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

If so, then I shall not only say to the blind guides, look you to your selves, and shut out others: no, but this doth reach in all those that do not only keep souls from heaven by preaching, and the like, but speaks forth the doom of those that shall any ways be instrument•• to hinder others for closing in with Jesus Christ. O what red lines will those be against all these rich ungodly Landlords, that so keep under their poor Tenants, that they dare not go out to hear the word, ⟨p. 102⟩for fear their Rent should be raised, or they turned out of their houses. What sayest thou, Landlord, will it not cut thy soul, when thou shalt see that thou couldest not be content to miss of heaven thy self, but thou must labour to hinder others also? Will it not give thee an eternal wound in thy heart, both at death and judgment, to be accused of the ruin of thy neighbours soul, thy servants soul, thy wives soul, together with the ruin of thy own. Think on this you drunken, proud, rich, and scornful Landlords, think on this you mad-brained blasphemous Husbands, that are against the godly and chaste conversation of your Wives; also you that hold your Servants so hard to it, that you will not spare them time to hear the word, unless it be where, and when your lusts will let you. If you love your own souls, your Tenants souls, your Wives souls, your Servants souls, your Children's souls: if you would not cry, if you would not howl, if you would not bear the burden of the ruin of others for ever; then I beseech you to consider this doleful story, and labour to avoid the soul-killing torment that this poor wretch groaneth under, when he saith, I pray thee therefore that thou wouldest send him to my fathers house.

If so, then I shall not only say to the blind guides, look you to your selves, and shut out others: no, but this doth reach in all those that do not only keep souls from heaven by preaching, and the like, but speaks forth the doom of those that shall any wayes be instrument•• to hinder others for closing in with Jesus Christ. O what red lines will those be against all these rich ungodly Landlords, that so keep under their poor Tenants, that they dare not go out to hear the word, ⟨p. 102⟩for fear their Rent should be raised, or they turned out of their houses. What sayest thou, Landlord, will it not cut thy soul, when thou shalt see that thou couldest not be content to miss of heaven thy self, but thou must labour to hinder others also? Will it not give thee an eternal wound in thy heart, both at death and judgment, to be accused of the ruine of thy neighbours soul, thy servants soul, thy wives soul, together with the ruine of thy own. Think on this you drunken, proud, rich, and scornful Landlords, think on this you mad-brain'd blasphemous Husbands, that are against the godly and chaste conversation of your Wives; also you that hold your Servants so hard to it, that you will not spare them time to hear the word, unless it be where, and when your lusts will let you. If you love your own souls, your Tenants souls, your Wives souls, your Servants souls, your Childrens souls: if you would not cry, if you would not howl, if you would not bear the burden of the ruine of others for ever; then I beseech you to consider this doleful story, and labour to avoid the soul-killing torment that this poor wretch groaneth under, when he saith, I pray thee therefore that thou wouldest send him to my fathers house.