they are the immediate fource and fpring from whence all our finful words and deeds do flow; for, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, Mat. xii. 34.

2. 26. What is the proper remedy and antidote against finful thoughts?

A. The Spirit's taking the things of Chrift, and fhewing them unto us, John xvi. 14. whereby they will become the fubject matter of our meditation and higheft efteem: for, where the treasure is, there will the heart be alfo, Mat. vi. 21. 2 27. How do men break the commandments of God by their woRDS?

A. When, befides idle and unprofitable words, Matth. xii. 36. they utter fuch as are more directly difhonouring to God, Pfal. Ixxiii. 9, 11. and hurtful and prejudicial to themselves and others, Pfal cxl. 3.

228. How do they break them by their deeds?

A. When these fins are committed, which have been conceived in the thought, and uttered by the tongue, being inconceivably more than can be condefcended upon, for, innumerable evils have compaffed us about, Pfal. xl. 12.

2. 29. What may we learn from man's inability to keep the commandments perfectly in this life?

4. That we must be wholly beholden to the free grace of God, for falvation and eternal life, Tit. iii. 5. and not to any thing in ourselves, who are, at belt, but unprofitable fervants, Luke xvii. 10.

83. QUEST. Are all tranfgreffions of the law equally heinous ?

ANSW. Some fins in themselves, and, by reafon of feveral aggravations, are more heinous in the fight of God than others.

Q. r. What do you understand by fome fins being [more heinous] than others?

A. That they are more abominable, hateful, and offenfive to God than others are, Ezek. viii. 6, 13, 15.

22. Are not all fins hateful, and offenfive to God? A. Yes: but not equally fo, Mat. vii, 3. Why beholdest PART II.

X

thou the MOTE that is in thy brother's eye, but confidereft not the BEAM that is in thine own.

3. How doth it appear, that all fins are not equally offenfive to God?

A. From the different degrees of punishment that fhall be inflicted in the other world, Mat. xi. 22. But I say unto you, It fhall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of Judgement, than for you, See alfo Luke xii. 47, 48.

Q. 4. In whofe fight are fome fins more heinous than

others?

A. [In the fight of God, ] who is the beft judge of the heinoufnefs of fins, Job xxxvi. 9.

25. In what refpects are fome fins more heinous in the fight of God than others?

A. Some are more heinous [in themselves,] and some are fo [by reafon of feveral aggravations.]

Q6. What is it for fins to be heinous [in themselves]?

It is to be heinous in their own nature, though no other aggravating circumftance fhould attend them.

27. How are thefe fins, that are in their own nature more heinous than others, commonly ranked ?

A. Sins committed more immediately against God, or the first table of his law, are more heinous in their own nature, than fins committed more immediately againft man, or any precept of the fecond table. Likewife, fome fins gainst the second table, are more heinous in themselves, an other fins against the faid table.

2. 8. What examples are ufually given of both these? A. Blafphemy against God is more heinous, in its own ature, than defaming, or speaking evil of our neighbour, Sam. ii. 25.: and adultery is more heinous than theft. Prov. vi. 30. to the end of the chapter.

9. 9. "What are thofe [aggravations] that make fome "fins more heinous than others!"

A. Sins "receive their aggravation, 1. From the perfons offending. 2. From the parties offended. 3. From the nature and quality of the offence. 4. From the circumftances of time and place

2. c. How may the persons OFFENDING be viewed? A. They may be viewed, either as to their age, gifts, or office.

• Larger Cat, Queft. 158.

Q. 11. What aggravation arifes from the fons offending?

A. If perfons are advanced in years, whereby they may be supposed to have more experience, their fins are more highly aggravated, than if committed by children,or fuch as are raw and unexperienced, Job xxxii. 7.

Q. 12. How are fins aggravated from the gifts of the perfons offending?

A. If the offenders have been eminent for their profes fion, 2 Sam. xii. 14. or have had a larger measure of gifts, 1 Kings xi. 9. or grace, Jam. iv. 17. conferred upon them, their fins will be proportionably aggravated beyond others, who have not been fo privileged.

213. How are fins aggravated from the office, or station, in which perfons offending may be placed?

A. If the perfons, who give the offence, be in an eminent station in the world, or vested with any office in the church, Jer. xxxiii. 11, 14. or in the state, 1 Kings xiv. 16.; their fins cannot but be of a deeper tincture and die, be cause their example is more likely to be followed by others, Jer. xxiii. 14.

Q 14. How do fins receive their aggravation from the parties OFFENDED?

