§. 88. Of wilfulnesse aggravating Sin.
ONe especiall degree whereby the heighnousnesse of Apostacy is here aggravated, is in this word, a 1.1 wilfully. It commeth from a root that signifieth, b 1.2 willing or voluntary, and that seemes to be derived from a verbe that signifieth c 1.3 to yeeld.
The Philosopher opposeth this word to such things as are done on ignorance, or Violence, whereunto one is forced; as when a man doth a thing of his own accord, or mind, nor thorow ignorance, nor thorow any compulsion, or instigation, or allurement without, but by the sway and bent of his own rebellious will and perverse disposition. d 1.4 Willingly and by constraint, are made opposite termes. This is an high pitch of impiety, and exemplified by these phrases, Hath trodden under fo•…•… the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing, and •…•…ath* 1.5 done despight unto the Spirit of Grace, v. 29.
This wilfulnesse presupposeth a resolution to continue therein, as the Israeli•…•…;* 1.6 who said, As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not harken unto thee: but will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mouth, &c. Jer. 44. 16, 17.
By this it appears that wilfullnesse in sin is a great aggravation thereof, Numb. 15. 30, &c. Deut. 1. 43. Matth. 23. 37. Iohn 9 41. Acts 7. 51.
It sheweth that the mind is set on sin; yea set against God, and against his holy will. It is some extenuation of sin that men are deceived thereby, and that •…•…en therein do what they would not, Rom. 7. 11, 15, 16. If falling through ignorance, weaknesse, temptation, compulsion, be extenuations, then the foresaid wilfulness must needs be an aggravation.
This teacheth us to hold in the reines of all manner of evill lusts, and to do what we can to keepe them down. Be far from spurring them forth. We do too oft, and too much grieve the Spirit of God, in our greatest watchfulnesse; and that by reason of our spirituall weaknesse, pronenesse to sin, and temptations whereunto we are subject. Let us not adde drunkennesse to thirst, Deut. 29. 19. nor draw 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sin with cart-ropes, Isa. 5. 18. Let us not turne weaknesse into wilfulnesse; nor infirmity into obstinacy. We pray that God would not leade us into temptation, shall we cast our selves thereinto?