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…

First, thou who hast knowledge, canst not sin so §1cheap as another,¹ who is ignorant: Therefore if thou wilt be wicked, thy wickedness will cost thee ten times more than it would another. Places of much knowledge, and plentiful in the means of grace, are dear places to live in sin in. To be drunk, and unclean, after enlightening, and the motions of the Spirit, and powerful Sermons, is more than twenty times afore; thou mightest have committed ten to one, and been damned less. This is condemnation (says Christ) that light came into the world. ²Neither canst thou have so much pleasure in thy sin as an ignorant person; For the conscience puts forth a sting in the act, when thou hast knowledge, and does subject thee to bondage and the fear of death. When a man knows how dearly he must pay for it, there is an expectation of judgement embittereth all. Therefore the Gentiles sinned ⟨p. 88⟩with more pleasure than we. Therefore Eph. 4. 18, 19. the Apostle speaking of them, says, that through their ignorance, and darkness, and want of feeling, they committed sin with greediness, and so with more pleasure; they not having knowledge or hearts sensible of the evils that attend upon their courses.

First, thou who hast knowledge, canst not sin so §1cheap as another,¹ who is ignorant: Therefore if thou wilt be wicked, thy wickednesse will cost thee ten times more than it would another. Places of much knowledge, and plentifull in the meanes of grace, are dear places to live in sin in. To be drunk, and uncleane, after enlightning, and the motions of the Spirit, and powerfull Sermons, is more than twentie times afore; thou mightest have committed ten to one, and beene damned lesse. This is condemnation (sayes Christ) that light came into the world. ²