A77976:472
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.
Corollaries and Consequences from all the former Particulars. › Chapter 45
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.
CHAP. XLV.
The Second Corollary.] Its worse to be Sinful, than to be Afflicted with Temptation from the Devil..
The Second Corollarie.] Its worse to be Sinful, than to be Afflicted with Temptation from the Devil..
Secondly, From the Reference sin hath to the Devil, it follows, That for any man or woman to be wicked, it is worse a great deal than to have the greatest trouble and affliction by any temptation from the Devil. There be many men and women exceedingly pestered with hideous and horrible temptations by the Devil, and so troubled with them that they be even weary of their lives, and know not what to do. Many send up Papers to the Minister in Public, desiring to be prayed for, because of that sore Affliction upon them, those dreadful temptations of the devil; wheresoever they go, wheresoever they be, whatsoever they be adoing, when a hearing, a reading, and if they go to prayer, still hideous temptations of the devil comes upon them, and this wearies their lives: They had rather endure any misery in the world. I dare appeal to you that be troubled with hideous temptations of the devil, which dog, and follow you; had you not rather endure loss of estate, sickness, poverty, and shame, and disgrace, rather than have ⟨p. 373⟩these hideous temptations follow you? Oh you should have many quickly make their choice, rather let any thing befall me than have such hideous temptations pursue & pester me. Now if such hideous temptations, be a greater evil in your account than all Afflictions that can befall your body; than much more evil are your sins than all afflictions; for sin hath greater Reference unto the devil than temptations, and make you more like the devil than temptations do: for temptations may be no other but such as did befall the Son of God himself. Christ was pestered with temptations, hideous temptations, temptations to deny God, and to tempt God, and to worship the devil himself: As hideous temptations befell Christ as could befall any one, yet the Son of God, beloved of God, therefore your temptations are no other, no greater than might befall Christ, and therefore not so great evils as Sin. They make you not so like the devil as sin; if temptations come from the Devil, if not entertained, though they be afflictions, yet not Sin. Now in that Sin hath such reference to the devil it appeareth that Sin is worse than all the Annoyance you can have by any temptation.