A. If committed "immediately against God, his attri"butes and worship; against Christ and his grace'; against "the Holy Spirit, his witnefs and working) againft fupe"riors, and fuch as we ftand especially related and engag"ed unto; against any of the faints, particularly weak bre"thren ;—and the common good of all or many t.'

2. 15. On what account is fin aggravated as being committed immediately against God, his attributes and worship? A. In as much as it is a doing evil in his fight, PÏ. li. 4.: is a defpifing of the riches of his goodness Rom. ii. 4.; and an undervaluing his ordinances, Mal. i. 8. and the glory he has ftamped upon them, verfe 14.

2. 16. Wherein confifts the heinousness of fin, as being against Chrift and his grace?

A In its being a flighting and contemning the only remedy which infinite wifdom has provided for our malady, Acts iv. 12.; and furely there can be no escaping, if we neglect fo great falvation, Heb. ii. 3.

Larger Cet. Quest. 151. fett. 2.

17. How is fin aggravated by its being committed against the Holy Spirit, his awitness and working?

A. In as much as it is a rejecting his teftimony without us in the word, John xv. 26. and a quenching his motions and operations within us, 1 Theff. v. 19.

Q18. What aggravation doth fin receive, as being committed against fuperiors, and fuch as we ftand efpecially related and engaged unto?

A. In fo far as fin is committed against any of these it is á violation of the moft facred bonds, both of nature, Pro. xxx. 17. and gratitude, Pfal lv. 12, 13.

2.19.F .How is it aggravated, as being committed against the faints, particularly weak brethren ?

A. As being committed against the faints, it is a contempt of the image of God in them, Luke r. 16; and as against weak brethren, it is a laying a stumbling block before there, whereby they may be enfnared and fall, I Cor. viii. 12.

2. 20. Who are they that fin against the common good of all men, or many of them?

A. They are fuch as do what in them lies to hinder the propagation of the gospel, where it is not, and to mar the fuccefs of it, where it is, t Theff. ii.15, 16. there being nothing that tends more to the common good of all men, than the word of his falvation being fent among them, Acts xiii. 26. 2. 21. What is the aggravation of this fin?

A. It makes thofe, who are guilty of it, bear the neareft refemblances they can, unto the devil, who aims at nothing more than the ruin and deftruction of mankind, 1 Pet.

v. 8.

Q. 22. How are fins aggravated from the NATURE and QUALITY of the offence?

A.They are much aggravated, "if the offence be against "the exprefs letter of the law; break many command"ments;—if it break forth in words and actions ;—ad"mit of no reparation; if against-conviction or confci"ence-if done deliberately-obftinately, and with de"light t."

Q. 23. Why is the offence faid to be aggravated from being committed against the exprefs letter of the law?

See more particulars on this head, Larger Catechifm, Quest. 15. felt. 3.

A. Because in this cafe there can remain no manner of doubt about the finfulness of the action; and therefore it must be a finning with the greateft boldness and prefumption, Rom. i. 32.

2. 24. What aggravation is there in breaking many commandments at once?

A. The fin hereby becomes a complicated offence containing many crimes in the bofom of it; like David's fin in the matter of Uriah, 2 Sam. xii. 9.

Q. 25. How is fin aggravated by breaking forth in words and actions ?

A. Sinful words and actions reflect a more public difhonour on God, Mat. v. 22. and do greater injury to men, Mic. ii. 1. than if they were latent only in the thought.

Q. 26. What aggravation is there in thefe fins which admit of no reparation?

A. Their admitting of no reparation, cannot mifs to aggravate them in the very nature of things; thus murder or adultery cannot but be more heinous than theft, because there may be reftitution of one kind or other for theft, Lev vi. 4, 5.; but nothing can compenfate the taking away the life of another, Num. xxxv. 31. or the violation of the marriage bed and covenant, Prov. vi. 35.

Q. 27. What is the aggravation of finning against convictions of confcience?

A. This kind of finning is an offering violence to ourfelves, contrary to the checks of that judge and reprover which every one has in his own breast, Rom. i. 32.

2. 28. What is the evil of finning deliberately, obftinately, and with delight?

4. It argues a giving a kind of defiance to the Almighty, Exod. v. 2.; a rooted hatred of him, Rom. iii. 7.; and a ftrong evidence of judicial blindness and hardness of heart, Zech. vii. 1, 12.

2. 29. What aggravation do fins receive from the cir cumftance of TIME?

A. They are more heinous, if committed on the Lord's Day. Jer. xvii. 27. or on days occafionally fet apart for fafting or thanksgiving, Isa. xxii. 12, 13. than at other times.

Q 30 How are fins aggravated from the circumstance of the PLACE in which they are committed?

A. An offence is more heinous, if it is done in a land of