The Book of Confessions - The Presbyterian Leader

others?
A. Sins receive their aggravations, 1. From the persons offending: (1702) if they be
of riper age, greater experience, or grace; (1703) eminent for profession, (1704) gifts, (1705)
place, office, (1706) guides to others, (1707) and whose example is likely to be followed by
others. (1708) 2. From the parties offended: (1709) if immediately against God, (1710) his
attributes, (1711) and worship; (1712) against Christ, and his grace: (1713) the Holy Spirit,
his witness, and workings; (1714) against superiors, men of eminency, (1715) and such as we
stand especially related and engaged unto; (1716) against any of the saints, (1717) particularly
weak brethren, the souls of them or any other; (1718) and the common good of all or
many. (1719) 3. From the nature and quality of the offense: (1720) if it be against the express
letter of the law, (1721) break many commandments, contain in it many sins: (1722) if not
only conceived in the heart, but break forth in words and actions, (1723) scandalize
others, (1724) and admit no reparation: (1725) if against means, (1726) mercies, (1727)
judgments, (1728) light of nature, (1729) conviction of conscience, (1730) public or private
admonition, (1731) censures of the church, (1732) civil punishments; (1733) and our
prayers, purposes, promises, vows, covenants, and engagements to God or men: (1734) if done
deliberately, willfully, (1735) presumptuously, impudently, boastingly, (1736)
maliciously, (1737) frequently, (1738) obstinately, (1739) with light, (1740)
continuance, (1741) or relapsing after repentance. (1742) 4. From circumstances of
time, (1743) and place: (1744) if on the Lord's Day, (1745) or other times of divine
worship; (1746) or immediately before, (1747) or after these, (1748) or other helps to
prevent or remedy such miscarriages; (1749) if in public, or in the presence of others, who are
thereby likely to be provoked or defiled. (1750)
Q. 152. What doth every sin deserve at the hands of God?
A. Every sin, even the least, (1751) being against the sovereignty, (1752)
goodness, (1753) and holiness of God, (1754) and against his righteous law, (1755) deserveth
his wrath and curse, (1756) both in this life, (1757) and that which is to come; (1758) and
cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ. (1759)
Q. 153. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse
due to us by reason of the transgression of the law?
A. That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the
transgression of the law, he requireth of us repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord
Jesus Christ, (1760) and the diligent use of the outward means whereby Christ communicates to
us the benefits of his mediation. (1761)
Q. 154. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the
benefits of his mediation?
A. The outward and ordinary means, whereby Christ communicates to his Church the
benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer, all
Copyright © 1996 by the Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)