A. 4. When a man sins after counsels, admonitions, warning, he cannot plead ig- norance; the trumpet of the gospel hath been blown in his ears, and sounded a re- treat to call him off from his sins ; he hath been told of his injustice, living in malice, keeping bad company, yet he would ven- ture upon sin ; this is to sin against con- viction,— it aggravates the sin, and is like a weight put into the scale, to make his sin weigh the heavier. If a sea-mark be set up to give warning that there are shelves and rocks in that place, yet if the mariner will sail there, and split his ship, it is pre- sumption ; and, if he be cast away, who will pity him ?
A. 5. When a man sins agsiinst express comminations and threatenings. God hath thundered out threatenings against such sins, Ps. Ixviii. 21., " God shall wound the hairy scalp of such an one sis goes on still in his trespasses." Vet, though God set the point of his sword to the breast of a sinner, yet he will conuuit sin. The pleasure of
SI 4
ALL SINS NOT EQUALLY HEINOUS.
sin clotli more delight liim, than tlie threa- tcning-s afFiiglit him: lie, like the leviathan, laughs at the shaking of a spear, Job xli. 29. Nay, he derides God's threatenings, Is. V. 19., "Let him make speed, and has- ten his work, that we may see it ;" we have iicard much what God intends to do, and of judgment approaching, we would fain see it. For men to see the flaming sword of God's threatenings brandished, yet to strengthen themselves in sin, is in an high manner to sin against illumination and con- viction.
yL 6. When a man sins under affliction. God doth not only thunder by threatening, but hath let his thunderbolt fall ; he hath inflicted judgments on a person; he may read his sin in his punishment, yet he sins. His sin was un cleanness ; he hath wasted his strength, as well as his estate. He hath had a fit of apoplexy ; yet, though he feels the smart of sin, he retains the love of sin. This is to sin against conviction, 2 Chron. xxviii. 22., " In his distress did he trespass yet more : this is that king Ahaz." This doth enhance and make the sin greater than other sins : for sinning against an elighten- ed conscience : 1. Is full of obstinacy and pertinaciousness ; men give no reason, make no defence for their sins, yet they are re- solved to hold fast iniquity. This is despe- rate wilfulness ; and, voluntas est regula el mensura actionis, the more of the will in a sin, the greater the sin : Jer. xviii. 12., " We will walk after our own devices." Though there be death and hell every step, we will march on under Satan's colours. This made the sin of the apostatt^ angels so great, be- cause it was wilful ; they had no ignorance in their mind, — no passion to stir them up, — there was no tempter to deceive them, but they sinned obstinately, and out of choice.
A. 7. To sin against convictions and il- luminations, is joined with slighting and contempt of God. It is bad for a sinner to forget (rod, but it is worse to contemn him. Ps. X. 13., " Wherefore do the wicked con- temn God ?" An enlightened sinner knows that bv his sin he disobligeth and angers (lod ; but he cares not whether God be pleased or not, he will have his sin ; there- fore such an one is said to reproach (iod, '
Numb. XV. 30., " Tlie soul that doetli ought presumptuously, the same reproacheth the Lord." Every sin displeaseth God, but sins against an enlightened conscience re- proach the Lord. To contemn the autho rity of a prince, is a reproach done to him. — 2. It is accompanied with impudency. Fear and shame are banished, the veil of modesty is laid aside, Zeph. iii. .5., " The unjust knoweth no shame." Judas knew Christ was the Messiah ; he was convinced of it by an oracle from heaven, and by the miracles he wrought, and yet he impudent- ly goes on in his treason ; nay, when Christ said, " He that dips his hand with me in the dish, he shall betray me," and Judas knew Christ meant him. And when Judas was going about his treason, Christ pro- nounced a woe to him, Luke xxii. 22., yet, for all that, he proceeded in his trea- son. Thus to sin presumptuously, against an enlightened conscience, dyes the sin of a crimson colour, and makes it greater than other sins.
A. 8. Such sins are more heinous than others, which are sins of continuance. The continuing of sin is the enhancing of sin. He who plots treason, makes himself a greater offender. Some men's heads are the devil's mint-house, they are minting of mis- chief, Rom. i. 30., " Inventors of evil things." Some invent new oaths, others new snares ; such were those presidents that invented a decree against Daniel, and got the king to sign it, Dan. vi. 9.