A77976:669
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 67
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.
4 If thou avoid sin merely to prevent affliction, then thou art not like to hold out; that is a ⟨p. 522⟩principle in Nature, nothing is perpetual that is violent; and this is violent, to avoid sin merely for fear of affliction: such men and women will not hold out, if there be no other principle than this, they will fall off at last, they will abate at last, and so they will come to fall off.
4 If thou avoid sin meerly to prevent affliction, then thou art not like to hold out; that is a ⟨p. 522⟩principle in Nature, nothing is perpetual that is violent; and this is violent, to avoid sin meerly for fear of affliction: such men and women will not hold out, if there be no other principle than this, they will fall off at last, they will abate at last, and so they will come to fall off.
But you will say, Oh Lord, this is my condition; I am afraid. There are I suppose many in this Congregation may, and do apply these things, and it strikes to their hearts to think, Lord, then I am afraid I have no grace at all; for it is true, I have avoided sin, and have not gone on in the same sins others have done; but for my own part, for ought I know, merely out of fear of Hell and Affliction, and trouble that will follow, rather than from any other evil in sin: What is there no grace in me that avoid sin for fear of affliction?
But you will say, Oh Lord, this is my condition; I am afraid. There are I suppose many in this Congregation may, and do apply these things, and it strikes to their hearts to think, Lord, then I am afraid I have no grace at all; for it is true, I have avoided sin, and have not gone on in the same sins others have done; but for my own part, for ought I know, meerly out of fear of Hell and Affliction, and trouble that will follow, rather than from any other evil in sin: What is there no grace in me that avoid sin for fear of affliction?