Question 88

And are all sins heinous in the sight of God?

Yes. They provoke him to anger,^b

But are they all equally so?

No. Turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations,^c

And will the punishment of sin be proportioned to the aggravations of it?

Yes. These shall receive greater damnation,^d

Are the sins of old persons more heinous than those of others?

Yes. See what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark,^f

And of ministers?

Yes. Both the prophet and the priest are profane,^g

And of magistrates?

Yes. He shall give Israel up because of Jeroboam who did sin,^h

And of eminent professors?

Yes. Of whom is Hymenius and Alexander,ⁱ

Are those sins peculiarly aggravated which are immediately committed against God?

Yes. If a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?^k

And against Christ?

Yes. When the husbandmen saw the Son, they said among themselves this is the heir, come let us kill him,^l

And against the person of the Holy Ghost?

Yes. The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men,^m

And against superiors?

Yes. Were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?ⁿ

And against whole bodies and communities?

Yes. And Joshua said, why hast thou troubled us, the Lord shall trouble thee this day,^o

And against the souls of men?

Yes. To slay the soul that should not die, and to save the soul alive that should not live,^p

And knowledge?

Yes. To him that knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin,^r

And reproof?

Yes. He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall be suddenly destroyed,^s

And perseverance in sin?

Yes. He went on frowardly in the way of his heart,^t

And deliberate sins?

Yes. He deviseth mischief upon his bed,^v

And public sins?

Yes. Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel,^w

Are sins against mercies greatly aggravated?

Yes. Thus Solomon turned from the Lord who had appeared unto him twice,^x

And sins against judgments?

Yes. For all this they sinned still,^y

And sins against express commands?

Yes. We have forsaken thy commandments which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets,^z

And sins against our own covenants and engagements?

Yes. Thou saidst, I will not transgress,^aa

And with delight?

Yes. Their soul delighteth in their abominations,^cc

And to boast of it?

Yes. Whose glory is in their shame,^dd

May the place also be an aggravation of sin?

Yes. In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly,^ee

And the time?

Yes. Is it a time to receive money and garments and olive-yards and vineyards?^ff

But though aggravated may we hope that it will be pardoned?

Yes. Thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities: I, even I, am he that blotted out thy transgressions for mine own sake,^hh