Aggravation of sin and sinning against knowledge. Mercy. Delivered in several sermons upon divers…Aggravation of sinne and sinning against knowledge. Mercie. Delivered in severall sermons upon divers…

But others there are, who though they be fallen from all the inward, powerful and secret performance of duties they once did practice, and from all conscience of sinning, yet retain their profession which they know to be but an out-side: these of all others go on against knowledge: and Rev. 22. 15. they are said to make a lye; not only to tell a lye in words, but to make a lye in deeds. Now a lye is a sin of all others most against knowledge, and indeed against a double knowledge, both facti and juris: & so is this. 1. That they profess themselves to be that they know they are not. 2. That they will not endeavour after that state they know they ought to get into, if ever saved. This is the condition of many, who being convinced of the power of religion, have launched forth into a profession, and hoist up sail, but now the tide is fallen, the spirit withdrawn, the conscience of sin extinguished in them; yet for their credit sake still bear their sails up as high as ever: even as many Merchants do, who are sunk in their estates, still bear a fair show, yea will seem richer than ordinary, by purchasing lands, &c. Such a professor was Judas, he began seriously, and thought to have gone to heaven, and was earnest in good duties at first: as they also, 2 Pet. 2. 18. they really, or [Greek or Hebrew], escaped the pollutions ⟨p. 67⟩of the world, through the knowledge of Christ: but in the end Judas became a gross hypocrite, one that pretended the poor, when he loved the bag; and on the sudden betrayed his Master, when yet the Disciples knew it not, suspected Judas as little as themselves; and the end of those also, in that fore-named place, is said to be worse than their beginning. Now because such sin so highly against knowledge, therefore their punishment is made the regula of all other wicked mens; as when it is said, that other sinners shall have their portion with Hypocrites: as the wicked Angels punishment is made the measure of mens: Go ye cursed into the fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels: so among men, such gross Hypocrites, their punishment is made the rule, and so the chief of all kind of torments, which sinners of the sons of men shall undergo.

But others there are, who though they be fallen from all the inward, powerfull and secret performance of duties they once did practice, and from all conscience of sinning, yet retain their profession which they know to be but an out-side: these of all others goe on against knowledge: and