A64834:306
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.
Before we can proceed, these Amasaes must be removed out of the way; and therefore for the removal of the first, I answer; That though good men (as Joseph did) make use of all manner of arguments to keep themselves and others from sin, yet it is sin, as sin, that they abhor, as ugly and abominable; though there were no affliction, no hell, no wrath, yet would regenerate and new-born men declaim against, and hate sin. As appears
Before we can proceed, these Amasaes must be removed out of the way; and therefore for the removal of the first, I answer; That though good men (as Joseph did) make use of all manner of arguments to keep themselve and others from sin, yet it is sin, as sin, that they abhor, as ugly and abominable; though there were no affliction, no hell, no wrath, yet would regenerate and new-born men declaim against, and hate sin. As appears
1 By this, that the main thing which keeps them from committing it, or which they repent for having committed it, is, that it is against God: when Joseph had mustered up many arguments, this was the prevailing one with him, how shall I do this wickedness, and sin against God, Gen. 39.9. against the will and glory of God. Job ⟨p. 138⟩tells us he durst not sin; why not? why? because 'twas against God, as well as against himself, Job 31.1.-4. and in their repentance after a sin, this goes most to their heart, that they have sinned against God, Psa. 51.4. Against thee, thee only have I sinned; how so? Surely David had sinned against Uriah, and against Bathsheba, and against himself (his bones as well as conscience felt it.) Oh but this goes most to the heart, that 'twas against God; it grieves him more that God was displeased by him, then that God was displeased with him; he puts in twice as much of that consideration, as of any other ingredient; and as to others, his tears run down like rivers, not so much because men kept not his, as because they kept not Gods Laws.