A77976:563
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 53
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.
2 If his Prosperity doth give him further liberty in Sin? As thus, Many men that be poor, be quickly restrained, they have many restraints, alas, they be afraid the Law will get hold of them if they be drunk, or unclean, he is quickly restrained; may be he dares not for fear of the displeasure of some friend he depends upon: a hundred things keeps in men in affliction from taking▪ their liberty in Sin, which otherwise ⟨p. 438⟩his heart would have committed, whereas, a man Prosperous in the world, takes liberty, and who shall control him? he will be drunk, and unclean, and break the Sabbath, and who dares control and speak to him? and I beseech you observe this, many men account that the greatest happiness of Prosperity, that by this means they may come to have their wills, their sinful wills, that they shall live without control in the satisfying their sinful lusts; this they account the happiness of Prosperity. This is a most abominable cursed happiness, to account the good of Prosperity to consist in this, That it gives more liberty to sin; Oh it is a most Pestelentious Power that enables to do mischief, to hurt ones own soul, or others: So that is a most pestiferous estate & condition, that gives a man liberty to satisfy his lusts the more. Brethren, consider of this, it is a most dreadful curse of God upon a man, that God will let a man go on smoothly in ways of Sin, without control, that he shall have liberty without control; if there be any brand of Reprobation that one may give, this is it, as black a brand as can be given, that God suffers a man to go on smoothly in sin without any control, that he can have full liberty. It is a speech of Bernard's, Therefore doth God spare the Rich, because his iniquity is not found only to DISPLEASURE, but to HATRED; because God is not only now Angry, but he Hates him for Sin: that is a Speech of Barnard, Therefore doth God spare the rich, and deliver many wicked men from ⟨p. 439⟩Affliction, because Sin is grown to the height, that it is above Gods Displeasure, God may be displeased with his children for Sin, but he doth not come to Hate them; they be not children of hatred, because of infirmity;
2 If his Prosperitie doth give him further liberty in Sin? As thus, Manie men that be poor, be quicklie restrained, they have manie restraints, alas, they be afraid the Law will get hold of them if they be drunk, or unclean, he is quicklie restrained; may be he dares not for fear of the displeasure of some friend he depends upon: a hundred things keeps in men in affliction from taking their libertie in Sin, which otherwise