A Body of Practical Divinity

First, Is full of Obstinacy and Pertinaciousness. Men can give no Reason, make no Defence for their Sins, yet they are resolved to hold fast Iniquity. This is desperate Wilfulness: And Voluntas est regula & mensura actionis, The more of the Will in a Sin, the greater the Sin. Jer. 18.12. We will walk after our own Devices. Tho there be Death and Hell every step, we will march on under Satan's Colours. This made the Sin of the Apostate Angels so great, because it was wilful; they had no Ignorance in their Mind, no Passion to stir them up, there was no Tempter to deceive them, but they sinned obstinately and out of Choice.

First, Is full of Obstinacy and Pertinaciousness. Men can give no Reason, make no Defence for their Sins, yet they are resolved to hold fast Iniquity. This is desperate Wilfulness: And Voluntas est regula & mensura actionis, The more of the Will in a Sin, the greater the Sin. Ier. 18.12. We will walk after our own Devices. Tho there be Death and Hell every step, we will march on under Satan's Colours. This made the Sin of the Apostate Angels so great, because it was wilful; they had no Ignorance in their Mind, no Passion to stir them up, there was no Tempter to deceive them, but they sinn'd obstinately and out of Choice.

Secondly, To sin against Convictions and Illuminations, is joined with slighting and contempt of God. It is bad for a Sinner to forget God, but it is worse to contemn him. Prov. 10.13. Wherefore do the wicked contemn God? An enlightened Sinner knows that by his Sin he disobligeth and angers God; but he cares not whether God be pleased or no, he will have his Sin. Therefore such an one is said to reproach God. Numb. 15.30. The Soul that doth ought presumptuously, the same reproacheth the Lord. Every Sin displeaseth God, but sins against an enlightened Conscience reproach the Lord. To contemn the Authority of a Prince, is a Reproach done to him.