The Gofpel of the Sin- eriig. 249 fit you fhodld know the meaning of it. The word Nephew, it is an Italian Phrafe of Speech for a Ballard : And fo indeed the Pope's Ne.. phetrs is nothing elle but the Popes Baflards: This is he that cannot err. Among the Papifts, Priefts you know mutt not marry : And the Pope is not fo humble as to own others of his poor Kindred. But yet we muft believe in this unclean Beaft, and we muft call him h.s Holinefs forfooth, wixfe Leprofy is written in his Forehead, and who declares his Sin as Sodom, and hides it not as Gomorrah. For they are not afhamed of all their Uncleanneffes and Abominations, having their Confciences feared with an hot Iron ; and yet this finful ,doleful Creature cannot err, when his Bones are fall of the Sins of his Youth, which (hall lie down with him in the Duft. 2. The fecond Inftruaion is this, That there are degrees of Sin ; and that the Sins and Errors of an anointed Prieft, are of the worfi and greateft Guilt. This is here Taught and Held forth both by the Matter of the SinOffering, and by the Rites belonging to it. As to the Mat- ter, the Prieft muff have as great a Sacrifice for a Sin- Offering, as the whole Body of the People colleaively confidered. A young Bullock is the Sin-Offering for the Prieft, and it is no more but a young Bul- lock for the whole Congregation. And there is a difference as to the Rites for the feveral forts of Sin- ners ; for the Sin-Offering for the Prieft, and for the Body of the People, was to be fprinkled before the Vail, and upon the Altar of Incenfe. But that for the Ruler, and for Private Perfons, were not fprinkled before the Vail, nor upon the Incenfe Altar, but only upon the Altar of Burnt-Offering, verf 2.5, 30, 34.. For the Sins of the Prieft and of the whole Congregation, as being more hainous, re- quired a more folemn manner of Atonement. So our Annotators on Lev. 4. 25. It was an Error of the Stoick Philofophers of old, that peccata fuxt xqualia, all Sins are equal. It is true, Sin is a privation, but there are degrees in Privations; there be total and partial Privations; as in the Twilight and Dim-fightednefs. Every Sin deviates and fwerve from the Rule of Righteoufnefs: But there are degrees of Re&itude and Curvity ; fome crooked Lines depart further off from the (trait Line, and fome come nearer to it: So it is in Sins. The Sins of a Minifter do receive peculiar Aggravations, and are greater in many refpeas than the Sins of other Men. For them to be covetous and greedy after the World, for them to be of an unbro- *herly impofing Spirit; that is, Ambitious and Contentious, it is k worfe
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