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diff --git a/1986-0.txt b/1986-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d0cde36 --- /dev/null +++ b/1986-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8566 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life and Death of Mr Badman, by John +Bunyan + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + + +Title: The Life and Death of Mr Badman + +Author: John Bunyan + +Release Date: February 9, 2013 [eBook #1986] +[This file was first posted on April 10, 1999] +[Last Updated: March 17, 2022] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org from the 1905 +Cambridge University Press edition + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MR BADMAN *** + + + + +[Picture: Facsimile of the Frontispiece to the first edition of the +Holy War, engraved by Robert White. The portrait of Bunyan drawn on +vellum by the same artist, and preserved in the Cracherode Collection, +furnished the basis of the full-length portrait, and also of the +sleeping likeness prefixed to the third edition of the Pilgrim’s +Progress, 1679] + + _JOHN BUNYAN_ + + + + + + LIFE AND DEATH OF + MR BADMAN + _AND_ + THE HOLY WAR {1a} + + + * * * * * + + THE TEXT EDITED BY + JOHN BROWN, D.D. + + [Picture: Decorative graphic] + + CAMBRIDGE: + at the University Press + 1905 + + * * * * * + + CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE, + + C. F. CLAY, MANAGER. + + London: FETTER LANE, E.C. + + Glasgow: 50, WELLINGTON STREET. + + [Picture: Decorative graphic] + + Leipzig: F. A. BROCKHAUS. + + New York: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. + + Bombay and Calcutta: MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD. + + * * * * * + + [_All Rights reserved_] + + + + +NOTE + + +_The Life and Death of Mr Badman_ was published by John Bunyan in +1680, two years after the First Edition of the First Part of _The +Pilgrim’s Progress_. In the opening sentence of his preface he tells +us it was intended by him as the counterpart or companion picture +to the Allegory. But whatever his own intentions may have been, the +Public of his own time seem to have declined to accept the book in this +capacity. Indeed, another writer, who signs himself T. S., undertook +to complete Bunyan’s Allegory for him, in a book in size and type +closely resembling it, and entitled _The Second Part of the Pilgrim’s +Progress . . . exactly Described under the Similitude of a Dream_. It +was printed for Jho. Malthus at the Sun in the Poultry, and published +in 1683. So far as is known, only one copy of this book is now in +existence, the copy which was formerly in the library of the poet +Southey and now in that of the Baptist Union. Upon this Bunyan seems to +have changed his purpose, so far as _The Life and Death of Mr Badman_ +was concerned, and on the first of January, 1685, published the story +of Christiana and her Children as his own Second Part of _The Pilgrim’s +Progress_. + +The work before us, therefore, now stands apart by itself. In its +composition Bunyan seems to have been greatly influenced, so far as +form is concerned, by a book which his wife brought with her on her +marriage, and which, as he tells us in his _Grace Abounding_, they read +together. It was entitled _The Plaine Man’s Pathway to Heaven_: By +Arthur Dent, Preacher of the Word of God at South Shoobury in Essex. +The eleventh impression, the earliest now known, is dated 1609. Both +books are in dialogue form, and in each case the dialogue is supposed +to be carried on through one long day. Bunyan’s _Mr Wiseman_, like +Dent’s _Theologus_, holds forth instructive discourse, while the _Mr +Attentive_ of the former, like the _Philagathus_ of the latter, listens +and draws on his teacher by friendly questionings. There is not in +Bunyan’s conference, as there is in Dent’s, an _Asunetus_, who plays +the part of an ignorant man to come out enlightened and convinced at +last, or an _Antilegon_, who carps and cavils all the way; and there is +not in Dent’s book what there is in Bunyan’s, a biographical narrative +connecting the various parts of the dialogue; but the groundwork of +each is the same—a searching manifestation and exposure of the nature +and evils of various forms of immorality. + +Bunyan’s book came out in 1680, and was published by Nathaniel Ponder, +who was also the publisher of _The Pilgrim’s Progress_. A third edition +appeared in 1696, but as no copy of the second edition is known to +exist, no date can be assigned to it. In 1684 Johannes Boekholt, a +publisher in Amsterdam, obtained leave of the State to issue a Dutch +translation, with the title _Het Leven en Sterben van Mr Quaat_. This +edition was illustrated by five copper-plate engravings, executed by +Jan Luiken, the eminent Dutch engraver, who also illustrated _The +Pilgrim’s Progress_ the following year. In 1782 a Welsh version, +translated by T. Lewys, was published at Liverpool with the title: +_Bywyd a Marwolaeth yr annuwiol dan enw Mr Drygddyn_. A Gaelic version +also was published at Inverness in 1824, entitled _Beath agus Bas Mhr +Droch-duine_. + +The present edition has been reprinted from a copy of the first issue, +lent by the Trustees of the Bunyan Church at Bedford, and the proofs +read with a second copy of the same issue, in the library of the +British Museum. For convenience of reading, as in other issues of this +series of CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH CLASSICS, the old type forms of _j_, _s_, +_u_, etc. have been made uniform with those in general modern use; but +neither the spelling (including the use of capitals and italics {1b}) +nor the punctuation has been altered, save as specified. Effect has +been given to the errata noted by Bunyan himself, and printed on page +15 of this issue. + + * * * * * + +The text of this edition of Bunyan’s _Holy War_ {1a} is a careful +reproduction of the First Edition of 1682. It is not certain that there +was any further authentic reprint in Bunyan’s life-time. For though +both in the Bodleian and the British Museum there is a copy purporting +to be a second edition, and bearing date 1684, it is difficult to +resist the impression that they are pirated copies, similar to those +of which Nathaniel Ponder complained so bitterly in the case of _The +Pilgrim’s Progress_. For both paper and typography are greatly inferior +to those of the first edition; some of Bunyan’s most characteristic +marginalia are carelessly omitted; Bunyan’s own title—‘The Holy War +made by Shaddai upon Diabolus for the regaining of the Metropolis of +the World’—is altered to the feebler and more commonplace form—‘The +Holy War made by Christ upon the Devil for the Regaining of Man’; and, +further, when a new edition was issued in 1696, the alterations and +omissions of 168 4 were ignored, and a simple reprint made of the first +edition of 1682. + + J. B. + +9 _October_, 1905. + +[Picture: Facsimile of title page of first (1680) edition of The Life and + Death of Mr. Badman] + + + + +THE AUTHOR TO THE READER + + +Courteous Reader, + +As I was considering with my self, what I had written concerning the +Progress of the Pilgrim from this World to Glory; and how it had been +acceptable to many in this Nation: It came again into my mind to write, +as then, of him that was going to Heaven, so now, of the Life and Death +of the Ungodly, and of their travel from this world to Hell. The which +in this I have done, and have put it, as thou seest, under the Name and +Title of Mr. Badman, a Name very proper for such a Subject: I have also +put it into the form of a Dialogue, that I might with more ease to my +self, and pleasure to the Reader, perform the work. + +And although, as I said, I have put it forth in this method, yet have +I as little as may be, gone out of the road of mine own observation +of things. Yea, I think I may truly say, that to the best of my +remembrance, all the things that here I discourse of, I mean as to +matter of fact, have been acted upon the stage of this World, even many +times before mine eyes. + +Here therefore, courteous Reader, I present thee with the Life and +Death of Mr. Badman indeed: Yea, I do trace him in his Life, from his +Childhood to his Death; that thou mayest, as in a Glass, behold with +thine own eyes, the steps that take hold of Hell; and also discern, +while thou art reading of Mr. Badmans Death, whether thou thy self art +treading in his path thereto. + +And let me entreat thee to forbear Quirking and Mocking, for that I +say Mr. Badman is dead; but rather gravely enquire concerning thy self +by the Word, whether thou art one of his Linage or no: For Mr. Badman +has left many of his Relations behind him; yea, the very World is +overspread with his Kindred. True, some of his Relations, as he, are +gone to their place, and long home, but thousands of thousands are left +behind; as Brothers, Sisters, Cousens, Nephews, besides innumerable of +his Friends and Associates. + +I may say, and yet speak nothing but too much truth in so saying, that +there is scarce a Fellowship, a Community, or Fraternity of men in the +World, but some of Mr. Badmans Relations are there: yea rarely can we +find a Family or Houshold in a Town, where he has not left behind him +either Brother, Nephew or Friend. + +The Butt therefore, that at this time I shoot at, is wide; and ’twill +be as impossible for this Book to go into several Families, and not to +arrest some, as for the Kings Messenger to rush into an house full of +Traitors, and find none but honest men there. + +I cannot but think that this shot will light upon many, since our +fields are so full of this Game; but how many it will kill to Mr. +Badmans course, and make alive to the Pilgrims Progress, that is not +in me to determine; this secret is with the Lord our God only, and he +alone knows to whom he will bless it to so good and so blessed an end. +However, I have put fire to the Pan, and doubt not but the report will +quickly be heard. + +I told you before, that Mr. Badman had left many of his Friends and +Relations behind him, but if I survive them (as that’s a great question +to me) I may also write of their lives: However, whether my life be +longer or shorter, this is my Prayer at present, that God will stir up +Witnesses against them, that may either convert or confound them; for +wherever they live, and roll in their wickedness, they are the Pest and +Plague of that Countrey. + +England shakes and totters already, by reason of the burden that Mr. +Badman and his Friends have wickedly laid upon it: Yea, our Earth reels +and staggereth to and fro like a Drunkard, the transgression thereof is +heavy upon it. + +Courteous Reader, I will treat thee now, even at the Door and Threshold +of this house, but only with this Intelligence, that Mr. Badman lies +dead within. Be pleased therefore (if thy leisure will serve thee) +to enter in, and behold the state in which he is laid, betwixt his +Death-bed and the Grave. He is not buried as yet, nor doth he stink, as +is designed he shall, before he lies down in oblivion. + +Now as others have had their Funerals solemnized, according to their +Greatness and Grandure in the world, so likewise Mr. Badman, (forasmuch +as he deserveth not to go down to his grave with silence) has his +Funeral state according to his deserts. + +Four things are usual at great mens Funerals, which we will take leave, +and I hope without offence, to allude to, in the Funeral of Mr. Badman. + +First, They are sometimes, when dead, presented to their Friends, by +their compleatly wrought Images, as lively as by cunning mens hands +they can be; that the remembrance of them may be renewed to their +survivors, the remembrance of them and their deeds: And this I have +endeavoured to answer in my discourse of Mr. Badman; and therefore I +have drawn him forth in his featours and actions from his Childhood +to his Gray hairs. Here therefore thou hast him lively set forth as +in Cutts; both as to the minority, flower, and seniority of his Age, +together with those actions of his life, that he was most capable +of doing, in, and under those present circumstances of time, place, +strength; and the opportunities that did attend him in these. + +Secondly, There is also usual at great mens Funerals, those Badges +and Scutcheons of their honour, that they have received from their +Ancestors, or have been thought worthy of for the deeds and exploits +they have done in their life: And here Mr. Badman has his, but such +as vary from all men of worth, but so much the more agreeing with the +merit of his doings: They all have descended in state, he only as an +abominable branch. His deserts are the deserts of sin, and therefore +the Scutcheons of honour that he has, are only that he died without +Honour, and at his end became a fool. Thou shalt not be joyned with +them in burial.—The seed of evil doers shall never be renowned. + +The Funeral pomp therefore of Mr. Badman, is to wear upon his Hearse +the Badges of a dishonourable and wicked life; since his bones are full +of the sins of his Youth, which shall lye down, as Job sayes, in the +dust with him: nor is it fit that any should be his Attendants, now at +his death, but such as with him conspired against their own souls in +their life; persons whose transgressions have made them infamous to all +that have or shall know what they have done. + +Some notice therefore I have also here in this little discourse +given the Reader, of them who were his Confederates in his life, and +Attendants at his death; with a hint, either of some high Villany +committed by them, as also of those Judgments that have overtaken and +fallen upon them from the just and revenging hand of God. All which are +things either fully known by me, as being eye and ear-witness thereto, +or that I have received from such hands, whose relation as to this, +I am bound to believe. And that the Reader may know them from other +things and passages herein contained, I have pointed at them in the +Margent, as with a finger thus: [Picture: Graphic of hand with finger +printing right] + +Thirdly, The Funerals of persons of Quality have been solemnized with +some suitable Sermon at the time and place of their Burial; but that +I am not come to as yet, having got no further than to Mr. Badmans +death: but for as much as he must be buried, after he hath stunk out +his time before his beholders, I doubt not but some such that we read +are appointed to be at the burial of Gog, will do this work in my +stead; such as shall leave him neither skin nor bone above ground, but +shall set a sign by it till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of +Hamon-gog, Ezek. 39. + +Fourthly, At Funerals there does use to be Mourning and lamentation, +but here also Mr. Badman differs from others; his Familiars cannot +lament his departure, for they have not sence of his damnable state; +they rather ring him, and sing him to Hell in the sleep of death, in +which he goes thither. Good men count him no loss to the world, his +place can well be without him, his loss is only his own, and ’tis +too late for him to recover that dammage or loss by a Sea of bloody +tears, could he shed them. Yea, God has said, he will laugh at his +destruction, who then shall lament for him, saying, Ah! my brother. He +was but a stinking Weed in his life; nor was he better at all in his +death: such may well be thrown over the wall without sorrow, when once +God has plucked them up by the roots in his wrath. + +Reader, If thou art of the race, linage, stock or fraternity of Mr. +Badman, I tell thee before thou readest this Book, thou wilt neither +brook the Author nor it, because he hath writ of Mr. Badman as he +has. For he that condemneth the wicked that die so, passeth also the +sentence upon the wicked that live. I therefore expect neither credit +of, nor countenance from thee, for this Narration of thy kinsmans life. + +For thy old love to thy Friend, his wayes, doings, &c. will stir up in +thee enmity rather, in thy very heart, against me. I shall therefore +incline to think of thee, that thou wilt rent, burn, or throw it away +in contempt: yea and wish also, that for writing so notorious a truth, +some mischief may befall me. I look also to be loaded by thee with +disdain, scorn and contempt; yea that thou shouldest railingly and +vilifyingly say, I lye, and am a bespatterer of honest mens lives and +deaths. For Mr. Badman, when himself was alive, could not abide to be +counted a Knave (though his actions told all that went by, that indeed +he was such an one:) How then should his brethren, that survive him, +and that tread in his very steps, approve of the sentence that by this +Book is pronounced against him? Will they not rather imitate Corah, +Dathan, and Abiram’s friends, even rail at me for condemning him, as +they did at Moses for doing execution? + +I know ’tis ill pudling in the Cockatrices den, and that they run +hazards that hunt the Wild-Boar. The man also that writeth Mr. Badmans +life, had need to be fenced with a Coat of Mail, and with the Staffe +of a Spear, for that his surviving friends will know what he doth: but +I have adventured to do it, and to play, at this time, at the hole of +these Asps; if they bite, they bite; if they sting, they sting. Christ +sends his Lambs in the midst of Wolves, not to do like them, but to +suffer by them for bearing plain testimony against their bad deeds: But +had one not need to walk with a Guard, and to have a Sentinel stand at +ones door for this? Verily, the flesh would be glad of such help; yea, +a spiritual man, could he tell how to get it. Acts 23. But I am stript +naked of these, and yet am commanded to be faithful in my servi[c]e for +Christ. Well then, I have spoken what I have spoken, and now come on +me what will, Job 13. 13. True, the Text sayes, Rebuke a scorner, and +he will hate thee; and that, He that reproveth a wicked man, getteth +himself a Blot and Shame; but what then? Open rebuke is better than +secret love; and he that receives it, shall find it so afterwards. + +So then, whether Mr. Badmans friends shall rage or laugh at what I have +writ, I know that the better end of the staffe is mine. My endeavour +is to stop an hellish Course of Life, and to save a soul from death, +(Jam. 5.) and if for so doing, I meet with envy from them, from whom in +reason I should have thanks, I must remember the man in the dream, that +cut his way through his armed enemies, and so got into the beauteous +Palace; I must, I say, remember him, and do my self likewise. + +Yet four things I will propound to the consideration of Mr. Badmans +friends, before I turn my back upon them. + +1. Suppose that there be an Hell in very deed, not that I do question +it, any more than I do whether there be a Sun to shine; but I suppose +it for argument sake, with Mr. Badmans friends; I say, suppose there be +an Hell, and that too, such an one as the Scripture speaks of, one at +the remotest distance from God and Life eternall, one where the Worm of +a guilty Conscience never dyes, and where the fire of the Wrath of God +is not quenched. + +Suppose, I say, that there is such an Hell, prepared of God (as there +is indeed) for the body and soul of the ungodly World after this life, +to be tormented in: I say, do but with thy self suppose it, and then +tell me, Is it not prepared for thee, thou being a wicked man? Let thy +conscience speak, I say, is it not prepared for thee, thou being an +ungodly man? And dost thou think, wast thou there now, that thou art +able to wrestle with the Judgment of God? Why then do the fallen Angers +tremble there? thy hands cannot be strong, nor can thy heart endure, in +that day when God shall deal with thee: Ezek. 22. 14. + +2. Suppose that some one that is now a soul in Hell for sin, was +permitted to come hither again to dwell; and that they had a grant +also, that upon amendment of life, next time the dye, to change that +place for Heaven ant Glory; what sayest thou, O wicked man? would +such an one (thinkest thou) run again into the same course of life as +before, and venture the damnation that for sin he had already been in? +Would he choose again to lead that cursed life that afresh would kindle +the flames of Hell upon him, and that would bind him up under the heavy +wrath of God? O! he would not, he would not; the sixteenth of Luke +insinuates it: yea Reason it self, awake, would abhorr it, and tremble +at such a thought. + +3. Suppose again, that thou that livest and rollest in thy sin, and +that as yet hast known nothing but the pleasure thereof, shouldst be +by an angel conveyed to some place where with convenience, from thence +thou mightest have a view of Heaven and Hell; of the Joyes of the +one, and the torments of the other; I say, suppose that from thence +thou mightest have such a view thereof, as would convince thy reason, +that both Heaven and Hell, are such realities as by the Word they are +declared to be; wouldest thou (thinkest thou) when brought to thy home +again, chuse to thy self thy former life, to wit, to return to thy +folly again? No; if belief of what thou sawest, remained with thee, +thou wouldest eat Fire and Brimstone first. + +4. I will propound again. Suppose that there was amongst us such a Law, +(and such a Magistrate to inflict the penalty,) That for every open +wickedness committed by thee, so much of thy flesh should with burning +Pincers be plucked from thy Bones: Wouldest thou then go on in thy open +way of Lying, Swearing, Drinking and Whoring, as thou with delight +doest now? Surely, surely, No: The fear of the punishment would make +thee forbear; yea, would make thee tremble, even then when thy lusts +were powerfull, to think what a punishment thou wast sure to sustain, +so soon as the pleasure was over. But Oh! the folly, the madness, the +desperate madness that is in the hearts of Mr. Badmans friends, who in +despite of the threatnings of an holy and sin revenging God, and of the +outcries and warnings of all good men; yea, that will in despite of the +groans and torments of those that are now in Hell for sin, (Luk. 16. +24. 