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Sin, The Plague of Plagues
Ralph Venning was born in Devonshire, England, in about 1621. He entered Emmanuel college, Cambridge, in 1643, and obtained his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in 1646 and 1650 respectively. After leaving Cambridge, he became lecturer at St. Olave's Church in Southwark where he remained until forced to leave in 1662 by the Act of Uniformity. He was able to continue his public ministry as co-pastor with Robert Bragge of an Indpendent congregation ata Pewterer's Hall, Lime Street. He died, still in his early fifties, in 1674 and was buried at Bunhill Fields in the presence of many nonconformists.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 10, 2017
This book, first published in 1669 with the original title being "The Plague Of Plagues", was written to make people see the depths of the vileness of sin, and to convince them out of it by repentance, believing the Gospel and avoiding sin from then on (as well as possible - the book doesn't clearly state this, but I'm sure Venning would've not expected people to be able to always avoid sin, but expect renewed repentance afterwards certainly).
The book is divided like this:
- a short description of what sin is
- the sinfulness of it, it's contrariety to God and man (also in life to come)
- who witness against sin (including sin itself!)
- how it is the worst
- how much better it is to turn away, and how to do it, then into smaller details of moments of sin in everyday life, of two types: not doing the good thing when knowing one should, and more active, proper sins that one might not always notice
The writer doesn't go into particular sins until towards the end, which is refreshing. Not much Papist-bashing either, which is nice. The text flows nicely, which is always good considering Venning belonged among the Puritans, not always the lightest of writers *lol*
It's likely that you have already knowledge of some, of how bad sin is, but this book really tells it in depth, without putting the reader off with excess ranting... and keeping it general at first was a good move because one might find the book too heavy then and not read the book through. Not necessarily a beginner's book, but if you've already read religious books - and particularly if you have read Puritan religious books - this is not a bad choice of a read, and might give some new thoughts on the subject on sin.
The book is divided like this:
- a short description of what sin is
- the sinfulness of it, it's contrariety to God and man (also in life to come)
- who witness against sin (including sin itself!)
- how it is the worst
- how much better it is to turn away, and how to do it, then into smaller details of moments of sin in everyday life, of two types: not doing the good thing when knowing one should, and more active, proper sins that one might not always notice
The writer doesn't go into particular sins until towards the end, which is refreshing. Not much Papist-bashing either, which is nice. The text flows nicely, which is always good considering Venning belonged among the Puritans, not always the lightest of writers *lol*
It's likely that you have already knowledge of some, of how bad sin is, but this book really tells it in depth, without putting the reader off with excess ranting... and keeping it general at first was a good move because one might find the book too heavy then and not read the book through. Not necessarily a beginner's book, but if you've already read religious books - and particularly if you have read Puritan religious books - this is not a bad choice of a read, and might give some new thoughts on the subject on sin.
June 10, 2015
Somehow, Venning manages to write about a repulsive and depressing subject in a way that is engaging, profoundly pastoral, never preachy, and even witty. He makes his case - that sin is the worst of evils - very thoroughly indeed, but never tediously, by showing that everything witnesses against sin, including all the excuses made for it. As the blurb says, the book is "a massive and unanswerable indictment" of sin, and of its sinfulness; the book is a revelation of the evil of sin, and, while it might not be advisable for those who suffer from the malady of scrupulosity to read it, I don't know of a book that comes close to this one as a study of sin and its sinfulness; it is a magnificent piece of work, in scarcely 250 pages. To call it timely, is no more than the truth. Perhaps the best thing about it is, that by knowing what sin is and why it matters so much, the reader, especially the Christian reader, is better placed than before to appreciate the importance of the death of the God-man Who died to save sinners.
August 12, 2019
This is one of the most enlightening books I have ever read. Its Puritan voice caused it to be a slow read, which made it all the better.
