A64834:500
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.
Now if we consider what a sinful thing sin is against God, how displeasing to him, 'tis a wonderful thing that God should pardon any man• sin! God doth more then man can do for himself, or expect that God should do for him; yea, it costs God more (witness the blood of Christ) and requires more of his power, then to heal all our diseases, and bestow all the good of this world upon us. Our Saviour tells us, 'tis easier to say to an impotent man, Arise, take up thy bed and walk, then to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee: and 'tis a declaration of his power, Mat. 9.5. and when Moses prays for pardon of Israels sin, saith he, let the power of the Lord be great. Numb. 14.17.—19. 'tis called Riches of mercy, Eph. 2.4. and great love, and such power as by which Christ was, and we are raised from the dead, Col. 2.13. & Eph. 1.7. Oh who is a God like unto thee that pardonest iniquity! Micah. 7.18. This is the Mystery that Angels pry into and admire, 1 Pet. 1.12. God doth as 'twere act against his own word, Gen. 2.17. he revokes his threatening: 'tis more then we could ask or think, 'tis beyond our reach, as 'tis expressed, I••. 55.7, 8, 9. Men (when sensible of sin) can hardly believe that God will or can do it, but are apt to say (as Cain) our iniquity is greater ⟨p. 239⟩then can be forgiven. Mans mercy is large when it reacheth to seven times, what is God, then that reacheth to more then seventy times seven in a day! Mat. 18.21. When good men have prayed, Lord, forgive them not,