A77976:528
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.
Now for thee to attribute that to foolish melancholy conceits, that is one of the especial works of the HOLY GHOST in the SOUL, and is the Spirit of Bondage: Is not this Blasphemy against God? This is Gods work, and it is a work of Gods glory; for all the works of God be his glory; and that which the Spirit of God glories in, as that work proper to him, thou sayest it is but folly, and melancholy conceits, and the like; is not this blasphemy and reproach to the Spirit God? Certainly it is no other but reproach and blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, in attributing the trouble of conscience to these conceits.
Now for thee to attribute that to foolish melancholly conceits, that is one of the especial works of the HOLY GHOST in the SOUL, and is the Spirit of Bondage: Is not this Blasphemie against God? This is Gods work, and it is a work of Gods glory; for all the works of God be his glory; and that which the Spirit of God glories in, as that work proper to him, thou saiest it is but folly, and melancholly conceits, and the like; is not this blasphemie and reproach to the Spirit God? Certainly it is no other but reproach and blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, in attributing the trouble of conscience to these conceits.
2 Nay further, It is a great degree towards the unpardonable sin, if ye do it out of malice and knowledge, by it you come to the unpardonable sin; Take for that this one place of Scripture, Mark 3. compare the 22. verse with the 24. 30. Verse 22. when Christ cast out Devils, the Text saith of the Scribes and Pharisees that came from Jerusalem, that they said, he hath Beelzebub; and by the Prince of the Devils, casts he out Devils: they attributed the work of Christs casting out Devils, to the power of the Devil; he casts out Devils by the Devil. But now it was by the Finger of God: well, Christ calls them to him, and said, How can Satan cast out Satan? There he ⟨p. 411⟩convinceth them, Satan could not cast out Satan; and told them it was by the Spirit of God they were cast out: Mark how he goeth on in the 28. verse, Verily I say unto you, all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and Blasphemies, wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of Eternal Damnation. Because they said, he hath an unclean Spirit, Christ tells them, other blasphemies shall be forgiven, but the blasphemies against the Spirit of God shall never be forgiven. Why doth Christ speak of this, how comes it in? (Mark) the Text saith, Christ spake it, because they said he hath an unclean Spirit: Mark, Christ casting out Devils, the Scribes and the Pharisees attribute this to an unclean Spirit, and therefore they sinned against the Holy Ghost, merely because they attributed that which Christ did by the Finger of God, to an unclean Spirit; and therefore Christ tells them they sinned against the Holy Ghost, and they shall never be forgiven. Now Brethren, see how near you come to this sin, for the Scribes and Pharisees saw Christ cast out Devils; they did it out of malice, they could not but know, and yet they say it was by the Devil. You see one troubled in Conscience, which is by the Holy Ghost, and you say it is a foolish and a mad spirit, and sometimes. 'tis an unclean spirit; but it is worse when you say it is a foolish and melancholy spirit, you do more blaspheme the Holy Ghost, and come nearer this sin. Oh take heed, and be humbled, your condition is dangerous, that have had, or