A64834:400
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.
That I may draw to a conclusion:
7 There is but one witness more, 7that I shall produce against sin, and that is sin it self; I shall evince that sin proclaims its own sinfulness.
1 By its names, which it cannot disown. 2 By the Arts, which it owneth and useth to disguise it self.
1 By its names, which it cannot disown. 2 By the Arts, which it owneth and useth to disguize it self.
1 I shall consider sins names, which sin cannot deny, but confess to be its proper names; of which I shall instance but two. 1 'Tis (as 'tis called) the work of the devil. 2 'Tis defiling, polluting, and pestilential filthiness, worse then any Plague-fore.
1 Sin is the work of the devil, 1 Joh. 3.8. with 5. not that mans sin is not of himself, or only of the devil, but that sin is that which the devil doth, and tempts others to do; so that to sin is to act and work like the devil; he that sinneth is of the devil: Man indeed is of God; but the sinner is, or sinful man is of the devil: The devil was the first sinner, and he that sinneth is of him, as his child, Joh. 8.44. He that doth the devils work is of the devil, sinning is the devils trade, and he that follows this trade is of the devil; he lives a devilish, a devils life: The devil doth nothing but sin, 'tis his business, and they that tread in his steps are of him, and like him, they are devils incarnate.
1 Sin is the work of the devil, 1 Joh. 3.8. with 5. not that mans sin is not of himself, or only of the devil, but that sin is that which the devil doth, and tempts others to do; so that to sin is to act and work like the devil; he that sinneth is of the devil: Man indeed is of God; but the sinner is, or sinful man is of the devil: The devil was the first sinner, and he that sinneth is of him, as his child, Joh. 8.44. He that doth the devils work is of the devil, sinning is the devils trade, and he that follows this trade is of the devil; he lives a devillish, a devils life: The devil doth nothing but sin, 'tis his business, and they that tread in his steps are of him, and like him, they are devils incarnate.
Particularly 1. To sin, and live in sin, is to do as the devil doth, to be like him, and conformable to him: Sin is his work, he is so evil and ⟨p. 186⟩wicked, that he is called (emphatically, and by way of eminence) the [Greek or Hebrew], the evil, and the wicked one, 1 Joh. 2.13. Ch. 3.12. as if there were none evil, or at least so evil as he: yea, the devils are not only wicked, but called wickednesses in the abstract, Eph. 6.12. and abstracts note Essences: He sinned from the beginning, and continueth sinning to this day; and they that do imitate him in his work, are his children as much as if they were begotten of him, Joh. 8.44. ye are of your father the devil, and (his works his lusts ye will do; he was and is a murderer, he attempted it upon God, but effected it on himself and man; he is the Abaddon and Apollyon, the murderer to this day, Rev. 9.11. he is ('tis true) a liar, deceiver, a tempter, but he doth all these as subserving his name as a King (for so he is called, Rev. 9.11.) his reigning sin, which is a destroyer or murderer, 1 Pet. 5.8. Now just thus 'tis said of them that sin, Prov. 8.36. they destroy their own souls, they are selones dense, self-murderers. Sin is devils work.
Particularly 1. To sin, and live in sin, is to do as the devil doth, to be like him, and conformable to him: Sin is his work, he is so evil and ⟨p. 186⟩wicked, that he is called (emphatically, and by way of eminence) the 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the evil, and the wicked one,
2 He that sinneth doth not only do as the devil doth, such work as he, but he doth work for the devil, he is servant and slave to the devil; he worketh in the children of disobedience, and they work for him; he is their Prince, and their God, whose servants they are, and whose work they do; his servants ye are whom ye obey, saith the Apostle, Rom. 6.16. So then, they that serve and obey the ⟨p. 187⟩devil are his servants: Sin is the service of the devil, the work that sinners do for the devil: Oh what wages are they like to have, who serve such a Master! though sinners defy the devil in words, yet they deify him in works, and at last he will devillize them, and bring them into like nature and misery with himself: Sinners are led by him at his will, like his dogs in a string: when men are converted, they are delivered from his power, Acts 26.18. and they that apostatize or are excommunicated, are delivered again to Satan; so that in whatever state a sinner be a sinner, whither Infidel, Formalist, or Apostate, he is under the power of the devil, doing his work, and making work for his wages.
