … be, than Affronts offered to ſ…me of the Firſt. This is not becauſe theſe are greater in themſelves; but becauſe either Men are more concerned for themſelves than for the Glory of God; … becauſe human Laws do nextly reſpect the Good of human Society, which cannot conſiſt without a more ſevere Teſtimony born againſt them; and yet the Neglect of the other, brings more awful Judgments upon Men; and if Men will not, God will vindicate His own Glory. But in this thing it ſelf we find that to be uſed as an Aggravation of their Guilt: Hence that, 1 Theſ. 4.8. He therefore that …cſpiſeth, deſpiſeth not man, but God. 1 Sam. 8.7. But this muſt be conſidered with ſome Diſtinctions.
Hence,
2. THERE are the Degrees of Guilt with reſpect to the ſeveral Commands of each Table: For we obſerved, that we muſt conſider not only the Object againſt which, but alſo the Matter about which the Sin is concerned. And here there is an obſervable Difference to be made between one Sin and another, And that,
(1.) IN reſpect of Sins againſt the Firſt Table: Theſe are all of them directly againſt GOD; but in ſome there is a greater Diſhonour caſt upon Him, than in others: Doubtleſs, Atheiſm, Idol…try, blaſphemy, do carry a more horrid Aſpect on them, than Superſi…tion; and it is a greater Sin, in reſpect of the Sin it ſelf, to Curſe God, than to Omit a Duty of Poſitive Worſhip, becauſe it carrieth higher open Contempt in it.
(2.) IN reſpect of Sins againſt the Second Table. Tho' every Command of it be alike Authorized by God; yet Reaſon it ſelf tells us, that it is a greater Injury that is done to our Neighbour by Murder and Adultery, than by T…eft and Obloquy; yea and by Murder than Adultery, becauſe the Man's Life, which is the moſt precious thing to him in this World, is hereby out off; and all Opportunities of glorifying God in this World, are put to an end.
3. THERE are ſome Sins against the Second Table, which may be more hein as than …ome Sins againſt t…e Firſt. For tho' in general, it is a Truth with reſpect to the Object, that Love to God. required in the Firſt Table, is the great Command, and Love to our Neighbour is like to it, but is required ſecondarily: yet as God hath required us to teſtify our Love to Him, by our Love to our Neighbour, according to, 1 Joh 4.20. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath ſeen, how can be love God whom he hath not ſeen. So he counts it a Sin in us, to omit the neceſſary Duties of the Second, under a pretence of the Firſt; and for this reaſon we have that Remark, Hoſ 6 6. For I deſired mercy and not ſacrifice, and the knowlege of God, more than burnt offerings. God therefore requires that we omit for the Seaſon, thoſe Religious Duties of Worſhip which are required in the Firſt Table, when there in a preſſing Neceſſity to attend thoſe of the Second. And indeed, God needs not out Ser…e, to do Him any Benefit, whereas our Neigh…ours need it, and we ſerve God in doing it. And doubtleſs, where one Duty muſt give place to another, the Neglect of this muſt be a greate… … it ſelf.
4. THE more of the Love of God that appears in the Command, the more Heinous muſt be the Tranſgreſſion of it. Love carries the greateſt Obligation in it; and the Contempt of it comes under the brand of Ingratitude, which is as black a Mark as can be ſet upon a Sin: The more that God hath done for Men to engage them, is an Aggravation of the Fault; but that will come to be conſidered afterwards. That which is now before us, is the Conſideration of that Love that appears in the Command it ſelf; when the very Deſign of it is to direct us to that, in our Compliance wherewithal, we ſhall be rendered Happy; and if He had not given us ſuch a Command, we muſt needs have been Miſerable forever. On this account Sins againſt the G…ſpel muſt needs be more Heinous than Sins againſt the Late, becauſe in it the great Love and good Will of God to Men, is made to appear. Now the great Command where the Goſpel comes, is to Believe in Chriſt for Salvation, 1 Joh. 3.23. This is his commandment, that we ſhould believe on the name of his Son Jeſus Christ. And for this reaſon we ſhall find the moſt fearful Menaces out againſt Unbelief; Chriſt therefore tells us in Joh. 3.18. He that believeth not, is condemned already. And when He would ſet forth the moſt dreadful Puniſhments that can be inflicted on Men, He expreſſeth it by that which ſhall befall theſe, Luk. 12.46. And will appoint him his …rtion with unbelievers. And it is on this account, that the greater intollerableneſs of the Penalty of ſuch is denounced: Hence that in, Heb. 1….28, 29. He that deſpiſed Moſes law, died, without mercy, under two or three witneſ…e… Of how mud ſever puniſhment, ſupp…ſe ye, ſhall he be thought w…rt…y, wh… …ath …odden under foot the Son of God, … …nted the blood of the covenant where… …, an unholy thing, and hath done deſp… unto the Spirit of grace?
