Page images
PDF
EPUB

Q. 150. Are all transgressions of the law of God equally heinous in themselves, and in the sight of God?

A. All transgressions of the law of God are not equally heinous; but some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others m

Q. 151. What are those aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others?

A. Sins receive their aggravations,

1. From the persons offending": if they be of riper ageo, greater experience or grace, eminent for profession,

world may become guilty before God. James iii. from Verse 2. to 13. For in many things we offend all,

150. John xix. 11. Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. Ezek. viii. 6.—But turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations. Ver. 13. Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. Ver. 15.-Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. 1 John v. 16. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. Psal. lxxviii. 17. And they sinned yet more against him, by provoking the most High in the wilderness. Ver. 32. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. Ver. 56. Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies.

151. "Jer. ii. 8. The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they

gifts,

that handle the law knew me not the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

[ocr errors]

Job xxxii. 7. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. Ver. 9. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Eccl. iv. 13. Better is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

P1 Kings xi. 4. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. Ver. 9. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice.

12 Sam. xii. 14. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. 1 Cor. v. 1. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gen

gifts, place, office, guides to others, and whose example is likely to be followed by others ".

tiles, that one should have his father's wife.

James iv. 17. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Luke xii. 47. And that servant which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. Ver. 48. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

$ Jer. v. 4. Therefore I said, Surely these are poor, they are foolish; for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God. Ver. 5. I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.

t2 Sam. xii. 7. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel,Ver. 8. And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Ver. 9. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? Ezek. viii. 11. And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of

[ocr errors]

2. From

Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. Ver. 12. Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The Lord seeth us not, The Lord hath forsaken the earth.

v Rom. ii. 17. Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, Ver. 18. And knowest his will,--Ver. 19. And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, Ver. 20. An instructer of the foolish, a teacher of babes,-Ver. 21. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Ver. 22. Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Ver. 23. Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? Ver. 24. For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you.

w Gal. ii. 11. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. Ver. 12. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew, and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. Ver. 13. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. Ver. 14. But when I

saw

2. From the parties offended*: if immediately against God, his attributes", and worship"; against Christ, and his grace; the Holy Spirit, his witness, and workings; against

saw that they walked not uprightly, according to the truth of the, gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

* Mat. xxi. 38. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. Ver. 29. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

y 1 Sam. ii. 25. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?-Acts v. 4.Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Psal. li. 1. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

2 Rom. ii. 4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

a Mal. i. 8. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor, will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts. Ver. 14. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great

24

[blocks in formation]

Heb. ii. 2. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; Ver. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?-Heb. xii. 25. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.

Heb. x. 29. Of how much

sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God?-Mat. xii. 31. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. Ver. 32. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

d

Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

e Heb. vi. 4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, Ver. 5. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come; Ver. 6. If they shall fall

away,

against superiors, men of eminency £, and such as we stand especially related and engaged unto; against any of the saints, particularly weak brethren, the souls of them, or any other, and the common good of all or many1.

away, to renew them again unto repentance:

Jude, Ver. 8. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Numb. xii. 8. -Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? Ver. 9. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed. Isa. iii. 5.-The child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

8 Prov. xxx. 17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. 2 Cor. xii. 15. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. Psal. lv. 12. For it was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it; neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him: Ver. 13. But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. Ver. 14. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Ver. 15. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell:—

h Zeph. ii. 8. I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people.-Ver. 10. This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magni

25

3. From

fied themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts. Ver. 11. The Lord will be terrible unto them :-Mat. xviii. 6. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 1 Cor. vi. 8. Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. xvii. 6. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus:

Rev.

i1 Cor. viii. 11. And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? Ver. 12. But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

Rom. xiv. 13. Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock, or an occasion to fall, in his brother's way. Ver. 15. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died. Ver. 21. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made

weak.

[blocks in formation]

3. From the nature and quality of the offencem: if it be against the express letter of the law ", break many commandments, contain in it many sins°: if not only conceived in

hear your lies? 1 Cor. viii. 12. But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak consciences, ye sin against Christ. Rev. xviii. 12. The merchandise of gold, Ver. 13. And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. Mat. xxiii. 15. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and, when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

1 1 Thess. ii. 15. Who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Ver. 16. Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved,-Josh. xxii. 20. Did not Achan, the son of Zerah, commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.

m Prov. vi. 30. Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry: Ver. 31. But if he be found, he shall restore seven-fold ;- -Ver. 32. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. Ver. 33. A wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. And so on to the end of the Chapter.

n Ezra ix. 10. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments, Ver. 11. Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people.-Ver. 12. Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, &c. 1 Kings xi. 9. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, Ver. 10. And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.

• Col. iii. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 1 Tim. vi. 10. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Prov. v. 8. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: Ver. 9. Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: Ver. 10. Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth:-Ver. 11. And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, Ver. 12. And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof! Prov. vi. 32. But whoso committeth Р adultery

« PreviousContinue »