April 19, 2011
My review here: http://wp.me/pttRS-156
March 13, 2019
This book would be a great introduction to Puritan literature. It puts the classic Puritan hatred for sin in perspective and corrects the misconceptions that Puritans are those "who have a sneaking suspicion that somewhere someone is having a good time." Venning shows that hatred for sin is actually caused by a hunger for joy--that the Puritans are more hungry for joy than the licentious.
October 18, 2021
great great great book. it's dense and on a weighty (the weightiest?) subject, but not a difficult read at all. my favorite part was the tail-end application section, specifically the ones on sinning in thought and in speech.
May 12, 2024
#8 of 60+ in the Puritan Paperbacks series by Banner of Truth.
Venning's treatment of the sinfulness of sin is quite thorough but three lessons from this book stood out as vital. First, after spending the first part of the book ensuring you understand what sin is and the seriousness of it, he points out the preciousness of the mercy inherent in the forgiveness of our sins. This is something we are quick to forget and ties closely with discontentment. I would venture to say that any time we find ourselves discontent or murmuring about the temporal situation we find ourselves in, we have forgotten the magnitude of the forgiveness we have been granted regarding our sin. If you think about this for one second, one cannot help but be overwhelmed with gratitude and joy drowning out any discontent or anxiety of the present world. Second, and this may be the most dangerous, is the approbation of sin in others. How often do you hear believers even speaking of sin in each others lives? Rarely. Instead, we downplay sin even when it is brought up by someone committing it. We immediately try to provide an excuse for what they are doing instead of affirming their conviction and need for repentance. This is evident by the tremendous lack of church discipline in American evangelicalism. We have become too afraid of confrontation. Finally, Venning argues that thought-sins are root-sins. In some churches, the mind and thought processes have been divorced from the idea of sin using the excuse of volition and action. The argument goes: it becomes sinful when you put that thought into action. This is wrong in so many ways. Sin can and does occur in the mind. One of the dangers of this teaching is seen in the separation of homosexual attraction and behavior. The argument follows suit: same sex attraction is ok but behavior is not. Unbelievably dangerous.
Venning's book on sin is wonderful, like most of the Puritan Paperbacks series. Find a place on your shelf for it but not before spending the time to read it slowly and fully grasping the gravity of sin.
Venning's treatment of the sinfulness of sin is quite thorough but three lessons from this book stood out as vital. First, after spending the first part of the book ensuring you understand what sin is and the seriousness of it, he points out the preciousness of the mercy inherent in the forgiveness of our sins. This is something we are quick to forget and ties closely with discontentment. I would venture to say that any time we find ourselves discontent or murmuring about the temporal situation we find ourselves in, we have forgotten the magnitude of the forgiveness we have been granted regarding our sin. If you think about this for one second, one cannot help but be overwhelmed with gratitude and joy drowning out any discontent or anxiety of the present world. Second, and this may be the most dangerous, is the approbation of sin in others. How often do you hear believers even speaking of sin in each others lives? Rarely. Instead, we downplay sin even when it is brought up by someone committing it. We immediately try to provide an excuse for what they are doing instead of affirming their conviction and need for repentance. This is evident by the tremendous lack of church discipline in American evangelicalism. We have become too afraid of confrontation. Finally, Venning argues that thought-sins are root-sins. In some churches, the mind and thought processes have been divorced from the idea of sin using the excuse of volition and action. The argument goes: it becomes sinful when you put that thought into action. This is wrong in so many ways. Sin can and does occur in the mind. One of the dangers of this teaching is seen in the separation of homosexual attraction and behavior. The argument follows suit: same sex attraction is ok but behavior is not. Unbelievably dangerous.
Venning's book on sin is wonderful, like most of the Puritan Paperbacks series. Find a place on your shelf for it but not before spending the time to read it slowly and fully grasping the gravity of sin.
March 12, 2026
Um livro excelente sobre a gravidade e a extensão do pecado.
