A77976:540
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 52
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 Fourth Difference is this, The more melancholy there is in any man or woman, the less able are they to bear any outward affliction that befalls them: but the more trouble of Conscience, the more able shall they be to bear afflictions that befalls them. Those who feel the trouble of Sin heavy, do account all other afflictions light: but melancholy people do feel all Afflictions heavy, they cannot bear the least cross, their hearts are ready to sink upon any thing, and the more melancholy increaseth, the more weak are their spirits, and the less able to bear any cross. But now, trouble of Conscience, the more sin, and the heavier the burden of sin lies upon the Soul, the more slight thoughts hath the soul of outward crosses. Alas, it may be he hears of some that have some grievous diseases in their bodies; Oh saith he that is troubled in conscience, Oh if it were no worse with me than so, it were but a flea bite, but it is another manner of matter: if God would change my trouble, I could easily bear that. As Francis Spira hath this expression, Oh! (saith he) were I but released, and set free, as before, from trouble of spirit, my thinks I could scorn all the threatenings of cruel ⟨p. 419⟩Tyrants, and with undaunted resolution bear all torments: So that the height of this trouble makes the other less. It was a good Speech of a reverend Divine of our times, when he heard any impatient under afflictions; he used to say thus, Surely the Reason why Affliction is heavy upon you, is because Sin is light. Those that be impatient under Afflictions, it is assign Sin is light, because Afflictions are heavy; troubles of Conscience would make all Afflictions light, Melancholy will not.
A Fourth Difference is this, The more melancholly there is in any man or woman, the less able are they to bear any outward affliction that befals them: but the more trouble of Conscience, the more able shall they be to bear afflictions that befals them. Those who feel the trouble of Sin heavie, do account all other afflictions light: but melancholly people do feel all Afflictions heavie, they cannot bear the least cross, their hearts are ready to sink upon any thing, and the more melancholly increaseth, the more weak are their spirits, and the less able to bear any cross. But now, trouble of Conscience, the more sin, and the heavier the butthen of sin lies upon the Soul, the more slight thoughts hath the soul of outward crosses. Alas, it may be he hears of some that have some grievous diseases in their bodies; Oh saith he that is troubled in conscience, Oh if it were no worse with me than so, it were but a flea bite, but it is another manner of matter: if God would change my trouble, I could easily bear that. As Francis Spira hath this expression, Oh! (saith he) were I but released, and set free, as before, from trouble of spirit, my thinks I could scorn all the threatnings of cruel