A Body of Practical Divinity

(5.) Those Sins are of a greater Magnitude, which are mixed with Ingratitude. God cannot endure of all things to have his kindness slighted. God's Mercy is seen in reprieving Men so long, in wooing them by his Spirit and Ministers to be reconciled, in crowning them with so many Temporal Blessings; now to abuse all this Love, when God hath been filling up the Measure of his Mercy, that Men should fill up the Measure of their Sins! This is high Ingratitude, and doth make their Sins of a deeper Crimson. Some are worse for Mercy. The Vulture (saith Aelian) draws Sickness from Perfumes: So the Sinner contracts Evil from the sweet Perfumes of God's Mercy. The English Chronicle reports of one Parry, who being condemned to die, Queen Elizabeth sent him his Pardon; and after he was pardoned, he conspired and plotted the Queens Death. Just •o some deal with God; he bestows Mercy, and they plot Treason against him. Isa. 1.2. I have nourished and brought up Children, and they have rebelled against me. The Athenians, in lieu of the good Service Themistocles had done them, banished him their City. The Snake in the Fable being frozen, stung him that gave it Warmth. Certainly sins against Mercy are far more heinous.

(5.) Those Sins are of a greater Magnitude, which are mixed with Ingratitude. God cannot endure of all things to have his kindness slighted. God's Mercy is seen in reprieving Men so long, in wooing them by his Spirit and Ministers to be reconciled, in crowning them with so many Temporal Blessings; now to abuse all this Love, when God hath been filling up the Measure of his Mercy, that Men should fill up the Measure of theit Sins! This is high Ingratitude, and doth make their Sins of a deeper Crimson. Some are worse for Mercy. The Vulture (saith Aelian) draws Sickness from Perfumes: So the Sinner contracts Evil from the sweet Perfumes of God's Mercy. The English Chronicle reports of one Parry, who being condemned to die, Queen Elizabeth sent him his Pardon; and after he was pardoned, he conspired and plotted the Queens Death. Just •o some deal with God; he bestows Mercy, and they plot Treason against him. Isa. 1.2. I have nourished and brought up Children, and they have rebelled against me. The Athenians, in lieu of the good Service Themistocles had done them, banished him their City. The Snake in the Fable being frozen, stung him that gave it Warmth. Certainly sins against Mercy are far more hainous.