An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Thirdly, The exceedingness of a sin may be measured by the circumstances of sinning; then a man may be said to transgress, and exceed in transgression, when he sinneth, First, against light, against the checks of his own conscience within; as also, Secondly, when he sins against reproofs, warnings, and admonitions from without; that man exceeds in sin, who hath been told of it, and yet goeth on. Thirdly, that man exceeds in sin, who sins in the midst of much mercy, and daily received or renewed favours; as also he, Fourthly, who sins in the midst of many afflictions and judgements, whether upon his person and family, or upon the Nation where he liveth: such as these not only sin or transgress, but exceed in transgression. Now the Lord in times of affliction showeth men these and the like exceedings of their transgression, ⟨p. 230⟩and causeth them to confess, not only that they are sinners, and have transgressed, but they are brought upon their knees to confess, that they have exceeded in transgression. And when this is done, the Lord goeth on yet further to perfect the work of humiliation and repentance, while they are bound in fetters, and holden in the cords of affliction; for then, as it followeth, Vers. 10. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

Thirdly, The exceedingness of a sin may be measured by the circumstances of sinning; then a man may be said to transgress, and exceed in transgression, when he sinneth, First, against light, against the checks of his own conscience within; as also, Secondly, when he sins against reproofs, warnings, and admonitions from without; that man exceeds in sin, who hath been told of it, and yet goeth on. Thirdly, that man exceeds in sin, who sins in the midst of much mercy, and daily received or renewed favours; as also he, Fourthly, who sins in the midst of many afflictions and judgements, whether upon his person and family, or upon the Nation where he liveth: such as these not only sin or transgress, but exceed in transgression. Now the Lord in times of affliction sheweth men these and the like exceedings of their transgression, ⟨p. 230⟩and causeth them to confess, not only that they are sinners, and have transgressed, but they are brought upon their knees to confess, that they have exceeded in transgression. And when this is done, the Lord goeth on yet further to perfect the work of humiliation and repentance, while they are bound in fetters, and holden in the cords of affliction; for then, as it followeth, Vers. 10. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.