A64834:553
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.
1. §11Take heed of sinning in Thought, or of Thought-sins: Seeing sin is so sinful, 'tis evil to be (though but) a thinking sinner, or a sinner, though but in thought. 'Tis too commonly said, That thoughts are free; they are indeed free in respect of men, they cannot judge us for them, but God can and will. Many persons that seem to be modest and sparing as to evil words and deeds, will yet make bold with thoughts, and (as the saying is) Pay it with thinking; such as are speculative, contemplative sinners: There are some who are so wise, as not to say with their tongues, yet such fools as to say in their heart, there is no God, Psal. 14.1. There are some that do not actually murder, yet (by anger and envy) are murderers in heart or thought, as Joseph accuseth his Brethren, saying, you thought evil against me, Gen. 50.20. There are Thought-adulterers, who it may be never were, nor durst to be, adulterers as to fact, Mat. 5.28. There are Blasphemers in heart, who speak it not with their mouths, as they who when they heard Christ forgiving sins, they thought in their heart, that he blasphemed, and thereby blasphemed him, Mat. 9.3, 4, 5. Some talk of the world, and declaim against it as a vanity, who think vainly in their heart, that their houses shall endure for ever, Psal. 49.11. So the rich man said within himself, thou hast good ⟨p. 275⟩laid up for many years (as if he thought these things his happiness) but 'tis said of the former, this their way is their folly, Psal. 49.12. and of the latter, thou fool, Luke 12 20 for the thought of foolishness (or a foolish thought) is sin,