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What are those aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others?
Larger
Catechism
Q
151.
What
are
those
aggravations
that
make
some
sins
more
heinous
than
others?
A.
Sins
receive
their
aggravations,
From
the
persons
offending:1
if
they
be
of
riper
age,2
greater
experience
or
grace,3
eminent
for
profession,4
gifts,5
place,6
office,7
guides
to
others,8
and
whose
example
is
likely
to
be
followed
by
others.9
From
the
parties
offended:10
if
immediately
against
God,11
his
attributes,12
and
worship;13
against
Christ,
and
his
grace;14
the
Holy
Spirit,15
his
witness,16
and
workings;17
against
superiors,
men
of
eminency,18
and
such
as
we
stand
especially
related
and
engaged
unto;19
against
any
of
the
saints,20
particularly
weak
brethren,21
the
souls
of
them,
or
any
other,22
and
the
common
good
of
all
or
many.23
From
the
nature
and
quality
of
the
offense:24
if
it
be
against
the
express
letter
of
the
law,25
break
many
commandments,
contain
in
it
many
sins:26
if
not
only
conceived
in
the
heart,
but
breaks
forth
in
words
and
actions,27
scandalize
others,28
and
admit
of
no
reparation:29
if
against
means,30
mercies,31
judgments,32
light
of
nature,33
conviction
of
conscience,34
public
or
private
admonition,35
censures
of
the
church,36
civil
punishments;37
and
our
prayers,
purposes,
promises,38
vows,39
covenants,40
and
engagements
to
God
or
men:41
if
done
deliberately,42
willfully,43
presumptuously,44
impudently,45
boastingly,46
maliciously,47
frequently,48
obstinately,49
with
delight,50
continuance,51
or
relapsing
after
repentance.52
From
circumstances
of
time53
and
place:54
if
on
the
Lord’s
Day,55
or
other
times
of
divine
worship;56
or
immediately
before57
or
after
these,58
or
other
helps
to
prevent
or
remedy
such
miscarriages:59
if
in
public,
or
in
the
presence
of
others,
who
are
thereby
likely
to
be
provoked
or
defiled.60