Again a sin pardonable is either the lesser sin, or the greater. And both are considered or judged either by the principal antecedent working cause, (which the Greeks call [Greek or Hebrew],) or by the manner of doing, or by the object or matter wherein the sin is committed. In respect of the cause, the sin is the lesser which is committed of ignorance, as Pauls persecution; or of infirmity as the fall of Peter: but the greater, which is committed against the conscience, as Davids murder and adultery: or of malice, as Semei's reproachful and railing speeches. In respect of the manner of doing, his sin is less, which offereth adultery by persuasion, as David with Bathsheba, then his sin, which offereth violence, as that uncleanness committed with Dinah by Shechem,1 and with the Levites wife by the men of Gibeah. In respect of the object, the stealing of a penny is a lesser sin then of an ⟨p. 31⟩hundred or a thousand crowns. Again it is a lesser sin to steal a beast, then to steal a man, which sin they call *Pla•ium in the Latin tongue. And it is the lesser sin to speak an idle word: but the greater to speak any blasphemy, or any thing hurtful to our neighbour.
Again a sinne pardonable is either the lesser sinne, or the greater. And both are considered or iudged either by the principall antecedent working cause, (which the Greekes call 〈non-Latin alphabet〉,) or by the maner of doing, or by the obiect or matter wherein the sinne is committed. In respect of the cause, the sinne is the lesser which is committed of ignorance, as Paules persecution; or of infirmitie as the fall of Peter: but the greater, which is committed against the conscience, as Dauids murder and adulterie: or of malice, as Semeis reprochfull and rayling speaches. In respect of the manner of doing, his sinne is lesse, which offereth adultery by perswasion, as Dauid with Bethshabe, then his sinne, which offereth violence, as that vncleannesse committed with Dina by Sichem,1 and with the Leuites wife by the men of Gibeah. In respect of the obiect, the stealing of a peny is a lesser sinne then of an ⟨p. 31⟩hundred or a thousand crownes. Againe it is a lesser sinne to steale a beast, then to steale a man, which sinne they call *Pla•ium in the Latin toung. And it is the les•er sinne to speake an idle word: but the greater to speake any blaspemie, or any thing hurtfull to our neighbour.
- 1Judg. 19.Iudg. 19.
- *Stealing either free men or slaves and keeping them close in bonds.Stealing either free mē or slaues and keeping them close in bonds.
