A64834:634
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.
It was a Law among the Lacedaemonians, Quicunque senum delinquentem puerum videns non increpat, eadem poena cum delinquente teneatur; That if any of the Ancient saw a young one sinning, and did not reprove him, they should undergo the same punishment with the offender. But, 2. We may occasion other mens sins, and be guilty of their crime, by doing something which we ought not to do, and the doing whereof doth further other mens sinning: as, 1. If Superiors, by way of command; some are so wicked, as to command others to be wicked, and they are so wicked as to obey their command: as Absalom commanded his servants to kill his brother Amnon, and they obeyed, 2 Sam. 13.28. Jezebel wrote Letters in Ahab's name to the Elders to hire sons of Belial (so false witnesses are called) that they might accuse Naboth of blasphemy, and then stone him to death, 1 Kings 21. yea, David himself was guilty of this great sin, and therefore 'tis spoken of as his only sin, 1 Kings 15.5. Some have made Laws to command men to sin, as if they should sin cum privilegio and with authority, as Dan. 3.10. and Chap. 6, 7, 8, 9. And how many Masters command ⟨p. 337⟩their servants to say, they are not at home, though they be, and to commend their commodity for one of the best, though never so bad, and to do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath-day, &c. Now poor servants being under awe, and standing in fear, they are inclinable to obey: Oh, take heed what you command your servants; for whatever sin they commit by your command, will be charged on you, as on them, if not more.
It was a Law among the Lacedemonians, Quicunque senum delinquentem puerum videns non increpat, eadem poena cum delinquente teneatur; That if any of the Ancient saw a young one sinning, and did not reprove him, they should undergo the same punishment with the offender. But, 2. We may occasion other mens sins, and be guilty of their crime, by doing something which we ought not to do, and the doing whereof doth further other mens sinning: as, 1. If Superiors, by way of command; some are so wicked, as to command others to be wicked, and they are so wicked as to obey their command: as Absolom commanded his servants to kill his brother Amnon, and they obeyed,