28.) go on in a sinfull course of life; yea, though every sin is +also a step of descent, down to that infernal Cave. O how true is that +saying of Solomon, The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and +madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to +the dead, Eccles. 9. 3. To the dead! that is, to the dead in Hell, to +the damned dead; the place to which those that have dyed Bad men are +gone, and that those that live Bad men are like to go to, when a little +more sin, like stollen waters, hath been imbibed by their sinful souls. + +That which has made me publish this Book is, + +1. For that wickedness like a flood is like to drown our English +world: it begins already to be above the tops of mountains; it has +almost swallowed up all; our Youth, our Middle age, Old age, and all, +are almost carried away of this flood. O Debauchery, Debauchery, what +hast thou done in England! Thou hast corrupted our Young men, and hast +made our Old men beasts; thou hast deflowered our Virgins, and hast +made Matrons Bawds. Thou hast made our earth to reel to and fro like +a drunkard; ’tis in danger to be removed like a Cottage, yea, it is, +because transgression is so heavy upon it, like to fall and rise no +more. Isa. 24. 20. + +O! that I could mourn for England, and for the sins that are committed +therein, even while I see that without repentance, the men of Gods +wrath are about to deal with us, each having his slaughtering weapon in +his hand: (Ezek. 9. 1, 2.) Well, I have written, and by Gods assistance +shall pray, that this flood may abate in England: and could I but see +the tops of the Mountains above it, I should think that these waters +were abating. + +2. It is the duty of those that can, to cry out against this deadly +plague, yea, to lift up their voice as with a Trumpet against it; that +men may he awakened about it, flye from it, as from that which is the +greatest of evils. Sin pull’d Angels out of Heaven, pulls men down to +Hell, and overthroweth Kingdoms. Who, that sees an house on fire, will +not give the Allarum to them that dwell therein? who that sees the +Land invaded, will not set the Beacons on a fame? Who, that sees the +Devils, as roaring Lyons, continually devouring souls, will not make an +Out-cry? But above all, when we see sin, sinful sin, a swallowing up a +Nation, sinking of a Nation, and bringing its Inhabitants to temporal, +spiritual, and eternal ruine, shall we not cry out, and cry, They are +drunk, but not with Wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink; +they are intoxicated with the deadly poyson of sin, which will, if its +malignity be not by wholsom means allayed, bring Soul and Body, and +Estate and Countrey, and all, to ruin and destruction? + +3. In and by this my Out-cry, I shall deliver my self from the ruins +of them that perish: for a man can do no more in this matter, I mean +a man in my capacity, than to detect and condemn the wickedness, warn +the evil doer of the Judgment, and fly therefrom my self. But Oh! that +I might not only deliver my self! Oh that many would hear, and turn +at this my cry, from sin! that they may be secured from the death and +Judgment that attend it. + +Why I have handled the matter in this method, is best known to my self: +and why I have concealed most of the Names of the persons whose sins or +punishments I here and there in this Book make relation of, is, + +1. For that neither the sins nor Judgments were all alike open; the +sins of some, were committed, and the Judgments executed for them only +in a corner. Not to say that I could not learn some of their names; for +could I, I should not have made them publick, for this reason. + +2. Because I would not provoke those of their Relations that survive +them; I would not justly provoke them, and yet, as I think, I should, +should I have intailed their punishment to their sins, and both to +their names, and so have turned them into the world. + +3. Nor would I lay them under disgrace and contempt, which would, as I +think, unavoidably have happened unto them had I withall inserted their +Names. + +As for those whose Names I mention, their crimes or Judgments were +manifest; publick almost as any thing of that nature that happeneth to +mortal men. Such therefore have published their own shame by their sin, +and God, his anger, by taking of open vengeance. + +As Job sayes, God has strook them as wicked men in the open sight of +others, Job 34. 26. So that I cannot conceive, since their sin and +Judgment was so conspicuous, that my admonishing the world thereof, +should turn to their detriment: For the publishing of these things, +are, so far as Relation is concerned, intended for remembrancers: That +they may also bethink themselves, repent and turn to God, lest the +Judgments for their sins should prove hereditary. For the God of Heaven +hath threatned to visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, +if they hate him, to the third and fourth generation, Exod. 20. 5. + +Nebuchadnezzars punishment for his pride being open, (for he was for +his sin, driven from his Kingly dignity, and from among men too, to eat +grass like an Ox, and to company with the beasts,) Daniel did not stick +to tell Belshazzar his son to his face thereof; nor to publish it that +it might be read and remembred by the generations to come. The same may +be said of Judas and Ananias, &c. for their sin and punishment were +known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem, Acts 1. Chap. 5. + +Nor is it a sign but of desperate impenitence and hardness of heart, +when the offspring or relations of those who have fallen by open, +fearfull and prodigious Judgments, for their sin, shall overlook, +forget, pass by, or take no notice of such high outgoings of God +against them and their house. Thus Daniel aggravates Belshazzars crime, +for that he hardened his heart in pride, though he knew that for that +very sin and transgression his father was brought down from his height, +and made to be a companion for Asses. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, +sayes he, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this. +Dan. 5. A home reproof indeed, but home is most fit for an open and +continued-in transgression. + +Let those then that are the Offspring or relations of such, who by +their own sin, and the dreadfull Judgments of God, are made to become +a sign, (Deut. 16. 9, 10.) having been swept, as dung, from off the +face of the earth, beware, lest when Judgment knocks at their door, for +their sins, as it did before at the door of their Pregenitors, it falls +also with as heavy a stroak as on them that went before them: Lest, I +say, they in that day, instead of finding mercy, find for their high, +daring, and Judgment-affronting-sins, Judgment without mercy. + +To conclude, let those that would not dye Mr. Badmans death, take heed +of Mr. Badmans wayes: for his wayes bring to his end; Wickedness will +not deliver him that is given to it; though they should cloak all with +a Profession of Religion. + +If it was a transgression of Old, for a man to wear a Womans Apparel, +surely it is a transgression now for a sinner to wear a Christian +Profession for a Cloak. Wolves in Sheeps Cloathing swarm in England +this day: Wolves both as to Doctrine, and as to Practice too. Some men +make a Profession, I doubt, on purpose that they may twist themselves +into a Trade; and thence into an Estate; yea, and if need be, into an +Estate Knavishly, by the ruins of their Neighbour: let such take heed, +for those that do such things have the greater damnation. + +Christian, make thy Profession shine by a Conversation according to +the Gospel: Or else thou wilt damnifie Religion, bring scandal to thy +Brethren, and give offence to the Enemies; and ’twould be better that a +Millstone was hanged about thy neck, and that thou, as so adorned, wast +cast into the bottom of the Sea, than so to do. + +Christian, a Profession according to the Gospel, is, in these dayes, a +rare thing; seek then after it, put it on, and keep it without spot; +and (as becomes thee) white, and clean, and thou shalt be a rare +Christian. + +The Prophecy of the last times is, that professing men (for so I +understand the Text) s[h]all be, many of them, base; (2 Tim. 3.) but +continue thou in the things that thou hast learned, not of wanton men, +not of licentious times, but of the Word and Doctrine of God, that is +according to Godliness; and thou shalt walk with Christ in white. + +Now God Almighty give his people Grace, not to hate or malign Sinners +nor yet to choose any of their wayes, but to keep themselves pure from +the blood of all men, by speaking and doing according to that Name and +those Rules that they profess to know, and love; for Jesus Christs sake. + + John Bunyan. + + + + +Books lately Printed for and Sold by Nathaniel Ponder at the Peacock in +the Poultrey, neer the Church. + + +Biblia Sacra, sive Testamentum Vetus, ab Im. Tremellio & Fr. Junio ex +Hebræo Latinè redditum. Et Testamentum Novum à Theod. Beza è Græco +in Latinum versum. Argumentis Capitum additis versibúsque singulis +distinctis, & seorsum expressis. 12°. + +Χριστολογία, Or, A Declaration of the Glorious Mystery of the Person of +Christ, God and Man. With the Infinite Wisdom, Love and Power of God in +the contrivance and constitution thereof. As also of the Grounds and +Reasons of his Incarnation, the nature of his Ministry in Heaven, the +present State of the Church above thereon, and the Use of his Person +in Religion. With an Account and Vindication of the Honour, Worship, +Faith, Love, and Obedience due unto him, in and from the Church. By +John Owen, D.D. + +Divine Breathings: or a Manual of practical Contemplations, in one +Century: Tending to promote Gospel-Principles, and a good Conversation +in Christ. Comprizing in brief many of those great Truths that are to +be known and practised by a Christian. By T.S. + +Youth’s Comedy, or the Souls Tryals and Triumph: a Dramatick Poem. With +Divers Meditations intermixt upon several Subjects. Set forth to help +and encourage those that are seeking a Heavenly Country. By the Author +of Youth’s Tragedy. + +A Treatise of the Fear of God: shewing what it is, and how +distinguished from that which is not so. Also Whence it comes. Who has +it. What are the Effects. And What the Priviledges of those that have +it in their hearts. By John Bunyan. + +The Tragical History of Jetzer: Or, a Faithful Narrative of the +Feigned Visions, Counterfeit Revelations, and false Miracles of the +Dominican Fathers of the Covent of Bern in Switzerland, to Propagate +their Superstitions. For which Horrid Impieties, the Prior, Sub-Prior, +Lecturer, and Receiver of the said Covent were Burnt at a Stake, Anno +Dom. 1509. Collected From the Records of the said City by the Care +of Sir William Waller, Knight. Translated from his French Copy by an +Impartial Pen, and now made Publick for the Information of English +Protestants, who may hence learn, that Catholicks will stick at no +Villanies which may Advance their Designs, nor at any Perjuries that +may Conceal them. With an Epistle, wherein are some soft and gentle +Reflections upon the Lying, Dying Speeches of the Jesuites lately +Executed at Tyburn. The Second Edition. + +The Pilgrims Progress from this World to that which is to come: +Delivered in the Similitude of a Dream. By John Bunyan. This fourth +Impression hath the Authors Picture and many Additions. + +There is now in the Press, and will be suddenly published, An +Exposition on the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10th Chapters on the Hebrews: Being a +Third Volume. By John Owen, D.D. + + + + +ERRATA. + + +Page 127. line 8. for amated read amazed, p. 149. l. 15. for herbaps r. +perhaps, p. 162. l. 3, & 4. for diababolical r. diabolical, p. 287. l. 9. +for, for r. so, p. 304. for reputation r. repentance. + + + + +THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MR. BADMAN + + +Presented to the World in a Familiar DIALOGUE Betwixt Mr. _WISEMAN_, +And, Mr. _ATTENTIVE_. + +_Wiseman_. + +Good morrow my good Neighbour, Mr. Attentive; whither are you walking +so early this morning? methinks you look as if you were concerned about +something more than ordinary. Have you lost any of your Cattel, or what +is the matter? + +Attentive. Good Sir, Good morrow to you, I have not as yet lost ought, +but yet you give a right ghess of me, for I am, as you say, concerned +in my heart, but ’tis because of the badness of the times. And Sir, +you, as all our Neighbours know, are a very observing man, pray +therefore what do you think of them? + +Wise. Why? I think, as you say, to wit, that they are bad times, and +bad they will be, untill men are better: for they are bad men that +make bad times; if men therefore would mend, so would the times. ’Tis +a folly to look for good dayes, so long as sin is so high, and those +that study its nourishment so many. God bring it down, and those that +nourish it to Repentance, and then my good Neighbour, you will be +concerned, not as you are now: Now you are concerned because times are +so bad; but then you will be so, ’cause times are so good: Now you are +concerned so as to be perplexed, but then you will be concerned so as +to lift up your voice with shouting; for I dare say, could you see such +dayes they would make you shout. + +Atten. Ai, so they would, such times I have prayed for, such times I +have longed for: but I fear they’l be worse before they be better. + +Wise. Make no Conclusions, man: for he that hath the hearts of men +in his hand, can change them from worse to better, and so bad times +into good. God give long life to them that are good, and especially to +those of them that are capable of doing him service in the world. The +Ornament and Beauty of this lower World, next to God and his Wonders, +are the men that spangle and shine in godliness. + +Now as Mr. Wiseman said this, he gave a great sigh. + +Atten. Amen. Amen. But why, good Sir, do you sigh so deeply? is it for +ought else than that for the which as you have perceived, I my self am +concerned? + +Wise. I am concerned with you, for the badness of the times; but that +was not the cause of that sigh, of the which, as I see, you take +notice. I sighed at the remembrance of the death of that man for whom +the Bell tolled at our Town yesterday. + +Atten. Why? I trow, Mr. Goodman your Neighbour is not dead. Indeed I +did hear that he had been sick. + +Wise. No, no, it is not he. Had it been he, I could not but have been +concerned, but yet not as I am concerned now. If he had died, I should +only have been concerned for that the world had lost a Light: but the +man that I am concerned for now, was one that never was good, therefore +such an one who is not dead only, but damned. He died that he might +die, he went from Life to Death, and then from Death to Death, from +Death Natural to death Eternal. And as he spake this, the water stood +in his eyes. + +Atten. Indeed, to goe from a death-bed to Hell is a fearful thing to +think on. But good Neighbour Wiseman, be pleased to tell me who this +man was, and why you conclude him so miserable in his death? + +Wise. Well, if you can stay, I will tell you who he was, and why I +conclude thus concerning him. + +Atten. My leisure will admit me to stay, and I am willing to hear you +out. And I pray God your discourse may take hold on my heart, that I +may be bettered thereby. So they agreed to sit down under a tree: Then +Mr. Wiseman proceeded as followeth. + +Wise. The man that I mean, is one Mr. Badman; he has lived in our Town +a great while, and now, as I said, he is dead. But the reason of my +being so concerned at his death, is, not for that he was at all related +to me, or for that any good conditions died with him, for he was far +from them, but for that, as I greatly fear, he hath, as was hinted +before, died two deaths at once. + +Atten. I perceive what you mean by two deaths at once; and to speak +truth, ’tis a fearfull thing thus to have ground to think of any: for +although the death of the ungodly and sinners is laid to heart but of +few, yet to die in such a state, is more dreadful and fearful than any +man can imagine. Indeed if a man had no Soul, if his state was not +truely Immortal, the matter would not be so much; but for a man to be +so disposed of by his Maker, as to be appointed a sensible being for +ever, and for him too to fall into the hands of revenging Justice, +that will be always, to the utmost extremity that his sin deserveth, +punishing of him in the dismal dungeon of Hell, this must needs be +unutterably sad, and lamentable. + +Wise. There is no man, I think, that is sensible of the worth of one +Soul, but must, when he hears of the death of unconverted men, be +stricken with sorrow and grief: because, as you said well, that mans +state is such, that he has a sensible being for ever. For ’tis sense +that makes punishment heavy. But yet sense is not all that the Damned +have, they have sense and reason too; so then, as Sense receiveth +punishment with sorrow because it feels, and bleeds under the same, +so by Reason, and the exercise thereof, in the midst of torment, all +present Affliction is aggravated, and that three manner of wayes: + +1. Reason will consider thus with himself; For what am I thus +tormented? and will easily find ’tis for nothing but that base and +filthy thing, Sin; and now will Vexation be mixed with Punishment, and +that will greatly heighten the Affliction. + +2. Reason will consider thus with himself. How long must this be my +state? And will soon return to himself this Answer: This must be my +state for ever and ever. Now this will greatly increase the torment. + +3. Reason will consider thus with himself; What have I lost more than +present ease and quiet by my sins that I have committed? And will +quickly return himself this answer: I have lost Communion with God, +Christ, Saints and Angels, and a share in Heaven and eternal Life: And +this also must needs greaten the misery of poor damned souls. And this +is the case of Mr. Badman. + +Atten. I feel my heart even shake at the thoughts of coming into such +a state. Hell! who knows that is yet alive, what the torments of Hell +are? This word Hell gives a very dreadful sound. + +Wise. Ai, so it does in the ears of him that has a tender Conscience. +But if, as you say, and that truly, the very Name of Hell, is so +dreadful, what is the Place it self, and what are the Punishments that +are there inflicted, and that without the least intermission, upon the +Souls of damned men, for ever and ever. + +Atten. Well, but passing this; my leisure will admit me to stay, and +therefore pray tell me what it is that makes you think that Mr. Badman +is gone to Hell. + +Wise. I will tell you. But first do you know which of the Badmans I +mean? + +Atten. Why was there more of them than one? + +Wise. O, yes, a great many, both Brothers and Sisters, and yet all of +them the Children of a godly Parent, the more a great deal is the pity. + +Atten. Which of them therefore was it that died. + +Wise. The eldest, old in years, and old in sin; but the sinner that +dies an hundred years old shall be accursed. + +Atten. Well, but what makes you think he is gone to Hell? + +Wise. His wicked life, and fearful death, specially since the Manner of +his death was so corresponding with his life. + +Atten. Pray let me know the manner of his death, if your self did +perfectly know it. + +Wise. I was there when he died: But I desire not to see another such +man (while I live) die in such sort as he did. + +Atten. Pray therefore let me hear it. + +Wise. You say you have leisure and can stay, and therefore, if you +please, we will discourse even orderly of him. First, we will begin +with his Life, and then proceed to his Death: Because a relation of the +first may the more affect you, when you shall hear of the second. + +Atten. Did you then so well know his Life? + +Wise. I knew him of a Child. I was a man, when he was but a boy, and I +made special observation of him from first to last. + +Atten. Pray then let me hear from you an account of his Life; but be as +brief as you can, for I long to hear of the manner of his death. + +Wise. I will endeavour to answer your desires, and first, I will tell +you, that from a Child he was very bad: his very beginning was ominous, +and presaged that no good end, was, in likelyhood, to follow thereupon. +There were several sins that he was given to, when but a little +one, that manifested him to be notoriously infected with Or[i]ginal +corruption; for I dare say he learned none of them of his Father or +Mother; nor was he admitted to go much abroad among other Children, +that were vile, to learn to sin of them: Nay, contrariwise, if at any +time he did get abroad amongst others, he would be as the Inventer of +bad words, and an example in bad actions. To them all he used to be, as +we say, the Ring-leader, and Master-sinner from a Childe. + +Atten. This was a bad Beginning indeed, and did demonstrate that he +was, as you say, polluted, very much polluted with Original Corruption. +For to speak my mind freely, I do confess, that it is mine opinion, +that Children come polluted with sin into the World, and that oft-times +the sins of their youth, especially while they are very young, are +rather by vertue of Indwelling sin, than by examples that are set +before them by others. Not but that they learn to sin by example too, +but Example is not the root, but rather the Temptation unto wickedness. +The root is sin within; for from within, out of the heart of man +proceedeth sin. {20a} {20b} + +Wise. I am glad to hear that you are of this opinion, and to confirm +what you have said by a few hints from the Word. Man in his birth is +compared to an Ass, (an unclean Beast) and to a wretched Infant in +its blood: besides, all