A64834:461
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.
7. Sufferings for God, Christ, and Righteousness, add to our glory (as well as they glorify God) but sinning adds to our torment: That suffering adds to our glory, see Mat. 5.10, 11, 12. 2 Cor. 4.17. Light afflictions work an exceeding weight of glory; but sin (which is exceeding sinful) works an exceeding weight of wrath and torment, Rom. 2.5. It heaps heap upon heap, load upon load, to make up a treasury of wrath: which then is the greatest evil (I speak to wise men, judge ye what I say) light affliction, or heavy sin? which is better, treasures of glory or treasures of wrath? or which is all one, to suffer, or to sin?
7. Sufferings for God, Christ, and Righteousness, adde to our glory (as well as they glorifie God) but sinning adds to our torment: That suffering adds to our glory, see Mat. 5.10, 11, 12. 2 Cor. 4.17. Light afflictions work an exceeding weight of glory; but sin (which is exceeding sinful) works an exceeding weight of wrath and torment, Rom. 2.5. It heaps heap upon heap, load upon load, to make up a treasury of wrath: which then is the greatest evil (I speak to wise men, judge ye what I say) light affliction, or heavy sin? which is better, treasures of glory or treasures of wrath? or which is all one, to suffer, or to sin?
Thus far I have evinced, that sin is worse then affliction: I, but it may be said, if we suffer not unto death, 'tis no great suffering, skin for skin and all a man hath will he give for his life, but to dye is dreadful; 'tis worse to sin: I shall therefore prove,