A64834:565
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.
Well then, what sayest thou, or what shall I say to thee? hast thou thought evil? lay thine hand upon thy mouth, Prov. 30.32. not only if thou have done foolishly, but if thou have but thought evil, lay thine hand on thy mouth, i. e. be humbled and abased: The vanity and vileness, the folly and the filthiness of our thoughts should make us ashamed. And lay thy hand on thy mouth for prevention also, as persons when they cough lay their hand on their mouth, lest any unsavoury or unseemly thing should come from them, so do thou; for that which we say in our hearts, we shall soon say with our lips, if we lay not our hands on our mouth, to stop the issue of vain thoughts from flowing out into, and infecting our lips and lives, our words and actions. This Hive of Drones will swarm, if thou lay not thy hand on the mouth: This Cage of unclean birds will be open, and they will take their flight: thy thoughts will run wast at least like water beside the Mill, if thou keep not a strong hand over them; Oh, keep thine heart with thine hand, with mighty power, and suppress sinful thoughts as well as keep them from expressing themselves. In relation hereunto, take these directions for thine help and assistance; for know this, that of thy self thou art not sufficient to think one good thought, nor to subdue one evil thought.
Well then, what sayest thou, or what shall I say to thee? hast thou thought evil? lay thine hand upon thy mouth, Prov. 30.32. not only if thou have done foolishly, but if thou have but thought evil, lay thine hand on thy mouth, i. e. be humbled and abased: The vanity and vileness, the folly and the filthiness of our thoughts should make us ashamed. And lay thy hand on thy mouth for prevention also, as persons when they cough lay their hand on their mouth, lest any unsavory or unseemly thing should come from them, so do thou; for that which we say in our hearts, we shall soon say with our lips, if we lay not our hands on our mouth, to stop the issue of vain thoughts from flowing out into, and infecting our lips and lives, our words and actions. This Hive of Drones will swarm, if thou lay not thy hand on the mouth: This Cage of unclean birds will be open, and they will take their flight: thy thoughts will run wast at least like water beside the Mill, if thou keep not a strong hand over them; Oh, keep thine heart with thine hand, with mighty power, and suppress sinful thoughts as well as keep them from expressing themselves. In relation hereunto, take these directions for thine help and assistance; for know this, that of thy self thou art not sufficient to think one good thought, nor to subdue one evil thought.