A64834:503
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.
'Tis God that preserves our going out and coming in; and keeps us from infinite, invisible, as well as many visible dangers abroad and at home: if we did but know our dangers, we thould go in fear of our lives every moment; the Earth would swallow us up, the fire would burn us, the water would drown us, if God were not with us to preserve us; he could have sent us down to Hell long ago, and yet gives space for repentance, and waits to be gracious: 'Tis true, he will at last judge us, and what shall we do? how shall we stand, if found sinners when he riseth up to judge terribly the Earth? what Sanctuary or City of refuge shall we fly to, that we may be secure? Alas! there will be no escaping, his vengeance in that day will overtake and ruin us. Think of this, and think ⟨p. 242⟩whether thou canst find it in thy heart to sin, or to think it a little or light thing to sin against God, such a God, whatever may be pretended for it; yet let me say this further, that if God had not laid so many obligations on us, yet were we bound not to sin against his Sovereignty, and the Authority he hath over us; but when he humbles himself, and vouchsafeth so many kindnesses to us, 'twere a monstrous ingratitude and rebellion to sin against him, whatever profit or pleasure might come to us thereby, or whatever reason may be alleged or pretended for our so doing.
'Tis God that preserves our going out and coming in; and keeps us from infinite, invisible, as well as many visible dangers abroad and at home: if we did but know our dangers, we thould go in fear of our lives every moment; the Earth would swallow us up, the fire would burn us, the water would drown us, if God were not with us to preserve us; he could have sent us down to Hell long ago, and yet gives space for repentance, and waits to be gracious: 'Tis true, he will at last judge us, and what shall we do? how shall we stand, if found sinners when he riseth up to judge terribly the Earth? what Sanctuary or City of refuge shall we flye to, that we may be secure? Alas! there will be no •scaping, his vengeance in that day will overtake and ruine us. Think of this, and think ⟨p. 242⟩whether thou canst find it in thy heart to sin, or to think it a little or light thing to sin against God, such a God, whatever may be pretended for it; yet let me say this further, that if God had not laid so many obligations on us, yet were we bound not to sin against his Soveraignty, and the Authority he hath over us; but when he humbles himself, and vouchsafeth so many kindnesses to us, 'twere a monstrous ingratitude and rebellion to sin against him, whatever profit or pleasure might come to us thereby, or whatever reason may be alledged or pretended for our so doing.