A. 15. To sin maliciously makes sin greater. Aquinas and other of the school- men place the sin against the Holy Ghost in malice. The sinner doth all he can to vex God, and despite the Spirit of grace, Heb. X. 29. Thus Julian, who threw up his dagger in the air, as if he would have been revenged upon God. This swells sin to its full bigness, it cannot be greater
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WHAT SIN DESERVETH.
When a man is trnce come to this, blas- phemously to despite the Spirit, there is but one step lower he can fall, and that is to hell.
A. 16. et ult. It aggi'avates sin, and makes it greater, when a man not only sins him- self, but endeavours to make others sin. 1. Such as teach errors to the people, who decry Christ's deity, or deny his virtue, making him only a political head, not an head of influence, — who preach against the morality of the sabbath, or the immortality ©f the soul, — these men's sins are greater than others. If the breakers of God's law sin, what do they that teach men to break them? Mat. v. 19. — 2. Such as destroy o- thers by their bad example. The swearing
father hath taught his son to swear, and damned him by his example. These men's sins are greater than others, and they shall have an hotter place in hell.
Use. You see all sins are not equal ; some are more grievous than others, and bring greater wrath ; therefore especially take heed of these sins, Ps. xix. 13., " Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins." The least sin is bad enough ; you need not aggravate your sins, and make them more heinous. lie that hath a little wound will not make it deeper. O beware of these bloody circumstances wliich greatcn your sin, and make it more heinous ! The higher a man is in sinning, the lower he shall lio in torment.
WHAT SIN DESERVETH.
Quest. LXXXIV. WHAT doth every sin deserve ?
Ans. God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come. Mat. xxv. 41., " Depart from mo, ye cursed, into everlasting fire." Man having sinned, is like a favourite turned out of the king's favour, and deserves the wrath and curse of God.
\st. God's curse. Gal. iii. 10. As when Christ cursed the fig-tree, it withered, Mat. xxi. 19., so, when God curseth any, he wi- thers in his soul. God's curse blasts wher- ever it comes.
2d. God's wrath, which is nothing else but the execution of God's curse.
I. W^hat this wrath is? In this wrath there is, 1. Something that is privative ; that is, the being deprived of the smiles of God's face. It is hell enough to be exclud- ed God's presence ; in whose presence is fulness of joy, Ps. xvi. 11. God's smiling face hath that splendour and oriency of beauty shining in it, as ravisheth the angels with delight. This is the diamond in the ring of glory. And, if it were sucli a mi- sery fi)r Absalom that he might not see the king's face, 2 Kings xiv. 22., what will it be lor the wicked to be shut out from be- holding God's pleasant face ! Frivatio Di~ vince visioyiis omnium suppliciorum summum.
— 2. God's wrath hath something in it po- sitive. That is, his frown and enraged fu- ry ; which is " wrath come upon them to the uttermost," 1 Thess. ii. 16. Here take three positions or maxims ;
1. God's wrath is irresistible, Ps. xc. 11., " Who knows the power of thine anger ?" Sinners may oppose God's ways, but not his wrath. Shall the briars contend with the fire ? Shall finite contend Avith infi- nite ? Job xl. 9., " Hast thou an arm like God?"
2. God's wrath is terrible. The Spanish proverb is, ' The lion is not so fierce as he is painted.' We are apt to have slight thoughts of God's wrath ; but it is very tremendous and dismal, as if scalding lead should be dropt into one's eye. The Hebiew word for wrath, signifies heat. To show that the wrath of God is hot, therefore it is com- pared to fire in the text. Fire, when it is in its rage, is dreadful, (as we saw in the flames of this city) : so the wrath of God is like fire, it is the terrible of terribles. Other fire is but painted to this. If when God's wrath is kindled but a little, and a spark of it flies into a wicked man's con- science in this life, it is so terrible, wliat will it be when God " stirs up all his wrath ?" Ps. Ixxviii. 38. How sad is it with a soul in desertion ! Now God dips his pen in
WHAT SIN DESERVETH.
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