April 9, 2023
Ralph Venning’s simple treatment for sin: if it is sin, do not under any circumstance do it. How could something so simple be helpful? It is in fact the light that it sheds — fallen man has a problem with identifying sin. It’s in this that we should spend our time; labeling the sin in your life as such. Once you understand what sin truly is and how God views it, you will have a renewed mind on what sin you tolerate in your everyday life. Woe to the man who calls evil “good”.
March 23, 2024
We cannot understand or rightfully apply the doctrines of Justification and Sanctification until we know the true nature and character of sin. In our 21st Century Culture that celebrates a high view of man, whilst a low view of sin, Venning's outstanding 17th Century words pierce straight to the heart.
Venning's thesis is that it is "extremely useful to let men see what sin is: how prodigiously vile, how deadly mischievous, and therefore how monstrously ugly and odious a thing sin is."
SO THAT... "a way may be made"...
1. For admiring the free and rich grace of God
2. For believing in our Lord Jesus Christ
3. For vindicating the holy, just, and good law of God and His condemnation of sinners for breaking it
4. For hating sin, and repenting for and from it, thereby taking a holy, just and good revenge on it and ourselves
5. That we may love and serve God at a better rate than we ever did in the little and short time of innocence itself
6. And, lastly, that this black spot may serve to set off the admirable, incomparable and transcendent beauty of holiness
Venning's concluding exhortation is to "think much of the great day of your account and God's judgment ... I have entered into your closets and your hearts, to tell you of your secret sins ... Therefore, stand in awe and sin not."
Some of my favorite quotes and excerpts:
- Regarding association with sin (ex: Alistair Begg wedding counsel):
"When sins are as it were the custom and fashion of the country, most will be sinners ... but as we should not be conformed to this world at large, neither should be to any part of it ... but be one of the mourners ... 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 (1 Peter 4:4) ... to join in communion with known sinners is the greatest testimony you can give, either that they are saints or that you are sinners; you bear a false witness for them and a true witness against yourselves (1 Cor 5:11)."
- I love Venning's short descriptions of sin:
1. "goes about to ungod God", 2. "deposes the sovereignty of God", 3. "an anti-will to God's will", 4. "contrary to the image of God", 5. "the Devil's image", 6. "disowns His omniscience", 7. "despises the riches of God's goodness" , 8. "contrary to God", 9. "crosses God's glory", 10. "opposed to man's happiness" , 11. "dare of God's justice", 12. "rape of His mercy", 13. "upbraiding of His providence", 14. "scoff of His promise", 15. "reproach of His wisdom", 16. "against the very being of man.", 17. "departure from God", 18. "false pleasure"
- On finding pleasure in the things of this world:
"Now if the creatures in their best estate (before the fall) were not man's happiness, much less are they so in this their worst estate ... that cannot be our happiness which is below us. God's design in making creatures was that they should serve us, and not that they should be served by us ... happiness is of a higher nature than the creation."
"The beasts fulfill the law of nature, but men transgress it when they act like beasts ... It would be better to be Balaam's ass than such an ass as Balaam himself was."
"Now if these things [creation] cannot satisfy the senses (Eccl 6:7), much less can they satisfy the souls of men."
- On Sin and Separation from God:
"What a separation sin has made! When it robs man of God it robs him of all things, for all things are ours only so far as God is ours (1 Cor 3:21)."
-On Sin and Christ:
"The greatness of Christ's sufferings is a full witness against the sinfulness of sin ... what a hell of wickedness that must be which none but God can expiate and purge!"
"The very doctrine of grace and their interest in the death of Christ is the great obligation upon them not to sin (Rom 6, 2 Cor 5:15, Tit 2:11-12) ... a godly man dare not sin and by repentance at so dear a rate ... they [godly] maintain a continual war against the Devil, world and the flesh because they would not sin. As much as they love peace they live in war."
-On Sin and the Conscience:
"it is damnation enough to be a sinner and to feel the horrors of a guilty and accusing conscience."
