A77976:684
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.
1 You shall find many that come and complain of Sin: who do they complain to? to strangers, that know little of them and their condition, rather than to others that are acquainted with all their ways, and their whole-courses, though able to help them: for there is a great deal of Suspicion in that; for certainly if your heart be right, you will make complaint to those that know most of your ways and courses; but those that be strangers, you can go and complain to in some general way; and perhaps to some that may be some way able to help and relieve you in Affliction; but will not complain to those that may help you against Sin, if they be not able to help otherwise.
1 You shal find many that come and complain of Sin: who do they complain to? to strangers, that know little of them and their condition, rather than to others that are acquainted with al their wayes, and their whole-courses, though able to help them: for there is a great deal of Suspition in that; for certainly if your heart be right, you will make complaint to those that know most of your waies and courses; but those that be strangers, you can go and complain to in some general way; and perhaps to some that may be some way able to help and relieve you in Affliction; but wil not complain to those that may help you against Sin, if they be not able to help otherwise.
2 Another is this, Those that make complaint of Sin (and indeed not true) it is affliction, not Sin; you may know it by this, Though ⟨p. 531⟩they complain of Sin, it is in general terms, Oh! they be vile sinful Creatures, but never come to rip up the secrets of their hearts to those that they complain unto: But now any secret sins that might cause shame, they be kept in, and never opened. But that is their general complaint, That they be vile sinful Creatures; whereas if it were sin that lay upon thy heart, thou wouldest come and open all thy secret sins to those that are faithful and willing and able to help thee, if thou judgest them faithful, if thou dost not judge them so, why complainest thou, to them? if thou thinkest they be, thou wilt be willing to open all thy sins to them. But if thou art all upon general terms, it is a dangerous sign, it is Affliction, and not Sin.