Sighs from hell, or, The groans of a damned soul discovering from the 16th…

But Friend, when thou hast lost this life, and dost begin to lift up thine Eyes in Hell, and seest what thy sins have brought thee to; and not only so, but that thou by thy filthy sins didst cause others, (Devil-like) to fall into the same condemnation with thee: And that one of the Reasons of their Damnation was this, that thou didst lead them to the Commission of those wicked practices of this World, and the Lusts thereof. Then, Oh! that some body would stop them from coming, lest they also come into this place of Torment, and be damned as I am: How will it torment me? Balaam could not be contented to be damned himself, but also he must by his wickedness cause others to stumble and fall. The Scribes and Pharisees could not be content to keep out of Heaven themselves, but they must labour to keep out others too. Therefore, theirs is the greater Damnation.

But Friend, when thou hast lost this life, and dost begin to lift up thine Eyes in Hell, and seest what thy sins have brought thee to; and not onely so, but that thou by thy filthy sinnes did'st cause others, (Devil-like) to fall into the same condemnation with thee: And that one of the Reasons of their Damnation was this, that thou didst lead them to the Commission of those wicked practices of this World, and the Lusts thereof. Then, Oh! that some body would stop them from coming, lest they also come into this place of Torment, and be damned as I am: How will it torment me? Balaam could not be contented to be damned himself, but also he must by his wickedness cause others to stumble and fall. The Scribes and Pharisees could not be content to keep out of Heaven themselves, but they must labour to keep out others too. Therefore, theirs is the greater Damnation.

The Deceived cannot be content to be deceived himself, but he must labour to deceive others also. The Drunkard cannot be content to go to Hell for his own sins, but he must labour to cause others to fall into the same Furnace with him. But look to your selves, for here will be Damnation upon Damnation, damned for thy own sins, and ⟨p. 99⟩damned for thy being a partaker with others in their sins; and damned for being guilty of the damnation of others. O how will the Drunkard cry, for leading their Neighbours into drunkenness? How will the covetous person howl for setting his Neighbour, his Friend, his Brother; his Children and Relations, so wicked an Example; by which he hath not only wronged his own soul, but also the souls of others. The Liar, by lying, learned others to lie; The Swearer learned others to swear; The Whore-Monger learned others to whore.