The ungodly "do not care to be alone lest the thoughts of their sins should stare them in the face. They study diversions nd pastimes and run into company lest their sins, like ghosts and devils, should haunt and lay hold of them ... they cannot endure to be at home [or without their cell phones] lest an upbraiding conscience, which is a worse thing than a scolding woman, should fall upon them."
"It is a greater comfort to hear that our sins are pardoned than that our afflictions are at an end. It makes us able as well as willing to undergo afflictions, sufferings and persecutions."
-On Sin and Ageing:
"Sin grows up faster than men do; they are old in sin when still young in years ... we were quite old enough to be damned when we were young; but God has given us an over-plus of time, space for repentance, and has not yet cut us down as those who cober the ground. Such is His patience!"
-On Sin and what MacArthur coined "Lordship Salvation":
"Close with Christ, not with an idle and dead, but with an effectual and lively faith. Receive a whole Christ; not only Jesus, but Lord; not only Saviour but Prince (Col 2:6). Be as willing to die to sin as He was to die for sin, and as willing to live to Him as He was to die for you. Be as willing to be His, to serve Him, as that He should be yours to save you. Take Him on His own terms, give up yourself wholly to Him
-On Sin and what Piper coined "Christian Hedonism" (A term which I loathe...)
"They [sinners] must suffer the loss of God Himself, who is the Heaven of Heaven. All good things are like a drop in the ocean in comparison with Him."
"Happiness lay in knowing and enjoying God."
Sin deprives us of "our livelihood, and that which makes it worth our while to live."
-On Sin and the Mind and Affections:
"As conversion begins and is carried on in the thoughts, so it is completed, finished and perfected in them ... It is far easier to reform men's manners than to renew their minds; the laws of men may do the former but it is the law of God which does the latter ... Now the Gospel comes to throw down these strong towers ... it is the glory of the Gospel, beyond all the philosophy in the world, that it has such a great influence on the hearts and thoughts of men (2 Cor 10:4,5)."
"In what lies the difference between sincere-hearted Christians and others, but in keeping of the thoughts, without which all religion is but bodily exercise?"
"Your heart is in His hands, and to Him alone heart-work belongs."
-On Sin and our Morning Routine:
"Do not let fancies and vain imaginations get the start of you in the morning ... begin with God ... if vanity gets possession in the morning it will strive to keep it all the day."
"Take as it were a good draught of the Word in the morning to prevent the windy vapours of vain thoughts. As soon as you wake there are many fiddlers at your bedroom door [or in your phone] to sing you wanton songs; but do not listen to them; tell them and all the suitors and clients who solicit you, that you are otherwise engaged and have business of consequence to mind."
"Thus, if when you awake, you are with God in meditation, you are likely to walk with God in your whole behaviour, and to be in the fear of the Lord all the day long."
-On Sin and "Idleness"
"Our thoughts are so active and restless that they will be doing something or other, and like unruly soldiers, if others do not employ them well, they will employ themselves ill. God has therefore in mercy appointed us callings to take up our thoughts."
"Paradise had employment, and Heaven also will not be without it. Idleness is an hour of temptation ... the best way to rid our ground of weeds is to till it, and the best way to free our hearts from evil thoughts is by good employment."
-On Sins of Ommission vs. Commission:
"Ommissions make way for commissions"
"A man may do a great deal of harm by not doing good."
-On "little" Sins:
"Consider that no sin against a great God can be strictly a little sin."
"He who makes no conscience of little sins makes conscience of no sins."
There is so much more... but in the words of Venning "I might add many more things, but I will forbear, because I have been somewhat lengthy on this subject..."
Venning's thesis is that it is "extremely useful to let men see what sin is: how prodigiously vile, how deadly mischievous, and therefore how monstrously ugly and odious a thing sin is."
SO THAT... "a way may be made"...
