The Works of Jeremiah Burroughs 8, Part · Chapter 44 – Chapter 46
CHAP. XLIV.
The Firſt Corallarie.] Its worſe for a man to be ſinful, than to be turned into a beaſt.
FIrſt, Hence then it is worſe for a man to be ſinſul and wicked, than if he were turned into a beaſt: It is worſe to be like the Devil to fulfil his will, to be a ſervant to him, to be turned into a devil, than to be turned into a beaſt. And yet we ſhould account it a great miſery if God ſhould put any one under ſuch a puniſhment to turn your bodies into beaſts. I remember I have read out of Lactantius of a place he quotes out of Tully, Who would not rather die (ſaith he) than have his body, the body of a man, turned into the ſhape of a beaſt, though he ſhould retain the mind of a man, under this condition? As if God by his power ſhould turn the faſhion of a mans body, to be juſt like a Dog or a Swine, and yet he ſhould have the mind of a man the ſoul ſhould be kept within ſuch a body, of ſuch a forme, of a dog or a ſwine, and he ſhould go up and down in the world as a dog or a ſwine, with the mind of a man: Now this Heathen ſaith, A man had rather die than be ſo; then how great an evil (ſaith he) is it for a man to have the ſoul of a man turned into the faſhion of a beaſt, though his body continue ſtill in the form of a man, this a heathen could ſay. By this it appeareth, Though we ſee not God work ſuch miracles, as to turn the bodies of men and women, by his judgements, into the faſhion of ſwine, or dogs, or ſuch Creatures as he might do if he pleaſed; but this we ſee ordinary that the ſouls of men and women, be turned juſt into the very faſhion and ſhape (as I may ſo ſpeak) of the ſenſitive ſouls of bruit beaſts; as a drunkard, or a glutton, his ſoul is juſtlike to the ſenſitive ſoul of the ſwine. And thoſe that do rail againſt Religion, their ſouls be turned juſt like the ſenſitive ſoul of a barking dog, and they do bark like (nay, a great deal worſe than) a dog. And thoſe that are wickedly ſubtile, they are like to Foxes. And the Scripture ſpeaks of men cruel, like to Wolves: their ſins do turn their ſouls to be like the very ſpirit and ſenſitive ſouls of the bruit beaſts. So that they are in a worſe condition than if their bodies were turned into the ſhape of bruit beaſts. But when their ſouls be turned to be like the Devil, this is worſe a great deal than if they were like bruit beaſts. This is the Firſt.
CHAP. XLV.
The Second Corollarie.] Its worſe to be Sinful, than to be Afflicted with Temptation from the Devil..
SEcondly, From the Reference ſin hath to the Devil, it followes, That for any man or woman to be wicked, it is worſe a great deal than to have the greateſt trouble and affliction by any temptation from the Devil. There be many men and women exceedingly peſtered with hidious and horribl temptations by the Devil, and ſo troubled with them that they be even weary of their lives, and know not what to do. Many ſend up Papers to the Miniſter in Publick, deſiring to be prayed for, becauſe of that ſore Affliction upon them, thoſe dreadful temptations of the devil; wherſoever they go, wherſoever they be, whatſoever they be adoing, when a hearing, a reading, and if they go to prayer, ſtill hidious temptations of the devil comes upon them, and this wearies their lives: They had rather indure any miſery in the world. I dare appeal to you that be troubled with hidious temptations of the devil, which dog, and follow you; had you not rather indure loſs of eſtate, ſickneſs, poverty, and ſhame, and diſgrace, rather than have theſe hidious temptations follow you? Oh you ſhould have many quickly make their choice, rather let any thing befal me than have ſuch hidious temptations purſue & peſter me. Now if ſuch hidious temptations, be a greater evil in your account than all Afflictions that can befal your body; than much more evil are your ſins than all afflictions; for ſin hath greater Reference unto the devil than temptations, and make you more like the devil than temptations do: for temptations may be no other but ſuch as did befal the Son of God himſelf. Chriſt was peſtered with temptations, hidious temptations, temptations to deny God, and to tempt God, and to worſhip the devil himſelf: As hidious temptations befel Chriſt as could befal any one, yet the Son of God, beloved of God, therefore your temptations are no other, no greater than might befal Chriſt, and therefore not ſo great evils as Sin. They make you not ſo like the devil as ſin; if temptations come from the Devil, if not entertained, though they be afflictions, yet not Sin. Now in that Sin hath ſuch reference to the devil it appeareth that Sin is worſe than all the Annoyance you can have by any temptation.
CHAP. XLVI.
The Third Corollarie.] Its Worſe to be under Sin, than to be haunted by the Devil.
THirdly, Hence it follows, That Sin is worſe than to be continually in the preſence of the Devil: It is worſe for a man or woman to be under the power of any Sin, than to be continually haunted by devils, and to have the ſight of devils before their eyes, and be in company with them. If God ſhould lay ſuch a judgment upon a man or woman, that whereſoever they ſhould be, they ſhould ſee devils before them; to be under the power of any one ſin is worſe than if God ſhould lay ſuch a judgment upon thee. Many be mightily terrified in the dark, Oh! there is the devil in the room, and Oh! he comes to them, and there be apparitions of devils, this they be troubled with; Oh! theſe men and women haunted by devils, and houſes haunted by devils, this is a miſerable condition: Now art thou haunted by any wicked luſt and ſin, certainly thou art in a worſe condition than any man or woman haunted by devils, or houſe haunted by the devil. Is there any houſe in your pariſh where there is Blaſpheming, and Oaths, and railing at goodneſs, and Sabbath breaking, and ſuch things? this houſe is worſe than any houſe haunted by devils: For Sin is worſe a great deal, than the meer preſence of the devil. I remember I have read of a Tyrant, one Maxenſius in Hetruſia, he invented this torment to put men to death, he would have a dead mans Carkaſs tyed about their bodies and ſo let them go whereſoever he would, but he ſtill carried the dead Carkaſs about him, and at length the ſtench put them to death: this was his Tyrany. If you ſhould have a dead man or woman tied about your bodies; may be the face of a dead man is hidious to you, but if they ſhould be tied about you, ſo that when you lie in bed, and when you riſe, when you ſit at meat, it ſhould be alwaies with you, and you ſhould indure the ſtink and putrefaction; what a ſore evil would this be? now if in the preſence of a dead Carkaſs there is ſo much evil, than in the preſence of the devil there is much more. Now ſin, any one ſin, tied cloſe to your hearts, that you carry about with you, whereſoever you go; know there is in that a greater evil upon you, than if a dead Carkaſs ſhould be tied to you; yea, than if the devil ſhould haunt you whereſoever you go: becauſe the preſence of the devil, is not ſo much, as turning of the ſouls of men and women into the nature of the devil; and making the Souls of men and women ſo like to him.