the first-born of old that were offered unto +the Lord, were to be redeemed at the age of a month, and that was +before they were sinners by imitation. The Scripture also affirmeth, +{21a} that by the sin of one, Judgement came upon all; and renders +this reason, for that all have sinned: nor is that Objection worth a +rush, That Christ by his death hath taken away Original Sin. First, +Because it is Scriptureless. Secondly, Because it makes them incapable +of Salvation by Christ; for none but those that in their own Persons +are sinners, are to have Salvation by him. Many other things might be +added, but between persons so well agreed as you and I are, these may +suffice at present: but when an Antagonist comes to deal with us about +this matter, then we have for him often other strong Arguments, if he +be an Antagonist worth the taking notice of. {21b} + +Atten. But, as was hinted before, he used to be the Ring-leading +Sinner, or the Master of mischief among other children; yet these are +but Generals; pray therefore tell me in Particular which were the sins +of his Childhood. + +Wise. I will so. When he was but a Child, he was so addicted to Lying, +{21c} that his Parents scarce knew when to believe he spake true; yea, +he would invent, tell, and stand to the Lyes that he invented and told, +and that with such an audacious face, that one might even read in his +very countenance the symptoms of an hard and desperate heart this way. + +Atten. This was an ill beginning indeed, and argueth that he began to +harden himself in sin betimes. For a lye cannot be knowingly told and +stood in, (and I perceive that this was his manner of way in Lying) +but he must as it were force his own heart into it. Yea, he must make +his heart {21d} hard, and bold to doe it: Yea, he must be arrived to +an exceeding pitch of wickedness thus to doe, since all this he did +against that good education, that before you seemed to hint, he had +from his Father and Mother. + +Wise. The want of good Education, as you have intimated, is many times +a cause why Children doe so easily, so soon, become bad; especially +when there is not only a want of that, but bad Examples enough, as, the +more is the pity, there is in many Families; by vertue of which poor +Children are trained up in Sin, and nursed therein for the Devil and +Hell. But it was otherwise with Mr. Badman, for to my knowledge, this +his way of Lying, was a great grief to his Parents, for their hearts +were much dejected at this beginning of their Son; nor did there want +Counsel and Correction from them to him, if that would have made him +better. He wanted not to be told, in my hearing, and that over and over +and over, That all Lyars should have their part in the Lake that burns +with fire and brimstone; and that whosoever loveth and maketh a lye, +should not have any part in the new and heavenly Jerusalem: {22a} But +all availed nothing with him; when a fit, or an occasion to lie, came +upon him, he would invent, tell, and stand to his Lie (as steadfastly +as if it had been the biggest of truths,) that he told, and that with +that hardening of his heart and face, that it would be to those that +stood by, a wonder. Nay, and this he would doe when under the rod of +correction which is appointed by God for Parents to use, that thereby +they might keep their Children from Hell. {22b} + +Atten. Truly it was, as I said, a bad beginning, he served the Devil +betimes; yea he became a Nurse to one of his {22c} Brats, for a spirit +of Lying is the Devils Brat, {22d} for he is a Liar and the Father of +it. + +Wise. Right, he is the Father of it indeed. A Lie is begot by the +Devil, as the Father, and is brought forth by the wicked heart, as the +Mother: wherefore another Scripture also saith, Why hath Satan filled +thy heart to lye, {22e} &c. Yea, he calleth the heart that is big +with a lye, an heart that hath Conceived, that is, by the Devil. Why +hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart, thou hast not lied unto +men, but unto God. True, his lye was a lye of the highest nature, but +every lye hath the {22f} same Father and Mother as had the lie last +spoken of. For he is a lier, and the Father of it. A lie then is the +Brat of Hell, and it cannot {23a} be in the heart before the person +has committed a kind of spiritual Adultery with the Devil. That Soul +therefore that telleth a known lie, has lien with, and conceived it by +lying with the Devil, the only Father of lies. For a lie has only one +Father and Mother, the Devil and the Heart. No marvel therefore if the +hearts that hatch and bring forth Lies, be so much of complexion with +the Devil. Yea, no marvel though God and Christ have so bent their Word +against lyers: a lyer is weded to the Devil himself. + +Atten. It seems a marvellous thing in mine eyes, that since a lye is +the Offspring of the devill, and since a lye brings the soul to the +very den of Devils, to wit, the dark dungeon of hell; that men should +be so desperately wicked as to accustom themselves to so horrible a +thing. + +Wise. It seems also marvellous to me, specially when I observe for how +little a matter some men will study, contrive, make and tell a lye. You +shall have some that will lye it over and over, and that for a peny +{23b} profit. Yea, lye and stand in it, although they know that they +lye: yea, you shall have some men that will not stick to tell lye after +lye, though themselves get nothing thereby; They will tell lyes in +their ordinary discourse with their Neighbours, also their News, their +Jests, and their Tales must needs be adorned with lyes; or else they +seem to bear no good sound to the ear, nor shew much to the fancie of +him to whom they are told. But alas, what will these lyers doe, when, +for their lyes they shall be tumbled down into hell, to that Devil that +did beget those lyes in their heart, and so be tormented by fire and +brimstone, with him, and that for ever and ever, for their lyes? + +Atten. Can you not give one some example of Gods Judgements upon lyers, +that one may tell them to lyers when one hears them lye, if perhaps +they may by the hearing thereof, be made afraid, and ashamed to lye. + +Wise. Examples! why, {23c} Saphira and his wife are examples enough +to put a stop, one would think, to a spirit addicted thereto, for +they both were stricken down dead for telling a lye, and that by God +himself, in the midst of a company of people. But if Gods threatning of +Liers with Hell-fire, and with the loss of the Kingdom of Heaven, will +not prevail with them to leave off to lie and make lies, it cannot be +imagined that a relation of temporal Judgements that have swept liers +out of the World heretofore, should do it. Now, as I said, this Lying +was one of the first sins that Mr. Badman was addicted to, and he could +make them and tell them fearfully. + +Atten. I am sorry to hear this of him, and so much the more because, as +I fear, this sin did not reign in him {24a} alone; for usually one that +is accustomed to lying, is also accustomed to other evils besides, and +if it were not so also with Mr. Badman, it would be indeed a wonder. + +Wise. You say true, the lier is a Captive slave of more than the spirit +of lying: and therefore this Mr. Badman, as he was a lier from a Child, +so he was also much given to {24b} pilfer and steal, so that what he +could, as we say, handsomly lay his hands on, that was counted his own, +whether they were the things of his fellow Children; or if he could lay +hold of any thing at a Neighbours house, he would take it away; you +must understand me of Trifles; for being let but a Child he attempted +no great matter, especially at first. But yet as he grew up in strength +and ripeness of wit, so he attempted to pilfer and steal things still +of more value than at first. He took at last great pleasure in robbing +of Gardens and Orchards; and as he grew up, to steal Pullen from the +Neighbourhood: Yea, what was his {24c} Fathers, could not escape his +fingers, all was Fish that came to his Net, so hardened, at last, was +he in this mischief also. + +Atten. You make me wonder more and more. What, play the Thief too! +What play the Thief so soon! He could not but know, though he was but +a Child, that what he took from others, was none of his own. Besides, +if his Father was a good man, as you say, it could not be, but he must +also hear from him, that to steal was to transgress the Law of God, and +so to run the hazard of eternal Damnation. + +Wise. His Father was not wanting to use the means to reclaim him, often +urging, as I have been told, that saying in the Law of Moses, {24d} +Thou shalt not steal: And also that, This is the Curse that goeth forth +over the face of the whole earth, for every one that stealeth shall be +cut off, &c. {25a} The light of Nature also, though he was little, must +needs shew him that what he took from others, was not his own, and that +he would not willingly have been served so himself. But all was to no +purpose, let Father and Conscience say what they would to him, he would +go on, he was resolved to go on in his wickedness. + +Atten. But his Father would, as you intimate, sometimes rebuke him for +his wickedness; pray how would he carry it then? + +Wise. How! why, like to a Thief that is found. He would stand {25b} +gloating, and hanging down his head in a sullen, pouching manner, (a +body might read, as we use to say, the picture of Ill-luck in his +face,) and when his Father did demand his answer to such questions +concerning his Villany, he would grumble and mutter at him, and that +should be all he could get. + +Atten. But you said that he would also rob his Father, methinks that +was an unnatural thing. + +Wise. Natural or unnatural, all is one to a Thief. Beside, you +must think that he had likewise Companions to whom he was, for the +wickedness that he saw in them, more {25c} firmly knit, than either to +Father or Mother. Yea, and what had he cared if Father and Mother had +died for grief for him. Their death would have been, as he would have +counted, great release and liberty to him: For the truth is, they and +their counsel was his Bondage; yea, and if I forget not, I have heard +some say, that when he was, at times, among his Companions, he would +greatly {25d} rejoyce to think that his Parents were old, and could not +live long, and then, quoth he, I shall be mine own man, to do what I +list without their controul. + +Atten. Then it seems he counted that robbing of his Parents was no +crime. + +Wise. None at all, and therefore he fell directly under that +Sentence, Whoso robbeth his Father or his Mother, and saith it is no +transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer. And for that +he set so light by them as to their Persons and Counsels, ’twas a sign +that at present he was of a very abominable spirit, {26a} and that some +Judgement waited to take hold of him in time to come. + +Atten. But can you imagin what it was, I mean, in his conceit (for I +speak not now of the suggestions of Satan, by which doubtless he was +put on to do these things,) I say what it should be in his conceit, +that should make him think that this his manner of pilfering and +stealing was no great matter. + +Wise. It was, for that, the things that he stole, were small; to rob +Orchards, and Gardens, and to steal Pullen, and the like, these he +counted {26b} Tricks of Youth, nor would he be beat out of it by all +that his Friends could say. They would tell him that he must not covet, +or desire, (and yet to desire, is less than to take) even any thing, +the least thing that was his Neighbours, and that if he did, it would +be a transgression of the Law; but all was one to him: what through +the wicked Talk of his Companions, and the delusion of his own corrupt +heart, he would go on in his pilfering course, and where he thought +himself secure, would talk of, and laugh at it when he had done. + +[Picture: Take note symbol] Atten. Well, I heard a man once, when he +was upon the Ladder with the Rope about his Neck, confess (when ready +to be turned off by the Hangman) that that which had brought him to +that end, was his accustoming of himself, when young, to pilfer and +steal small things. To my best remembrance he told us, that he began +the trade of a Thief by stealing Pins and Points, and therefore did +forewarn all the Youth, that then were gathered together to see him +die, to take heed of beginning, though but with little sins, because by +tampering at first with little ones, way is made for the commission of +bigger. + +Wise. Since you are entred upon Storyes, I also will tell you one, the +which, {26d} though I heard it not with mine own Ears, yet my Author I +dare believe: {26e} It is concerning one old Tod, that was hanged about +Twenty years agoe, or more, at Hartford, for being a Thief. The Story +is this: + +[Picture: Take note symbol] At a Summer Assizes holden at Hartfor[d], +while the Judge was sitting upon the Bench, comes this old Tod into +the Court, cloathed in a green Suit, with his Leathern Girdle in his +hand, his Bosom open, and all on a dung sweat, as if he had run for +his Life; and being come in, he spake aloud as follows: {27} My Lord, +said he, Here is the veryest Rogue that breaths upon the face of the +earth. I have been a Thief from a Child: When I was but a little one, I +gave my self to rob Orchards, and to do other such like wicked things, +and I have continued a Thief ever since. My Lord, there has not been a +Robbery committed thus many years within so many miles if this place, +but I have either been at it, or privy to it. + +The Judge thought the fellow was mad, but after some conference with +some of the Justices, they agreed to Indict him; and so they did of +several felonious Actions; to all which he heartily confessed Guilty, +and so was hanged with his Wife at the same time. + +Atten. This is a remarkable Story indeed, and you think it is a true +one. + +Wise. It is not only remarkable, but pat to our purpose. This Thief, +like Mr. Badman, began his Trade betimes; he began too where Mr. Badman +began, even at robbing of Orchards, and other such things, which +brought him, as you may perceive, from sin to sin, till at last it +brought him to the publick shame of sin, which is the Gallows. + +As for the truth of this Story, the Relator told me that he was at the +same time himself in the Court, and stood within less than two yards of +old Tod, when he heard him aloud to utter the words. + +Atten. These two sins of lying and stealing were a bad sign of an evil +end. + +Wise. So they were, and yet Mr. Badman came not to his end like old +Tod; Though I fear, to as bad, nay, worse than was that death of the +Gallows, though less discerned by spectators; but more of that by and +by. But you talk of these two sins as if these were all that Mr. Badman +was addicted to in his Youth: Alas, alas, he swarmed with sins, even as +a Begger does with Vermin, and that when he was but a Boy. + +Atten. Why what other sins was he addicted to, I mean while he was but +a Child? + +Wise. You need not ask, to what other sins was he, but to what other +sins was he not addicted, that is, of such as suited with his Age: for +a man may safely say, that nothing that was vile came amiss to him; if +he was but capable to do it. Indeed some sins there be that Childhood +knows not how to be tampering with; but I speak of sins that he was +capable of committing, of which I will nominate two or three more. And, + +First, He could not endure the {28a} Lords Day, because of the Holiness +that did attend it; the beginning of that Day was to him as if he was +going to Prison, (except he could get out from his Father and Mother, +and lurk in by-holes among his Companions, untill holy Duties were +over.) Reading the Scriptures, hearing Sermons, godly Conference, +repeating of Sermons, and Prayer, were things that he could not away +with; and therefore if his Father on such days, (as often he did, +though sometimes notwithstanding his diligence, he would be sure to +give him the slip) did keep him strictly to the observation of the day, +he would plainly shew by all carriages that he was highly discontent +therewith: he would sleep at Duties, would talk vainly with his +Brothers, and as it were, think every godly opportunity seven times as +long as it was, gruding till it was over. + +Atten. This his abhorring of that day, was not, I think, for the sake +of the day itself: for as it is a day, it is nothing else but as other +days of the Week: But I suppose that the {28b} reason of his loathing +of it, was, for that God hath put sanctity and holiness upon it; also +because it is the day above all the days of the week that ought to be +spent in holy Devotion, in remembrance of our Lords Resurrection from +the dead. + +Wise. Yes, ’twas therefore, that he was such an enemy to it, even +because more restraint was laid upon him on that day, from his own +ways, than were possible should be laid upon him on all others. + +Atten. Doth not God by instituting of a day unto holy Duties, make +great proof how the hearts and inclinations of poor people do stand to +Holiness of heart, and a Conversation in [h]oly duties? + +Wise. {29a} Yes doubtless; and a man shall shew his Heart and his Life +what they are, more by one Lords-day, than by all the days of the week +besides: And the reason is, because on the Lords-day there is a special +restraint laid upon men as to Thoughts and Life, more than upon other +days of the week besides. Also, men are enjoyned on that day to a +stricter performance of holy Duties, and restraint of worldly business, +than upon other days they are; wherefore, if their hearts incline not +naturally to good, now they will shew it, now they will appear what +they are. The Lords Day is a kind of an Emblem of the heavenly Sabbath +above, and it makes manifest how the heart stands to the perpetuity of +Holiness, more than to be found in a transient Duty, does. + +On other days a man may be in and out of holy Duties, and all in a +quarter of an hour; but now, the Lords Day is, as it were, a day that +enjoyns to one perpetual Duty of Holiness: Remember that thou keep +holy the Sabbath day, {29b} (which by Christ is not abrogated, but +changed, into the First of the week,) not as it was given in particular +to the Jews, but as it was sanctified by him from the Beginning of +the world; and therefore is a greater proof of the frame and temper +of a mans heart, and does more make manifest to what he is inclined, +than doth his other performance of Duties: Therefore God puts great +difference between them that truly call (and walk in) this day as holy, +and count it Honourable, {29c} upon the account that now they have +an opportunity to shew how they delight to honour him; {29d} in that +they have, not only an Hour, but a whole Day to shew it in: I say, he +puts great difference between these, and that other sort that say, +When will the Sabbath be gone, that we may be at our worldly business. +{29e} The first he calleth a Blessed man, but brandeth the other for +an unsanctified worldling. And indeed, to delight ourselves in Gods +service upon his Holy days, gives a better proof of a sanctified +Nature, than to grudge at the coming, and to be weary of the holy +duties of such dayes, as Mr. Badman did. + +Atten. There may be something in what you say, for he that cannot abide +to keep one day holy to God, to be sure he hath given a sufficient +proof that he is an unsanctified man; and as such, what should he do +in Heaven? that being the place where a perpetual Sabath is to be kept +to God; {30a} I say, to be kept for ever and ever. And for ought I +know, one reason why one day in seven, hath been by our Lord set apart +unto holy Duties for men, may be to give them conviction that there +is enmity in the hearts of sinners to the God of Heaven, for he that +hateth Holiness, hateth God himself. They pretend to love God, and +yet love not a holy day, and yet love not to spend that day in one +continued act of holiness to the Lord: They had as good say nothing as +to call him Lord, Lord, and yet not doe the things that he says. And +this Mr. Badman was such an one: he could not abide this day, nor any +of the Duties of it. Indeed, when he could get from his Friends, and +so {30b} spend it in all manner of idleness and profaneness, then he +would be pleased well enough: but what was this but a turning the day +into night, or other than taking an opportunity at Gods forbidding, +to follow our Callings, to solace and satisfie our lusts and delights +of the flesh. I take the liberty to speak thus of Mr. Badman, upon a +confidence of what you, Sir, have said of him, is true. + +Wise. You needed not to have made that Apology for your censuring of +Mr. Badman, for all that knew him, will confirm what you said of him +to be true. He could not abide either that day, or any thing else that +had the stamp or image of God upon it. Sin, sin, and to do the thing +that was naught, was that which he delighted in, and that from a little +Child. + +Atten. I must say again, I am sorry to hear it, and that for his own +sake, and also for the sake of his Relations, who must needs be broken +to pieces with such doings as these: For, for these things sake comes +the wrath of God upon the Children of disobedience: {30c} and doubtless +he must be gone to Hell, if he died without Repentance; and to beget a +Child for Hell, is sad for Parents to think on. + +Wise. Of his Dying, as I told you, I will give you a Relation anon, +but now we are upon his Life, and upon the Manner of his Life in his +Childhood, even of the sins that attended him then, some of which I +have mentioned already; and indeed I have mentioned but some, for yet +there are more to follow, and those not at all inferiour to what you +have already heard. + +Atten. Pray what were they? + +Wise. Why he was greatly given, and that while a Lad, to grievous +{31a} Swearing and Cursing: yea, he then made no more of