QUest. 1. Whether the externall Work of sin joyned with the internall doe increase the evill of it?

1. Ans. 1. If one have an effectuall will of sinning, viz. be so affected in regard of his will towards sinne, that nothing hinders him from the eternall Worke, but onely that the occasion is wanting, such a man before God is accounted as great a sinner, as if hee had performed the outward action; this appears by the contrary acts of obedience. 2 Cor. 8. 12. Heb. 11. 17.

2. Ans. 2. And yet such a sinne in regard of the extension of it is made great by the externall worke. For as sanctification

is great when it hath renewed the spirit, soule and body, then if it should reforme any one part alone, 1 Thess. 5. 23. 1 Corinthians 6. 20. 2 Corinthians 7. 1. So also sinne in the like manner is greater when it hath as it were invaded the body, then if it should keepe possession onely of the soule.

3. Ans. 3. In regard of that hurt and mischiefe which is done to others, either by reason of scandall, or by reason of some reall discommodity, sin is made greater by the externall work. 1 Sam. 25. 32. 33.

4. Ans. 4. Hence it is that some punishments are justly infflicted for the externall act of some sinnes wh[gap]ch are not infflicted for the internall. As a divorce is made for the act of adultery but not for the intention.

Qu. 2. Whether doe those discommodities which fall out in the event of an evill work increase the sin.

5. Ans. These kinds of events may have a fourefold respect unto the will of the sinner. 1 Sometimes they are directly intended, and then they doe increase the sinne, in the internall nature of it whether they follow or follow not, 2. Sometimes they are foreseene, although not directly intended, as, when one seeth an innocent person like to be much indammaged by the theft which he intendeth, and then interpretatively, and indirectly they are said to be increased, and likewise aggravate the sinne, 3. Sometimes they are neither intended nor foreseene, but yet they ought by some meanes to be foreseene and prevented: and then also they aggravate the sin, because they are in some sort presumed to be foreseene, 4. Sometimes the ignorance of them is void of sinne, and then they are not imputed as sins.

Qu. 3. How is the act of sin broken off?

6. A. 1. No[gap] by every physicall interruption of the act: for if it be in a morall sence continued, the sin it selfe remaineth.

7. 2. Not by a simple cessation of the act of the intention or will: for that may come to passe through inadvertence, and distraction about other things.

8. The morality therefore of it is onely broken off by a contrary will and resolution: and yet that breaking off is imperfect; unlesse there be withall such a change of the will, as is required to true Repentance.