A64834:337
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 fully declare against sin as sinful, in that they desire to die the death of the righteous. Balaam, and others, that lived not the life of the righteous, but accounted their life madness, yet reckon their end happy, and therefore would that their own might be as theirs: By this we see, that no wicked man cares for sins wages: and surely that work cannot be good, whose wages is so bad, that no man cares to receive it; but oh that their after state may be with the righteous, Numb. 23.10. The wages of sin is death, and the end of sin is death; oh no such death, no such wages, says Balaam; though they go hell-ward while they live, yet they would fain go, to heaven when they die; and what is deduceable from hence more then this, that sin is a damnable thing? and though sinners seek their happiness in their misery, yet 'tis happiness they seek, and when ever they find their disappointment, they grow angry with themselves, with sin, the devil and all.
There is one exception that may be made against this witness; true, there are some pitiful sneaking sinners, cowardly and timorous ones, that are daunted at, and ashamed of sin; but there are others past shame, fear and sense, roaring Boys, ranting and rampant sinners, Rodomontado Blades, that boast of their sin, and glory in being wicked, that take pleasure in things worthy of damnation, and yet scorn to be frighted with terrible Preachers, but will sin in the face of the Sun without a blush; we will hear what these say, and be judged by these brave Sparks and bold Fellows. Be it so.
There is one exception that may be made against this witness; true, there are some pittiful sneaking sinners, cowardly and timerous ones, that are daunted at, and asham'd of sin; but there are others past shame, fear and sense, roaring Boys, ranting and rampant sinners, Rodomontado Blades, that boast of their sin, and glory in being wicked, that take pleasure in things worthy of damnation, and yet scorn to be frighted with terrible Preachers, but will sin in the face of the Sun without a blush; we will hear what these say, and be judged by these brave Sparks and bold Fellows. Be it so.