Ralph Venning
The Main Problem of the Human Condition
At a popular level the puritans would be regarded as moralistic and even nit-picky! But, as we’ve seen with other pioneers of the Christian Faith that’s simply a caricature.
The puritans had a passion for the Bible, a passion for the Church and a passion for seeing the gospel impact every area of life.
They also had a frank view of the primary problem confronting mankind: sin. To a puritan who was committed to Biblical thinking this was a clear as day.
Man’s primary internal problem was sin, Man’s primary enemy was sin, and Man’s most significant hindrance in his relationship to God was sin.
The solution to this problem was not to be found in a strict morality but in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross. He died for sin, taking the weight of the just penalty of sin upon Himself, for our benefit. He did this so that, by repentance and faith, we might be forgiven and reconciled to God.
The hostility between God and Man would end, and sin could be defeated at last. Because He overcame both sin and death, we too might live a life pleasing to God.
The Plague of Plagues
It’s not surprising then to find amongst a bookshelf of puritan writings a volume entitled ‘The Plague of Plagues’ (1669), a startling assault against sin and its damaging effects on mankind.
Indeed, Ralph Venning, its author states that he was writing against sin because sin ‘is against man’s good and happiness.’
Venning, like Brooks, was educated at Cambridge University and pastored in London. He, like Brooks and others, was fired from his position in the Church of England, and became a minister of an Independent Church in London.
Here are some edifying examples of Venning’s clarity on the subtle dangers of sin. In urging his hearers to decide for Christ and holiness, he also restores clarity to the essential nature of mankind’s struggle against God’s goodness.
‘It cannot but be 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.’ (p.18)
‘It [sin] gives out false reports of God and goodness.’ (p.35)
‘Shall I not plead for God and your soul, and entreat you to be on God’s side, and to depart from the tents of wickedness? Poor soul! Can you find it in your heart to hug and embrace such a monster as this? Will you love that which hates God, and which God hates? God forbid!’ (p.36)
‘Oh, look to yourself, for sin, notwithstanding all its flattering pretences, is against you, and seeks nothing less than your ruin and damnation.’ (p.37)
‘Sin in the Christian is ‘a self civil war.’ (p.43)
‘Sin is the burden of every good man’s soul.’ (p.126)
All quotes are taken from Ralph Venning, The Plague of Plagues, now published as ‘The Sinfulness of Sin’.
You can purchase ‘The Sinfulness of Sin’ here
© 2009 Lex Loizides
