I answer, there are two sorts of little sinners, such as are so, and
such as feign themselves so. They are those that feign themselves
so, that I intended there, and not those that are indeed
comparatively so. Such as feign themselves so may wait long enough
before they obtain forgiveness.

But again, a sinner may be comparatively a little sinner, and
sensibly a great one. There are then two sorts of greatness in sin;
greatness by reason of number; greatness by reason of thoroughness of
conviction of the horrible nature of sin. In this last sense, he
that has but one sin, if such a one could be found, may in his own
eyes find himself the biggest sinner in the world. Let this man or
this child therefore put himself among the great sinners, and plead
with God as great sinners do, and expect to be saved with the great
sinners, and as soon and as heartily as they.

Yea, a little sinner, that comparatively is truly so, if he shall
graciously give way to conviction, and shall in God's light
diligently weigh the horrible nature of his own sins, may yet sooner
obtain forgiveness for them at the hands of the heavenly Father, than
he that has ten times his sins, and so cause to cry ten times harder
to God for mercy.

For the grievousness of the cry is a great thing with God; for if he
will hear the widow, if she cries at all, how much more if she cries
most grievously? Exod. xxii. 22, 23.

It is not the number, but the true sense of the abominable nature of
sin, that makes the cry for pardon lamentable. He, as I said, that
has many sins, may not cry so loud in the ears of God as he that has