2 He that sinneth doth not only do as the devil doth, such work as he, but he doth work for the devil, he is servant and slave to the devil; he worketh in the children of disobedience, and they work for him; he is their Prince, and their God, whose servants they are, and whose work they do; his servants ye are whom ye obey, saith the Apostle, Rom. 6.16. So then, they that serve and obey the ⟨p. 187⟩devil are his servants: Sin is the service of the devil, the work that sinners do for the devil: Oh what wages are they like to have, who serve such a Master! though sinners defie the devil in words, yet they deifie him in works, and at last he will devillize them, and bring them into like nature and misery with himself: Sinners are led by him at his will, like his dogs in a string: when men are converted, they are deliver'd from his power, Acts 26.18
3 He that sinneth, as he is of the devil, and doth the devils work, so (yet further) he is a devil, is so of the devil, and so doth the devils work, as to have the name of, and to be called devil; he is as the devil to God, as a devil to himself, as a devil to others. S. Peter for one sin had the name of Satan, Mat. 16.23. but wicked men are called devils; Judas was a devil, Joh 6.70. Sin made Angels devils, and it makes men devils, Traitors (as Judas was) to their Lord and Master, Rev. 2.10. 'tis said, the devil shall cast some of you into prison; surely the devil did not appear in person to do it, but by his instruments, and agents, devils incarnate: Oh sinful sin, the work of the devil!
3 He that sinneth, as he is of the devil, and doth the devils work, so (yet further) he is a devil, is so of the devil, and so doth the devils work, as to have the name of, and to be called devil; he is as the devil to God, as a devil to himself, as a devil to others. S. Peter for one sin had the name of Satan, Mat. 16.23. but wicked men are called devils; Judas was a devil, Joh 6.70. Sin made Angels devils, and it makes men devils, Traytors (as Judas was) to their Lord and Master, Rev. 2.10. 'tis said, the devil shall cast some of you into prison; surely the devil did not appear in person to do it, but by his instruments, and agents, devils incarnate: Oh sinful sin, the work of the devil!
Let me here take occasion to offer to your view some sins, which are especially said to be ⟨p. 188⟩the devils sin, and they that do them are of, work for, and are like to, and called devils.
1 Murder, especially soul-murder, of which Antichrist the devils Son is hugely guilty, in making merchandise of souls, Rev. 18.13. and lying Prophets that hunt souls, Ezek. 13.18, 19, 20. that devour and destroy souls, Ezek. 22.25.27. The devil was a murderer from the beginning, Joh. 8.44. and they that murder are (as Cain was) of the devil, 1 Joh. 3.12. the rise of murder is from anger and hatred, who so hateth his brother is a murderer, 1 Joh. 3.15. therefore, saith the Apostle: be not angry, so as to sin; let not the Sun go down on your wrath, for that's to give place to the devil, Eph. 4.26, 27. Pride is for contention, and that's for murder: Pride produceth discontent, discontent produceth envy, and envy, hatred and malice, and hence comes murder: If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, this is not only earthly and sensual, but devilish, James 3.14, 15. So that originally the devils sin, and his condemnation, was from pride, 1 Tim. 3.6. Pride made him discontented, envious, angry, and a murderer; and so it did Cain his eldest Son, as a murderer: The proud spirit lusteth to envy, James 4.5.-7. and when S. Peter teacheth us how to resist the devil, he tells us, it must be by submission and humility, 1 Pet. 5.5.-8.
1 Murther, especially soul-murther, of which Antichrist the devils Son is hugely guilty, in making merchandize of souls,
2 The second sin that calls the devil father (and denominates them that do it to be his children) is lying, Joh. 8.44. the devil is a liar, and the Father of lies. When Ananias told ⟨p. 189⟩a lye, saith the Apostle, Satan filled his heart, Acts 5.3. and they that do lye, are of the Synagogue of Satan, members and Sons of the Synagogue of Satan, Rev. 2.9. with 3.9. and God says of his children, that they will not lye, Is. 63.8. They that love and make lies, are without among dogs and devils, Rev. 22.15. they are without the gates of the City of God; and Rev. 21.8. they have their portion with the devil in the Lake of Fire.
