A64834:311
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.
5. And lastly, they are carried out against sin as sin, as appears by this, that they cannot content themselves not to do evil, unless also they do good; they think it not enough that they do not displease God, unless they please God; to be negatively, unless they be positively good; they would not only not commit evil, but they would not omit good; many men as they will do no hurt, so no good: the charge against them, Mat. 25. is, not that they did defraud, or oppress, or were cruel to the members of Christ, but they did not actually do them good; not clothe, not feed, not visit, &c. but good men are for being, and for doing good, not only cleanse me from secret sins, or only keep me from presumption, but oh that the thought of my heart, the words of my mouth, and consequently the works of my life may be acceptable to thee O Lord, Psa. 19. The Apostle in the name of all the household of faith, speaks thus, 2 Cor. 5.9. wherefore we labour (the word is, we are ambitious, or (like heavenly Courtiers) we affect this honour) that whither present or absent, that is (living or dying) we may be accepted of him; or (as the Greek will bear it well, to be actively read) that we may be acceptable to him, even to all well pleasing. This to the first Objection.
5. And lastly, they are carried out against sin as sin, as appears by this, that they cannot content themselves not to do evil, unless also they do good; they think it not enough that they do not displease God, unless they please God; to be negatively, unless they be positively good; they would not only not commit evil, but they would not omit good; many men as they will do no hurt, so no good: the charge against them, Mat. 25. is, not that they did defraud, or oppress, or were cruel to the members of Christ, but they did not actually do them good; not cloath, not feed, not visit, &c. but good men are for being, and for doing good, not only cleanse me from secret sins, or only keep me from presumption, but oh that the thought of my heart, the words of my mouth, and consequently the works of my life may be acceptable to thee O Lord, Psa. 19