Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 117
§ 117
SEcondly, 2 They thinke it will be ſome eaſe and comf…rt in miſery to have companions.there is another winning reaſon, why they ſtrive ſo after community: for you muſt know, the Devill propounds to them and they to themſelves, ſome appearance of good in every thing they doe. They thinke it ſome eaſe and comfort, in miſery to have companions, yea, the more, the merrier, thinke they, as ſorrowes devided among many, are borne more eaſily: it is ſome kinde of eaſe to ſorrow, to have partners; as a burthen is lightned, by many ſhoulders: divers backs will carry a greater burthen, with leſſe paine; or as clouds ſcattered into many drops, eaſily vent their moyſture into ayre: many ſmall brookes meeting, and concurring in one channell, will carry great veſſells: yea, our griefes are leſſened, our joyes enlarged, our cares lightned, by one friendly aſſociate. In all heates of anguiſh, good aſſiſtance and ſociety breathes ſome coole ayre of comfort: when Paul muſt anſwer before Nero, he complaines, that no man ſtood with him, but all men forſooke him, 2 Tim. 4.16. And certainely, it was a plague upon a plague; to the Leper, that he was condemned to live alone: it cannot but aggravate their ſickneſſe, which are now pent up, by reaſon of this viſitation, and compelled to be ſicke without any viſitant, either to eaſe, or pity them.
The comfort of fugitives is, that there be many fugitives; we know nothing ſeemes to fall, where every thing falls; a generall diſeaſe, is a particular health: whereupon the Curt taild Fox, in the Fable, endeavoured to have all Foxes cuttaild. They have a whimſie in their braines, much like that of Amurath, who, at the taking of Iſthmus, ſacrificed ſix hundred young Grecians to his Fathers ſoule, to the end, their blood might ſerve as a propitiation, to expiate the ſinnes of the deceaſed. Wherein they imitate the Dragon, which is very deſirous of the Elephants blood, for the coldneſſe of it, wherewith ſhe deſires to be cooled; or the great Cham, who whenſoever he dyeth, takes order, that ten, or twelve thouſand Tartars be ſlaine, to accompany his death.
But alaſſe poore ſoules! they are much miſtaken, But this will ad to the pile of their tormentsin thinking it will either comfort, or eaſe them, to have fellowſhip in torment: for though by the multitude, of participants, the joyes of Heaven are enlarged; yet hereby the ſorrowes of Hell are much increaſed; for know this, thou Tempter, that thou doſt not more increaſe other mens wickedneſſe on earth, (whether by perſwaſion, or provocation, or example) then their wickedneſſe ſhall increaſe thy damnation in Hell, as is plainely ſeene in the caſe of Dives; for what made that damned churle move for his brethren (ſeeing there is no charity in Hell) but that he felt, every ſtep they followed of his leading, to increaſe the pile of his torments, Luk. 16. Non fratres dilexit, ſed ſeipſum reſpexit, he deſired not their ſalvation, but his owne leſſe damnation. Againe, this is made good, Gen. 3. where the Serpent is curſed, for makeing Eve tranſgreſſe; and Eve, for makeing her husband ſinne.
Yet ſuch is the implacable enmity, and unchangeable malice of the Serpent, and his ſeede; of the Prince of darkeneſſe, and theſe his adherents, againſt the children of light, that they will enhance their owne damnations, to procure other mens; rather make their owne fire hotter, then not labour to bring others to the participation of their owne torments; yea, though their conſciences tell them, that ſuch a bitter roote ſhall anſwer for it ſelfe, and for all the corrupt branches, yet they will endure more grievous miſery, to have a more numerous ſociety.
And ſo much of the warre which God proclaimed, betweene Sathan and Chriſt, and their Reigiments, the wicked and the Godly. If you would know the originall, and meritorious cauſe of this proclamation; it was Adam's ſinne, in eating the forbidden fruit; and Sathan's malice, in moving and ſeduceing him thereunto; the Originall of this diſcord, is from originall ſinne.