A77976:443
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.
3 The desert of Sin is Infinite, In regard of the Infiniteness of misery, and pain, and tortures that sin deserves, which because they cannot possibly be infinite in degree, for it is impossible for a finite Creature to bear any one moment, pains infinite in degree: But because it deserves infinite torment, it must therefore be infinite in time, because it cannot be infinite in degree: and so it is infinite this way, in duration, ⟨p. 348⟩because it cannot be infinite in degree: thus sin is infinite. Certainly that which makes such an infinite loss, and such an infinite breach, and brings such infinite tortures; this must be an infinite evil in a kind.
3 The desert of Sin is Infinite, In regard of the Infiniteness of misery, and pain, and tortures that sin deserves, which becaus they cannot possibly be infinit in degree, for it is impossible for a finite Creature to bear any one moment, pains infinite in degree: But because it deserves infinite torment, it must therefore be infinite in time, because it cannot be infinite in degree: and so it is infinite this way, in duration, ⟨p. 348⟩because it cannot be infinite in degree: thus sin is infinite. Certainly that which makes such an infinite loss, and such an infinite breach, and brings such infinite tortures; this must be an infinite evil in a kind.
Thirdly, Sin is a kind of infinite evil, Because there is required an infinite price to make an atonement: nothing can make an atonement between God and a sinner, but an infinite price paid. You may think when you have sinned, it may quickly be made up again: Every Fool can sin, can be drunk, be unclean, and wicked; but when you have sinned, how will you get it away? All the Angels in Heaven, and Men in the world cannot do it; all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth cannot get away one sin: You let out your thoughts idly; take the guilt of one sin, of an idle thought, I say, it is beyond the power of all the Angels in Heaven, and Creatures in the World to get away that Sin: it must be an infinite price; there must be more done for to get away the guilt of this sin, than if God should say, here is a poor Creature hath sinned, and is guilty, I will make ten thousand worlds for his or her sake, and they shall be all given that I may manifest my mercy towards them: Now if God do but deliver thee from one Sin, he doth more for thee, than if thou shouldest hear him speak from Heaven, and say, he would do all that for thee: for you know what the Apostle saith,