The Evil of Evils

First, If a m•n be prosperous by Sin. Or, Secondly, Be sinful by his prosperity.

Then he is indeed a miserable Creature notwithstanding all his prosperity, I beseech you observe it, and it follows from the Point that hath been opened, that there is so much evil in Sin.

As First, If there be so much evil in Sin, Let a man be never so prosperous, if prosperity be furthered by sin, or sin furthered by prosperity, he must needs be a m•st wretched miserable Creature. If prosperity be furthered by Sin: as thus; If any man raise himself to any outward prosperous estate in a sinful way, although the world may judg such a man happy, having his hearts desire satisfied yet it is most certain, this man is a wretched man. As suppose a man get preferment by a sinful way, Oh his heart is eagerly desirous to get up to Preferment, to get Livings and Estate in the world, and he doth strain his Conscience for it; and when there is a Sin between him and his Preferment, he will get over the Sin he will ⟨p. 429⟩climb and scamble over this Sin to get the Preferment; rather than lose the Preferment, he will scamble over Sin, and go through Sin unto his Preferment: so eagerly desirous are men of Preferment, that though Sin be between them and their Preferment, they will break through; they will break through the hedge but they will gain it. Oh how many Scholars, and others, especially such whose Educations have been mean, when they see any way of Preferment, Livings, or Estates, though they have some Sin between them and Preferment, how have they got it, and think themselves safe when they have got Livings and Preferment: Oh these men be miserable, and therefore miserable because preferred, because prospered in their hearts desire. And so for men that get riches and estates otherwise than by right, by deceit and oppression; in any sinful wicked way; it may be now they have got fair houses, and well furnished, and means coming in, and they bless themselves, and think now they be happy; yea, and others also, they think them happy, and live bravely in the world: but if you knew all, you would look upon these men as most wretched cursed Creatures. Certainly those men will one day curse the time that ever they had such an estate, and will wish rather, that they had begged their bread from door to door, than have got their estate by sin. Seeing there is so much evil in Sin, let these men consider these things. Such as have Prosperity by Sin, let them consider,