A Body of Practical Divinity

(8.) Sins of Apostasy are more heinous than other. Demas forsook the Truth, 2 Tim. 4.10. and afterwards became a Priest in an Idol Temple, saith Dorotheus. To fall is a sin, but to fall away is a greater sin. Apostates cast a Disgrace upon Religion. The Apostate (saith Tertullian) seems to put God and Satan in the Balance, and having weighed both their Services, prefers the Devils Services, and proclaims him to be the best Master. In which respect the Apostate is said to put Christ to open Shame, Heb. 6.6. This dies a sin in grain, and makes it greater. It is a sin not to profess Christ, but it is a greater to deny him. Not to wear Christ's Colours is a sin, but to run from his Colours is a greater Sin. A Pagan sins less than a Baptized Renegado.

(8.) Sins of Apostacy are more hainous than other. Demas forsook the Truth, 2 Tim. 4.10. and afterwards became a Priest in an Idol Temple, saith Dorotheus. To fall is a sin, but to fall away is a greater sin. Apostates cast a Disgrace upon Religion. The Apostate (saith Tertullian) seems to put God and Satan in the Ballance, and having weighed both their Services, prefers the Devils Services, and proclaims him to be the best Master. In which respect the Apostate is said to put Christ to open Shame, Heb. 6.6. This dies a sin in grain, and makes it greater. It is a sin not to profess Christ, but it is a greater to deny him. Not to wear Christ's Colours is a sin, but to run from his Colours is a greater Sin. A Pagan sins less than a Baptized Renegado.

(9.) To persecute Religion, makes sin greater, Acts 7.22. To have no Religion is a sin, but to endeavour to destroy Religion is a greater. Antiochus Epiphanes took more tedious Journeys,