A64834:566
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. Humbly make thine address and supplication to God, in whose hand thy heart is, and to whom alone heart-work doth belong: he only can search it, cleanse it, new-make, and keep it. Pray to God, not only that past ones may be forgiven, ⟨p. 284⟩but that thy future ones may not need forgiveness, beg him to new-make thine heart, and to create a clean one in thee. Wouldst thou be rid of sinful thoughts, pray against them, lift up a prayer, and cry out as St. Paul did against the Messenger of Satan, and pray without fainting, that if they be not removed, yet his grace may be sufficient for thee. Cry out as a Virgin would do in case of a Rape, and God will hear the cry of the oppressed, and them that groan. Be often in spiritual ejaculations, which will be as so many deadly darts to wound and kill sinful thoughts: call in God to thy relief, tell him, thou canst not stand before these Troops and Armies that defy Israel and Israels God, and beg him to vindicate his own Name by his own Power, as he can easily do; for not only the heart of Kings is in his hand, but he is the King and Ruler of all hearts, and can by his Word command them into, and keep them in order and obedience. Then,
1. Humbly make thine address and supplication to God, in whose hand thy heart is, and to whom alone heart-work doth belong: he only can search it, cleanse it, new-make, and keep it. Pray to God, not only that past ones may be forgiven, ⟨p. 284⟩but that thy future ones may not need forgiveness, beg him to new-make thine heart, and to create a clean one in thee. Wouldst thou be rid of sinful thoughts, pray against them, lift up a prayer, and cry out as St. Paul did against the Messenger of Satan, and pray without fainting, that if they be not removed, yet his grace may be sufficient for thee. Cry out as a Virgin would do in case of a Rape, and God will hear the cry of the oppressed, and them that groan. Be often in spiritual ejaculations, which will be as so many deadly darts to wound and kill sinful thoughts: call in God to thy relief, tell him, thou canst not stand before these Troops and Armies that defie Israel and Israels God, and beg him to vindicate his own Name by his own Power, as he can easily do; for not only the heart of Kings is in his hand, but he is the King and Ruler of all hearts, and can by his Word command them into, and keep them in order and obedience. Then,