A30203:177
Sighs from hell, or, The groans of a damned soul discovering from the 16th…
Sighs from hell, or, The groans of a damned soul discovering from the 16th of Luke the lamentable state of the damned : and may fitly serve as a warning-word to sinners, both old and young, by faith in Jesus Christ, to avoid the same place of torment : with a discovery of the usefulness of the Scriptures as our safe conduct for avoiding the torments of hell / by John Bunyan.
London: printed for F. Smith, 1666
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.
I say, be what thou wilt, if thou be found in unbelief, or under the first Covenant, thou art sure to smart for it at the time when thou dost depart this World? But the Thing to be lamented is, For all this is so sad a condition to be fallen into, yet poor Souls are for the most part senseless of it; yea, so senseless (at sometimes) as though there was no such misery to come hereafter. Because the Lord doth no immediately strike with his Sword, but doth bear long with his Creature, waiting that he might be gracious: Therefore, I say, the Hearts of some of the Sons of Men, are wholly set upon it to do mischief, Eccles. 8. 11. And that forbearance and goodness of God, that one would think should lead them to Repentance; the Devil hardening of them by their continuing in sin, and by blinding their Eyes, as to the end of God's forbearance toward them, they are led away with a very hardened and senseless heart, even until they drop into Eternal Destruction.
I say, be what thou wilt, if thou be found in unbelief, or under the first Covenant, thou art sure to smart for it at the time when thou dost depart this World? But the Thing to be lamented is, For all this is so sad a condition to be fallen into, yet poor Souls are for the most part sensless of it; yea, so sensless (at sometimes) as though there was no such misery to come hereafter. Because the Lord doth no immediately strike with his Sword, but doth bear long with his Creature, waiting that he might be gracious: Therefore, I say, the Hearts of some of the Sons of Men, are wholly set upon it to do mischief, Eccles. 8. 11. And that forbearance and goodness of God, that one would think should lead them to Repentance; the Devil hardening of them by their continuing in sin, and by blinding their Eyes, as to the end of God's forbearance toward them, they are led away with a very hardned and sensless heart, even until they drop into Eternal Destruction.
But poor hearts, they must have a time in which they must be made sensible of their former Behaviours, when the just Judgments of the Lord shall flame about their Ears, insomuch that they shall be made to cry out again with anguish, I am sorely tormented in this flame.