Swearing and +Cursing, than I do of telling my fingers. Yea, he would do it without +provocation thereto. He counted it a glory to Swear and Curse, and it +was as natural to him, as to eat and drink and sleep. + +Atten. Oh! what a young Villain was this! here is, as the Apostle says, +a yielding of Members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, {31b} +indeed! This is proceeding from evil to evil with a witness; This +argueth that he was a black-mouthed young Wretch indeed. + +Wise. He was so; and yet, as I told you, he counted, above all, this +kind of sinning, to be {31c} a Badge of his Honour: He reckoned himself +a mans Fellow when he had learnt to Swear and Curse boldly. + +Atten. I am perswaded that many do think, as you have said, that to +Swear, is a thing that does bravely become them, and that it is the +best way for a man, when he would put authority, or terrour into his +words, to stuff them full of the sin of Swearing. + +Wise. You say right, else, as I am perswaded, men would not so usually +belch out their blasphemous Oaths, as they do: they take a pride in it; +they think that to swear is Gentleman-like; and having once accustomed +themselves unto it, they hardly leave it all the days of their lives. + +Atten. Well, but now we are upon it, pray shew me {31d} the difference +between Swearing and Cursing; for there is a difference, is there not? + +Wise. Yes: There is a difference between Swearing and Cursing, +Swearing, vain swearing, such as young Badman accustomed himself unto. +Now vain and sinful swearing, {31e} Is a light and wicked calling of +God, &c. to witness to our vain and foolish attesting of things, and +those things are of two sorts. + +1. Things that we swear, are, or shall be done. + +2. Things so sworn to, true or false. + +1. Things that we swear, are, or shall be done. Thou swearest thou +hast done such a thing, that such a thing is so, or shall be so; for +it is no matter which of these it is that men swear about, if it be +done lightly and wickedly, and groundlesly, it is vain, because it is +a sin against the Third Commandement, which says, Thou shalt not take +the Name of the Lord thy God in vain. {32a} For this is a vain using +of that Holy and Sacred Name, and so a sin for which, without sound +Repentance, there is not, nor can be rightly expected, forgiveness. + +Atten. Then it seems, though as to the matter of fact, a man swears +truely, yet if he sweareth lightly and groundlesly, his Oath is evil, +and he by it, under sin. + +Wise. Yes; a man may say, {32b} The Lord liveth, and that is true, and +yet in so saying, swear falsly; because he sweareth vainly, needlesly, +and without a ground. To swear groundedly and necessarily, (which then +a man does, when he swears as being called thereto of God,) that is +tolerated of the Word: but this was none of Mr. Badmans swearing, and +therefore that which now we are not concerned about. + +Atten. I perceive, by the Prophet, that a man may sin in swearing +to a Truth: They therefore must needs most horribly sin, that swear +to confirm their Jests and Lies; and as they think, the better to +beautifie their foolish talking. + +Wise. They sin with an high hand; for they presume to imagine, {32c} +that God is as wicked as themselves, to wit, that he is an Avoucher +of Lies to be true. For, as I said before, to swear, is to call God +to witness; and to swear to a Lie, is to call God himself, to witness +that that Lie is true. This therefore must needs offend; for it puts +the highest affront upon the Holiness and Righteousness of God, +therefore his wrath must sweep them away. This kind of Swearing is put +in with lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing Adultery; and +therefore must not go unpunished: {32d} For if God will not hold him +guiltless that taketh his Name in vain, which a man may doe when he +swears to a truth, (as I have shewed before,) how can it be imagined, +that he should hold such guiltless, who, by Swearing, will appeal to +God, if Lies be not true, or that swear out of their frantick and +Bedlam madness. It would grieve and provoke a sober man to wrath, if +one should swear to a notorious lye, and avouch that that man would +attest it for a truth; and yet thus do men deal with the holy God: They +tell their Jestings, Tales and Lies, and then swear by God that they +are true. Now this kind of Swearing was as common with young Badman, as +it was to eat when he was an hungred, or to go to bed when it was night. + +Atten. I have often mused in my mind, what it should be that should +make men so common in the use of the sin of Swearing, since those that +be wise, will believe them never the sooner for that. + +Wise. It cannot be any thing that is good, you may be sure; because the +thing it self is abominable: {33a} 1. Therefore it must be from the +promptings of the spirit of the Devil within them. 2. Also it flows +sometimes from hellish Rage, when the tongue hath set on fire of Hell +even the whole course of nature. {33b} 3. But commonly Swearing flows +from that daring Boldness that biddeth defiance to the Law that forbids +it. 4. Swearers think also that by their belching of their blasphemous +Oaths out of their black and polluted mouths, they shew themselves the +more valiant men: 5. And imagine also, that by these outrageous kind +of villianies, they shall conquer those that at such a time they have +to do with, and make them believe their lyes to be true. 6. They also +swear frequently to get Gain thereby, and when they meet with fools, +they overcome them this way. But if I might give advice in this matter, +no Buyer should lay out one farthing with him that is a common Swearer +in his Calling; especially with such an Oath-master that endeavoureth +to swear away his commodity to another, and that would swear his +Chapmans money into his own pocket. + +Atten. All these causes of Swearing, so far as I can perceive, flow +from the same Root as doe the Oaths themselves, even from a hardened +and desperate heart. But pray shew me now how wicked cursing is to be +distinguished from this kind of swearing. + +Wise. {34a} Swearing, as I said, hath immediately to do with the Name +of God, and it calls upon him to be witness to the truth of what is +said: That is, if they that swear, swear by him. Some indeed swear by +Idols, as by the Mass, by our Lady, by Saints, Beasts, Birds, and other +creatures; but the usual way of our profane ones in England, is to +swear by God, Christ, Faith, and the like: But however, or by whatever +they swear, Cursing is distinguished from Swearing thus. + +To {34b} Curse, to Curse profanely, it is to sentence another or our +self, for, or to evil: or to wish that some evil might happen to the +person or thing under the Curse, unjustly. + +It is to sentence for, or to evil, (that is, without a cause): Thus +Shimei cursed David: He sentenced him for and to evil unjustly, when +he said to him, Come out, come out thou bloody man, and thou man of +Belial. The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of +Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned, and the Lord hath delivered the +kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and behold thou art taken in +thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. {34c} + +This David calls a grievous Curse. And behold, saith he to Solomon his +Son, thou hast with thee Shimei a Benjamite, which cursed me with a +grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. {34d} + +But what was this Curse? Why, First, It was a wrong sentence past upon +David; Shimei called him Bloody man, man of Belial, when he was not. +Secondly, He sentenced him to the evil that at present was upon him, +for being a bloody man, (that is, against the house of Saul,) when that +present evil overtook David, for quite another thing. + +And we may thus apply it to the {34e} profane ones of our times who in +their rage and envy, have little else in their mouths but a sentence +against their Neighbour for, and to evil unjustly. How common is it +with many, when they are but a little offended with one, to cry, Hang +him, Damn him, Rogue! This is both a sentencing of him for, and to +evil, and is in it self a grievous Curse. + +2. The other kind of Cursing, is to wish that some evil might happen +to, and overtake this or that person or thing: And this kind of +Cursing, Job counted a grievous sin. I have not suffered (says he) my +mouth to sin, {35a} by wishing a curse to his soul; or consequently, to +Body or Estate. This then is a wicked cursing, to wish that evil might +either befall another or our selves: And this kind of cursing young +Badman accustomed himself unto. + +1. He {35b} would wish that evil might befall others; he would wish +their Necks broken, or that their Brains were out, or that the Pox, or +Plague was upon them, and the like: All which is a devilish kind of +cursing, and is become one of the common sins of our age. + +2. He would also as often wish a Curse to himself, saying, Would I +might be hanged, or burned, or that the Devil might fetch me, if it +be not so, or the like. We count the {35c} Damme Blades to be great +Swearers; but when in their hellish fury they say, God-damme me, God +perish me, or the like, they rather curse than swear; yea, curse +themselves, and that with a Wish that Damnation might light upon +themselves; which wish and Curse of theirs, in a little time, they will +see accomplished upon them, even in Hell-fire, if they repent not of +their sins. + +Atten. But did this young Badman accustom himself to such filthy kind +of language? + +Wise. I think I may say, that nothing was more frequent in his mouth, +and that upon the least provocation. Yea he was so versed in such kind +of language, that neither {35d} Father, nor Mother, nor Brother, nor +Sister, nor Servant, no nor the very Cattel that his Father had, could +escape these Curses of his. I say, that even the bruit Beasts when he +drove them, or rid upon them, if they pleased not his humour, they must +be sure to partake of his curse. {35e} He would wish their Necks broke, +their Legs broke, their Guts out, or that the Devil might fetch them, +or the like: and no marvel, for he that is so hardy to wish damnation, +or other bad curses to himself, or dearest relations; will not stick to +wish evil to the silly Beast, in his madness. + +Atten. Well, I see still that this Badman was a desperate villain. But +pray, Sir, since you have gone thus far, now shew me whence this evil +of cursing ariseth, and also what dishonour it bringeth to God; for I +easily discern that it doth bring damnation to the soul. + +Wise. This evil of Cursing ariseth, in general, from the desperate +wickedness of the heart, but particularly from, {36a} {36b} 1. Envie, +which is, as I apprehend, the leading sin to Witchcraft. 2. It also +ariseth from Pride which was the sin of the fallen Angels; 3. It +ariseth too from Scorn and contempt of others: 4. But for a man to +curse himself, must needs arise from desperate Madness. + +The {36c} dishonour that it bringeth to God, is this. It taketh away +from him his Authority, in whose power it is onely, to Bless and Curse; +not to Curse wickedly, as Mr. Badman, but justly, and righteously, +giving by his Curse to those that are wicked, the due Reward of their +deeds. + +Besides, these wicked men, in their wicked cursing of their Neighbour, +&c. do even Curse God himself in his handy work. Man is Gods Image, +and to curse wickedly the Image of God, is to curse God himself. {36d} +Therefore as when men wickedly swear, they rend, and tare Gods Name, +and make him, as much as in them lies, the avoucher and approver of all +their wickedness; so he that curseth and condemneth in this sort his +Neighbour, or that wisheth him evil, curseth, condemneth, and wisheth +evil to the Image of God, and consequently judgeth and condemneth God +himself. + +Suppose that a man should say with his mouth, I wish that the Kings +Picture was burned; would not this mans so saying, render him as an +Enemy to the Person of the King? Even so it is with them that, by +cursing, wish evil to their neighbour, or to themselves, they contemn +the Image, even the Image of God himself. + +Atten. But do you think that the men that do thus, do think that they +do so vilely, so abominably? + +Wise. The question is not what men do believe concerning their sin, but +what Gods Word says of it: If Gods Word says that Swearing and Cursing +are sins, though men should count them for Vertues, their reward will +be a reward for sin, to wit, the damnation of the soul. + +To {37a} curse another, and to swear vainly and falsly, are sins +against the Light of Nature. + +1. To Curse is so, because, whoso curseth another, knows, that at the +same time he would not be so served himself. + +2. To Swear also, is a sin against the same Law: for Nature will tell +me, that I should not lie, and therefore much less Swear to confirm it. +Yea, the Heathens have looked upon Swearing to be a solemn Ordinance of +God, and therefore not to be lightly or vainly used by men, though to +confirm a matter of truth. {37b} + +Atten. But I wonder, since Curseing and Swearing are such evils in the +eyes of God, that he doth not make some Examples to others, for their +committing such wickedness. + +[Picture: Take note symbol] Wise. Alas! so he has, a thousand times +twice told, as may be easily gathered by any observing people in every +Age and Countrey. I could present you with several my self; but waving +the abundance that might be mentioned, I will here present you with +{37c} two; One was that dreadful Judgment of God upon one N. P. at +Wimbleton in Surrey; who, after a horrible fit of Swearing at, and +Cursing of some persons that did not please him, suddenly fell sick, +and in little time died raving, cursing and swearing. + +But above all take that dreadful Story of Dorothy Mately an Inhabitant +of As[h]over in the County of Darby. + +[Picture: Take note symbol] This Dorothy Mately, saith the Relator, +was noted by the people of the Town to be a great Swearer, and Curser, +and Lier, and Thief; (just like Mr. Badman.) And the labour that she +did usually follow, was to wash the Rubbish that came forth of the +Lead Mines, and there to get sparks of Lead-Ore; and her usual way of +asserting of things, was with these kind of Imprecations: I would I +might sink into the earth if it be not so, or I would God would make +the earth open and swallow me up. Now upon the 23. of March, 1660. +this Dorothy was washing of Ore upon the top of a steep Hill, about a +quarter of a mile from Ashover, and was there taxed by a Lad for taking +of two single Pence out of his Pocket, (for he had laid his Breeches +by, and was at work in his Drawers;) but she violently denyed it, +wishing, That the ground might swallow her up if she had them: She also +used the same wicked words on several other occasions that day. + +Now one George Hodgkinson of Ashover, a man of good report there, came +accidentally by where this Dorothy was, and stood still a while to talk +with her, as she was washing her Ore; there stood also a little Child +by her Tub-side, and another a distance from her, calling aloud to her +to come away; wherefore the said George took the Girle by the hand to +lead her away to her that called her: But behold, they had not gone +above ten yards from Dorothy, but they heard her crying out for help; +so looking back, he saw the Woman, and her Tub, and Sive, twirling +round, and sinking into the ground. Then said the man, Pray to God to +pardon thy sin, for thou art never like to be seen alive any longer. So +she and her Tub twirled round, and round, till they sunk about three +yards into the Earth, and then for a while staid. Then she called for +help again, thinking, as she said, that she should stay there. Now the +man though greatly amazed, did begin to think which way to help her, +but immediately a great stone which appeared in the Earth, fell upon +her head, and brake her Skull, and then the Earth fell in upon her and +covered her. She was afterwards digged up, and found about four yards +within ground, with the Boys two single Pence in her pocket, but her +Tub and Sive could not be found. + +[Picture: Take note symbol] Atten. You bring to my mind a sad story, +the which I will relate unto you. The thing is this; About a bow-shoot +from where I once dwelt, there was a blind Ale-house, and the man that +kept it had a Son whose name was Edward. This Edward was, as it were, +an half-fool, both in his words, and manner of behaviour. To this blind +Ale-house certain jovial companions would once or twice a week come, +and this Ned, (for so they called him) his Father would entertain his +guests withall; to wit, by calling for him to make them sport by his +foolish words and gestures. So when these boon blades came to this mans +house, the Father would call for Ned: Ned therefore would come forth; +and the villain was devilishly addicted to cursing, yea to cursing his +Father and Mother, and any one else that did cross him. And because +(though he was an half-fool) he saw that his practice was pleasing, he +would do it with the more audaciousness. + +Well, when these brave fellows did come at their times to this +Tippling-house (as they call it) to fuddle and make merry, then must +Ned be called out; and because his Father was best acquainted with +Ned, and best knew how to provoke him, therefore He would usually ask +him such questions, or command him such business, as would be sure to +provoke him indeed. Then would he (after his foolish manner) Curse his +Father most bitterly; at which the old man would laugh, (and so would +the rest of the guests, as at that which pleased them best) still +continuing to ask, that Ned still might be provoked to curse, that they +might still be provoked to laugh. This was the mirth with which the old +man did use to entertain his guests. + +The curses wherewith this Ned did use to curse his father, and at which +the old man would laugh, were these, and such like: The Devil take you; +The Devil fetch you: He would also wish him Plagues and Destructions +many. Well, so it came to pass, through the righteous Judgement of +God, that Neds Wishes and Curses were in a little time fuelled upon +his Father; for not many months passed between them after this manner, +but the Devil did indeed take him, possess him, and also in few days +carried him out of this world by death; I say, Satan did take him and +possess him: I mean, so it was judged by those that knew him, and had +to do with him in that his lamentable condition. He could feel him like +a live thing goe up and down in his body, but when tormenting time was +come (as he had often tormenting fits) then he would lye like an hard +bump in the soft place of his chest, (I mean, I saw it so,) and so +would rent and tare him, and make him roar till he died away. + +I told you before, that I was an ear and eye witness of what I here +say; and so I was. I have heard Ned in his Roguery, cursing his Father, +and his Father laughing thereat most heartily; still provoking of Ned +to curse, that his mirth might be encreased. I saw his Father also, +when he was possessed, I saw him in one of his fits, and saw his flesh +(as ’twas thought) by the Devil, gathered up on an heap, about the +bigness of half in Egge; to the unutterable torture and afflict[i]on +of the old man. There was also one Freeman, (who was more than an +ordinary Doctor) sent for, to cast out this Devil; and I was there +when he attempted to do it. The manner whereof was this. They had the +possessed into an out-room, and laid him on his belly upon a Form, +with his head hanging over the Forms end; then they bound him down +thereto: which done, they set a pan of Coals under his mouth, and put +something therein which made a great smoak; by this means (as ’twas +said) to fetch out the Devil. There therefore they kept the man till +he was almost smothered in the smoak, but no Devil came out of him; at +which Freeman was somewhat abashed, the man greatly afflicted, and I +made to go away wondering and fearing. In a little time therefore that +which possessed the man, carried him out of the World, according to the +cursed Wishes of his Son. And this was the end of this hellish mirth. + +Wise. These were all sad Judgements. + +Atten. These were dreadful Judgments indeed. + +Wise. Ai, and they look like the Threatning of that Text, (though +chiefly it concerned Judas,) As he loved cursing, so let it come unto +him; as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. As he +cloathed himself with cursing as with a garment, so let it come into +his bowels like water, and as oyl into his bones. {40a} + +Atten. It is a fearful thing for Youth to be trained up in a way of +Cursing and Swearing. + +Wise. Trained up in them! that I cannot say Mr. Badman was, for his +Father hath oft-times in my hearing, bewailed the badness of his +Children, and of this naughty Boy in particular. I believe that the +wickedness of his Children made him (in the thoughts of it) goe many a +Night with heavy heart to bed, and with as heavy an one to rise in the +Morning. But all was one to his graceless Son, neither wholsom counsel, +nor fatherly sorrow, would make him mend his Manners. + +There {40b} are some indeed that do train up their Children to swear, +curse, lye and steal, and great is the misery of such poor Children +whose hard hap it is to be ushered into the world by, and to be under +the tuition too of such ungodly Parents. It had been better for such +Parents, had they not begat them, and better for such Children had they +not been born. O! methinks for a Father or a Mother to train up a Child +in that very way that leadeth to Hell and Damnation, what thing so +horrible! But Mr. Badman was not by his Parents so brought up. + +Atten. But methinks, since this Young Badman would not be ruled at +home, his Father should have tryed what good could have been done of +him abroad, by putting