The Evil of Evils

Thirdly, Sin hath greater evil than Affliction in the rise of it; there is no good principle whence sin comes, but there are good principles from whence Afflictions arise: as thus, Whom he loves he chastens, he chastens every Son whom he receives; so that Chastisement hath a principle of Love, but it cannot be said whom God Loves he suffers to fall into Sin, that this can be a fruit of his Love: it can never be said that it is a fruit of Gods love that such a man or woman commits sin; but it may be said it is a fruit of Gods Love that such a man or woman is afflicted, therefore there is more good in Afflictions than there is in Sin. Nay, observe this, Many times God doth not afflict a man or woman because he doth not Love them, but it can never be said God suffers not a man or woman to sin because he doth not love them: I say, There is many a man or woman goeth on in a prosperous Condition, and they meet not with such Afflictions as others meet withal; and the Reason is, Because God hath not such a love to them as to other men, but it cannot be said thus, That there be such men that keep them selves from such sins that others do wallow in, & therefore they do it because God hath not such a love to them as to others, it cannot be said so; but it may be said such be not afflicted so much as others because God doth not love them as well as others: It is a dreadful fruit of Gods hatred ⟨p. 14⟩that he doth not afflict them, but it is not a fruit of his hatred •ot to let them fall into sin. I remember a Speech an Ancient hath upon that place of Hosea, I will not punish their Daughters when they commit Adultery, Hos. 4. 14. saith he, Oh dismal wrath of God that God will not afflict them and punish them! But now if this be so that want of afflictions may come from Gods wrath and the being put into affliction may come from Gods love, certainly then there is not so much evil in affliction as is in sin; for it can never be said so of sin.

Thirdly, Sin hath greater evil than Affliction in the rise of it; there is no good principle whence sin comes, but there are good principles from whence Afflictions arise: as thus, Whom he loves he chastens, he chastens every Son whom he receives; so that Chastisement hath a principle of Love, but it cannot be said whom God Loves he suffers to fal into Sin, that this can be a fruit of his Love: it can never be said that it is a fruit of Gods love that such a man or woman commits sin; but it may be said it is a fruit of Gods Love that such a man or woman is afflicted, therefore there is more good in Afflictions than there is in Sin. Nay, observe this, Many times God doth not afflict a man or woman because he doth not Love them, but it can never be said God suffers not a man or woman to sin because he doth not love them: I say, There is many a man or woman goeth on in a prosperous Condition, and they meet not with such Afflictions as others meet withal; and the Reason is, Because God hath not such a love to them as to other men, but it cannot be said thus, That there be such men that keep them selves from such sins that others do wallow in, & therfore they do it because God hath not such a love to them as to others, it cannot be said so; but it may be said such be not afflicted so much as others because God doth not love them as well as others: It is a dreadful fruit of Gods hatred