1. For admiring the free and rich grace of God
2. For believing in our Lord Jesus Christ
3. For vindicating the holy, just, and good law of God and His condemnation of sinners for breaking it
4. For hating sin, and repenting for and from it, thereby taking a holy, just and good revenge on it and ourselves
5. That we may love and serve God at a better rate than we ever did in the little and short time of innocence itself
6. And, lastly, that this black spot may serve to set off the admirable, incomparable and transcendent beauty of holiness
Venning's concluding exhortation is to "think much of the great day of your account and God's judgment ... I have entered into your closets and your hearts, to tell you of your secret sins ... Therefore, stand in awe and sin not."
Some of my favorite quotes and excerpts:
- Regarding association with sin (ex: Alistair Begg wedding counsel):
"When sins are as it were the custom and fashion of the country, most will be sinners ... but as we should not be conformed to this world at large, neither should be to any part of it ... but be one of the mourners ... 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 (1 Peter 4:4) ... to join in communion with known sinners is the greatest testimony you can give, either that they are saints or that you are sinners; you bear a false witness for them and a true witness against yourselves (1 Cor 5:11)."
- I love Venning's short descriptions of sin:
1. "goes about to ungod God", 2. "deposes the sovereignty of God", 3. "an anti-will to God's will", 4. "contrary to the image of God", 5. "the Devil's image", 6. "disowns His omniscience", 7. "despises the riches of God's goodness" , 8. "contrary to God", 9. "crosses God's glory", 10. "opposed to man's happiness" , 11. "dare of God's justice", 12. "rape of His mercy", 13. "upbraiding of His providence", 14. "scoff of His promise", 15. "reproach of His wisdom", 16. "against the very being of man.", 17. "departure from God", 18. "false pleasure"
- On finding pleasure in the things of this world:
"Now if the creatures in their best estate (before the fall) were not man's happiness, much less are they so in this their worst estate ... that cannot be our happiness which is below us. God's design in making creatures was that they should serve us, and not that they should be served by us ... happiness is of a higher nature than the creation."
"The beasts fulfill the law of nature, but men transgress it when they act like beasts ... It would be better to be Balaam's ass than such an ass as Balaam himself was."
"Now if these things [creation] cannot satisfy the senses (Eccl 6:7), much less can they satisfy the souls of men."
- On Sin and Separation from God:
"What a separation sin has made! When it robs man of God it robs him of all things, for all things are ours only so far as God is ours (1 Cor 3:21)."
-On Sin and Christ:
"The greatness of Christ's sufferings is a full witness against the sinfulness of sin ... what a hell of wickedness that must be which none but God can expiate and purge!"
"The very doctrine of grace and their interest in the death of Christ is the great obligation upon them not to sin (Rom 6, 2 Cor 5:15, Tit 2:11-12) ... a godly man dare not sin and by repentance at so dear a rate ... they [godly] maintain a continual war against the Devil, world and the flesh because they would not sin. As much as they love peace they live in war."
-On Sin and the Conscience:
"it is damnation enough to be a sinner and to feel the horrors of a guilty and accusing conscience."
The ungodly "do not care to be alone lest the thoughts of their sins should stare them in the face. They study diversions nd pastimes and run into company lest their sins, like ghosts and devils, should haunt and lay hold of them ... they cannot endure to be at home [or without their cell phones] lest an upbraiding conscience, which is a worse thing than a scolding woman, should fall upon them."
"It is a greater comfort to hear that our sins are pardoned than that our afflictions are at an end. It makes us able as well as willing to undergo afflictions, sufferings and persecutions."
-On Sin and Ageing:
"Sin grows up faster than men do; they are old in sin when still young in years ... we were quite old enough to be damned when we were young; but God has given us an over-plus of time, space for repentance, and has not yet cut us down as those who cober the ground. Such is His patience!"
-On Sin and what MacArthur coined "Lordship Salvation":
"Close with Christ, not with an idle and dead, but with an effectual and lively faith. Receive a whole Christ; not only Jesus, but Lord; not only Saviour but Prince (Col 2:6). Be as willing to die to sin as He was to die for sin, and as willing to live to Him as He was to die for you. Be as willing to be His, to serve Him, as that He should be yours to save you. Take Him on His own terms, give up yourself wholly to Him
-On Sin and what Piper coined "Christian Hedonism" (A term which I loathe...)