him out to some man of his acquaintance, that +he knew to be able to command him, and to keep him pretty hard to some +employ: So should he, at least, have been prevented of time to do those +wickednesses that could not be done without time to do them in. + +Wise. Alas, his Father did so, {41a} he put him out betimes to one of +his own Acquaintance, and entreated him of all love, that he would take +care of Son, and keep him from extravagant wayes. His Trade also was +honest and commodious; he had besides a full Employ therein, so that +this young Badman had no vacant seasons nor idle hours yielded him by +his Calling, therein to take opportunities to do Badly: but all was one +to him, as he had begun to be vile in his Fathers house, even so he +continued to be when he was in the house of his Master. + +Atten. I have known some Children, who though they have been very Bad +at home, yet have altered much when they have been put out abroad; +especially when they have fallen into a Family, where the Governours +thereof have made conscience of maintaining of the Worship and Service +of God therein; but perhaps that might be wanting in Mr. Badmans +Masters house. + +Wise. Indeed some Children do greatly mend, when put under other mens +Roofs; but, as I said, this naughty boy did not so; nor did his badness +continue, because he wanted a Master that both could and did correct +it: For his {41b} Master was a very good man, a very devout person; one +that frequented the best Soul-means, that set up the Worship of God in +his Family, and also that walked himself thereafter. He was also a man +very meek and merciful, one that did never overdrive young Badman in +business, nor that kept him at it at unseasonable hours. + +Atten. Say you so! This is rare: I for my part can see but few that can +parallel, in these things, with Mr. Badmans Master. + +Wise. Nor I neither, (yet Mr. Badman had such an one;) for, for the +most past, {42a} Masters are now a days such as mind nothing but their +worldly concerns, and if Apprentices do but answer their commands +therein, Soul and Religion may go whither they will. Yea, I much fear, +that there have been many towardly Lads put out by their parents to +such Masters, that have quite undone them as to the next world. + +Atten. The more is the pity. But pray, now you have touched upon this +subject, shew me how many wages a Master may be the ruin of his poor +Apprentice. + +Wise. Nay, I cannot tell you of all the wayes, yet some of them I will +mention. + +Suppose then that a towardly Lad be put to be an Apprentice with one +that is reputed to be a Godly man, yet that Lad may be ruined many +wayes; that is, if his Master be not circumspect in all things that +respect both God and man, and that before his Apprentice. + +1. If {42b} he be not moderate in the use of his Apprentice; if he +drives him beyond his strength; if he holds him to work at unseasonable +hours; if he will not allow him convenient time to read the Word, to +Pray, &c. This is the way to destroy him; that is, in those tender +begin[n]ings of good thoughts, and good beginnings about spiritual +things. + +2. If he suffers his house to be scattered with profane and wicked +Books, such as stir up to lust, to wantonness, such as teach idle, +wanton, lascivious discourse, and such as has a tendency to provoke +to profane drollery and Jesting; and lastly, such as tend to corrupt, +and pervert the Doctrine of Faith and Holiness. All these things will +eat as doth a canker, and will quickly spoil, in Youth, &c. those good +beginnings that may be putting forth themselves in them. + +3. If there be a mixture of Servants, that is, if some very bad be in +the same place, that’s a way also to undo such tender Lads; for they +that are bad and sordid Servants, will be often (and they have an +opportunity too, to be) distilling and fomenting of their profane and +wicked words and tricks before them, and these will easily stick in the +flesh and minds of Youth, to the corrupting of them. + +4. If the Master have one Guise for abroad, and another for home; +that is, if his Religion hangs by in his house as his Cloak does, +and he be seldom in it, except he be abroad; this, young beginners +will take notice of, and stumble at. We say, Hedges have eyes, and +little Pitchers have ears; and indeed, {43a} Children make a greater +inspection into the Lives of Fathers, Masters, &c. than oft-times they +are aware of: And therefore should Masters be carefull, else they may +soon destroy good beginnings in their Servants. + +5. If the Master be unconscionable in his Dealing, and trades with +lying words; or if bad Commodities be avouched to be good, or if he +seeks after unreasonable gain, or the like; his servant sees it, and it +is enough to undo him. Elies Sons being bad before the congregation, +made Men despise the sacrifices of the Lord. {43b} + +But these things by the by, only they may serve for a hint to Masters +to take heed that they take not Apprentices to destroy their Souls. +But young Badman had none of these hinderances; {43c} His father took +care, and provided well for him, as to this: He had a good Master, he +wanted not good Books, nor good Instruction, nor good Sermons, nor good +Examples, no nor good fellow-Servants neither: but all would not doe. + +Atten. ’Tis a wonder, that in such a Family, amidst so many spiritual +helps, nothing should take hold of his heart! What! not good Books, +nor good Instructions, nor good Sermons, nor good Examples, nor good +fellow-Servants, nor nothing do him good! + +Wise. You talk, he minded none of these things; nay, all these were +{43d} abominable to him. + +1. For good Books, they might lie in his Masters house till they rotted +for him, he would not regard to look into them; but, contrary-wise, +would get all the bad and abominable Books that he could, as beastly +Romances, and books full of Ribbauldry, even such as immediately tended +to set all fleshly lusts on fire. True, he durst not be known to have +any of these, to his Master; therefore would he never let them be seen +by him, but would keep them in close places, and peruse them at such +times, as yielded him fit opportunities thereto. + +2. For good Instruction, he liked that, much as he liked good books; +his care was to hear but little thereof, and to forget what he heard +as soon as ’twas spoken. Yea, I have heard some that knew him then, +say, that one might evidently discern by the shew of his countenance +and gestures, that good counsel was to him like {44a} little-ease, even +a continual torment to him; nor did he ever count himself at liberty, +but when farthest off of wholsom words. He would hate them that rebuked +him, and count them his deadly enemies. + +3. For good Example; which was frequently set him by his Master, both +in Religious and Civil matters; these, young Badman would laugh at, and +would also make a byword of them, when he came in place where he with +safety could. + +4. His Master indeed would make him go with him to Sermons, and that +where he thought the best Preachers were, but this ungodly young man, +what shall I say, was (I think) a Master of Art in all mischief; he +had these wicked ways to hinder himself of hearing, let the Preacher +thunder never so loud. + +1. His {44b} way was, when come into the place of hearing, to sit down +in some corner, and then to fall fast asleep. + +2. Or else to fix his adulterous eyes upon some beautifull Object that +was in the place, and so all Sermon-while, therewith be feeding of his +fleshly lusts. + +3. Or, if he could get near to some that he had observed would fit his +humour, he would be whispering, gigling, and playing with them, till +such time as Sermon was done. + +Atten. Why! he was grown to a prodigious height of wickedness. + +Wise. He was so, and that which aggravates all, was, this was his +practice as soon as he was come to his Master, he was as ready at all +these things, as if he had, before he came to his Master, served an +Apprentiship to learn them. + +Atten. There could not but be added (as you relate them) Rebellion to +his sin. Methinks it is as if he had said, I will not hear, I will not +regard, I will not mind good, I will not mend, I will not turn, I will +not be converted. + +[Picture: Take note symbol] Wise. You say true, and I know not to whom +more fitly to compare him, {45b} than to that man, who when I my self +rebuked him for his wickedness, in this great huff replied; What would +the Devil do for company, if it was not for such as I. + +Atten. Why did you ever hear any man say so. + +Wise. Yes, that I did; and this young Badman was as like him, as an +Egg is like an Egg. Alas! the Scripture makes mention of many that by +their actions speak the same. They say unto God, Depart from us, for we +desire not the knowledge of thy ways; Again, They refuse to hearken, +and pull away their shoulder, and stop their ears; yea, they make their +hearts hard as an Adamant-stone, lest they should hear the Law, and the +words that the Lord of Host[s] hath sent. {45c} What are all these but +such as Badman, and such as the young man but now mentioned? That young +man was my Play-fellow when I was solacing my self in my sins: I may +make mention of him to my shame; but he has a great many fellows. + +Atten. Young Badman was like him indeed, and he trod his steps, as if +his wickedness had been his very Copy; I mean, as to his desperateness: +for had he not been a desperate one, he would never have made you such +a reply, when you was rebuking of him for his sin. But when did you +give him such a rebuke? + +Wise. A while after God had parted him and I, by Calling of me (as I +hope) by his Grace, still leaving him in his sins; and so far as I +could ever gather, as he lived, so he died, even as Mr. Badman did: but +we will leave him, and return again to our discourse. + +Atten. Ha, poor obstinate sinners! doe they think that God cannot be +even with them? + +Wise. I do not know, what they think, but I know that God hath said, +That as He cried, and they would not hear, so they shall crie, and +I will not hear, saith the Lord. {45d} Doubtless there is a time a +coming, when Mr. Badman will crie for this. + +Atten. But I wonder that he should be so expert in wickedness, so soon! +alas, he was but a Stripling, I suppose, he was, as yet, not Twenty. + +Wise. No, nor Eighteen neither: but (as with Ishmael, and with the +Children that mocked the Prophet) the seeds of sin did put forth +themselves betimes in him. {46a} + +Atten. Well, he was as wicked a young man as commonly one shall hear of. + +Wise. You will say so, when you know all. + +Atten. All, I think here is a great All; but if there is more behind, +pray let us hear it. + +Wise. Why, then I will tell you, that he had not been with his Master +much above a year and a half, but he came {46b} acquainted with three +young Villains (who here shall be nameless,) that taught him to +adde to his sin, much of like kind; and he as aptly received their +Instructions. One of them was chiefly given to Uncleanness, another to +Drunkenness; and the third to Purloining, or stealing from his Master. + +Atten. Alas poor Wretch, he was bad enough before, but these, I +suppose, made him much worse. + +Wise. That they made him worse you may be sure of, for they taught him +to be an Arch, a chief one in all their wayes. + +Atten. It was an ill hap that he ever came acqu[a]inted with them. + +Wise. You must rather word it thus. It {46c} was the Judgement of God +that he did; that is, he came acquainted with them, through the anger +of God. He had a good Master, and before him a good Father: By these +he had good counsel given him for Months and Years together; but his +heart was set upon mischief, he loved wickedness more than to do good, +even untill his Iniquity came to be hateful; therefore, from the anger +of God it was, that these companions of his, and he, did at last so +acquaint together. Sayes Paul, They did not like to retain God in their +knowledge; {46d} and what follows? wherefore, God gave them over, or +up to their own hearts lusts. And again, As for such as turn aside +to their own crooked wayes, the Lord shall lead them forth with the +workers of iniquity. {46e} This therefore was Gods hand upon him, that +he might be destroyed, be damned; because he received not the love of +the Truth that he might be saved. He chose his Delusions and Deluders +for him, even the company of base men, of Fools, that he might be +destroyed. {46f} {47a} + +Atten. I cannot but think indeed, that it is a Great Judgment of God +for a man to be given up to the company of vile men; for what are such +but the Devils {47b} Decoyes, even those by whom he drawes the simple +into the Net? A Whoremaster, a Drunkard, a Thiefe, what are they but +the Devils baits, by which he catcheth others? + +Wise. You say right; but this young Badman was no simple one, if by +simple, you mean one uninstructed; for he had often good counsel given +him: but if by simple, you mean, him that is a Fool as to the true +Knowledge of, and Faith in Christ, then he was a simple one indeed: for +he chose death, rather than life, and to live in continual opposition +to God, rather than to be Reconciled unto him; according to that saying +of the wise man; The fooles hated knowledge, and did not choose the +Fear of the Lord: {47c} and what Judgement more dreadfull can a fool +be given up to, than to be delivered into the hands of such men, that +have skill to do nothing, but to ripen sin, and hasten its finishing +unto damnation? And therefore men should be afraid of offending God, +because he can in this manner punish them for their sins. [Picture: +Take note symbol] I knew a man that once was, as I thought, hopefully +awakened about his Condition; yea, I knew two that were so awakened; +but in time they began to draw back, and to incline again to their +lusts; wherefore, God gave them up to the company of three or four men, +that in less than three years time brought them roundly to the Gallows, +where they were hanged like Dogs, because they refused to live like +honest men. {47e} + +Atten. But such men do not believe, that thus to be given up of God, is +in Judgement and anger; they rather take it to be their liberty, and +do count it their happiness; they are glad that their Cord is loosed, +and that the reins are in their neck; they are glad that they may sin +without controul, and that they may choose such company as can make +them more expert in an evil way. + +Wise. Their Judgement is therefore so much the greater, because thereto +is added blindness of Mind, and hardness of Heart in a wicked way. They +are turned up to the way of Death, but must not see to what place they +are going: They must go as the Ox to the slaughter, and as the Fool +to the Correction of the Stocks, {48a} till a Dart strikes through +their Liver, not knowing that it is for their life. This, I say, +makes their Judgement double, they are given up of God, for a while +to sport themselves with that which will assuredly make them mourn at +last, when their flesh and their body is consumed. {48b} These are +those that Peter {48c} speaks of, that shall utterly perish in their +own corruptions; these, I say, who count it pleasure to ryot in the +day-time, and that sport themselves with their own deceivings, are, as +natural bruit beasts, made to be taken and destroyed. + +Atten. Well, but I pray now concerning these three Villains that were +young Badmans companions: Tell me more particularly how he carried it +then. + +Wise. How he carried it! why, he did as they. I intimated so much +before, when I said, they made him an arch, a chief one in their ways. + +First, He became a Frequenter of {48d} Taverns and Tippling-houses, and +would stay there untill he was even as drunk as a Beast. And if it was +so, that he could not get out by day, he would, be sure, get out by +night. Yea, he became so common a Drunkard, at last, that he was taken +notice of to be a Drunkard even by all. + +Atten. This was Swinish, for Drunkenness, is so beastly a sin, a sin +so much against Nature, that I wonder that any that have but the +appearance of Men, can give up themselves to so beastly (yea, worse +than beastly) a thing. + +Wise. It is a Swinish vanity indeed. I will tell you another Story. +{48f} [Picture: Take note symbol] There was a Gentleman that had a +Drunkard to be his Groom, and coming home one night very much abused +with Beer, his Master saw it. Well (quoth his Master within himself,) +I will let thee alone to night, but to morrow morning I will convince +thee that thou art worse than a Beast, by the behaviour of my Horse. +So when morning was come, he bids his man goe and water his Horse, +and so he did; but coming up to his Master, he commands him to water +him again; so the fellow rid into the water the second time, but his +masters horse would now drink no more, so the fellow came up and told +his Master. Then said his Master, Thou drunken sot, thou art far worse +than my Horse, he will drink but to satisfie nature, but thou wilt +drink to the abuse of nature; he will drink but to refresh himself, +but thou to thy hurt and dammage; He will drink, that he may be more +serviceable to his Master, but thou, till thou art uncapable of serving +either God or Man. O thou Beast, how much art thou worse than the horse +that thou ridest on. + +Atten. Truly I think that his Master served him right; for in doing +as he did, he shewed him plainly, as he said, that he had not so much +government of himself as his horse had of himself, and consequently +that his beast did live more according to the Law of his nature by far, +than did his man. But pray go on with what you have further to say. + +Wise. Why, I say, that there are {49a} four things, which if they were +well considered, would make drunkenness to be abhorred in the thoughts +of the Children of men. + +1. It greatly tendeth to impoverish and beggar a man. The Drunkard, +says Solomon, shall come to poverty. {49b} Many that have begun the +world with Plenty, have gone out of it in Rags; through drunkenness. +Yea, many Children that have been born to good Estates, have yet been +brought to a Flail & a Rake, through this beastly sin of their Parents. + +2. This sin of Drunkenness, it bringeth upon the Body, many, great, and +incurable Diseases, by which Men do in little time come to their end, +and none can help them. So, because they are overmuch wicked, therefore +they dye before their time. {49c} + +3. Drunkenness, is a sin that is often times attended with abundance of +other evils. Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contention? Who +hath babblings? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of the +eyes? They that tarry long at the Wine, they that go to seek mixt wine. +{49d} That is, the Drunkard. + +4. By Drunkenness, Men do often times shorten their dayes; goe out +of the Ale-house drunk, and break their Necks before they come home. +Instances not a few might be given of this, but this is so manifest, a +man need say nothing. + +Atten. But {50a} {50b} that which is worse than all is, it also +prepares men for everlasting burnings. + +Wise. Yea, and it so stupifies and besotts the soul, that a man that +is far gone in Drunkenness, is hardly ever recovered to God. Tell me, +when did you see an old drunkard converted? No, no, such an one will +sleep till he dies, though he sleeps on the top of a {50c} Mast, let +his dangers be never so great and Death and damnation never so near, he +will not be awaked out of his sleep. So that if a man have any respect +either to Credit, Health, Life or Salvation, he will not be a drunken +man. But the truth is, where this sin gets the upper hand, men are, as +I said before, so intoxicated and bewitched with the seeming pleasures, +and sweetness thereof; that they have neither heart nor mind to think +of that which is better in itself; and would, if imbraced, do them good. + +Atten. You said that drunkenness tends to poverty, yet some make +themselves rich by drunken bargains. + +Wise. I {50d} said so, because the Word says so. And as to some mens +getting thereby, that is indeed but rare, and base: yea, and base will +be the end of such gettings. The Word of God is against such wayes, and +the curse of God will be the end of such doings. An Inheritance may +sometimes thus be hastily gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof +shall not be blessed. Hark what the Prophet saith; Wo to him that +coveteth an evil covetousness, that he may set his nest on high. {50e} +Whether he makes drunkenness, or ought else, the engine and decoy to +get it; for that man doth but consult the shame of his own house, the +spoiling of his family, and the damnation of his Soul; for that which +he getteth by working of iniquity, is but a getting by the devices of +Hell; Therefore he can be no gainer neither for himself or family, that +gains by an evil course. But this was one of the sins that Mr. Badman +was addicted to after he came acquainted with these three fellows, nor +could all that his Master could do break him of this Beastly sin. + +Atten. But where, since he was but an Apprentice, could he get Money to +follow this practice, for drunkenness, as you have intimated, is a very +costly sin. + +Wise. His Master {51a} paid for all. For, (as I told you before) as he +learned of these three Villains to be a Beastly Drunkard; so he learned +of them to pilfer and steal from his Master. Sometimes he would sell +off his Masters Goods, but keep the Money, that is when he could; also +sometimes he would beguile his Master by taking out of his Cashbox: and +when he could do neither of these, he would convey away of his Masters +wares, what he thought would be least missed, and send or carry them to +such and such houses, where he knew they would be laid up to his use, +and then appoint set times there, to meet and make merry with these +fellowes. + +Atten. This, was as bad, nay, I think, worse