John 19.11. He that delivered me unto thee hath the Greater Sin. The Stoic Philosophers held, that all Sins were equal. But this Scripture clearly holds forth, that there is a gradual difference in Sin: Some are greater than others: Some are mighty Sins, Amos 5.12. And crying Sins, Gen. 18.21. Every Sin hath a Voice to speak, but some Sins cry. As some Diseases are worse than others, and some poisons more venomous; so some Sins are more heinous, Ezek. 16.47. Jer. 16.12. You have done worse than your Fathers, your Sins have exceeded theirs. Some Sins have a blacker Aspect than others. To clip the King's Coin is Treason, but to strike his Person is an higher degree of Treason. A vain Thought is a Sin, but a blasphemous Word is a greater Sin. That some Sins are greater than others, appears, (1.) Because there was difference in the Offerings under the Law. The Sin-offering was greater than the Trespass-Offering. (2.) Because some Sins are not capable of Pardon as others are, therefore they must needs he more heinous, as the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, Matth. 12.31. (3.) Because some Sins have a greater Degree of Punishment than others. Matth. 23.14. Ye shall receive greater Damnation, [Greek or Hebrew]. Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right? God would not punish one more than another, but that his Sin is greater. It is true, all Sins are equally heinous in respect of the Object, or the Person against whom Sin is committed, (viz.) The Infinite God. But in another Sense all Sins are not alike heinous. Some Sins have more bloody Circumstances in them, which are like the Die to the Wool, to give it a deeper Colour.
Iohn 19.11. He that delivered me unto thee hath the Greater Sin. The Stoick Philosophers held, that all Sins were equal. But this Scripture clearly holds forth, that there is a gradual difference in Sin: Some are greater than others: Some are mighty Sins, Amos 5.12. And crying Sins, Gen. 18.21. Every Sin hath a Voice to speak, but some Sins cry. As some Diseases are worse than others, and some poysons more venomous; so some Sins are more heinous, Ezek. 16.47. Ier. 16.12. You have done worse than your Fathers, your Sins have exceeded theirs. Some Sins have a blacker Aspect than others. To clip the King's Coyn is Treason, but to strike his Person is an higher degree of Treason. A vain Thoughr is a Sin, but a blasphemous Word is a greater Sin. That some Sins are greater than others, appears, (1.) Because there was difference in the Offerings under the Law. The Sin-offering was greater than the Trespass-Offering. (2.) Because some Sins are not capable of Pardon as others are, therefore they must needs he more heinous, as the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, Matth. 12.31. (3.) Because some Sins have a greater Degree of Punishment than others. Matth. 23.14. Ye shall receive greater Damnation, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Shall not the Iudge of all the Earth do right? God would not punish one more than another, but that his Sin is greater. It is true, all Sins are equally hainous in respect of the Object, or the Person against whom Sin is committed, (viz.) The Infinite God. But in another Sence all Sins are not alike hainous. Some Sins have more bloody Circumstances in them, which are like the Die to the Wooll, to give it a deeper Colour.
