First therefore, 1They are Fools that make a Mock at other Men's Sins, so as to make them a matter of Mirth and Pastime. This indeed is Sport for Devils, all whose Recreation, and Hellish Solace, is the Sin and Wickedness of Men. The Damnation of Souls is the Sport of Hell: And Thou who canst rejoice in their Joy, deservest likewise to howl under their Woes and Torments. We justly condemn it, as a most barbarous and inhumane Custom amongst the ancient Romans, who brought many selected Pairs of miserable Men into their public Theatres, only to delight the Spectators ⟨p. 8⟩with their Blood and Death. But this was an innocent Recreation in comparison of thine, who takest pleasure to see thy poor Brother wounding and stabbing, yea damning his precious Soul. Go laugh at a wretched Man upon the Rack, or upon the Wheel; Laugh at the odd distorted Postures of Epileptics, or the Convulse Motions of Dying and Expiring Men; Sport thy self with their writhed Looks, and antic Shapes of Misery: This is far more civil, more humane, more pious, than to make those Sins thy Mirth, which will be thy Brothers Eternal Woe and Anguish. What thinkest thou? Couldst thou look into Hell, that place of Torment? Couldst thou see there all the Engines of God's Justice, and the Devil's Cruelty, set on work in the eternal ⟨p. 9⟩Torture of those, who perhaps once made as light of their own Sins, as thou dost of other Men's; wouldst thou think this a pleasant Spectacle? Wouldst thou sport and divert thy self to see how they wallow in Fire and Brimstone, or how they circle and twist themselves in unquenchable Flames? Certainly such a Sight as this would affect thee with a cold Horror, and a shivering Dread: And how then canst thou sport thy self to see thy Brother damning himself, since it would fright thee to see him damned? Believe it, Sirs; The Sins that now abound in the World challenge our Tears and Pity: We ought to mourn and repent for those who do not, who will not repent for themselves. It is a sad, and a doleful Sight to see so ⟨p. 10⟩many every where dishonour God, disgrace their Natures, and destroy their Souls; to see some come reeling home, disguised in all the brutish Shapes that Drunkenness can put upon them, ready to discharge their Vomit in the Face of every one they meet: Others frantic with Wrath and Rage, &, like a Company of Mad Men, 2flinging about Fire-brands, Arrows, and Death:
First therefore, 1They are Fools that make a Mock at other Men's Sins, so as to make them a matter of Mirth and Pastime. This indeed is Sport for Devils, all whose Recreation, and Hellish Solace, is the Sin and Wickedness of Men. The Damnation of Souls is the Sport of Hell: And Thou who canst rejoice in their Joy, deservest likewise to howl under their Woes and Torments. We justly condemn it, as a most barbarous and inhumane Custom amongst the ancient Romans, who brought many selected Pairs of miserable Men into their publick Theatres, only to delight the Spectators ⟨p. 8⟩with their Blood and Death. But this was an innocent Recreation in comparison of thine, who takest pleasure to see thy poor Brother wounding and stabbing, yea damning his precious Soul. Go laugh at a wrethed Man upon the Rack, or upon the Wheel; Laugh at the odd distorted Postures of Epilepticks, or the Convulse Motions of Dying and Expiring Men; Sport thy self with their writh'd Looks, and antick Shapes of Misery: This is far more civil, more humane, more pious, than to make those Sins thy Mirth, which will be thy Brothers Eternal Woe and Anguish. What thinkest thou? Couldst thou look into Hell, that place of Torment? Couldst thou see there all the Engines of God's Justice, and the Devil's Cruelty, set on work in the eternal ⟨p. 9⟩Torture of those, who perhaps once made as light of their own Sins, as thou dost of other Men's; wouldst thou think this a pleasant Spectacle? Wouldst thou sport and divert thy self to see how they wallow in Fire and Brimstone, or how they circle and twist themselves in unquenchable Flames? Certainly such a Sight as this would affect thee with a cold Horrour, and a shivering Dread: And how then canst thou sport thy self to see thy Brother damning himself, since it would fright thee to see him damned? Believe it, Sirs; The Sins that now abound in the World challenge our Tears and Pity: We ought to mourn and repent for those who do not, who will not repent for themselves. It is a sad, and a doleful Sight to see so ⟨p. 10⟩many every where dishonour God, disgrace their Natures, and destroy their Souls; to see some come reeling home, disguis'd in all the brutish Shapes that Drunkenness can put upon them, ready to discharge their Vomit in the Face of every one they meet: Others frantick with Wrath and Rage, &, like a Company of Mad Men, 2flinging about Fire-brands, Arrows, and Death:
- 1They are Fools that make a Mock at other Men's Sins.
- 2Prov. 26.18.
