A77976:439
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.
First, Because there is nothing but infinite Power can overcome it. Take the least sin that any man or woman lies under the power of; nothing but the infinite Power of God can overcome that sin: and this is the reason that many that have had many convictions of conscience of the evil of sin, many resolutions against sin, many Vows and Covenants, and Promises they have made against sin: Oh when they are sick, now they see the evil of sin, now they promise if God will restore them▪ they will never do the like; and they speak from their hearts, they do not only dally, but they do verily think they will never come in company more, and commit sin more because it is so evil: but when they be well, they be under the power of sin as before, and all their resolutions and experiences, and all their own strength and power, and all the means they ⟨p. 346⟩have, are nothing; though sin be opened to be never so vile, and they be convinced thereof, yet all comes to nothing. Certainly there is more dreadful evil in sin than we be aware of; and all the pleasure and profit we have by sin can never countervail that evil that is in sin: and this they see, and therefore promise and hope they shall never commit such sins again. Perhaps there hath been such thoughts in your hearts, may be God hath had some beginnings to come in by his Power into your souls: this is the way of Gods coming in to the hearts of men and women, when he comes to convince and give them such resolutions. But know, all thy resolutions cannot overcome sin; perhaps you may forbear for the present, the acts of sin a while may be restrained; but nothing but the infinite Power of an infinite God can overcome any one sin, any one lust, Sin shall not have Dominion over you, Rom. 6. 14. for you are not under the Law, but under Grace, saith the Holy Ghost: as if he had said, if you be not now under the Grace of the Gospel, in which the infinite Power of God comes upon the soul to deliver them from the Dominion of Sin, Sin would for ever have Dominion over you; but sin shall not have Dominion over you, because you be not under the Law, but under Grace: It is the Grace of the Gospel through which this infinite Power of God comes upon your hearts, that keeps sin from having Dominion over you. This is the first, there is a kind of Infiniteness in it, because nothing but the infinite Power of God can overcome it.