"They [sinners] must suffer the loss of God Himself, who is the Heaven of Heaven. All good things are like a drop in the ocean in comparison with Him."
"Happiness lay in knowing and enjoying God."
Sin deprives us of "our livelihood, and that which makes it worth our while to live."
-On Sin and the Mind and Affections:
"As conversion begins and is carried on in the thoughts, so it is completed, finished and perfected in them ... It is far easier to reform men's manners than to renew their minds; the laws of men may do the former but it is the law of God which does the latter ... Now the Gospel comes to throw down these strong towers ... it is the glory of the Gospel, beyond all the philosophy in the world, that it has such a great influence on the hearts and thoughts of men (2 Cor 10:4,5)."
"In what lies the difference between sincere-hearted Christians and others, but in keeping of the thoughts, without which all religion is but bodily exercise?"
"Your heart is in His hands, and to Him alone heart-work belongs."
-On Sin and our Morning Routine:
"Do not let fancies and vain imaginations get the start of you in the morning ... begin with God ... if vanity gets possession in the morning it will strive to keep it all the day."
"Take as it were a good draught of the Word in the morning to prevent the windy vapours of vain thoughts. As soon as you wake there are many fiddlers at your bedroom door [or in your phone] to sing you wanton songs; but do not listen to them; tell them and all the suitors and clients who solicit you, that you are otherwise engaged and have business of consequence to mind."
"Thus, if when you awake, you are with God in meditation, you are likely to walk with God in your whole behaviour, and to be in the fear of the Lord all the day long."
-On Sin and "Idleness"
"Our thoughts are so active and restless that they will be doing something or other, and like unruly soldiers, if others do not employ them well, they will employ themselves ill. God has therefore in mercy appointed us callings to take up our thoughts."
"Paradise had employment, and Heaven also will not be without it. Idleness is an hour of temptation ... the best way to rid our ground of weeds is to till it, and the best way to free our hearts from evil thoughts is by good employment."
-On Sins of Ommission vs. Commission:
"Ommissions make way for commissions"
"A man may do a great deal of harm by not doing good."
-On "little" Sins:
"Consider that no sin against a great God can be strictly a little sin."
"He who makes no conscience of little sins makes conscience of no sins."
There is so much more... but in the words of Venning "I might add many more things, but I will forbear, because I have been somewhat lengthy on this subject..."
August 7, 2013
A classic Puritan work by a man who spent a ton of time thinking about how sin works. You can also tell that he was writing out of his own struggles with sin because his insights are those that come from experience as well. I took too long to read it and thus am unable to write a good review. But here are some of the quotes I enjoyed most:
"[Sin} goes about to ungod God . . . and is God-murder" (30)
"Sin is the dare of God's justice, the rape of his mercy, the jeer of his patience, the slight of his power, the contempt of his love, . . . the upbraiding of his providence, the scoff of his promise, the reproach of his wisdom" (32)
"Never was any heart such a shop of vanity, such a den of thieves, such a cage of unclean birds, such a Newgate of murderers, such an inn and thoroughfare of travelling lusts, such a court of flattery, ambition, pride and envy, such a sink and common draught of filthiness, such a hell of blasphemy as mine is" (57)
"God has his deputy in men's bosoms, their own conscience" (101-02)
"it is better to suffer to avoid sinning, than to sin to avoid suffering" (121)
"Even in the saints themselves, with all the forces that faith can muster, sin is scarcely kept under, but the flesh will be lusting against the spirit. And when their affections do not cleave to sin, yet sin will cleave to their affections and make them cry out with St. Paul, O wretch that I am" (167)
"It is greater comfort to hear that our sins are pardoned than that our afflictions are at an end. It makes us able as well as willing to undergo afflictions, sufferings and persecutions" (196)
"Sin costs dear, but profits nothing" (201)
"Time if a prophet for eternity" (211)