than the former; for by +thus doing, he did, not only run himself under the wrath of God, but +has endangered the undoing of his Master and his Familie. + +Wise. Sins go not alone, but follow one the other as do the links of a +Chain; he that will be a drunkard, must have money either of his own, +or of some other mans; either of his Fathers, Mothers, Masters, or at +the high-way, or some way. + +Atten. I fear that many an honest man is undone by such kind of +servants. + +Wise. I am of the same mind with you, but {51b} this should make the +dealer the more wary what kind of Servants he keeps, and what kind of +Apprentices he takes. It should also teach him to look well to his Shop +himself, also to take strict account of all things that are bought +and sold by his Servants. The Masters neglect herein may embolden his +servant to be bad, and may bring him too in short time to rags and a +morsel of Bread. + +Atten. I am afraid that there is much of this kind of pilfering among +servants in these bad dayes of ours. + +Wise. Now, while it is in my mind, I will tell you a story. [Picture: +Take note symbol] When I was in prison, there came a woman to me that +was under a great deal of trouble. So I asked her (she being a stranger +to me) what she had to say to me. She said, she was afraid she should +be damned. I asked her the cause of those fears. She told me that she +had sometime since lived with a Shop-keeper at Wellingborough, and had +robbed his box in the Shop several times of Money, to the value of more +than now I will say; and pray, says she, tell me what I shall do. I +told her, I would have her go to her Master, and make him satisfaction: +She said, she was afraid; I asked her why? She said, she doubted he +would hang her. I told her, that I would intercede for her life, and +would make use of other friends too to do the like; But she told me, +she durst not venture that. Well, said I, shall I send to your Master, +while you abide out of sight, and make your peace with him, before he +sees you; and with that, I asked her her Masters name. But all that +she said in answer to this, was, Pray let it alone till I come to you +again. So away she went, and neither told me her Masters Name, nor +her own: This is about ten or twelve years since, and I never saw her +again. I tell you this story for this cause; to confirm your fears, +that such kind of servants too many there be; and that God makes them +sometimes like old Tod, of whom mention was made before, (through the +terrors that he layes upon them) to betray themselves. + +[Picture: Take note symbol] I could tell you of another, that came to +me with a like relation concerning her self, and the robbing of her +Mistress; but at this time let this suffice. + +Atten. But what was that other Villain addicted to, I mean, young +Badmans third companion? + +Wise. Uncleanness. {52b} I told you before, but it seems you forgot. + +Atten. Right, it was Uncleanness. Uncleanness is also a filthy sin. + +Wise. It is so; and yet it is one of the most reigning sins in our day. + +Atten. So they say, and that too among those that one would think had +more wit, even among the great ones. + +Wise. The more is the pity: for usually Examples that are set by them +that are great and chief, {52c} spread sooner, and more universally, +then do the sins of other men; yea, and when such men are at the head +in transgressing, sin walks with a bold face through the Land. As +Jeremiah saith of the Prophets, so may it be said of such, From them +is profaneness gone forth into all the land; that is, with bold and +audacious face, Jer. 23. 15. + +Atten. But pray let us return again to Mr. Badman and his companions. +You say one of them was very vile in the commission of Uncleanness. + +Wise. Yes, so I say; not but that he was a Drunkard and also Thievish, +but he was most arch in this sin of Uncleanness: This Roguery was his +Master-piece, for he was a Ringleader to them all in the beastly sin of +Whoredom. He was also best acquainted with such houses where they were, +and so could readily lead the rest of his Gang unto them. The Strumpets +also, because they knew this young Villain, would at first discover +themselves in all their whorish pranks to those that he brought with +him. + +Atten. That is a deadly thing: I mean, it is a deadly thing to young +men, when such beastly queans, shall, with words and carriages that are +openly tempting, discover themselves unto them; It is hard for such to +escape their Snare. + +Wise. That is true, therefore the Wise mans counsel is the best: Come +not near the door of her house; {53a} for they are (as you say) very +tempting, as is seen by her in the Proverbs. I looked (says the Wise +man) through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned +a young man void of understanding, passing through the streets near +her corner, and he went the way to her house: In the twilight, in +the evening, in the black and dark night. And behold, there met him +a Woman, with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart; ({53c} +she is loud and stubborn, her feet abide not in her house. Now she is +without, now she is in the street, and lieth in wait at every corner.) +So she caught him, and kiss’d him, and with an impudent face said unto +him: I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. +Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I +have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of Tapestry, with +carved works, with fine Linnen of Ægypt: I have perfumed my bed with +Myrrhe, Aloes, and Cinnamon; come let us take our fill of love untill +the Morning, let us solace our selves with loves. {53b} Here was a bold +Beast: And indeed, the very eyes, hands, words and ways of such, are +all snares and bands to youthful, lustful fellows: And with these was +young Badman greatly snared. + +Atten. This sin of Uncleanness {54a} is mightily cried out against both +by Moses, the Prophets, Christ, and his Apostles; and yet, as we see, +for all that, how men run head-long to it! + +Wise. You have said the truth, and I will adde, that God, to hold men +back from so filthy a sin, has set such a stamp of his Indignation upon +it, and commanded such evil effects to follow it, that were not they +that use it bereft of all Fear of God, and love to their own health, +they could not but stop and be afraid to commit it. For, besides the +eternal Damnation that doth attend such in the next world, (for these +have no Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God, Ephes. 5.) the +evil effects thereof in this world are dreadfull. + +Atten. Pray skew me some of them, that as occasion offereth it self, I +may shew them to others for their good. + +Wise. So I will. 1. {54b} It bringeth a man (as was said of the sin +before) to want and poverty; for by means of a Whorish woman, a man is +brought to a piece of bread. The reason is, for that an Whore will not +yield without hire; and men when the Devil and Lust is in them, and God +and his Fear far away from them, will not stick, so they may accomplish +their desire, to lay their Signet, their Bracelets, and their Staff +to pledge, {54c} rather than miss of the fulfilling of their lusts. +2. Again, by this sin men diminish their strength, and bring upon +themselves, even upon the Body, a multitude of Diseases. This King +Lemuel’s Mother warned him of. What my Son, said she, and what the son +of my womb, and what the Son of my Vows: Give not thy strength unto +women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth Kings. {54d} This sin +is destructive to the Body. Give me leave to tell you another story. +[Picture: Take note symbol] I {54f} have heard of a great man that was +a very unclean person, and he had lived so long in that sin, that he +had almost lost his sight. So his Physicians were sent for, to whom he +told his to Disease; but they told him, that they could do him no good, +unless he would forbear his Women. Nay then, said he, farewell sweet +Sight. Whence observe, that this sin, as I said, is destructive to the +Body; and also, that some men be so in love therewith, that they will +have it, though it destroy their body. + +Atten. Paul says also, that he that sins this sin, sins against his +own Body. But what of that? he that will run the hazard of eternal +Damnation of his Soul, but he will commit this sin, will for it run the +hazard of destroying his Body. If young Badman feared not the Damnation +of his Soul, do you think that the consideration of impairing of his +Body, would have deterred him therefrom? + +Wise. You say true. But yet, methinks, there are still such bad effects +follow, often, upon the commission of it, that if men would consider +them, it would put, at least, a stop to their career therein. + +Atten. What other evil effects attend this sin? + +Wise. Outward shame and disgrace, and that in these particulars: {55a} + +First, There often follows this foul sin, the Foul Disease, now called +by us the Pox. A disease so nauseous and stinking, so infectious to the +whole body (and so intailed to this sin) that hardly are any common +with unclean Women, but they have more or less a touch of it to their +shame. + +Atten. That is a foul disease indeed: [Picture: Take note symbol] I +knew a man once that rotted away with it; and another that had his Nose +eaten off, and his Mouth almost quite sewed up thereby. + +Wise. It is a Disease, that where it is, it commonly declares, that +the cause thereof is Uncleanness. It declares to all that behold such +a man, that he is an odious, a beastly, unclean person. This is that +strange punishment that Job speaks of, that is appointed to seize on +these workers of Iniquity. {55c} + +Atten. Then it seems you think that the strange punishment that Job +there speaks of, should be the foul disease. + +Wise. I have thought so indeed, and that for this reason: We see that +this Disease is entailed as I may say, to this most beastly sin, nor is +there any disease so entailed to any other sin, as this to this. That +this is the sin to which the strange Punishment is entailed, you will +easily perceive when you read the Text. I made a covenant with mine +eyes, said Job, why should I think upon a Maid? For what portion is +there (for that sin) from above, and what Inheritance of the Almighty +from on high? And then he answers himself; Is not destruction to the +wicked, and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? This +strange Punishment is the Pox. + +Also I think that this foul Disease is that which Solomon intends, when +he saith, (speaking of this unclean and beastly creature) A wound and +dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be turned away. {56} +A Punishment Job calls it, a Wound and Dishonour, Solomon calls it; and +they both do set it as a Remark upon this sin; Job calling it a strange +punishment, and Solomon a reproach that shall not be turned away from +them that are common in it. + +Atten. What other things follow upon the commission of this beastly sin? + +Wise. Why, often-times it is attended with Murder, with the murder +of the Babe begotten on the defiled bed. How common it is for the +Bastard-getter and Bastard-bearer, to consent together to murder their +Children, will be better known at the day of Judgement; yet something +is manifest now. + +I will tell you another story. [Picture: Take note symbol] An ancient +man, one of mine acquaintance, a man of good credit in our Countrey, +had a Mother that was a Midwife: who was mostly imployed in laying +great persons. To this womans house, upon a time, comes a brave +young Gallant on horseback, to fetch her to lay a young Lady. So she +addresses herself to go with him; wherefore, he takes her up behind +him, and away they ride in the night. Now they had not rid far, but +the Gentleman litt off his horse, and taking the old Midwife in his +arms from the horse, turned round with her several times, and then set +her up again; then he got up, and away they went till they came at a +stately house, into which he had her, and so into a Chamber where the +young Lady was in her pains: He then bid the Midwife do her Office, and +she demanded help, but he drew out his Sword and told her, if she did +not make speed to do her Office without, she must look for nothing but +death. Well, to be short, this old Midwife laid the young Lady, and a +fine sweet Babe she had; Now there was made in a Room hard by, a very +great Fire: so the Gentleman took up the Babe, went and drew the coals +from the stock, cast the Child in, and covered it up, and there was an +end of that. So when the Midwife had done her work, he paid her well +for her pains, but shut her up in a dark room all day, and when night +came, took her up behind him again, and carried her away, till she came +almost at home; then he turned her round, and round, as he did before, +and had her to her house, set her down, bid her Farewell, and away he +went: And she could never tell who it was. + +This Story the Midwifes son, who was a Minister, told me; and also +protested that his mother told it him for a truth. + +Atten. Murder doth often follow indeed, as that which is the fruit +of this sin: but sometimes God brings even these Adulterers, and +Adulteresses to shameful ends. [Picture: Take note symbol] I heard of +one, (I think, a Doctor of Physick) and his Whore, who had had three +or four Bastards betwixt them, and had murdered them all, but at last +themselves were hanged for it, in or near to Colchester. It came out +after this manner: The Whore was so afflicted in her conscience abort +it, that she could not be quiet untill she had made it known: Thus +God many times makes the actors of wickedness their own accusers, and +brings them by their own tongues to condigne punishment for their own +sins. + +Wise. There has been many such instances, but we will let that pass. I +was once in the presence of a Woman, a married woman, that lay sick of +the sickness whereof she died; and being smitten in her conscience for +the sin of Uncleanness, which she had often committed with other men, +[Picture: Take note symbol] I heard her (as she lay upon her Bed) cry +out thus: I am a Whore, and all my Children are Bastards: And I must go +to Hell for my sin; and look, there stands the Devil at my beds feet to +receive my Soul when I die. + +Atten. These are sad storyes, tell no more of them now, but if you +please shew me yet some other of the evil effects of this beastly sin. + +Wise. This sin is such a snare to the Soul, that unless a miracle +of Grace prevents, it unavoidably perishes in the enchanting and +bewitching pleasures of it. This is manifest by these, and such like +Texts. + +The Adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Whoso committeth +adultery with a woman, lacketh understanding, and he that doth it +destroys his own soul. {57} An Whore is a deep ditch, and a strange +woman is a narrow pit. Her house inclines to death, and her pathes unto +the dead. None that go in unto her return again, neither take they hold +of the path of life. She hath cast down many wounded; yea many strong +men have been slain by her, her house is the way to Hell, going down to +the Chambers of Death. {58a} + +Atten. These are dreadful sayings, and do shew the dreadful state of +those that are guilty of this sin. + +Wise. Verily so they doe. But yet that which makes the whole more +dreadful, is, That men are given up to this sin, because they are +abhorred of God, and because abhorred, therefore they shall fall into +the commission of it; and shall live there. The mouth (that is, the +flattering Lips) of a strange woman is a deep pit, the abhorred of the +Lord shall fall therein. {58b} Therefore it saith again of such, that +they have none Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. {58c} + +Atten. Put all together, and it is a dreadful thing to live and die in +this transgression. + +Wise. True. But suppose, that instead of all these Judgments, this sin +had attending of it all the felicities of this life, and no bitterness, +shame, or disgrace mixed with it, yet one hour in Hell will spoil all. +O! this Hell, Hell-fire, Damnation in Hell, it is such an inconceivable +punishment, that were it but throughly believed, it would nip this sin, +with others, in the head. But here is the mischief, those that give +up themselves to these things, do so harden themselves in Unbelief +and Atheism about the things, the punishments that God hath threatned +to inflict upon the committers of them, that at last they arrive to, +almost, an absolute and firm belief that there is no Judgment to come +hereafter: Else they would not, they could not, no not attempt to +commit this sin, by such abominable language as some do. + +[Picture: Take note symbol] I heard of one that should say to his Miss, +when he tempted her to the committing of this sin, If thou wilt venture +thy Body, I will venture my Soul. {58d} And I my self heard another +say, when he was tempting of a Maid to commit uncleanness with him, +(it was in Olivers dayes) That if she did prove with Child, he would +tell her how she might escape punishment, (and that was then somewhat +severe,) Say (saith he) when you come before the Judge, That you are +with Child by the Holy Ghost. [Picture: Take note symbol] I heard him +say thus, and it greatly afflicted me; I had a mind to have accused him +for it before some Magistrate; but he was a great man, and I was poor, +and young: so I let it alone, but it troubled me very much. + +Atten. ’Twas the most horrible thing that ever I heard in my life. But +how far off are these men from that Spirit and Grace that dwelt in +Joseph! + +Wise. Right; when Joseph’s Mistress tempted him, yea tempted him daily; +{59b} yea, she laid hold on him, and said with her Whores forehead, +Come lie with me, but he refused: He hearkned not to lie with her, or +to be with her. Mr. Badman would have taken the opportunity. + +And a little to comment upon this of Joseph. {59c} + +1. Here is a Miss, a great Miss, the Wife of the Captain of the Guard, +some beautiful Dame, I’le warrant you. + +2. Here is a Miss won, and in her whorish Affections come over to +Joseph, without his speaking of a word. + +3. Here is her unclean Desire made known; Come lie with me, said she. + +4. Here was a fit opportunity. There was none of the men of the house +there within. + +5. Joseph was a young man, full of strength, and therefore the more in +danger to be taken. + +6. This was to him, a Temptation, from her, that lasted days. + +7. And yet Joseph refused, 1. Her daily Temptation; 2. Her daily +Solicitation: 3. Her daily Provocation, heartily, violently and +constantly. For when she caught him by the Garment, saying, Lie with +me, he left his Garment in her hand, and gat him out. Ay, and although +contempt, treachery, slander, accusation, imprisonment, and danger +of death followed, (for an Whore careth not what mischief she does, +when she cannot have her end) yet Joseph will not defile himself, sin +against God, and hazard his own eternal salvation. + +Atten. Blessed Joseph! I would thou hadst more fellows! + +Wise. Mr. Badman has more fellows than Joseph, else there would not +be so many Whores as there are: For though I doubt not but that that +Sex is bad enough this way, yet I verify believe that many of them +are made Whores at first by the flatteries of Badmans fellows. Alas! +there is many a woman plunged into this sin at first even by promises +of Marriage. {60a} I say, by these promises they are flattered, yea, +forced into a consenting to these Villanies, and so being in, and +growing hardened in their hearts, they at last give themselves up, even +as wicked men do, to act this kind of wickedness with greediness. But +Joseph you see, was of another mind, for the Fear of God was in him. + +I will, before I leave this, tell you here two notable storyes; and I +wish Mr. Badmans companions may hear of them. They are found in Clarks +Looking-glass for Sinners; and are these. + +Mr. Cleaver (says Mr. Clark) reports of one whom he knew, that had +committed the act of Uncleanness, whereupon he fell into such horror of +Conscience that he hanged himself; leaving it thus written in a paper. +Indeed, (saith he) I acknowledge it to be utterly unlawful for a man to +kill himself, but I am bound to act the Magistrates part, because the +punishment of this sin is death. {60b} + +Clark doth also in the same page make mention of two more, who as they +were committing Adultery in London, were immediately struck dead with +fire from Heaven, in the very Act. Their bodyes were so found, half +burnt up, and sending out a most loathsom savour. + +Atten. These are notable storyes indeed. + +Wise. So they are, and I suppose they are as true as notable. + +Atten. Well, but I wonder, if young Badmans Master knew him to be such +a Wretch, that he would suffer him in his house. + +Wise. They liked one another even as {60c} fire and water doe. Young +Badmans wayes were odious to his Master, and his Masters wayes were +such as young Badman could not endure. Thus in these two, was fulfilled +that saying of the Holy Ghost: An unjust man is an abomination to the +just, and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked. +{60d} + +The good mans wayes, Mr. Badman could not abide, nor could the good man +abide the bad wayes of his base Apprentice. Yet would his Master, if he +could, have kept him, and also have learnt him his trade. + +Atten. If he could! why he might, if he would, might he not? + +Wise. Alas, Badman ran away {61a} from him once and twice, and would +not at all be ruled. So the next time he did run away from him, he did +let him go indeed. For he gave him no occasion to run away, except it +was by holding of him as much as he could (and that he could do but +little) to good and honest rules of life. And had it been ones own +case, one should have let him go. For what should a man do, that had +either regard to his own Peace, his Childrens Good, or the preservation +of the rest of his servants from evil, but let him go? Had he staid, +the house of Correction had been most fit for him, but thither his +Master was loth to send him, because of the love that he bore to his +Father. An house of correction, I say, had been the fittest place for +him, but his Master let him go. + +Atten. He ran away you say, but whither did he run? + +Wise. Why, to one of his own trade, {61b} and also like himself. Thus +the wicked joyned hand in hand, and there he served out his time. + +Atten. Then, sure, he had his hearts desire, when he was with one so +like himself. + +Wise. Yes. So he had, but God gave it him in his anger. + +Atten. How do you mean? + +Wise. I mean as before, that for a wicked man to be by the Providence +of God, turned out of a good mans doors, into a wicked mans house to +dwell, is a sign of the Anger of God. {61c} For God by this, and such +Judgements, says thus to such an one: Thou wicked one, thou lovest +not me, my wayes, nor my people; Thou castest my Law and good Counsel +behinde thy back: Come, I will dispose of thee in my wrath; thou shalt +be turned over to the ungodly, thou shalt be put to school to the +Devil, I will leave thee to sink and swim in sin, till I shall visit +thee with Death and Judgment. This was therefore another Judgment that +did come upon this young Badman. + +Atten. You have said the truth, for God by such a Judgment as this, in +effect says so indeed; for he takes them out of the hand of the just, +and binds them up in the hand of the wicked, and whither they then +shall be carried, a man may easily imagin. + +Wise. It is one of the saddest tokens of Gods anger that happens to +such kind of persons: And that for several reasons. {62a} + +1. Such an one, by this Judgment, is put out out of the way, and from +under the means which ordinarily are made use of to do good to the +soul. For a Family where Godliness is professed, and practised, is Gods +Ordinance, the place which he has appointed to teach young ones the way +and fear of God. {62b} Now to be put out of such a Family into a bad, a +wicked one, as Mr. Badman was, must needs be in Judgment, and a sign of +the anger of God. For in ungodly Families men learn to forget God, to +hate goodness, and to estrange themselves from the wayes of those that +are good. + +2. In Bad Families, they have continually fresh Examples, and also +incitements to evil, and fresh encouragements to it too. Yea moreover, +in such places evil is commended, praised, well-spoken of, and they +that do it, are applauded; and this, to be sure, is a drowning +Judgement. + +3. Such places are the very haunts and Walks of the infernal Spirits, +who are continually poysoning the Cogitations and Minds of one or other +in such Families, that they may be able to poyson others. Therefore +observe it, usually in wicked Families, some one, or two, are more +arch for wickedness then are any other that are there. Now such are +Satans Conduit-pipes; for by them he conveighs of the spawn of Hell, +through their being crafty in wickedness, into the Ears and Souls of +their Companions. Yea, and when they have once conceived wickedness, +they travel with it, as doth a woman with Child, till they have brought +it forth; Behold, he travelleth with iniquity, and hath conceived +mischief, and brought forth falshood. {62c} Some men, as here is +intimated in the Text, and as was hinted also before, have a kind of +mystical, but hellish copulation with the Devil, who is the Father, +and their Soul the Mother of sin and wickedness; and they, so soon as +they have conceived by him, finish, by bringing forth sin, both it, and +their own damnation. {62d} + +Atten. How {63a} much then doth it concern those Parents that love +their Children, to see, that if they go from them, they be put into +such Families as be good, that they may learn there betimes to eschew +evil, and to follow that which is good? + +Wise. It doth concern them indeed; and it doth also concern them {63b} +that take Children into their Families, to take heed what Children they +receive. For a man may soon by a Bad boy, be dammaged both in his Name, +Estate, and Family, and also hindred in his Peace and peaceable pursuit +after God and godliness; I say, by one such Vermin as a wicked and +filthy Apprentice. + +Atten. True, for one Sinner destroyeth much good, and a poor man is +better than a Lier. But many times a man cannot help it; for such as at +the beginning promise very fair, are by a little time proved to be very +Rogues, like young Badman. + +Wise. That is true also, but when a man has done the best he can to +help it, he may with the more confidence expect the Blessing of God to +follow, or he shall have the more peace, if things go contrary to his +desire. + +Atten. Well, but did Mr. Badman and his Master agree so well? I mean +his last Master, since they were Birds of a Feather, I mean, since they +were so well met for wickedness. + +Wise. This second Master, was, as before I told you, bad enough, but +yet he would often fall out {63c} with young Badman his Servant, and +chide, yea and some times beat him too, for his naughty doings. + +Atten. What! for all he was so bad himself! This is like the Proverb, +The Devil corrects Vice. + +Wise. I will assure you, ’tis as I say. For you must know, that +Badmans wayes suited not with his Masters gains. Could he have done +as the Damsel that we read of Acts 16. {63d} did, to wit, fill his +Masters Purse with his badness, he had certainly been his White-boy, +but it was not so with young Badman; and therefore, though his Master +and he did suit well enough in the main, yet in this and that point +they differed. Young Badman {63e} was for neglecting of his Masters +business, for going to the Whore-house, for beguiling of his Master, +for attempting to debauch his Daughters, and the like: No marvel then +if they disagreed in these points. Not so much for that his Master had +an antipathy against the fact it self, for he could do so when he was +an Apprentice; but for that his servant by his sin made spoil of his +Commodities, &c. and so damnified his Master. + +Had (as I said before) young Badmans wickedness, had only a tendency to +his Masters advantage; as could he have sworn, lied, cousened, cheated, +and defrauded customers for his Master, (and indeed sometimes he did +so) but had that been all that he had done, he had not had, no not a +wry word from his Master: But this was not always Mr. Badmans way. + +Atten. That was well brought in, even the Maid that we read of in the +Acts, and the distinction was as clear betwixt the wickedness, and +wickedness of servants. + +Wise. Alas! men that are wicked themselves, yet greatly hate it in +others, not simply because it is wickedness, but because it opposeth +their interest. Do you think that that Maids master would have been +troubled at the loss of her, if he had not lost, with her, his gain: +No, I’le warrant you; she might have gone to the Devil for him: But +when her master saw that the hope of his gain was gone, then, then he +fell to persecuting Paul. {64a} But Mr. Badmans master did sometimes +lose by Mr. Badmans sins, and then Badman and his master were at odds. + +Atten. Alas poor Badman! Then it seems thou couldest not at all times +please thy like. + +Wise. No, he could not, and the reason I have told you. + +Atten. But do not bad Masters condemn themselves in condemning the +badness of their servants. {64b} + +Wise. Yes; {64c} in that they condemn that in another which they either +have, or do allow in themselves. And the time will come, when that +very sentence that hath gone out of their own mouths against the sins +of others, themselves living and taking pleasure in the same, shall +return with violence upon their own pates. The Lord pronounced Judgment +against Baasha, as for all his evils in general, so for this in +special, because he was like the house of Jeroboam, and yet killed him. +{64d} This is Mr. Badmans Masters case, he is like his man, and yet he +beats him. He is like his man, and yet he rails at him for being bad. + +Atten. But why did not young Badman run away from this Master, as he +ran away from the other? + +Wise. He did not. And if I be not mistaken, the reason {65a} why, was +this. There was Godliness in the house of the first, and that young +Badman could not endure. For fare, for lodging, for work, and time, he +had better, and more by this Masters allowance, than ever he had by his +last; but all this would not content, because Godliness was promoted +there. He could not abide this praying, this reading of Scriptures, and +hearing, and repeating of Sermons: he could not abide to be told of his +transgressions in a sober and Godly manner. + +Atten. There is a great deal in the Manner of reproof, wicked men both +can, and cannot abide to hear their transgressions spoken against. + +Wise. There is a great deal of difference indeed. This last Master +of Mr. Badmans, would tell Mr. Badman of his sins in Mr. Badmans own +dialect; he would swear, and curse, and damn, when he told him of his +sins, and this he could bear better, {65b} than to be told of them +after a godly sort. Besides, that last Master would, when his passions +and rage was over, laugh at and make merry with the sins of his servant +Badman: And that would please young Badman well. Nothing offended +Badman but blows, and those he had but few of now, because he was +pretty well grown up. For the most part when his Master did rage and +swear, he would give him Oath for Oath, and Curse for Curse, at least +secretly, let him go on as long as he would. + +Atten. This was hellish living. + +Wise. ’Twas hellish living indeed: And a man might say, that with this +Master, young Badman compleated himself {65c} yet more and more in +wickedness, as well as in his trade: for by that he came out of his +time, what with his own inclination to sin, what with his acquaintance +with his three companions, and what with this last Master, and the +wickedness he saw in him; he became a sinner in grain. I think he had a +Bastard laid to his charge before he came out of his time. + +Atten. Well, but it seems he did live to come out of his time, {66a} +but what did he then? + +Wise. Why, he went home to his Father, and he like a loving and +tender-hearted Father received him into his house. + +Atten. And how did he carry it there? + +Wise. Why, the reason why he went home, {66b} was, for Money to set +up for himself, he staied but a little at home, but that little while +that he did stay, he refrained himself {66c} as well he could, and did +not so much discover himself to be base, for fear his Father should +take distaste, and so should refuse, or for a while forbear to give him +money. + +Yet even then he would have his times, and companions, and the fill of +his lusts with them, but he used to blind all with this, he was glad +to see his old acquaintance, and they as glad to see him, and he could +not in civility but accomodate them with a bottle or two of Wine, or a +dozen or two of Drink. + +Atten. And did the old man give him money to set up with? + +Wise. Yes, above two hundred pounds. + +Atten. Therein, I think, the old man was out. Had I been his Father, I +would have held him a little at staves-end, till I had had far better +proof of his manners to be good; (for I perceive that his Father did +know what a naughty boy he had been, both by what he used to do at +home, and because he changed a good Master for a bad, &c.) He should +not therefore have given him money so soon. What if he had pinched a +little, and gone to Journey-work for a time, that he might have known +what a penny was, by his earning of it? Then, in all probability, he +had known better how to have spent it: Yea, and by that time perhaps, +have better considered with himself, how to have lived in the world. +Ay, and who knows but he might have come to himself with the Prodigal, +and have asked God and his Father forgiveness for the villanies that he +had committed against them. {66d} + +Wise. If his Father could also have blessed this manner of dealing to +him, and have made it effectual for the ends that you have propounded; +then I should have thought as you. But alas, alas, you talk as if +you never knew, or had at this present forgot what the bowels and +compassions of a Father are. Why did you not serve your own son so? +But ’tis evident enough, that we are better at giving good counsel to +others, than we are at taking good counsel our selves. {67a} But mine +honest neighbour, suppose that Mr. Badmans Father had done as you say, +and by so doing had driven his son to ill courses, what had he bettered +either himself or his son in so doing? + +Atten. That’s true, but it doth not follow, that if the Father had done +as I said, the son would have done as you suppose. But if he had done +as you have supposed, what had he done worse than what he hath done +already? {67b} + +Wise. He had done bad enough, that’s true. But suppose his Father +had given him no Money, and suppose that young Badman had taken a +pett thereat, and in an anger had gone beyond Sea, and his Father had +neither seen him, nor heard of him more. Or suppose that of a mad and +headstrong stomach he had gone to the High-way for money, and so had +brought himself to the Gallows, and his Father and Family to great +contempt, or if by so doing he had not brought himself to that end, yet +he had added to all his wickedness, such and such evils besides: And +what comfort could his Father have had in this? + +Besides, when his Father had done for him what he could, with desire +to make him an honest man, he would then, whether his son had proved +honest or no, have laid down his head with far more peace, than if he +had taken your Counsel. + +Atten. Nay I think I should not a been forward to have given advice +in the cause; but truly you have given me such an account of his +vilianies, that the hearing thereof has made me angry with him. + +Wise. In an angry mood we may soon out-shoot our selves, but poor +wretch, as he is, he is gone to his place. But, as I said, when a good +Father hath done what he can for a bad Child, and that Child shall +prove never the better, he will lie down with far more peace, than if +through severity, he had driven him to inconveniencies. + +I remember that I have heard of a good woman, that had (as this old +man) a bad and ungodly {68a} son, and she prayed for him, counselled +him, and carried it Motherly to him for several years together; but +still he remained bad. At last, upon a time, after she had been at +prayer, as she was wont, for his conversion, she comes to him, and +thus, or to this effect, begins again to admonish him. Son, said she, +Thou hast been and art a wicked Child, thou hast cost me many a prayer +and tear, and yet thou remainest wicked. Well, I have done my duty, I +have done what I can to save thee; now I am satisfied, that if I shall +see thee damned at the day of Judgment, I shall be so far off from +being grieved for thee, that I shall rejoyce to hear the sentence of +thy damnation at that day: And it converted him. + +I tell you, that if Parents carry it lovingly towards their Children, +mixing their Mercies with loving Rebukes and their loving Rebukes with +Fatherly and Motherly Compassions, they are more likely to save their +Children, than by being churlish and severe toward them: but if they do +not save them, if their mercy doth them no good, yet it will greatly +ease them at the day of death, to consider; I have done by love as much +as I could, to save and deliver my child from Hell. + +Atten. Well I yield. But pray let us return again to Mr. Badman: You +say, that his Father gave him a piece of money that he might set up for +himself. + +Wise. Yes, his Father did give him a piece of money, and he did set +up, {68b} and almost as soon set down again: for he was not long set +up, but by his ill managing of his matters at home, together with +his extravagant expences abroad, he was got so far into debt, and +had so little in his shop to pay, that he was hard put to it to keep +himself out of prison. But when his Creditors understood that he was +about to marry, and in a fair way to get a rich Wife, they said among +themselves, We will not be hasty with him, if he gets a rich Wife he +will pay us all. + +Atten. But how could he so quickly run out, for I perceive ’twas in +little time, by what you say? + +Wise. ’Twas in little time indeed, I think he was not above two years +and a half in doing of it: but the reason {69a} is apparent; for he +being a wild young man, and now having the bridle loose before him, and +being wholly subjected to his lusts and vices, he gave himself up to +the way of his heart, and to the sight of his eye, forgetting that for +all these things God will bring him to Judgment; {69b} and he that doth +thus, you may be sure, shall not be able long to stand on his leggs. + +Besides, he had now an addition of {69c} new companions; companions you +must think, most like himself in Manners, and so such that cared not +who sunk, if they themselves might swim. These would often be haunting +of him, and of his shop too when he was absent. They would commonly egg +him to the Ale-house, but yet make him Jack-pay-for-all; They would be +borrowing also money of him, but take no care to pay again, except it +was with more of their company, which also he liked very well; and so +his poverty came like one that travelleth, and his want like an armed +man. + +But all the while they studied his temper; {69d} he loved to be +flattered, praised and commanded for Wit, Manhood, and Personage; and +this was like stroking him over the face. Thus they Collogued with him, +and got yet more and more into him, and so (like Horse-leaches) they +drew away that little that his father had given him, and brought him +quickly down, almost to dwell next dore to the begger. + +Atten. Then was the saying of the wise man fulfilled, He that keepeth +company with harlots, and a companion of fools, shall be destroyed. +{69e} + +Wise. Ay, and that too, A companion of riotous persons shameth his +father; {69f} For he, poor man, had both grief and shame, to see how +his son (now at his own hand) behaved himself in the enjoyment of those +good things, in and under the lawfull use of which he might have lived +to Gods glory, his own comfort, and credit among his neighbours. But +he that followeth vain persons, shall have poverty enough. {69g} The +way that he took, led him directly into this condition; for who can +expect other things of one that follows such courses? Besides, when he +was in his Shop, he could not abide to be doing; He was naturally given +to Idleness: He loved to live high, but his hands refused to labour; +and what else can the end of such an one be, but that which the wise +man saith? The Drunkard and the Glutton shall come to poverty, and +drowsiness shall cloath a man with rags. {70a} + +Atten. But now, methinks, when he was brought thus low, he should have +considered the hand of God that was gone out against him, and should +have smote upon the breast, and have returned. + +Wise. Consideration, good consideration was far from him, he was as +stout and proud now, as ever in all his life, and was as high too in +the pursuit of his sin, as when he was in the midst of his fulness; +only he went now {70b} like a tyred Jade, the Devil had rid him almost +off of his leggs. + +Atten. Well, but what did he do when all was almost gone? + +Wise. Two things were now his play. {70c} 1. He bore all in hand by +Swearing, and Cracking and Lying, that he was as well to pass, as he +was the first day he set up for himself, yea that he had rather got +than lost; and he had at his beck some of his Companions that would +swear to confirm it as fast as he. + +Atten. This was double wickedness, ’twas a sin to say it, and another +to swear it. + +Wise. That’s true, but what evil is that that he will not doe, that is +left of God, as I believe Mr. Badman was? + +Atten. And what was the other thing? + +Wise. Why, that which I hinted before, he was for looking out for +a rich Wife: {70d} and now I am come to some more of his invented, +devised, designed, and abominable Roguery, such that will yet declare +him to be a most desperate sinner. + +The thing was this: A Wife he wanted, or rather Money; for as for a +woman, he could have Whores enow at his whistle. But, as I said, he +wanted Money, and that must be got by a Wife, or no way; nor could he +so easily get a Wife neither, except he became an Artist at the way +of dissembling; nor would dissembling do among that people that could +dissemble as well as he. But there dwelt a Maid not far from him, that +was both godly, {70e} and one that had a good Portion, but how to get +her, there lay all the craft. {71a} Well, he calls a Council of some +of his most trusty and cunning Companions, {71b} and breaks his mind +to them; to wit, that he had a mind to marry: and he also told them to +whom; But, said he, how shall I accomplish my end, she is Religious, +and I am not? Then one of them made reply, saying, Since she is +Religious, you must pretend to be so likewise, and that for some time +before you go to her: Mark therefore whither she goes daily to hear, +and do you go thither also; but there you must be sure to behave your +self soberly, and make as if you liked the Word wonderful well; stand +also where she may see you, and when you come home, be sure that you +walk the street very soberly, and go within sight of her: This done +for a while, then go to her, and first talk of how sorry you are for +your sins, and shew great love to the Religion that she is of; still +speaking well of her Preachers and of her godly acquaintance, bewailing +your hard hap, that it was not your lot to be acquainted with her and +her fellow-Professors sooner; and this is the way to get her. Also you +must write down Sermons, talk of Scriptures, and protest that you came +a wooing to her, only because she