The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errors of Papists, Arminians,…The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errours of Papists, Arminians,…

Fourthly, The weight or aggravation of every sin.

Let us begin with the former. Sin in the Scripture hath several names, which do in some measure describe the nature of it. The Hebrew [Greek or Hebrew] is used commonly for sin,¹ and it doth in a proper signification, wherein it is once used, denote an aberration from the mark we shoot at, Judg. 20.16. Every one could sling stones at an hairs breadth, and not miss; and from hence metaphorically is signified the nature of sin, for every mans action is to have an end, which end is manifested by the Scripture; and when a man reacheth not to this, he is said to sin; answerable unto this word in the Greek is [Greek or Hebrew], which comes from [Greek or Hebrew], that is, to err from the scope: And another word [Greek or Hebrew], which is going beyond the bounds and limits which are set us. Though a learned Critic, Dieu, doth make [Greek or Hebrew], not to signify beyond, but by, as if it did denote a negligent and careless passing by the commands of God. Another word is [Greek or Hebrew] which cometh of a word that properly signifieth crookedness and obliquity in the body, and so is applied to the soul, and doth denote perverseness in him that sinneth, and to this may answer [Greek or Hebrew] where the particle [Greek or Hebrew] is not to be understood privatively only, but adversatively: for a mere want of the Law, may not be a sin always, but a repugnancy must necessarily be. And thus the word is used, 2 Thess. 2.8. 1 Tim. 4.9. The Hebrews also express sin by [Greek or Hebrew] which is as much as a defection, or falling off from God; and answerable to this in the Greek is [Greek or Hebrew], which is a falling away from that integrity and purity we either once had, or ought ⟨p. 130⟩still to have. As for the Latin word peccatum, some have derived it from pellicare, which is to commit adultery, as if a sin were so called in the general, from one kind of it; and others from pecus, because a man in sin wanders like a beast, or becomes like a beast; yet many conceive the word peccare to be a theme it self, and not derived from any other word.