"To be merciful to sin is to be cruel to yourself" (217)
"Be as willing to die to sin as he was to die for sin, and as willing to live to him as he was to die for you" (221)
"Thoughts are the first-born of the soul; words and actions are only younger brothers. They are the oil that feeds and maintains the wick, which would otherwise go out; life-sins receive the juice and nourishment from thought-sins" (227)
"[Sin} goes about to ungod God . . . and is God-murder" (30)
"Sin is the dare of God's justice, the rape of his mercy, the jeer of his patience, the slight of his power, the contempt of his love, . . . the upbraiding of his providence, the scoff of his promise, the reproach of his wisdom" (32)
"Never was any heart such a shop of vanity, such a den of thieves, such a cage of unclean birds, such a Newgate of murderers, such an inn and thoroughfare of travelling lusts, such a court of flattery, ambition, pride and envy, such a sink and common draught of filthiness, such a hell of blasphemy as mine is" (57)
"God has his deputy in men's bosoms, their own conscience" (101-02)
"it is better to suffer to avoid sinning, than to sin to avoid suffering" (121)
"Even in the saints themselves, with all the forces that faith can muster, sin is scarcely kept under, but the flesh will be lusting against the spirit. And when their affections do not cleave to sin, yet sin will cleave to their affections and make them cry out with St. Paul, O wretch that I am" (167)
"It is greater comfort to hear that our sins are pardoned than that our afflictions are at an end. It makes us able as well as willing to undergo afflictions, sufferings and persecutions" (196)
"Sin costs dear, but profits nothing" (201)
"Time if a prophet for eternity" (211)
"To be merciful to sin is to be cruel to yourself" (217)
"Be as willing to die to sin as he was to die for sin, and as willing to live to him as he was to die for you" (221)
"Thoughts are the first-born of the soul; words and actions are only younger brothers. They are the oil that feeds and maintains the wick, which would otherwise go out; life-sins receive the juice and nourishment from thought-sins" (227)
November 2, 2017
Classic Puritan. Venning combines extreme biblical thoroughness with deep pastoral concern. Reading this is quite an experience, not just showing in showing the sinfulness of sin (obviously) but also that God's "patience is exceedingly great, his goodness exceedingly rich, and his long-suffering exceedingly marvelous, even such as to cause wonder!" The inferences section is full of valuable insights, many of which will no doubt cause you to say, "I really had not thought about things like that before." You need not read every word of this book, but if you love Christ it's worth your while reading at least a lot of it.
January 12, 2014
An amazing book written by one of the great preachers of the 17th century. This is the most thorough exploration on the topic of sin I have ever read... a must read for all serious followers of Christ.
If you desire to fully know the dangers of sin, the offense it is to God, and the snare it can become in one's life.....this book is for you. After reading this insightful book, you will never look at sin the same way!
If you desire to fully know the dangers of sin, the offense it is to God, and the snare it can become in one's life.....this book is for you. After reading this insightful book, you will never look at sin the same way!
January 2, 2017
If you can read this book and not come away with a greater knowledge of sin, how it is wholly offensive to a holy God, and feeling it's weight in you life, read it again!
This work is very accessible a worth the time it takes to read. Praise God for men like Venning who have taken it upon themselves to expound the topics we are so easily offended at. May this work be a blessing in my own life as well as yours.
This work is very accessible a worth the time it takes to read. Praise God for men like Venning who have taken it upon themselves to expound the topics we are so easily offended at. May this work be a blessing in my own life as well as yours.
May 16, 2013
May we all know the filth of sin, so that we may repent of it and daily look to and delight in God!
March 30, 2017
I have not read such an in depth treaties dealing with sin. I found this book eye-opening on many levels.
October 15, 2014
Hamartiology that magnifies grace. Wonderful stuff.
