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, Demonstrations.

The greatness of this kind of sinning might many ways be made appear;¹ we will demonstrate it only by comparing it with other kinds of sinning.

The greatnesse of this kind of sinning might many wayes be made appeare;¹ we will demonstrate it onely by comparing it with other kinds of sinning.

1. 1Demonstrations of the point, by comparing it with other kinds of sinning.Demonstratiōs of the point, by comparing it vvith other kinds of sinning.

To sin, though out of simple ignorance, when that ignorance is but the causa sine qua non of sinning, that is, so as if a man had known it a sin, he had not done it, doth not yet make the fact not to be a sin, though it lesseneth it. For Luke 12. 48. He that did not know his Masters will, was beaten, when the thing committed was worthy of stripes, though he did not know so much, because the thing deserves it. And the reason is, because the Law being once promulged, as 1. to Adam it was, and put into his heart, as the common ark of mankind; though the tables be lost, yet our ignorance doth not make the Law of none effect. For the Law of nature for ever binds, that is, all that was written in Adams heart, because it was thereby then published in him, and to him for us. But positive laws, as I may call them, as to believe in Christ, &c. anew delivered, bind not, but where they are published. Josiah rent his clothes, when the book of the Law was found, because the ordinances were not kept, although they had not known the Law of many years; yet because