A77976:319
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.
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.
A Fourth thing wherein the evil of sin consists as most opposite to mans good is this, Because it lies most opposite to the last end for which man was made. In that other passage I opened before, I showed how sin opposeth God in his own end, & therefore there was a great deal of evil in sin: But now I must show how sin opposeth Man in that end God made man for. I am afraid some of these things are such that some cannot go along with me in them; it is my endeavour to make things (though spiritual, and above our natural reach, to make them) as low as I can: but if there be some that do not understand, I hope others do, and such (I hope) will make use of what I speak. For certainly these things I speak of do more declare the evil of sin, and will keep an ingenuous spirit more from sin, than all the evils and torments of Hell. It is more against mans last End. Now we use to say the end and the good of a thing is the same: That which is the last end is better than the thing it self, therefore whatsoever strikes at the last end is the greatest evil of all. That is the ⟨p. 259⟩happiness of any Creature to enjoy its last end: As thus, The greatest good or the last end of a Plant or a Tree is to flourish and bear fruit, and be fitted for the service of man, this is its end. And what is the evil of a Tree? When it comes to flourish, and when fruit hangs full upon it, if it be blasted, and never come to attain to its utmost end, to be serviceable for that for which it was appointed; that is the evil of it. And we account it a great evil if we see this flourishing Tree when it is full of fruit, if before it come to maturity it be blasted. So look upon mans end, and if that be blasted, that is his great evil. Now the end of man is this, To live to the eternal praise of God, in the everlasting enjoyment of him. God made the Children of men for this end, That they might eternally live to his praise in the eternal enjoyment of himself. Now if man be blasted in this, there is his great evil, to blast man in this end for which he was made. Now no Affliction doth it, all the Afflictions in the world doth not hinder man from the attaining to his end. But Sin comes, and directly opposeth that end for which man was made, and crosseth him in this Excellency of his, in living to the praise of the infinite eternal first-Being of all things.
A Fourth thing wherein the evil of sin consists as most opposite to mans good is this, Because it lies most opposite to the last end for which man was made. In that other passage I opened before, I shewed how sin opposeth God in his own end, & therfore there was a great deal of evil in sin: But now I must shew how sin opposeth Man in that end God made man for. I am afraid some of these things are such that some cannot go along with me in them; it is my endeavor to make things (though spiritual, and above our natural reach, to make them) as low as I can: but if there be some that do not understand, I hope others do, and such (I hope) will make use of what I speak. For certainly these things I speak of do more declare the evil of sin, and will keep an ingenuous spirit more from sin, than all the evils and torments of Hell. It is more against mans last End. Now we use to say the end and the good of a thing is the same: That which is the last end is better than the thing it self, therfore whatsoever strikes at the last end is the greatest evil of all. That is the