A64834:611
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. › 2. Take heed of sins of Commission.
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. §31Take heed of the sins of the age, country, and places where you live; there are sins as 'twere appropriated to some ages and countries, as to them of the latter and last days, see 1 Tim. 4.1-4. and 2 Tim. 3.1-5. When sin becomes Epidemical, 'tis the less abstained from, for few (but very good persons) care to be singular: when ⟨p. 317⟩sins are as 'twere the custom and fashion of the country, most will be sinners; especially if it be countenanced by the examples of great ones. But as we should not be conformed to this world at large, so not to any part of it. Is there any sin by which the Land is defiled (for which the Land mourns) and is ready to spue out the Inhabitants thereof for it, Levit. 18.27, 28. take heed thou be not found guilty; but be one of the mourners, which God will set a mark upon, Ezek. 9.4. When Formality, Hypocrisy, and Apostasy are in fashion, be cautious not to sin any of these ways, no more then by swearing, drunkenness, and uncleanness, though they be common and uncontrolled. Take heed of minding the favour and praise of men, more then, or without the favour and praise of God, which Hypocrites, and none but Hypocrites do, Joh, 12.42, 43. Daniel and the three Children would not sin for fashions-sake, no though they were commanded to sin: And the Apostles made their appeal to them that would have had them sin, saying, Whether it be better to obey God or man, judge ye, Acts 4.18, 19, 20. 'Tis God will judge us, and not men, and he only hath absolute authority over us, to command what he please, and therefore our chief care should be to please him. We shall find that the best way to please all, or to displease any with least danger, 'is to please him, who is all in all. Though therefore any should think it strange, that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, and speak evil of you,