A64834:130
Sin, the Plague of Plagues
Sin, the plague of plagues, or, Sinful sin the worst of evils a treatise of sins trial and arraignment, wherein sin is accused for being, proved to be, and condemned for being exceeding sinful : and that 1. as against God, his nature, attributes, works, will, law, image, people, glory and existence, 2. as against man, his good and welfare of body and soul, in this life, and that to come : with the use and improvement to be made of this doctrine, that men may not be damned, but saved, &c. : being the substance of many sermons preached many years ago in Southwark / by Ralph Venning ...Sin, the plague of plagues, or, Sinful sin the worst of evils a treatise of sins tryal and arraignment, wherein sin is accused for being, proved to be, and condemned for being exceeding sinful : and that 1. as against God, his nature, attributes, works, will, law, image, people, glory and existence, 2. as against man, his good and welfare of body and soul, in this life, and that to come : with the use and improvement to be made of this doctrine, that men may not be damned, but saved, &c. : being the substance of many sermons preached many years ago in Southwark / by Ralph Venning ...
London: printed for John Hancock, 1669
Title page typeset from the transcription.
SIN, THE PLAGUE of PLAGUES; OR Sinful Sin the worst of Evils. › 2 In a Moral sense, for
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.
2 Sinful man is worse then beasts in the very quality for which he is likened to the beast: The Ox and the Ass which have no understanding, and to which sinful man is compared for ignorance and stupidity, is yet more knowing then sinful man; as 'tis Is. 1.3. And the like is spoken of the Stork, Crane, and Swallow, by way of upbraid to man, Jer. 8.7. These foolish creatures have more understanding then sinful man; so as to sensuality, man is worse then the beast; for things of sense are the proper objects of a beasts appetite, but not of the natural appetite and inclination of man; 'tis no sin in the beast to be sensual, but 'tis so in a man, who (though •reated to higher ends and purposes) is yet so degenerated, as to be in many things more sensual and carnal then the beasts are: Sin hath made man so unsociable and cruel too, that Bears are more kind to one another, then men are, saevis inter se convenit ursis, and 'twere better for a man (safer) to meet a Bear in her rage, when robbed of her Whelps, then to meet a fool in his folly, Prov. 17.12. Man is more hurtful to man, then beasts are to man. I might now instance in a long List or Catalogue, what beasts sinners are likened to, and wherein the parallel or similitude holds, viz. the wicked tyrannical Rulers of the world are compared to a roaring Lyon, and ranging Bear, Prov. 28.15. They have no pity, but make a prey of all they come near to: Hypocrites are like to Vipers, Mat 23.23. Herod was called a Fox, not only for his craft and cunning, but for hunting after the life of the Lamb, Christ Jesus. Thus some sinners are like to some beasts, ⟨p. 58⟩and some to others; but there are two beasts that all sinners are likened to; the Goat, and the Dog.
2 Sinful man is worse then beasts in the very quality for which he is likened to the beast: The Oxe and the Asse which have no understanding, and to which sinful man is compar'd for ignorance and stupidity, is yet more knowing then sinful man; as 'tis Is. 1.3. And the like is spoken of the Stork, Crane, and Swallow, by way of upbraid to man,