A64834:488
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. There are many aggravating circumstances attending the sins of men (beside the greatness of its own nature) which do exceedingly provoke God: mens sins are not only many and great, but are both multiplied and magnified, they are greatened by many circumstances: men increase and heighten their sin by not repenting of it, and greaten their impenitence by despising the goodness of God which should lead them to repentance, Rom. 2. which makes them inexcusable, and incapable to escape the judgment of God. Men sin against deliverances, as if they were delivered to do all manner of abominations, and to sin more then before, Jer. 7.8.9, 10. Men sin against their purposes and promises, vows, and protestations made at Sea or Land, on sick-beds, or any times of danger, and return like the dog to the vomit: They compound with God in time of fear and danger, ⟨p. 233⟩but put him off with nothing, when the danger is (the more, yet as they think) over. M•n sin against means and means of grace, they have precept on precept, line on line, yet sin still and more: whatever way God takes with them, yet nothing takes with them, as Amos 4 6 — 11. this and this have I done, yet and yet ye have not returned; mourn or pipe to them, 'tis all alike, they will not hearken; nay, alas, Men sin against knowledge and conscience; though they know God, they glorify him not as God; they know their Masters will, but do it not, Rom. 1.21. Luke 12.47. James 4.17 'twere in vain to attempt it, because impossible to attain it, viz. to reckon up all the aggravating circumstances of mens sins, which make them more sins, for degree, multitude, and magnitude; and yet God waits to be gracious with a notwithstanding! Oh grace, grace unto it! is it not a wonder that men are spared, especially considering what quick dispatch God made with Angels that sinned! Wonder of Grace!