November 19, 2012
Solid book on the ugliness of sin
June 26, 2019
This is a thorough exposition on the sinfulness of sin.
It is quite devotional in it's nature. It does not drive us to despair but challenges the reader to see sin for what it really is. It's easy to be influenced by society and the culture around us which treat sin lightly, but when seen in light of God's holiness and the work of Christ, our perspective is brought closer to the reality.
I had thought reading almost 300 pages on how sinful sin is would be overkill or drive me to despair of my sinfulness, but it did neither of those, and instead I'm more thankful to God and have a greater desire to live a holy life.
It is quite devotional in it's nature. It does not drive us to despair but challenges the reader to see sin for what it really is. It's easy to be influenced by society and the culture around us which treat sin lightly, but when seen in light of God's holiness and the work of Christ, our perspective is brought closer to the reality.
I had thought reading almost 300 pages on how sinful sin is would be overkill or drive me to despair of my sinfulness, but it did neither of those, and instead I'm more thankful to God and have a greater desire to live a holy life.
December 26, 2022
What a comprehensive discussion of the varieties and absolute evil of sin. Venning clearly spent years searching the Holy Bible in writing this book; his mastery of Scripture is amazing. By the end of the second section, I was convinced of the evil of sin (and a little discouraged). I am so glad that he did not finish at that point. Venning's strong encouragement to reject and avoid any form of sin and embrace Jesus Christ is uplifting. I appreciated the positive end to the book that came in Section 4.
March 16, 2026
An excellent thorough study on the nature of sin, showing the utter vileness and destructiveness of sin. Certainly not a nice subject, but a very important one to understand rightly. Why would you want to read such a book? Because the many truths about and warnings against sin drawn out from Scripture in this book will help you see sin rightly and will motivate you greatly to stay away from sin in all its forms. We don't understand that wonder of the gospel and the blessing of repentance and obedience to God until we first rightly understand sin and its devastating effects.
January 27, 2020
This is a book with a limited audience. Written in decidedly 16th century prose, it is inaccessible to anyone who is not used to reading older literature (of which, I am certainly one).
However, what it lacks in approachability, it makes up for in sheer scope on the doctrine of sin. A careful reading should leave any Christian convicted, and in despair but for the coverage of said sins by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
However, what it lacks in approachability, it makes up for in sheer scope on the doctrine of sin. A careful reading should leave any Christian convicted, and in despair but for the coverage of said sins by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
January 29, 2021
The title should make it clear that this is not an ‘up with people book’ (the original title was ‘Sin, the Plague of Plagues’). But it is a necessary book for really understanding the heinous nature, insidious workings of, and eternal danger of sin. Venning, like most of his fellow Puritans, is exceptionally thorough in seeking to cover his topic, and uses vivid illustrations and strong appeals. You may not want to read this book, but for the sake of your soul, you probably should!
March 23, 2025
What an excellent read! Ralph Venning unearthed and revealed to us the vile and stinking pit that sin is, with such precision and exactness. I would consider this work as the best or most in-depth Puritan treatise on sin; even more so than Burroughs' "The Evil of Evils," (which is also quite good).
Yes, sin is the worst of all evils, and Venning masterfully shows us why.
Yes, sin is the worst of all evils, and Venning masterfully shows us why.
August 25, 2025
Fantastic book. I would highly recommend it to anyone struggling with motivation to overthrow sin in their lives. The most insightful section was the ways he provided that God, angels, creation, man, revelation, and sin itself bear witness to sin.
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November 18, 2019The Sinfulness of Sin is not currently available at local libraries.
May 27, 2020
Highly recommended, though some sections seem overly lengthy.
Also under the older title "The Plague of Plagues".
Also under the older title "The Plague of Plagues".
August 13, 2020
Soul-searching!
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July 12, 2023lido em portugues
June 14, 2024
An excellent book on the topic sin which, unfortunately, is not discussed today as much as it should be. This is an excellent companion to Owen's Mortification of Sin.
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