1. The greatest and vilest sins in themselves may be forgiven. Our Catechism tells us, that some sins are in themselves more heinous than others; and the Scripture is full for it. Not but that all sins are equally transgressions of the Law, and consequently incur the guilt of Eternal Death: yet if we consider and compare some with others, there is in the things themselves more of the malignity of the h•art discovered in some than in others: God therefore tells the Prophet, that he will show him greater abominations, Ezek. 8.6, 13, 15. It is a sin to be angry without cause; but greater to commit actual Murder; a sin to murmur against God, but greater to blaspheme; &c. Now the greatest and most abominable of these are not out of the reach of a pardon: and we may well argue, that if Gods forgiveness extends to those that are greater, it is not out bid by those that are lesser; there are scarlet and crimson sins, and yet these may be washed away, Isa. 1.18. I might here instance in those that are ⟨p. 30⟩deservedly reputed the most odious and scandalous, and point you to such as have been horribly guilty of them, and yet obtained mercy, and are now glorified Saints in Heaven: we have a whole heap of them numbered together, and such an observation made on them, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10, 11. Murder is an horrible sin, and the blood of the innocent cries to heaven for vengeance, and yet David obtained a pardon for this: he prays, Psal. 51.14. Deliver me from blood guiltiness: and the Prophet tells him, 2 Sam. 12.13. Thou shalt not die. Idolatry is a fearful sin, and that which is terribly threatened in the Word of God; and yet God invites such to return upon the promise of pardon, Jer 3. begin. Blasphemy is a sin of the first rate, for men to rend and te•• and reproach the Name of the Great God; and yet all manner of blasphemies, the fore-cited one excepted, may be forgiven, Mat. 12.31. Paul ▪ though a blasphemer, obtained mercy, 1 Tim. 1.13. Witchcraft is an odious crime, for men to sell themselves to Satan, and practice his hellish arts: God would not have such suffered to live; and yet there is mercy for such too▪ Such an one was Manasseh, 2 Chron. 33.6. and what else were they? Acts 19.19. I might instance in more things, but these may suffice?
1. The greatest and vilest sins in themselves may be forgiven. Our Catechism tells us, that some sins are in themselves more heinous than others; and the Scripture is full for it. Not but that all sins are equally transgressions of the Law, and consequently incur the guilt of Eternal Death: yet if we consider and compare some with others, there is in the things themselves more of the malignity of the h•art discovered in some than in others: God therefore tells the Prophet, that he will shew him greater abominations, Ezek. 8.6, 13, 15. It is a sin to be angry without cause; but greater to commit actual Murder; a sin to murmur against God, but greater to blaspheme; &c. Now the greatest and most abominable of these are not out of the reach of a pardon: and we may well argue, that if Gods forgiveness extends to those that are greater, it is not out bid by those that are lesser; there are scarlet and crimson sins, and yet these may be washed away, Isa. 1.18. I might here instance in those that are ⟨p. 30⟩deservedly reputed the most odious and scandalous, and point you to such as have been horribly guilty of them, and yet obtained mercy, and are now glorified Saints in Heaven: we have a whole heap of them numbred together, and such an observation made on them, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10, 11. Murder is an horrible sin, and the blood of the innocent cryes to heaven for vengeance, and yet David obtained a pardon for this: he prays, Psal. 51.14. Deliver me from blood guiltiness: and the Prophet tells him, 2 Sam. 12.13. Thou shalt not dy. Idolatry is a fearful sin, and that which is terribly threatned in the Word of God; and yet God invites such to return upon the promise of pardon, Jer 3. begin. Blasphemy is a sin of the first rate, for men to rend and te•• and reproach the Name of the Great God; and yet all manner of blasphemies, the fore-cited one excepted, may be forgiven, Mat. 12.31. Paul ▪ though a blasphemer, obtained mercy, 1 Tim. 1.13. Witchcraft is an odious crime, for men to sell themselves to Satan, and practice his hellish arts: God would not have such suffered to live; and yet there is mercy for such too Such an one was Manasseh,
