5. The clearness of evidence against it, the nothingness of all that can be said for it, is also a great aggravation of it.
6. So is the fulness, and fitness, and power of all the means in creatures, providences, and Scriptures, that is vouchsafed the world against it.
7. So is the experience and warning of all ages, the repentings of the converted, and the disowning it by almost all when they come to die. Wonderful! that the experience of the world for above five thousand years, will teach them no more effectually to avoid so mortal, pernicious a thing.
8. The nearness to us also is an aggravation: it is not a distant evil, but in our bowels, in our very hearts; we are bound so strictly to love ourselves, that it is a great aggravation to do ourselves so great a mischief.
9. The constant inhesion of sin is a great aggravation: that it is ever with us, lying down and rising up, at home and abroad; we are never free from it.
10. That it should poison all our common mercies, and corrupt all our duties, is an aggravation. But we shall take up some of these anon.
The special aggravations of the sins of God's own children are these:[103]
1. They sin against a nearer relation than others do; even against that God that is their Father by the new birth, which is more heinous than if a stranger did it.
2. They are Christ's own members: and it is most unnatural for his members to rebel against him, or do him wrong.
3. They sin against more excellent operations of the Spirit than others do, and against a principle of life within them.