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

And yet how many poor souls are there in the world, that stand in so much awe, and dread of men, and do so highly esteem their favour, that they will rather venture their souls in the hands ⟨p. 150⟩of the devil with their favour, then they will ••y to Jesus Christ for the salvation of their soul. Nay, though they be convinced in their souls, that the way is the way of God; yet how do they labour to stifle convictions, and turn their ears away from the truth, and all because they will not lose the favour of an opposite neighbour. Oh! I dare not for my Master, my Brother, my Landlord, I shall lose his favour, his house of work, and so decay my calling. O saith another, I would willingly go in this way, but for my Father, he chides and tells me, he will not stand my friend when I come to want▪ I shall never enjoy a pennyworth of his goods, he will disinherit me; And I dare not, saith another, for my Husband, for he will be a railing, and tells me, he will turn me out of doors, he will beat me, and cut off my legs. But I tell you, if any of these, or any other things be •o prevalent with thee now, as to keep thee from seeking after Christ in his ways; they will also be so prevalent with God against thee, as to make him cast off thy soul, because thou didst rather trust man than God; and delight in the embracing of man rather than in the favour of the Lord.

And yet how many poor souls are there in the world, that stand in so much aw, and dread of men, and do so highly esteem their favour, that they will rather venture their souls in the hands ⟨p. 150⟩of the devil with their favour, then they will ••y to Jesus Christ for the salvation of their soul. Nay, though they be convinced in their souls, that the way is the way of God; yet how do they labour to stifle convictions, and turn their ears away from the truth, and all because they will not lose the favour of an opposite neighbour. Oh! I dare not for my Master, my Brother, my Landlord, I shall lose his favour, his house of work, and so decay my calling. O saith another, I would willingly go in this way, but for my Father, he chides and tells me, he will not stand my friend when I come to want I shall never enjoy a penyworth of his goods, he will disinherit me; And I dare not, saith another, for my Husband, for he will be a railing, and tells me, he will turn me out of doors, he will beat me, and cut off my legs. But I tell you, if any of these, or any other things be o prevalent with thee now, as to keep thee from seeking after Christ in his wayes; they will also be so prevalent with God against thee, as to make him cast off thy soul, because thou didst rather trust man than God; and delight in the embracing of man rather than in the favour of the Lord.