A64834:596
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.
SIN, THE PLAGUE of PLAGUES; OR Sinful Sin the worst of Evils. › 3. Caution against Deed-sins.
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. As it should be an affliction to be in a necessity, so 'tis a sin to be willing to omit a Duty. 'Tis an affliction not to have an head or hand, but a sin not to have an heart for Duty. As 'tis a sin to will evil, so 'tis a sin not to will good; but to be willing not to do good, is more a sin: too many persons are glad of diversions (as Schoolboys are when they have no mind to their books) any thing shall serve to put off a Duty. When the flesh was weak, and the spirit willing, Christ himself excused them, Mat. 26.41. but if the spirit be unwilling, 'tis no excuse, though the flesh be never so weak. 'Twas some comfort to St. Paul, that though to do he had not power, yet to will was present with him, Rom. 7.18. but not to will, though we have no power, and much more not to will when we have power, is a sin. The reason why the wicked bad God depart from them, was, because they had no mind nor desire to be acquainted with his ways, Job 21.14. so Rom. 1.28. they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, or to pay acknowledgements to him, they had no mind nor will, nor list to do it; and this is sin, as well as the other sins wherewith they are charged.
3. As it should be an affliction to be in a necessity, so 'tis a sin to be willing to omit a Duty. 'Tis an affliction not to have an head or hand, but a sin not to have an heart for Duty. As 'tis a sin to will evil, so 'tis a sin not to will good; but to be willing not to do good, is more a sin: too many persons are glad of diversions (as Schoolboys are when they have no mind to their books) any thing shall serve to put off a Duty. When the flesh was weak, and the spirit willing, Christ himself excused them, Mat. 26.41. but if the spirit be unwilling, 'tis no excuse, though the flesh be never so weak. 'Twas some comfort to St. Paul, that though to do he had not power, yet to will was present with him, Rom. 7.18. but not to will, though we have no power, and much more not to will when we have power, is a sin. The reason why the wicked bad God depart from them, was, because they had no mind nor desire to be acquainted with his ways,