Q151
What are those aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others?
Sins receive their aggravations,
1. From the persons offending922 if they be of riper age,923 greater experience or grace,924 eminent for profession,925 gifts,926 place,927 office,928 guides to others,929 and whose example is likely to be followed by others.930
2. From the parties offended:931 if immediately against God,932 his attributes,933 and worship,934 against Christ, and his grace,935 the Holy Spirit,936 his witness,937 and workings938 against superiors, men of eminence,939 and such as we stand especially related and engaged unto,940 against any of the saints,941 particularly weak brethren,942 the souls of them, or any other,943 and the common good of all or many.944
3. From the nature and quality of the offense:945 if it be against the express letter of the law,946 break many commandments, contain it in many sins:947 if not only conceived in the heart, but breaks forth in words and actions,948 scandalize others,949 and admit of no reparation:950 if against means,951 mercies,952 judgments,953 light of nature,954 conviction of conscience,955 public or private admonition,956 censures of the church,957 civil punishments;958 and our prayers, purposes, promises,959 vows,960 covenants,961 and engagements to God or men:962 if done deliberately,963 wilfully,964 presumptuously,965 impudently,966 boasting,967 maliciously,968 frequently,969 obstinately,970 with delight,971 continuance,972 or relapsing after repentance.973
4. From circumstances of time974 and place:975 if on the Lord's day,976 or other times of divine worship,977 or immediately before978 or after these,979 or other helps to prevent or remedy such miscarriages,980 if in public, or in the presence of others, who are thereby likely to be provoked or defiled981 .
1. From the persons offending922 if they be of riper age,923 greater experience or grace,924 eminent for profession,925 gifts,926 place,927 office,928 guides to others,929 and whose example is likely to be followed by others.930
2. From the parties offended:931 if immediately against God,932 his attributes,933 and worship,934 against Christ, and his grace,935 the Holy Spirit,936 his witness,937 and workings938 against superiors, men of eminence,939 and such as we stand especially related and engaged unto,940 against any of the saints,941 particularly weak brethren,942 the souls of them, or any other,943 and the common good of all or many.944
3. From the nature and quality of the offense:945 if it be against the express letter of the law,946 break many commandments, contain it in many sins:947 if not only conceived in the heart, but breaks forth in words and actions,948 scandalize others,949 and admit of no reparation:950 if against means,951 mercies,952 judgments,953 light of nature,954 conviction of conscience,955 public or private admonition,956 censures of the church,957 civil punishments;958 and our prayers, purposes, promises,959 vows,960 covenants,961 and engagements to God or men:962 if done deliberately,963 wilfully,964 presumptuously,965 impudently,966 boasting,967 maliciously,968 frequently,969 obstinately,970 with delight,971 continuance,972 or relapsing after repentance.973
4. From circumstances of time974 and place:975 if on the Lord's day,976 or other times of divine worship,977 or immediately before978 or after these,979 or other helps to prevent or remedy such miscarriages,980 if in public, or in the presence of others, who are thereby likely to be provoked or defiled981 .