A77976:673
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.
But yet I have here more to say to such, to satisfy the Consciences of those that are troubled, and that say they be afraid that they avoid sin from fear of affliction: To see if there may not yet be grace.
But yet I have here more to say to such, to satisfie the Consciences of those that are troubled, and that say they be afraid that they avoid sin from fear of affliction: To see if there may not yet be grace.
2 Know therefore, That man or woman that avoids sin merely from fear of affliction, though he avoids the sin, he never comes to love the command that forbids that sin; but is weary of Gods Command: But now a soul that doth not only avoid sin through fear, but withal hath a love to that command that binds his Spirit also: if thou find it thus, that thou hast a love to that command that forbids that sin that thou doest avoid; certainly thou doest not avoid it merely from fear of affliction. Those that avoid sin merely from fear of affliction, they do not commit sin because they dare not; but in the mean ⟨p. 524⟩time would be glad if there were no command against it. As it was the Speech of one that cried out, Oh that God had never made the seventh Commandment: He had an enlightened conscience, but a filthy heart; but conscience now stood in his way, he hates therefore the Command that forbid that sin; Oh that that Command had never been made, saith he. So those that merely refrain sin from fear of trouble and Hell, though they keep from the sin, yet they never love the Command that forbids sin: But if thy heart close with the Command, and saith it is good, holy, and righteous, and blessed be God for this holy Law; peace be to thy soul: it is not thy case to avoid sin for fear of affliction, but for sin it self.
2 Know therefore, That man or woman that avoids sin meerly from fear of affliction, though he avoids the sin, he never comes to love the command that forbids that sin; but is weary of Gods Command: But now a soul that doth not only avoid sin through fear, but withal hath a love to that command that binds his Spirit also: if thou find it thus, that thou hast a love to that command that forbids that sin that thou doest avoid; certainly thou doest not avoid it meerly from fear of affliction. Those that avoid sin meerly from fear of affliction, they do not commit sin because they dare not; but in the mean