The Works of Jeremiah Burroughs 8, Part · Chapter 56
CHAP. LVI.
Uſe 5. If there be ſuch Evil in Sin, hence then is juſtified the dreadful things ſpoken in the Word againſt ſinners.
THere is more Evil in Sin, than in all Affliction: That's the Argument we have been long upon; and have made ſome good entrance into the Application of it, there hath been Four Uſes made of this Point already, that hath flowed naturally from the Evil of Sin. There are yet divers more Uſes which are of great Concernment: wherefore we proceed to it.
Ʋſe V. If there be ſuch dreadful Evil in Sin, Hence then the Word of God that ſpeaks ſuch dreadful things againſt ſinners, cannot but be juſtified of all thoſe that know what ſin is. There are verie ſevere and fearful things, revealed in the Word againſt Sin. Now, ſuch as underſtand not what the Evil of Sin is, are readie to think them verie hard. For indeed, it is onlie by the word, we come to underſtand, wherein the true Evil of Sin lies. Paul to the Romans tels us, That before the Law came, he knew not Sin: And had I Preached theſe Sermons concerning the Evil of Sin before the Athenians, the wiſeſt of Phyloſophers, they would have ſaid as they did concerning Paul, What new? What ſtrange Doctrine is this? And ſo it is like it hath been unto all thoſe who have no other rule to judge of things by, than carnal Reaſon and Sence. Thoſe who are not acquainted with the mind of God, revealed in his Word; they perhaps have ſtrange thoughts concerning all that hath been delivered; and think I have been but an hyperboler al this while: but certainly thoſe that judg of things according to the word, they ſee that there is a realitie in all that hath been delivered, and they juſtifie the Word in all; yea, they juſtifie the ſeveritie of the word againſt ſin, when they ſee it even againſt themſelves, for their own ſins; that's a good ſign, when the heart of a man or woman, doth not onlie juſtifie the word in general, but when the word comes moſt powerfullie, and ſharplie againſt his own ſins; yet he lies under the power of the Word, and ſaith, It is good, and holy, and righteous, the word of the I ord; though it ſpeaks bitter things againſt his own ſins. There are many men and women that have ſome ſeeming good affections, and ſome tenderneſs of ſpirit, and would ſeem to melt at a Sermon, when ſome truths be delivered to them: but when the ſeveritie and ſtrictneſs of Gods Juſtice, in the word is preſented before them, their hearts flie off, and they ſeem to be verie hard things. We have a notable example for this in Luke 20. if you read in the ſtorie before, you ſhall find the people ſpoken of, were much ſtirred, with many things they heard of in the Word: but in the 16. verſe, when Chriſt told them he would come and deſtroy thoſe huſband-men that had uſed the meſſengers ſo ill that were ſent for fruit, and the Kings only Son too: He ſhal… come and deſtroy thoſe Husbandmen, and give the Vinyard unto others; and when they heard it, they ſaid, God forbid. Oh God forbid that there ſhould be ſo much ſeveritie: thoſe people, in this particular, diſcovering a ſlightneſs of ſpirit; that though they were people that ſeemed to have tender hearts, and were much ſtirred, and their hearts melted at ſome truths delivered: well, but yet when they heard of the ſevere Judgments againſt evil men; Oh they had more compaſſion in them than God had, & ſaid, God forbid that things ſhould be ſo hard; What? is not God a merciful God? and we hear of nothing but ſeverity; that there ſhould be ſuch ſeveritie in God, utterly to deſtroy, God forbid. Thus people now a daies, when they hear Arguments of Gods goodneſs, and mercy, their hearts be ready to melt and yeild, and they be affected, and ſtirred; but when they hear the ſeveritie of Gods Juſtice againſt ſin, Oh then God forbid that there ſhould be ſuch hard things, God forbid theſe things ſhould be true. Certainly Brethren, you cannot have any true meltings of Spirit wrought in you, nor work of Gods Sanctifying Spirit, unleſs you find ſuch a principle in your hearts, as ſhould cauſe you to fall down and tremble, and yeild unto the Juſtice of God, and the ſeverity of the Word againſt ſin; except you find a willingneſs to juſtifie God and his Word in all the ſeverity that he doth reveal againſt you in your own ſins. I his is the Fifth.