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3. From the nature and quality of the offence (m): if it be against the express letter of the law (n), break many commandments, contain it in many sins (o); if not only conceived in the heart, but break forth in words and actions (p), scandalize others (q), and admit of no reparation (r); if against means (s), mercies (t), judgments (v), light of nature (w), conviction of conscience (x), public

(m) Prov. 6. 30. 33. Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry. But if he be found, he shall restore seven-fold.-But whoso committeth adultery with a woman, lacketh understanding: he that doth it, destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. (And so on to the end of the chapter.)

(n) Ezra 9. 10. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this for we have forsaken thy commandments.

(0) Col. 3. 5. Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 1 Tim. 6, 10. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Josh. 7. 21. When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them.

(p) James 1. 14, 15. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

(q) Mat. 18. 7. Wo unto the world because of offences: for it must needs be that offences come:

but wo to that man by whom the offence cometh.

(r) Deut. 22. 22. If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

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(8) Mat. 11. 21. Wo unto thee, Chorazin, wo unto thee, Bethsaida for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

(t) Isa. 1. 3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; bnt Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Deut. 32. 6. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

(v) Amos 4. 8, 9. So two or three cities wandered into one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew; when your gardens, and your vineyards, and your fig-trees, aud your olivetrees increased, the palmer-worm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

(w) Rom. 1. 26, 27. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against na

or private admonition (y), censures of the church (z), civil punishments (a); and our prayers, purposes, promises (b), vows (c), covenants (d), and engagements to God or men (e): if done deliberately (f), wilfully (g), presumptuously (h), impudently (i), boastingly (k), mali

ture: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one to ward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

(x) Rom. 1. 32. Who knowing the judgment of God, (that they which commit such things are worthy of death) not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Dan. 5. 22. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.

(y) Prov. 29. 1. He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroy ed, and that without remedy.

(z) Tit. 3. 10. A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject. Mat. 18. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man, and a publican.

(a) Prov. 27. 22. Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. Prov. 23. 35. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

(b) Jer. 2. 20. For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands, and thou saidst, I will not transgress: when upon every high hill, and under every green tree, thou wanderest, play

ing the harlot. Jer. 42. 5. Then they said to Jeremiah, The Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the Lord thy God shall send thee to us.

(c) Eccl. 5. 4. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed.

(d) Lev. 26. 25. And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my cove nant.

(e) Prov. 2. 17. Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. Ezek. 17. 18, 19. Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, (when lo, he had given his hand) and hath done all these things, he shall not escape. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompence upon his own head.

(f) Psal. 36. 4. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

(g) Jer. 6. 16. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls: but they said, We will not walk therein.

(h) Numb. 15. 30. But the soul that doeth ought presumptu ously (whether he be born in the land, or a stranger) the same reproacheth the Lord, and that soul

ciously (1), frequently (m), obstinately (n), with delight (o), continuance (p), or relapsing after repentance (q). 4. From circumstances of time (r), and place (s): if on the Lord's day (t), or other times of divine worship(v);

shall be cut off from among his people. Exod. 21. 14. But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

(i) Jer. 3. 3. Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain, and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed. Prov. 7. 13. So she caught him and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him.

(k) Psal. 52. 1. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty

man?

(1) 3 John 10. Wherefore if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words.

(m) Numb. 14. 22. Because all those men which have seen my glory and my miracles which I did in Egypt, and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice.

(n) Zech. 7. 11, 12. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, tney made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.

(0) Prov. 2. 14. Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked.

(P) Isa. 57. 17. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on

frowardly in the way of his heart.

(7) Jer. 34. 8. 11. This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, after that the king Zedekiah had made a cove nant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them. But afterwards they turned and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants, and for handmaids. 2 Pet. 2. 20. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome; the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

(r) 2 Kings 5. 26. And he said unto him, (Gehazi,) Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive-yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and men-servants, and maid-servants!

(8) Jer. 7. 10. Anu come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations.

(t) Ezek. 23. 38. Moreover, this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.

(v) Isa. 58. 3. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast you find plea sure, and exact all your labours.

or immediately before (w) or after these (x) or other helps to prevent or remedy such miscarriages (y): if in public, or in the presence of others, who are thereby likely to be provoked or defiled (z).

Q. 152. What doth every sin deserve at the hands of God? A. Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereign ty (a), goodness (b), and holiness of God (c), and against his righteous law (d), deserveth his wrath and curse (e), both in this life (f), and that which is to come (g); and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ (h).

(w) 1 Cor. 11. 20, 21. When ye come together, therefore, into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

(x) John 13. 27. 30. And after the sop, Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. He then, having received the sop, went immediately out.

(y) Ezra 9. 13, 14. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this: Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations, wouldst not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us?

(z) 2 Sam. 16. 22. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house, and Absalom went in into his father's concubines, in the sight of all Israel. 1 Sam. 2. 22. Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

(a) James 2. 10, 11. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point,

he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.

(b) Exod. 20. 1, 2. God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

(c) Hab. 1. 13. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.

(d) 1 John 3. 4. Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgres sion of the law. Romans 7. 12. Wherefore the law is holy and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

(e) Eph. 5. 6. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for be cause of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Gal. 3. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

(f) Lam. 3. 59. Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Deut. 28, from verse 15 to the end.

(g) Mat. 25. 41. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

(h) Heb. 9. 22. And almost

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Q. 153. What doth God require of us, that we may és☛ cape his wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of the law?

A. That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the transgression of the law, he requireth of us repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (i), and the diligent use of the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation (k).

Q. 154. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation ?

A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the word, sacraments, and prayer: all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation (1).

Q. 155. How is the word made effectual to salvation? A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of enlightening (m), convincing and humbling sinners (n); of

all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 1 Peter 1. 18, 19. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

(i) Acts 20. 21. Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

(k) Prov. 8. 33. 36. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me, wrongeth his own

soul; all they that hate me, love death.

(1) Mat. 28. 19, 20. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Acts 2. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

(m) Neh. 8. 8. So they read in the book, in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

(n) 1 Cor. 14. 24, 25. But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are

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