5. THE more of Sins there are comprehende… in One Sin, th… more h…nous is muſt be. And the reaſon of this is manifeſt and indiſputable, inaſmuch as every Sin carries heinouſneſs in it; and therefore when many do meet i… … there is a Compound of Man's Malignant Ingredients, which muſt needs intend the Vir…emy of it: And in this regard, as well as others, the Firſt Sin of our Firſt Parents, was very great, and is called the Tranſgreſſion; for, as Divines have well obſerved, there was in it a direct Violation of all the Commands of the Moral Law, in both the Firſt and Second Table; tho' it was alſo Aggravated by many other Circumſtances; there was the greateſt Diſ…on… done to GOD, and all manner of Injury d…ne to Men in it. Thus alſo was David's Sin in the matter of Uriah, a very great Sin, in that it had not only greateſt Ingratitude, but was a multiplied Accumulation of many grievous Sins. And on this account Original Sin, which is the depravation of our Nature, is called that Sin, and ſinful Sin; and the Notes of peculiar Infamy are put upon it, becauſe it is the Womb in which all Sins are bred, which are but the Spawn of it; being contained in it. There is no one Sin, that we can poſſibly name, but what hath its in-being in this Sin of Nature: And hence every particular Sin that Men Contract the Guilt of to themſelves, is but little to what this is, that contains all in it. And if one of theſe be ſo horribly Vile, what muſt the Source and Fountain of Sin be? Well then might he cry out, Rom. 7.24. O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death?
II. THE ſame Sins for Kind, may be greater or leſ…er, by the Circumſtances attending them. We are therefore told, that they may be made more Heinous, by ſeveral Aggravations; and for this alſo there is ſufficient footing in the Word of God, as may be taken account of when we come to the particulars; and for this reaſon, when God would lay Men under humbling Apprehenſions of the Vileneſs of their Sin, he lays before them ſuch amplifying Conſiderations, as may render them moſt Vile; an Emphatical Inſtance whereof we have in, 2 Sam. 12. beg.
AND here in general, we may take theſe Two …es:
1. THE …re of the Malignity of the Heart appears in the Commiſſion of a Sin, the greater is the … that is contraded thereby. For as Sin is …ooted in the Heart, and God both knows and judgeth of the Heart; ſo, the more engaged the Heart is in it, the more violently doth the Malignity of it break forth; and ſo much the more d…th the Man diſplay the eagerneſs t…at is in him in the Proſecution of it. And … …e… herein the heighth of Contempt of God's … by Law … expreſſed, and thereby the Man is …e…ed the more in…ſable. And how man … this is d…ne, may be more particularly … in the ſequel.
2. HENCE it fol…ows, That a Sin … i… it ſelf, may …y the Circumſtances accompanying it, … greatly Ag…ate…: … in it ſelf, may be leſſened by them. Men are apt to Judge of things by the Conſideration of the things themſelves; and therefore if they can pleaſe themſelves, that the Matter is but ſmall, their Conſciences have little or no touches with Regret at them; they can the eaſier admit of the Temptation, and ſilence all Remorſes on the Reflection, judging the Matter to be but a Trifle, and not to be regarded. But the Word of God gives us ſufficient diſcovery of their grand Miſtake on this Account; and the very littleneſs of the thing, may be an aggravating Circumſtance of the Fault, as will afterwards be Conſidered: And we find that God many times is pleaſed to Try Men with ſuch things in His Poſitive Precepts, thereby to diſcover either their Sincerity, or the Naughtineſs of their Hearts. It is certain, that the firſt Trial which God gave to Man, in his State of Integrity, was a thing in it ſelf ſm…ll: The Earing of the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge was therefore a Sin, becauſe God reſerved it by a Poſitive Precept from Man's uſing it as Food, which had otherwiſe been as lawful as any other. And yet how Heinous this Sin was, and how much God was Provoked by it, is abundantly manifeſt, in that it brought, not only on our Firſt Parents, but all their …ſterity, that Curſe, which involved in it all the Miſeries of Time and Eternity. But theſe things may be further purſued, in the particular Contemplation of them.
[SEPTEMBER 17.1706.]