A77976:321
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.
1 It is such a kind of Excellency as is worthy of all the good that there is in mans Nature, or that mans Nature is capable of. For the end and happiness of any thing, must be that that must have as much excellency in it, that all in the thing must tend to the making of him happy. Mans nature is capable of the Image and life of God. Now that which must be the happiness of such a Creature must be worthy of such an Excellency as the Image of God, and the life of God in man; therefore it must be a very high and glorious Excellency.
1 It is such a kind of Excellency as is worthy of all the good that there is in mans Nature, or that mans Nature is capable of. For the end and happiness of any thing, must be that that must have as much excellency in it, that all in the thing must tend to the making of him happy. Mans nature is capable of the Image and life of God. Now that which must be the happiness of such a Creature must be worthy of such an Excellency as the Image of God, and the life of God in man; therfore it must be a very high and glorious Excellency.
2 That which is mans happiness and end is that which is worthy of all the ways of God toward mankind. Now I beseech you observe this thing, The ways of God towards the Children of Men in bringing them to his last end, be the most glorious of all Gods ways to any Creature; God did never manifest so much glory in all the world, nor never will manifest so much glory to all eternity in any thing, as he hath manifested in these ways of his to bring mankind to the attaining his last end, for which he made him. Now if God be so glorious in that way of his concerning his working, in bringing man to his last end, then certainly that end of man, that happiness man was made for must be very glorious: because it must have so much glory and excellency in it as must be worthy all the glorious ways of Gods working towards him. 'Tis thus with man. There is no wise man that doth any great work, manifests any great skill, or lays out great cost, but will do it for such an end, as that ⟨p. 261⟩