The Works of Jeremiah Burroughs 8, Part · Chapter 54
CHAP. LIV.
Uſe 3. If there be ſo much evil in ſin, then it's a mighty mercy to get the pardon of ſin.
Uſe III. IF there be ſo much evil in Sin as you have heard of, then certainly this muſt needs follow, That to get pardon of ſin is a mighty mercy. It muſt needs be a wonderful thing to have the pardon of ſin, to get to be delivered from that which hath ſo much evil, that is ſo dreadful, it muſt needs be very hard to be obtained; grievous diſeaſes be very hardly cured. Certainly Brethren, thoſe men and women that do think, that to get pardon of, and power againſt ſin, is a little or light matter, I dare charge them as in the preſence of God, they never yet knew what ſin meant; and all that I have delivered about the evil of ſin, hath been but as the beating of the air to them, to no purpoſe, that yet make but light of the great work of procuring pardon for ſin, and making peace with God for their ſin. If all the world were in a confuſion, turned into a Chaos, we ſhould think it a great work of God to bring all in frame and o…der again: Certainly it is a greater work of God, for to deliver the ſoul from the evil of ſin, and free the ſoul of it, than it would be for to raiſe up the frame of Heaven and Earth again, if all were turned into a Chaos. Therefore Numbers, 14. 17, 19. verſes, where Moſes ſpeaks of pardon of Sin; ſee how Moſes ſpeaks of it there: And now I beſeech thee (ſaith he) let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou haſt ſpoken, ſaying. What was this concerning which God had ſpoken, that he would ſhew his great power in? See the 19. verſe, Pardon I beſeech thee the iniquity of this people, according to the greatneſs of thy mercy: (Mark) let the power of my Lord be great, and then pardon the iniquitie of thy people: as if Moſes ſhould ſay; Oh Lord, this requires great power, the Almightie power of God is required for pardoning of iniquitie, as well as the infinite mercy of God Oh conſider this, you that think lightly of getting pardon of ſin, this is the greateſt buſineſs in the world, and certainly that ſoul that God doth ſet in good earneſt about this work, to get the pardon of ſin, that ſoul is the moſt buſie Creature in all the world: never was the ſoul taken up about a more bleſſed work, ſince it had a being, than this is; if it underſtand what it is about, it takes up the whol ſtrength of ſoul and bodie, when the ſoul is about ſo great a work: therefore you that come to have ſome inlightenings to ſhew you the evil of ſin, and you be about that work of getting pardon; Oh you had need intend it; and work mightily and ſtrongly indeed; for know this, you are about the greateſt buſineſs, the greateſt work that ever Creature was about in the world; there is no creature in all the world was ever about ſo great a work as thou art about; when thou art about the getting pardon of ſin, thou hadſt need mind it, and follow it, and not have thy heart taken up about other things, for it is the great work of the Lord, that infinitely concerns thee; Oh that men and women had cleer apprehenſions about the ſweetneſs of this work; 'tis true, Gods merciemercy is above all our ſins, and he is readie to pardon, and to forgive; but the Lord will have his Creatures know, that it is the greateſt work that ever he did: yea, and take altogether Juſtification of a ſinner, is as great a work as ever God did; the means that tend to it, and the work of a ſoul about procuring pardon, is the greateſt work that ever ſoul was about: ſo you muſt underſtand it; and you cannot but underſtand it, if you underſtand what hath been delivered. This is the Third Uſe.