A64834:216
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.
Methinks I cannot go on till I have a little expostulated with thee, who ever thou be that readest; needs there any more to fright thee from sinning, which is the way to damnation, then the thoughts of damnation (such a damnation!) which is at the end of the way of sin? for thy Souls-sake hear and fear, and do no more wickedly: What! wilt thou be damned? canst with patience think of going to hell? hast thou no pity on thy precious Soul? Oh if thou shouldst go from reading of hell into hell, thou wouldst surely say, there was a Prophet, I would not believe it, but now I feel it: Think of it, and
3 3Think of what's now to be added concerning the duration of these torments, they will be for ever; though they were great, universal, and without intermission for a time, yet if they were ⟨p. 89⟩to have an end, 'twere some comfort: but here lies the misery, they will be to day as yesterday, and for ever; as in the beginning, so all along, and for ever, always the same, if not increasing: This is the woe of woe, the hell of hell, that 'tis woe and hell for ever. After sinners have been in hell, millions of millions of years, hell will be as much hell as at first; the fire that burns will never go out: the worm that gnaws will never die, which is three times repeated by our Lord and Saviour in one Chapter, Mark 9.44.46.48. 'twill be a lasting, yea an everlasting misery; 'tis everlasting punishment, and everlasting fire, Mat. 25.41.46.
3 3Think of what's now to be added concerning the duration of these torments, they will be for ever; though they were great, universal, and without intermission for a time, yet if they were