A64834:530
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.
3. Then they that make a mock at sin, are worse then fools and mad-men: fools make a ⟨p. 258⟩mock at sin, Prov. 14.9. tell them (as Lot did his sons in Law) the danger they are in, the judgments that hang over their head, and our is to them (as Lot was to them) as one that mocketh, Gen. 19.14. they laugh at it, as if God were not in earnest when he threatens sinners, and as if they that preach against sin, were but ridiculous persons. Its a sport to fools to do mischief, Prov. 10.23. and there are that sport themselves in their way to Hell, as if 'twere but a recreation! Oh what fools are they that laugh at their own folly and destruction too! 'Tis a devilish nature in us to mock at the calamity of others, but to laugh at our own, seems to be worse then devilish! There are many, too many, that mourn under affliction, yet laugh over their sins; that sigh & weep when they feel any burden on their bodies, but make merry at that which destroys their soul! Can any thing be more mad then these, that laugh, mock, and make sport at that which is a burden and weariness to God, Isa. 1.14. Amos 2.13. which is the wounding, piercing, and crucifying of Christ Jesus, Zach. 12.10. Heb. 6.6. which is a grief to the Spirit of Consolation, Eph. 4.30. which is a trouble to holy Angels, Luke 15. which is a wrong to, and the undoing of their own souls, Prov. 8.36? and such is sin.