A64834:14
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.
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.
As to this Subject, I am well aware ⟨image 5⟩that several pious and learned men have treated of it; but that is no discouragement to their Successors to do so too, no more then 'twas to S. Luke (Ch. 1.1, 2, 3.) to write the Gospel, of which others had written before him: And indeed, what is the Gospel of S. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but the same Gospel published with some little variety. The Apostle S. Peter wrote of the same things which S. Paul had done, 2 Pet. 3.15. and they both wrote of the same things over and again, Phil. 3.1. 2 Pet. 1.12, 13. And Jude the Brother of James, as v. 1. did transcribe, or at least Epitomize a great part of S. Peters second Epistle, almost (in terminis & verbatim) word for word. I remember S. Austin somewhere gives his advice, to have the same things published by several men, that (by the interest, relation, and affection which they have in the world) truths may come to the more hands, which else would be confined, and well high imprisoned. Beside, what Ausonius tells us, ••us plus alio invenire potest, nemo-omnia is a very great truth, one may find ⟨image 5⟩out more then another, but none will or can find and speak out all, so exceeding broad are the commands and truths contained in the sacred Scriptures, beyond any others: Though therefore I think it no disparagement to me to acknowledge, that I have perused others, and profited by them, yet I may (without vanity or ostentation) say, that I have not only handled this Subject in another manner, but that I have also spoken to other things, then any hath done that I have yet met withal; and do not doubt, but much more may be said then hath been by me, any, or all that have written on this Theme.
As to this Subject, I am well aware ⟨image 5⟩that several pious and learned men have treated of it; but that is no discouragement to their Successors to do so too, no more then 'twas to S. Luke (Ch. 1.1, 2, 3.) to write the Gospel, of which others had written before him: And indeed, what is the Gospel of S. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but the same Gospel published with some little variety. The Apostle S. Peter wrote of the same things which S. Paul had done,