The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of God

But sin though in continuance it were not everlasting,¹ yet is it in nature infinite: for the greatness of a sin is measured according to the greatness of the person against whom it is committed. We see in the counts of men that one and the same wrong committed against a mean man, and a Monarch, is accounted less or greater. That which being done against a mean man, will scarce bear an action in Law (as we speak) committed against a King may prove a capital matter, a matter of high treason, and bring a man to the gallows. Now every sin is a transgression of Gods Law, and committed directly against the infinite Majesty; and in that respect it is infinite in nature, and deserveth an infinite punishment. But the creature is finite, and cannot in time bear an infinite weight of vengeance, and therefore it lieth eternally under it. There is then a proportion betwixt the sin of the damned, and their punishment: both are infinite. Sin in quantity and greatness, the punishment in time and continuance: what sin wanteth in continuance, it hath in greatness; and what the punishment wanteth in weight, it hath in continuance. Thus the sin and the punishment are correspondent each to other, and God is just in inflicting an eternal punishment on an infinite sin.

But sin though in continuance it were not euerlasting,¹ yet is it in nature infinite: for the greatnesse of a sin is measured according to the greatnesse of the person against whom it is committed. Wee see in the counts of men that one and the same wrong committed against a meane man, and a Monarch, is accounted lesse or greater. That which being done against a meane man, will scarce beare an action in Law (as we speake) committed against a King may proue a capitall matter, a matter of high treason, and bring a man to the gallowes. Now euery sin is a transgression of Gods Law, and committed directly against the infinite Maiestie; and in that respect it is infinite in nature, and deserueth an infinite punishment. But the creature is finite, and cannot in time beare an infinite weight of vengeance, and therefore it lieth eternally vnder it. There is then a proportion betwixt the sin of the damned, and their punishment: both are infinite. Sin in quantity and greatnes, the punishment in time and continuance: what sin wanteth in continuance, it hath in greatnes; and what the punishment wanteth in weight, it hath in continuance. Thus the sin and the punishment are correspondent each to other, and God is iust in inflicting an eternall punishment on an infinite sin.