A77976:588
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 57
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.
Use VI. Another Use is this, If there be so much evil in sin, Then what a miserable condition are those in that be full of sin, whose hearts and lives are filled up to the brim, to the very top, exceeding full of sin. Is there all this evil (that I have spoken of) in the nature of Sin? in one sin? (as you have heard) such dreadful evil in the least sin? Oh Lord, what a condition are those in (I say) that are guilty of an infinite number of sins? It is said, Eccles. 9. 3. The hearts of men are full of evil, full of sin: it is true of all the sons and daughters of men in the world that their hearts be full of sin. A toad is not so full of poison as the heart of every man and woman in the world is full of sin: and that which thou art full of, is such an abominable thing in the eyes of God, as you have heard: yea, and as their hearts are full of sin, so they be fully set to do evil, Eccles. 8. 11. Because ⟨p. 459⟩Sentence against an evil work is not speedily executed, therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil: this is true of all; in their natural condition, their hearts are full of evil, and their hearts are fully set in them to do evil. All the actions that ever thou didst do, all the thoughts of thy mind, and the words of thy mouth; all the actions of thy life, ever since thou wert born, hath been nothing else but sin, if thou be in thy natural estate. This we dare avow, and speak as in the presence of God, That every man and woman not yet converted, had never any thought▪ never spake word, never did any action in all their lives, but they sinned against God. And if Sin be to evil, what an evil case are those men in, who be so full of sin? in all that ever they did in all their lives, yea, their best actions; how full of sin be those? and how miserable is their condition, in that regard; who have given up themselves to follow Sin with greediness? Are there not some of you before the Lord, whose consciences cannot but •el you that you have given up your selves to follow the lusts of your own hearts with greediness? to satisfy them to the full? and all your grief hath been, that you could satisfy them no more: this hath been the condition of many who have lived in a course of sin all their days; yea, and it may be against conscience also;