A64834:220
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.
We have many instances of his malice, rage and power, take one and another: In Mark 9.17.—22. there was one possessed of a dumb spirit; and wheresoever this spirit taketh him, he teareth him, that he foameth, gnasheth with the teeth, and pineth away: and v. 20. when he came into the presence of Christ Jesus, he care him, that he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming; oftentimes it hath cast him into the fire, and the water, to destroy him. You know also how the Devil dealt with Job, and went to the utmost extent of his Commission, and tantum non almost prevail'd, for he brought him to curse the day of his birth, though he did not curse God: If the Devil do so much now to the tormenting of any, when he is in Chains, and under restraint, Ah how sad is it like to be with men when the Devil shall have them in his hands by Commission from God! When God shall say, take him Devil, take him Gaoler, into the fire with him, do thy worst with him: Oh who can stand before the Devils rage, and envy thus whetted by Commission! Oh sinful sin, that thus gives up to the Devil!
2 2The second Tormentor is Conscience; a reflecting, an accusing, an upbraiding Conscience; which I may say is in some sort a greater ⟨p. 91⟩torment then any the devil can inflict, because Conscience is within us, but the devil is without us: That which is within hath the greatest influence on us, whither for comfort, as 1 Joh. 4.4. or for torment, Mark 9.44. The worm that never dies, which is within a man: 'twere a dreadful thing to be eaten up of worms, to be continually fretted and vexed with the gnawing of worms; but this worm gnaws the spirit, which is more tender then the apple of ones eye: a wounded spirit who can bear? Judas sunk under the weight and burden of it, and so have many more: but if it be so terrible when awakened here, what will it be, when a man shall be fully convinced, and have all his sins set in order before his face,