16. Man's Lost Condition (Qs 150-152)
150 Are all transgressions of the law of God equally heinous in
themselves, and in the sight of God? A. All transgressions of the law of God are
not equally heinous, but some sins in themselves, and by reason of several
aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.(1)
(1)John 19:11; Ezek. 8:6,13,15; 1 John 5:16; Ps. 78:17,32,56
151 What are those
aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others? A. Sins receive their
aggravations 1. From the persons offending:(1) if they be of riper age,(2)
greater experience or grace,(3) eminent for profession,(4) gifts,(5) place,(6)
office,(7) guides to others,(8) and whose example is likely to be followed by
others.(9) 2. From the parties offended:(10) if immediately against God,(11) his
attributes,(12) and worship;(13) against Christ, and his grace;(14) the Holy
Spirit,(15) his witness,(16) and workings;(17) against superiors, men of
eminency,(18) and such as we stand especially related and engaged unto;(19)
against any of the saints,(20) particularly weak brethren,(21) the souls of
them, or any other,(22) and the common good of all or many.(23) 3. From the
nature and quality of the offence:(24) if it be against the express letter of
the law,(25) break many commandments, contain in it many sins:(26) if not only
conceived in the heart, but breaks forth in words and actions,(27) scandalize
others,(28) and admit of no reparation:(29) if against means,(30) mercies,(31)
judgments,(32) light of nature,(33) conviction of consciousness,(34) publick or
private admonition,(35) censures of the church,(36) civil punishments;(37) and
our prayers, purposes, promises,(38) vows,(39) covenants,(40) and engagements to
God or men:(41) if done deliberately,(42) wilfully,(43) presumptuously,(44)
impudently,(45) boastingly,(46) maliciously,(47) frequently,(48)
obstinately,(49) with delight,(50) continuance,(51) or relapsing after
repentance.(52) 4. From circumstances of time(53) and place:(54) if on the
Lord's day,(55) or other times of divine worship;(56) or immediately before(57)
or after these,(58) or other helps to prevent or remedy such miscarriages:(59)
if in publick, or in the presence of others, who are thereby likely to be
provoked or defiled.(60)
(1)Jer. 2:8
(2)Job.
32:7,9; Eccl. 4:13
(3)1 Kings
11:4,9
(4)2 Sam.
(5)James
4:17; Luke 12:47,48
(6)Jer. 5:4,5
(7)2 Sam.
12:7-9; Ezek.
(8)
(9)Gal.
2:11-14
(10)Matt.
21:38,39
(11)1 Sam.
(12)Rom. 2:4
(13)Mal. 1:8,14
(14)Heb. 2:2,3; Heb. 12:25
(15)Heb. 10:29; Matt. 12:31,32
(16)Eph. 4:30
(17)Heb.
6:4-6
(18)Jude 8;
Numb. 12:8,9; Isa. 3:5
(19)Prov.
30:17; 2 Cor. 12:15; Ps. 55:12-15
(20)Zeph.
2:8,10,11; Matt. 18:6; 1 Cor. 6:8; Rev. 17:6
(21)1 Cor.
(22)Ezek.
13:19; 1 Cor. 8:12; Rev. 18:12,13; Matt. 23:15
(23)1 Thess.
(24)Prov.
6:30-33
(25)Ezra
9:10-12; 1 Kings 11:9,10
(26)Col. 3:5;
1 Tim. 6:10; Prov. 5:8-12; Prov. 6:32,33; Josh. 7:21
(27)James
1:14,15; Matt. 5:22; Micah 2:1
(28)Matt.
18:7;
(29)Deut.
22:22,28,29; Prov. 6:32-35
(30)Matt.
11:21-24; John 15:22
(31)Isa. 1:3;
Deut. 32:6
(32)Amos
4:8-11; Jer. 5:3
(33)
(34)Rom.
(35)Prov.
29:1
(36)Tit.
3:10; Matt. 18:17
(37)Prov.
27:22; Prov. 23:35
(38)Ps.
78:34-37; Jer. 2:20; Jer. 42:5,6,20,21
(39)Eccl.
5:4-6; Prov. 20:25
(40)Lev.
26:25
(41)Prov.
2:17; Ezek. 17:18,19
(42)Ps. 36:4
(43)Jer. 6:16
(44)Numb.
15:30; Exod. 21:14
(45)Jer. 3:3;
Prov. 7:13
(46)Ps. 52:1
(47)3 John 10
(48)Numb
(49)Zech.
7:11,12
(50)Prov.
2:14
(51)Isa.
57:17
(52)Jer.
34:8-11; 2 Pet. 2:20-22
(53)2 Kings
(54)Jer.
7:10; Isa. 26:10
(55)Ezek.
23:37-39
(56)Isa.
58:3-5; Numb. 25:6,7
(57)1 Cor.
(58)Jer.
7:8-10; Prov. 7:14,15; John 13:27,30
(59)Ezra
9:13,14
(60)2 Sam.
152 What doth every sin deserve at the
hands of God? A. Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty,(1)
goodness,(2) and holiness of God,(3) and against his righteous law,(4) deserveth
his wrath and curse,(5) both in this life,(6) and that which is to come;(7) and
cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ.(8)
(1)James
2:10,11
(2)Exod.
20:1,2
(3)Hab. 1:13
(4)1 John
3:4; Rom.
(5)Eph. 5:6;
Gal. 3:10
(6)Lam. 3:39;
Deut. 28:15 to end.
(7)Matt.
25:41
(8)Heb. 9:22; 1 Pet. 1:18,19