The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

2. Consider, It is a most monstrous sin, it is a most dreadful sin to partake of other mens sins. The Apostle speaks of committing iniquity with greediness, Ephes. 4.19. Sirs, there is no such greedy sinning as this, for a man to lick up, and swallow down, and devour other mens sins. Naturalists tells us, that Serpens Serpentem devorans sit Draco, If a Serpent swallow down another Serpent it becomes a Dragon. Oh Christians! this sin of devouring other mens sins, it is a Dragon-sin, a Monstrous-sin, a Dreadful-sin, a Devilish-sin, and therefore take heed of it.

3. Consider, If you partake of other mens sins, you shall certainly partake of other mens plagues, Rev. 18.4. Come out of her my people, says God, namely, from Babylon, that you be not partakers of her sins, that so ye receive not of her plagues. See Prov. 13.20. A companion of fools shall be destroyed not only fools shall be destroyed, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed: if you sin with them, you shall suffer with them, and you shall suffer more because of them. Read that, Luke 16.27, 28. And the rich man said, I pray thee Father Abraham, that thou wouldest send Lazarus to my Fathers house, for I have five Brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Why would not he have his Brethren to come to Hell to him? Divines determine, not out of any love to their souls, there is not that charity to be supposed in Hell. Oh but because the sight of them, and company of them would increase his torment. This will be the shrieking and howling in Hell among damned souls one to another; oh woe worth the day that ever I saw thy face, or that ever I saw thy face, thou hast brought me hither, and thou hast brought me hither; and so they will torment one another to all eternity.