Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

Now sin the transgression of this Law, contains many great Evils?

1. Sin is a Rebellion against the Sovereign Majesty of God, that gives the life of Authority to the Law. Therefore Divine Precepts are enforced with the most proper and binding motives to obedience, I am the Lord. He that with purpose and pleasure commits sin, implicitly renounces his dependence upon God, as his Maker and Governor, over-rules the Law, and arrogates an irresponsible license to do his own will. This is expressed by those Atheistical designers, who said, ¹With our Tongue we will prevail, our lips are our own, who is Lord over us. The Language of Actions that is more natural and convincing than of Words, declares that sinful Men despise the Commands of God, as if they were not his Creatures and Subjects. What a dishonour, what a displeasure is it to the God of glory, that proud dust should fly in his Face, and control his Authority?² He has ten thousand times ten thousand Angels that are high in dignity, and excel in strength, waiting in a posture ⟨image 112⟩of reverence and observance about his Throne, ready to do his will: How provoking is it for a despicable Worm to contravene his Law, and lift his Hand against him? It will be no excuse to plead the Commands of Men for sin: for as much as God is more glorious than Men, so much more are his Commands to be respected and obeyed than Mens. When there is an evident opposition between the Laws of Men and of God, we must disobey our Superiors tho' we displease them, and obey our Supreme Ruler. He that does what is forbidden, or neglects to do what is Commanded by the Divine Law, to please Men, tho' invested with the highest Sovereignty on Earth, is guilty of double wickedness: of impiety in debasing God, and idolatry in deifying Men.

1. Sin is a Rebellion against the Sovereign Majesty of God, that gives the life of Authority to the Law. Therefore Divine Precepts are enforced with the most proper and binding motives to obedience, I am the Lord. He that with purpose and pleasure commits sin, implicitly renounces his dependance upon God, as his Maker and Governor, over-rules the Law, and arrogates an irresponsible license to do his own will. This is exprest by those Atheistical designers, who said,