A77976:521
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 51
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 Fifth thing I would say to those that have slight thoughts about trouble for sin, is this, That if ever God should in this world come to awaken your Conscience, and lay the weight of sin upon your souls: it were just with God then to let you sink under the burden. I say it were just with God so to wound you for sin, as to see you sweltering in your wounds, and deny compassion. Why? Because you have had slight thoughts of such a wound. Certainly brethren (observe what I say unto you) the very Reason why men and women are so long in anguish of Spirit for their sin, and under such sore troubles, and distress of Conscience, by reason of their sin, and can have no comfort; it is because heretofore they have had such slight thoughts of trouble of Conscience. Perhaps when they were in their jollity and mirth, they made a mock of it, made nothing of it; heard dreadful threats against sin, and made light of it, and thought people were troubled more than needs. Well, you once had such slight thoughts of trouble of Conscience for sin; now God comes upon you for it, and this hand of God lies upon you, and it is just with God you should feel it to purpose, that you should have smart enough; that God might instruct you, and convince you, of your error, and might now come and teach you after another manner. What do you think now of trouble ⟨p. 405⟩of Conscience for sin? you had such and such thoughts of it heretofore, what be your thoughts of it now? I remember there was one not far from the place where I ordinarily lived, and it was a young Maid, hearing of many troubled in Conscience for Sin, she in a kind of scorn and contempt of it, would feign her self troubled in Conscience for sin, and ô, she was mightily troubled, and in scorn of the Ministers, Oh these and these Ministers must be sent for to comfort her, merely out of contempt and scorn; but afterward God laid on in good earnest upon her Conscience, and then she was troubled to purpose; and so, that she was at the very brink of making away her self, and it was very much feared by all her friends; indeed she would have made away her self, and attempted it many ways, if God had not wonderfully hindered it. So those that have light thoughts of perplexities of conscience for sin, when it comes indeed, it may be just with God it should be so heavy, that they should not be able to bear it, but sink under it;
A Fifth thing I would say to those that have slight thoughts about trouble for sin, is this, That if ever God should in this world come to awaken your Conscience, and lay the weight of sin upon your souls: it were just with God then to let you sink under the burthen. I say it were just with God so to wound you for sin, as to see you sweltring in your wounds, and deny compassion. Why? Because you have had slight thoughts of such a wound. Certainlie brethren (observe what I say unto you) the very Reason why men and women are so long in anguish of Spirit for their sin, and under such sore troubles, and distress of Conscience, by reason of their sin, and can have no comfort; it is because heretofore they have had such slight thoughts of trouble of Conscience. Perhaps when they were in their jollitie and mirth, they made a mock of it, made nothing of it; heard dreadful threats against sin, and made light of it, and thought people were troubled more than needs. Well, you once had such slight thoughts of trouble of Concience for sin; now God comes upon you for it, and this hand of God lies upon you, and it is just with God you should feel it to purpose, that you should have smart enough; that God might instruct you, and convince you, of your error, and might now come and teach you after another manner. What do you think now of trouble