Pauls Converfion. ter evill can there be, then this,to keepe both God and his Grace from us. Secondly it deprives us of the chiefeft good within us ; as for example : Firft, it deformes the beauty and ftrength of the inward man : Secondly,it weakens that grace that is within, that is, it makes us unable to refill evill; this is the nature of finne. Thirdly, ifyou cannot fee it in thefe,then come unto the effects that it workes, and it will appeare to be the greateft evill. Firft, it turnes all the fa- culties and parts of the foule and body to evill,and is the breeder of all diítemperarure, as feare and horrour in the foule. Secondly, it brings all the evill that loth befall a man in this life, they all come by fume; all fhame, reproach, poverty, dil= grace, punifhment, comes by finne; now if you will but confider finne in there, you will fee it to bee evil' ; butefpccially, you frail fee the evill of finne in a diftrefhed confcience : what feare, what amazemenr,what aftonifhment,and defpaire,what furrow, what anguifh of heart is there e as upon tiaxa ; no reftitution will ferve, no comfort will worke, no perfwafion will prevaile: thus ifyou looke upon finne it will appeare the greateft evill. Fourthly, fi )ne is the greareft evill, if you con- fider the medicine that mutt come to heale ir, Ghrilt mutt lay downe his glory for a time, hee mutt abate himfelfe, bee muff come from heaven to earth, hee mutt take our nature upon him , and humble himfelfe unto a curfed death, before ham can be healed, now put them altogether : finne is F f3 evill 209
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