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…

The first rule is, The more thou knewest, and didst consider the issues and consequents of that sin thou didst commit, the more thou sinnest against conscience in it: when as in Rom. 1. ult. Thou knowing (says the Apostle) that those that commit such things, are worthy of death: that is, thou considerest that Hell and Damnation is the issue and desert of it, and yet committest it; yea and this when haply hell fire at present flasheth in thy face, and yet thou goest on to do it, in this case men are said to choose death, and to love it, Prov. 3. 36. When a man considers, that the way to the whorehouse are the ways to death (as Solomon speaks) So when thou a professor considerest with thy self before, This sin will prove scandalous, and undo me, disable me for service, cast me out of the hearts of good men, and yet dost it. Thus that foolish King was told again and again, Jer. 38. 17, 18, 19. that if he would yield to the King of Babel, he should save his life, and City, and Kingdom, and live there still; but if he would not, he should not escape: but as Jeremiah told him, verse 23. Thou shalt cause this City to be burnt with fire, yet he would not hearken: This is the word of the Lord (says Jeremiah,) and he knew it to be so; and yet being a weak Prince, led by his Nobles, he would not follow his Counsel: and thus Judas fully knew the issue: Christ had said again and again, Woe be to him by whom ⟨p. 70⟩the Son of man is betrayed, and yet went on to do it.

The first rule is, The more thou knewest, and didst consider the issues and consequents of that sinne thou didst commit, the more thou sinnest against conscience in it: when as in Rom. 1. ult. Thou knowing (sayes the Apostle) that those that commit such things, are worthy of death: that is, thou considerest that Hell and Damnation is the issue and desert of it, and yet committest it; yea and this when haply hell fire at present flasheth in thy face, and yet thou goest on to doe it, in this case men are said to choose death, and to love it, Prov. 3. 36. When a man considers, that the way to the whorehouse are the wayes to death (as Solomon speaks) So when thou a professor considerest with thy selfe before, This sinne will prove scandalous, and undoe me, disable me for service, cast mee out of the hearts of good men, and yet dost it. Thus that foolish King was told againe and againe,