2 The second sin that calls the devil father (and denominates them that do it to be his children) is lying, Joh. 8.44. the devil is a lyar, and the Father of lies. When Ananias told ⟨p. 189⟩a lye, saith the Apostle, Satan filled his heart, Acts 5.3. and they that do lye, are of the Synagogue of Satan, members and Sons of the Synagogue of Satan, Rev. 2.9. with 3.9. and God says of his children, that they will not lye, Is. 63.8. They that love and make lyes, are without among dogs and devils, Rev. 22.15. they are without the gates of the City of God; and Rev. 21.8. they have their portion with the devil in the Lake of Fire.
3 Deceivers and seducers are of the devil, who is the deceiver, Rev. 12.9. & 20.12. the old Serpent that deceived Eve, and deceiveth the whole world: They that deceive the souls of men, are like the devil, whither it be done by calling the truth into question, as the devil did at first, and against which the Apostle speaks, 2 Cor. 11.2, •or whither by abusing and wresting, or false quoting of Scripture, 2 Pet. 3.16. as the devil did, Mat. 4.6. or by transforming themselves into Angels of light (as the devil doth 2 Cor. 11.14. they that sin in the name of the Lord, and attribute that to the spirit, which is but their fancy, if not a falsehood; or whither it be done by false and pretended miracles, after the manner of Satan, 2 Thes. 2.9, 10.
4 They that tempt men to sin come under the devils denomination, and do his work, who is the tempter, Ma. 4.1 & 1 Thes. 3.15. he tempts all men to one or other sin; the devil had a hand in Cains murdering his brother, 1 Joh. 3.12. in Judas's treason, Lu. 22.2. in Ananias's lye, Act. 5.3. in Davids numbering the people, ⟨p. 190⟩1 Chro. 21.1. in Peters denying his Master, Luk. 22.31, 32. he tempted to the first sin, and hath tempted all men to sin (and to all sin) ever since: 'tis the devils work, and sin, to tempt others to sin, and they that do so, do the devils work.
4 They that tempt men to sin come under the devils denomination, and do his work, who is the tempter, Ma. 4.1 & 1 Thes. 3.15. he tempts all men to one or other sin; the devil had a hand in Cains murthering his brother, 1 Joh. 3.12. in Judas's treason, Lu. 22.2. in Ananias's lye, Act. 5.3. in Davids numbring the people, ⟨p. 190⟩1 Chro. 21.1. in Peters denying his Master, Luk. 22.31, 32. he tempted to the first sin, and hath tempted all men to sin (and to all sin) ever since: 'tis the devils work, and sin, to tempt others to sin, and they that do so, do the devils work.
5 False accusing, slandering, evil speaking, and back-biting of others, is of, and like the devil, Rev. 10.12. he is the accuser of the Brethren; as he did Job and Joshua, so he doth others very often without cause: they that do so, their tongues are set on fire of hell, Jam. 3.6. make-bates, slanderers, calumniators are called by the devils name, Diaboli, of which we read in three places of S. Pauls Epistles, 1 Tim. 3.11. 2 Tim. 3.3. Tit. 2.3. to carry slanders is the work of the devil.
5 False accusing, slandering, evil speaking, and back-biting of others, is of, and like the devil, Rev. 10.12. he is the accuser of the Brethren; as he did Job and Joshuah, so he doth others very often without cause: they that do so, their tongues are set on fire of hell, Jam. 3.6. make-bates, slanderers, calumniators are called by the devils name, Diaboli, of which we read in three places of S. Pauls Epistles, 1 Tim. 3.11. 2 Tim. 3.3. Tit. 2.3. to carry slanders is the work of the devil.
6 Another sin, which is the work of the devil, and which makes them that do it like the devil, is bindring persons from believing and closing with the truth of the Gospel, which may be done several ways: As,
1 By keeping them in ignorance, and blinding of them, 2 Cor. 4.4. either by stealing and taking away the word, Mat. 13.4. with 19. or by hindering and keeping off means from them, 1 Thes. 2.18.
1 By keeping them in ignorance, and blinding of them, 2 Cor. 4.4. either by stealing and taking away the word, Mat. 13.4. with 19. or by hindring and keeping off means from them, 1 Thes. 2.18.
