A77976:676
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 Those men that are willing to avoid sin, not out of fear, but because of the evil of sin it self, they shall find this disposition in their souls; At such a time as they be even afraid God will destroy them for sin, they even then desire God may be glorified; though I perish, let God be glorified. But those that avoid sin out of fear, when they apprehend there is no hope, they be ⟨p. 526⟩ready to fly in Gods face: nay, if I must be damned, I will be damned for somewhat; if I must perish, I will perish for somewhat: But that soul that fears sin for the evil of it, it saith, well, though I perish, and am damned, yet let God be glorified, though I perish: Certainly thou avoidest not sin merely out of fear.
4 Those men that are willing to avoid sin, not out of fear, but because of the evil of sin it self, they shall find this disposition in their souls; At such a time as they be even afraid God will destroy them for sin, they even then desire God may be glorified; though I perish, let God be glorified. But those that avoid sin out of fear, when they apprehend there is no hope, they be ⟨p. 526⟩ready to fly in Gods face: nay, if I must be damned, I will be damned for somwhat; if I must perish, I will perish for somwhat: But that soul that fears sin for the evil of it, it saith, well, though I perish, and am damned, yet let God be glorified, though I perish: Certainly thou avoidest not sin meerly out of fear.
5 Again, Those that avoid sin out of fear, they do not see the beauty and excellency of godliness in others, so as to be enamoured with it. Some avoid sin out of dislike and hatred of sin; and doest thou see a beauty in these, and doest thou say, Oh that I were in such a condition. Those that can see the excellency of grace in others, and prise and love it in others; certainly there is some Seed of that grace in their souls. So now, they that have no grace, envy others that have grace: but they that have grace rejoice in those that they see have any grace. This is the second Particular, rebuking those that avoid sin merely out of fear of affliction, together with satisfaction to that case of Conscience, because I know it lies heavy upon men and women's Souls