358 BENEFIT OF They are also sufficiently lenient to certain degrees of great sins ; and various are the modifications and distinctions in their logic, and not over-correct the gra- dations in their moral scale of degrees. They do not consider that it is the ex- tirpation, and not merely the reduction, of any sin, which is to procure them that peace and comfort for which they some- times pray, and which they wonder they do not receive as an answer to their prayers. They forget that the evil of sin is not to be measured by its magnitude only, but by the spirit of disobedience which it indicates towards a generous Father, -a Father whose commands are all founded in mercy and love, and who considers every voluntary fault as no light offence when committed against supreme power, exercised with perfect tenderness. But it is their reluctance to part with the remaining degrees,. their wish to retain these modified sins ; it is their fa- vourite reserves to which they still cling,
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