Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with…

If it be objected, that this will infer an equality between all Sins.

I answ. Though there is a great disparity in Sins with respect to their immediate Causes, Circumstances, complicated Nature and Quality, by which some have a more odious turpitude adhering to them, yet they all agree in the general nature of Sin, relating to the Law of God, and consequently in their order to Eternal Death. The least disobedience has as truly the formality of Sin, as what is so in the Supreme degree. This may be illustrated by a comparison. As the Parts of the World compared with one another, are of different elevation and greatness; ⟨p. 248⟩the Earth and Water are in the lowest place, and but as a point to the Celestial Orbs, that are above the highest regions of the Air; yet if we compare them with that infinite space that is without the circumference of the Heavens, they are equally distant from the utmost extent of it, and equally disproportioned to its immensity. For greater or less, higher or lower, are no approaches to what is Infiniter. Thus there are several degrees of malignity in sins, compared one with another, but as they are injurious to the infinite and incomprehensible Majesty of God, there is the same kind of malignity, and so far an equality between them. Rebellion in the least instance, is as the sin of Witchcraft, and stubbornness in the smallest matters is as Idolatry; ⟨p. 249⟩that is, the least Sin is as truly repugnant to the Divine Law, as those that in the highest manner are opposite to the Truth and Glory of the Deity. And from hence their proportion to punishment is not distinguished by temporal and eternal, but by stronger or remisser degrees of Torment, by suffering the Rods or Scorpions of Justice in that endless duration.

I answ. Though there is a great disparity in Sins with respect to their immediate Causes, Circumstances, complicated Nature and Quality, by which some have a more odious turpitude adhering to them, yet they all agree in the general nature of Sin, relating to the Law of God, and consequently in their order to Eternal Death. The least disobedience has as truly the formality of Sin, as what is so in the Supreme degree. This may be illustrated by a comparison. As the Parts of the World compared with one another, are of different elevation and greatness;