Aphorismes of Christian religion: or, a verie compendious abridgement of M. I. Calvins Institutions set forth in short sentences methodically by M. I. Piscator: and now Englished according to the authors third and last edition, by H. Holland.

XVIII.

Again a sinne pardonable is either the lesser sinne, or the greater. And both are considered or iudged either by the prin∣cipall antecedent working cause, (which the Greekes call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,) or by the ma∣ner of doing, or by the obiect or matter wherein the sinne is committed. In respect of the cause, the sinne is the lesser which is committed of ignorance, as Paules perse∣cution; or of infirmitie as the fall of Peter: but the greater, which is committed a∣gainst the conscience, as Dauids murder and adulterie: or of malice, as Semeis re∣prochfull and rayling speaches. In respect of the manner of doing, his sinne is lesse, which offereth adultery by perswasion, as Dauid with Bethshabe, then his sinne, which offereth violence, as that vnclean∣nesse committed with Dina by Sichem,* 1.1 and with the Leuites wife by the men of Gibeah. In respect of the obiect, the stea∣ling of a peny is a lesser sinne then of an

hundred or a thousand crownes. Againe it is a lesser sinne to steale a beast, then to steale a man, which sinne they call * 1.2 Pla∣••ium in the Latin toung. And it is the les∣••er sinne to speake an idle word: but the greater to speake any blaspemie, or any thing hurtfull to our neighbour.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iudg. 19.
• * 1.2

  Stealing either free mē or slaues and keeping them close in bonds.