A Body of Practical Divinity

4. When a Man sins after Counsels, Admonitions, Warnings, he cannot plead Ignorance: The Trumpet of the Gospel hath been blown in his Ears, and sounded a Retreat to call him off from his Sins; he hath been told of his Injustice, living in Malice, keeping bad Company, yet he would venture upon Sin. This is to sin against Conviction; it aggravates the Sin, and is like a Weight put in the Scale, to make his Sin weigh the heavier. If a Sea-mark be set up to give Warning that there are Shelves and Rocks in that place, yet if the Mariner will fail there, and split his Ship, it is Presumption; and if he be cast away, who will pity him?

5. When a Man sins against express Comminations and Threatenings. God hath thundered out Threatenings against such Sins. Psal. 66.21. God shall wound the hairy Scalp of such an one as goes on still in his Trespasses. Yet tho God set the point of his Sword to the Breast of a Sinner, yet he will commit Sin. The Pleasure of Sin doth more delight him, than the Threatenings affright him. He, like the Leviathan, laughs at the shaking of a Spear, Job 41.29. Nay, he derides God's Threatenings. Isa. 5.19. Let him make speed and hasten his Work that we may see it. We have heard much what God intends to do, and of Judgment approaching, we would fain see it. For Men to see the Flaming Sword of God's Threatenings brandished, yet to strengthen themselves in Sin, is in an high manner to sin against Illumination and Conviction.

5. When a Man sins against express Comminations and Threatnings. God hath thundered out Threatnings against such Sins. Psal. 66.21. God shall wound the hairy Scalp of such an one as goes on still in his Trespasses. Yet tho God set the point of his Sword to the Breast of a Sinner, yet he will commit Sin. The Pleasure of Sin doth more delight him, than the Threatnings affright him. He, like the Liviathan, laughs at the shaking of a Spear,