A77976:133
The Evil of Evils
The eighth book of Mr Jeremiah Burroughs. Being a treatise of the evil of evils, or the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Wherein is showed, 1 There is more evil in the least sin, than there is in the greatest affliction. 2 Sin is most opposite to God. 3 Sin is most opposite to mans good. 4 Sin is opposite to all good in general. 5 Sin is the poison, or evil of all other evils. 6 Sin hath a kind of infiniteness in it. 7 Sin makes a man conformable to the Devil. All these several heads are branched out into very many particulars. / Published by Thomas Goodwin, William Bridge, Sydrach Simpson, William Adderly, [double brace] William Greenhil, Philip Nigh, John Yates.The eighth book of Mr Jeremiah Burroughs. Being a treatise of the evil of evils, or the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Wherein is shewed, 1 There is more evil in the least sin, than there is in the greatest affliction. 2 Sin is most opposite to God. 3 Sin is most opposite to mans good. 4 Sin is opposite to all good in general. 5 Sin is the poyson, or evil of all other evils. 6 Sin hath a kind of infiniteness in it. 7 Sin makes a man conformable to the Devil. All these several heads are branched out into very many particulars. / Published by Thomas Goodwyn, William Bridge, Sydrach Sympson, William Adderly, [double brace] William Greenhil, Philip Nye, John Yates.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1654
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE EVIL of EVILS: OR, The Exceeding Sinfulness OF SIN. › Chapter 7
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
5. Such is the evil of sin, so opposite to Gods Nature, that if God did not hate sin as much as he doth, he would cease to be a God, not only if he did allow of it, and like of it; for he may permit it in his Creature and not like of it: But ⟨p. 39⟩I say, If God did not hate sin so much as he doth hate it, if it could be conceived that God could but hate sin somewhat less than he doth (I say) he would instantly cease to be a God; he could not remain to be God one moment if he did cease to hate sin in any degree less than he doth.
5. Such is the evil of sin, so opposite to Gods Nature, that if God did not hate sin as much as he doth, he would cease to be a God, not only if he did allow of it, and like of it; for he may permit it in his Creature and not like of it: But ⟨p. 39⟩I say, If God did not hate sin so much as he doth hate it, if it could be conceived that God could but hate sin somwhat less than he doth (I say) he would instantly cease to be a God; he could not remain to be God one moment if he did cease to hate sin in any degree less than he doth.
Quest. Why? How doth this appear?
Answ. Thus; If God cease to hate sin (I do not speak of the manifesting of his hatred, but that which is his nature, that is proportionable to hatred, as we say) if God did not hate it so much as he doth, then he did not hate sin infinitely, for there cannot be any infinite and less than infinite stand together, these two cannot ever stand, that it should be infinite and less then so and remain infinite, if it be infinite it remains so; if there should be a degree under that, it must be finite: Now if Gods hatred to sin were less than it is, it would be but a finite hatred, and if it were a finite hatred, then God could not be infinitely holy; for infinite holiness must needs have infinite hatred against sin. I beseech you observe this, for you are ready to think, Though God be against sin, and hate it, yet I hope God hates it not so much as many Ministers make of it, tush God is not so much against sin as they speak of; though its true when we do a miss we must cry God mercy, and pray God to forgive us; yet to make so much of sin as they do; and that God sets himself so much against it as they say; this is but their opinion;