A77976:524
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.
1 They take away that which is the chief Restraint of Sin. There are many outward restraints to keep men and women from sin, but all outward restraints from sin are nothing to the restraints of Conscience; a man that hath a tender Conscience, hath the greatest restraint of sin that can be, no restraint like to that; but one that is so far from a tender Conscience; that he thinks trouble of Conscience is a melancholy conceit, such a man hath no restraint (to purpose) from sin: he may have restraints from outward and gross sins, but from close, secret sins, he hath none. Now it is a great evil to a man, that the hinderances to secret sins be taken away, and he gives himself liberty in secret sins.
1 They take away that which is the chief Restraint of Sin. There are many outward restraints to keep men and women from sin, but all outward restraints from sin are nothing to the restraints of Conscience; a man that hath a tender Conscience, hath the greatest restraint of sin that can be, no restraint like to that; but one that is so far from a tender Conscience; that he thinks trouble of Conscience is a melancholly conceit, such a man hath no restraint (to purpose) from sin: he may have restraints from outward and gross sins, but from close, secret sins, he hath none. Now it is a great evil to a man, that the hinderances to secret sins be taken away, and he gives himself liberty in secret sins.
2 And then for the Authority of the Word: It is a great mercy for men and women, to be in such a condition, that their heart should be continually under the authority of the Word; howsoever you think it a brave thing that you can get your hearts above the Word: but certainly it is one of the greatest mercies of God upon the earth, for God to keep the hearts of men and women under the authority of the Word. But that man or woman that thinks lightly of troubles of Conscience, such a one can slight the Word, regards it not, let what will be spoken, he can easily put it off, because the main hold that the Word hath, upon the heart of a man or ⟨p. 407⟩