17. It is a contempt of all the examples of his mercies on the obedient, and his terrible judgments on the disobedient, (men and devils,) by which he warned us not to sin.
18. It is a contempt of the person, office, sufferings, and grace of Jesus Christ, who came to save us from our sins, and to destroy the works of the devil; being contrary to his bloodshed, authority, and healing work.
19. It is a contradicting, fighting against, and in that act prevailing against the sanctifying office and work of the Holy Ghost, that moveth us against sin, and to obedience.
20. It is a contempt of holiness, and a defacing, in that measure, the image of God upon the soul, or a rejecting it: a vilifying of all those graces which are contrary to the sin.
21. It is a pleasing of the devil, the enemy of God and us, and an obeying him before God.
22. It is the fault of a rational creature, that had reason given him to do better.
23. It is all willingly done and chosen by a free agent, that could not be constrained to it.[101]
24. It is a robbing God of the honour and pleasure which he should have had in our obedience; and the glory which we should bring him before the world.
25. It is a contempt of the omnipresence and omniscience of God, when we will sin against him before his face, when he stands over us, and seeth all that we do.
26. It is a contempt of the greatness and almightiness of God, that we dare sin against him who is so great, and able to be avenged on us.