is Godly, and because you should +count it your greatest happiness if you might but have such an one: As +for her Money, slight it, it will be never the further off, that’s the +way to come soonest at it, for she will be jealous at first that you +come for her Money; you know what she has, but make not a word about +it. Do this, and you shall see if you do not intangle the Lass. + +Thus was the snare laid for this poor honest Maid, and she was quickly +catched in his pit. + +Atten. Why, did he take this counsel? + +Wise. Did he! yes, and after a while, went as boldly to her, {71c} and +that under a Vizzard of Religion, as if he had been for Honesty and +Godliness, one of the most sincere and upright-hearted in England. He +observed all his points, and followed the advice of his Counsellers, +and quickly obtained her too; for natural parts he had, he was tall, +and fair, and had plain, but very good Cloaths on his back; and his +Religion was the more easily attained; for he had seen something in the +house of his Father, and first Master, and so could the more readily +put himself into the Form and Shew thereof. + +So he appointed his day, and went to her, as that he might easily +do, for she had neither father nor mother to oppose. Well, when he +was come, and had given her a civil Complement, {72a} to let her +understand why he was come, then he began and told her, That he had +found in his heart a great deal of love to her Person; and that, of +all the Damosels in the world he had pitched upon her, if she thought +fit, to make her his beloved wife. The reasons, as he told her, why he +had pitched upon her were, her Religious and personal Excellencies; +and therefore intreated her to take his condition into her tender and +loving consideration. As for the world, quoth he, I have a very good +trade, and can maintain my self and Family well, while my wife sits +still on her seat; I have got thus, and thus much already, and feel +money come in every day, but that is not the thing that I aim at, ’tis +an honest and godly Wife. Then he would present her with a good Book or +two, pretending how much good he had got by them himself. He would also +be often speaking well of godly Ministers, especially of those that he +perceived she liked, and loved most. Besides, he would be often telling +of her, what a godly Father he had, and what a new man he was also +become himself; and thus did this treacherous Dealer, deal with this +honest and good Girl, to her great grief and sorrow, as afterward you +shall hear. + +Atten. But had the maid no friend to looke after her? + +Wise. Her Father and Mother were dead, and that he knew well enough, +and so she was the more easily overcome by his naughty lying tongue. +But if she had never so many friends, she might have been beguiled by +him. It is too much the custom of young people now, to think themselves +wise enough to make their own Choyce, and that they need not ask +counsel of those that are older and also wiser then they: {72b} but +this is a great fault in them, and many of them have paid dear for it. +Well, to be short, in little time Mr. Badman obtains his desire, {73a} +gets this honest Girl and her money, is married to her, brings her +home, makes a Feast, entertains her royally, but her Portion must pay +for all. + +Atten. This was wonderfull deceitfull doings, a man shall seldom hear +of the like. + +Wise. By this his doing, he shewed how little he feared God, {73b} and +what little dread he had of his Judgments. For all this carriage, and +all these words were by him premeditated evil, he knew he lyed, he knew +he dissembled; yea, he knew that he made use of the name of God, of +Religion, good Men, and good Books, but as a stalking-Horse, thereby +the better to catch his game. In all this his glorious pretense of +Religion, he was but a glorious painted Hypocrite, and hypocrisie is +the highest sin that a poor carnal wretch can attain unto; it is also a +sin that most dareth God, and that also bringeth the greater damnation. +Now was he a whited Wall, now was he a painted Sepulchre; {73c} now +was he a grave that appeared not; for this poor honest, godly Damosel, +little thought that both her peace, and comfort, and estate, and +liberty, and person, and all, were going to her burial, {73d} when she +was going to be married to Mr. Badman; And yet so it was, she enjoyed +her self but little afterwards; she was as if she was dead and buried, +to what she enjoyed before. + +Atten. Certainly some wonderfull Judgment of God must attend and +overtake such wicked men as these. + +Wise. You may be sure that they shall have Judgment to the full, for +all these things, when the day of Judgment is come. But as for Judgment +upon them in this life, it doth not alwayes come, no not upon those +that are worthy thereof. They that tempt God are delivered, and they +that work wickedness are set up: {73e} But they are reserved to the day +of wrath, and then for their wickedness, God will repay them to their +faces. {73f} The wicked is reserved to the day of destruction, they +shall be brought forth to the day of wrath; who shall declare his way +to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? yet shall he be +brought to the grave, and remain in the tomb. {73g} That is, ordinarily +they escape God’s hand in this life, save only a few Examples are made, +that others may be cautioned, and take warning thereby: But at the day +of Judgment they must be rebuked for their evil with the lashes of +devouring fire. + +Atten. Can you give me no examples of Gods wrath upon men that have +acted this tragical wicked deed Mr. Badman. + +Wise. Yes; {74a} Hamor and Shechem, and all the men of their City, for +attempting to make God and Religion the stalking-Horse to get Jacobs +daughters to wife, were together slain with the edge of the sword. A +Judgment of God upon them, no doubt, for their dissembling in that +matter. All manner of lying and dissembling is dreadfull, but to make +God and Religion a Disguise, therewith to blind thy Dissimulation from +others eyes, is highly provoking to the Divine Majesty. + +[Picture: Take note symbol] I knew one that dwelt not far off from our +Town, that got him a wife as Mr. Badman got his; but he did not enjoy +her long: for one night as he was riding home (from his companions, +where he had been at a neighbouring Town) his horse threw him to the +ground, where he was found dead at break of day; frightfully and +lamentably mangled with his fall, and besmeared with his own blood. + +Atten. Well, but pray return again to Mr. Badman, how did he carry it +to his wife, after he was married to her? + +Wise. Nay, let us take things along as we go. He had not been married +but a little while, but his Creditors came upon him {74c} for their +money: He deferred them a little while, but at last things were come to +that point, that pay he must, or must do worse; so he appointed them a +time, and they came for their money, and he payed them down with her +money before her eyes, for those goods that he had profusely spent +among his Whores long before, (besides the portion that his Father gave +him) to the value of two hundred pounds. + +Atten. This beginning was bad; but what shall I say? ’twas like Mr. +Badman himself. Poor woman, this was but a bad beginning for her, I +fear it filled her with trouble enough, as I think such a beginning +would have done, one, perhaps much stronger than she. + +Wise. Trouble, ay, you may be sure of it, but now ’twas too late to +repent, {75a} she should have looked better to herself, when being wary +would have done her good; her harms may be an advantage to others, that +will learn to take heed thereby; but for her self, she must take what +follows, even such a life now as Mr. Badman her Husband will lead her, +and that will be bad enough. + +Atten. This beginning was bad, and yet I fear it was but the beginning +of bad. + +Wise. You may he sure, that it was but the beginning of badness, for +other evils came on apace; as for instance: it was but a little while +after he was married, {75b} but he hangs his Religion upon the hedge, +or rather dealt with it as men deal with their old Cloaths, who cast +them off, or leave them to others to wear, for his part he would be +Religious no longer. + +Now therefore he had pulled off his Vizzard, and began to shew himself +in his old shape, a base, wicked, debauched fellow, (and now the poor +woman saw that she was betrayed indeed;) now also his old Companions +begin to flock about him, and to haunt his house and Shop as formerly: +And who with them but Mr. Badman? and who with him again but they? + +Now those good people that used to company with his Wife, began to be +ama[t]ed and discouraged; {75c} also he would frown and gloat upon +them, as it he abhorred the appearance of them: so that in little +time he drove all good company from her, and made her sit solitary by +herself. He also began now to go out a nights to those Drabs {75d} +who were his Familiars before, with whom he would stay somtimes till +midnight, and sometimes till almost morning, and then would come home +as drunk as a Swine; and this was the course of Mr. Badman. + +Now, when he came home in this case, if his wife did but speak a word +to him, about where he had been, and why he had so abused himself, +though her words were spoken in never so much meekness and love, then +she was Whore, {76a} and Bitch, and Jade; and ’twas well if she miss’d +his fingers and heels. Sometimes also he would bring his Puncks home to +his house, and wo be to his wife when they were gone, if she did not +entertain them with all varieties possible, and also carry it lovingly +to them. + +Thus this good woman was made by Badman her Husband, to possess nothing +but disappointments as to all that he had promised her, or that she +hoped to have at his hands. + +But that that added pressing weight to all her sorrow, was, that, as +he had cast away all Religion himself, so he attempted, if possible, +to make her do so too. {76b} He would not suffer her to go out to the +Preaching of the Word of Christ, nor to the rest of his Appointments, +for the health and salvation of her Soul: he would now taunt at, and +reflectingly speak of her Preachers; {76c} and would receive, yea raise +scandals of them, to her very great grief and affliction. + +Now she scarce durst go to an honest Neighbours house, or have a good +Book in her hand; specially when he had his companions in his house, or +had got a little drink in his head. He would also, when he perceived +that she was dejected, speak tauntingly, {76d} and mockingly to her in +the presence of his Companions, calling of her his Religious Wife, his +demure Dame, and the like; also he would make a sport of her among his +wanton ones abroad. + +If she did ask him (as sometimes she would) to let her go out to a +Sermon, he would in a currish manner reply, Keep at home, keep at home, +and look to your business, we cannot live by hearing of Sermons. {76e} +If she still urged that he would let her goe, then he would say to +her, Goe if you dare. He would also charge her with giving of what he +had to her Ministers, when, vile wretch, he had spent it on his vain +Companions before. + +This was the life that Mr. Badmans good wife lived, within few months +after he had married her. + +Atten. This was a disappointment indeed. + +Wise. A disappointment indeed, as ever, I think, poor woman had. One +would think that the Knave might a little let her have had her will, +since it was nothing but to be honest, and since she brought him so +sweet, so lumping a Portion, for she brought hundreds into his house: I +say, one would think he should have let her had her own will a little, +since she desired it only in the Service and Worship of God: but could +she win him to grant her that? no, not a bit if it would have saved +her life. True, sometimes she would steal out when he was from home, +on a Journey, or among his drunken companions, but with all privacy +imaginable; {77a} and, poor woman, this advantage she had, she carried +it so to all her Neighbours, that, though many of them were but carnal, +yet they would not betray her, or tell of her going out to the Word, +if they saw it, but would rather endeavour to hide it from Mr. Badman +himself. + +Atten. This carriage of his to her, was enough to break her heart. + +Wise. It was enough to do it indeed, yea it did effectually do it. +It killed her in time, yea it was all the time a killing of her. She +would often-times when she sate by her self, thus mournfully bewail +her condition: {77b} Wo is me that I sojourn in Meshech, and that I +dwell in the tents of Kedar; my soul hath long time dwelt with him that +hateth peace. {77c} O what shall be given unto thee, thou deceitful +tongue? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? I am a +Woman grieved in spirit, my Husband has bought me and sold me for his +lusts: ’Twas not me, but my Money that he wanted: O that he had had it, +so I had had my liberty! + +This she said, not of contempt of his Person, but of his Conditions, +and because she saw that by his hypocritical tongue, he had brought her +not only almost to beggery, but robbed her of the Word of God. + +Atten. It is a deadly thing, I see, to be unequally yoaked with +Unbelievers. If this woman had had a good Husband, how happily might +they have lived together! Such an one would have prayed for her, taught +her, and also would have encourages her in the Faith, and ways of God: +But now, poor creature, instead of this, there is nothing but the quite +contrary. + +Wise. It is a deadly thing indeed, and therefore, by the Word of +God his people are forbid to be joyned in marriage with them. {77d} +Be not, saith it, unequally yoaked together with unbelievers; for +what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what +communion hath light with darkness? And what Concord hath Christ with +Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel? And what +agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? {78a} There can be no +agreement where such Matches are made, even God himself hath declared +the contrary, from the beginning of the world. I (says he) will put +enmity betwixt thee and the woman, betwixt thy seed and her seed. {78b} +Therefore he saith in another place, they can mix no better than Iron +and Clay. I say, they cannot agree, they cannot be one, and therefore +they should be aware at first, and not lightly receive such into their +affections. God has often made such Matches bitter, especially to his +own. Such matches are, as God said of Elie’s Sons that were spared, +to consume the eyes, and to grieve the heart. Oh the wailing, and +lamentation that they have made that have been thus yoaked, especially +if they were such as would be so yoaked, against their light, and good +counsel to the contrary. + +Atten. Alas! he deluded her with his tongue, and feigned reformation. + +Wise. Well, well; she should have gone more warily to work: {78d} +what if she had acquainted some of her best, most knowing, and godly +friends therewith? what if she had engaged a Godly Minister or two to +have talked with Mr. Badman? Also, what if she had laid wait round +about him, to espie if he was not otherwise behind her back than +he was before her face? And besides, I verily think (since in the +multitude of Counsellors there is safety) that if she had acquainted +the Congregation with it, and desired them to spend some time in prayer +to God about it, and if she must have had him, to have received him +as to his godliness, upon the Judgment of others, rather than her +own, (she knowing them to be Godly and Judicious, and unbiassed men) +she had had more peace all her life after; than to trust to her own +poor, raw, womanish Judgment, as she did. Love is blind, and will see +nothing amiss, where others may see an hundred faults. Therefore I say, +she should not have trusted to her own thoughts in the matter of his +Goodness. + +As to his Person, there she was fittest to judge, because she was to +be the person pleased, but as to his Godliness, there the Word was +the fittest Judge, and they that could best understand it, because +God was therein to be pleased. I wish {79a} that all young Maidens +will take heed of being beguiled with flattering words, with feigning +and lying speeches, and take the best way to preserve themselves from +being bought and sold by wicked men, as she was; lest they repent with +her, when (as to this) repentance will do them no good, but for their +unadvisedness goe sorrowing to their graves. + +Atten. Well, things are past with this poor woman, and cannot be called +back, let others {79b} beware, by her misfortunes, lest they also fall +into her distress. + +Wise. That is the thing that I say, let them take heed, lest for +their unadvisedness the smart, as this poor woman has done. And ah! +methinks, that they that yet are single persons, and that are tempted +to marry to such as Mr. Badman; would, to inform, and warn themselves +in this matter, before they intangle themselves, but goe to some that +already are in the snare, and ask them how it is with them, as to the +suitable, or unsuitableness of their marriage, and desire their advice. +Surely they would ring such a peal in their ears about the unequality, +unsuitableness, disadvantages, and disquietments, and sins that attend +such marriages, that would make them beware as long as they live. But +the bird in the air, knows not the notes of the bird in the snare, +untill she comes thither herself: Besides, to make up such marriages, +Satan, and carnal Reason, and Lust, or at least Inconsiderateness, has +the chiefest hand; and where these things bear sway, designs, though +never so destructive, will goe headlong on: and therefore I fear, that +but little warning will be taken by young Girls, at Mr. Badmans wives +affliction. + +Atten. But are there no disswasive arguments to lay before such, to +prevent their future misery. + +Wise. Yes: There is the Law of God, that forbiddeth marriage with +unbelievers. These kind of marriages also are condemned even by +irrational creatures. 1. It is forbidden by the Law of God both in +the Old Testament and in the New. 1. In the Old. Thou shalt not make +Marriages with them; Thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor +his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son, Deut. 7. 4, 5. {80a} 2. In +the New Testament it is forbidden. Be ye not unequally yoaked together +with unbelievers; Let them marry to whom they will, only in the Lord. +{80b} + +Here now is a prohibition, {80c} plainly forbidding the Believer to +marry with the Unbeliever, therefore they should not do it. Again, +these unwarrantable Marriages, are, as I may so say, condemned by +irrational creatures, who will not couple but with their own sort: Will +the Sheep couple with a Dog, the Partridge with a Crow, or the Feasant +with an Owl? No, they will strictly tye up themselves to those of their +own sort only: Yea, it sets all the world a wondring, when they see or +hear the contrary. Man only is most subject to wink at, and allow of +these unlawful mixtures of men and women; Because man only is a sinful +Beast, a sinful Bird, therefore he, above all, will take upon him by +rebellious actions to answer, or rather to oppose and violate the Law +of his God and Creator; nor shall these, or other Interogatories, [What +fellowship? what concord? what agreement? what communion can there +be in such Marriages?] be counted of weight, or thought worth the +answering by him. + +But further. The dangers {80d} that such do commonly run themselves +into, should be to others a disswasive argument to stop them from doing +the like: for besides the distresses of Mr. Badmans wife, many that +have had very hopefull beginnings for heaven, have by vertue of the +mischiefs that have attended these unlawfull marriages, miserably and +fearfully miscarried. Soon after such marriages, Conviction (the first +step toward heaven) hath ceased; Prayer (the next step toward Heaven) +hath ceased; Hungrings and thirstings after salvation (another step +towards the Kingdom of Heaven) have ceased. In a word, such marriages +have estranged them from the Word, from their godly and faithful +Friends, and have brought them again into carnal company, among carnal +Friends, and also into carnal Delights, where, and with whom they have +in conclusion both sinfully abode, and miserably perished. + +And this is one reason why God hath forbidden this kind of unequal +marriages. For they, saith he, meaning the ungodly, will turn away thy +son from following me, that they may serve other Gods, so will the +anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy you suddenly. +{81a} Now mark, there were some in Israel, that would, notwithstanding +this prohibition, venture to marry to the Heathens and Unbelievers: +But what followed? They served their Idols, they sacrificed their Sons +and their Daughters unto Devils. Thus were they defiled with their own +works, and went a whoring with their own Inventions. Therefore was the +wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred +his own Inheritance. {81b} + +Atten. But let’s return again to Mr. Badman; had he any Children by his +wife? + +Wise. Yes, seven. + +Atten. I doubt they were but badly brought up. + +Wise. One of them loved its Mother dearly, and would constantly harken +to her voice. Now that Child {81c} she had the opportunity to instruct +in the Principles of Christian Religion, and it became a very gracious +child. But that child Mr. Badman could not abide, he would seldom +afford it a pleasant word, but would scowl and frown upon it, speak +churlishly and doggedly to it, and though as to Nature it was the most +feeble of the seven, yet it oftenest felt the weight of its Fathers +fingers. Three of his Children did directly follow his steps, and began +to be as vile as (in his youth) he was himself. The other that remained +became a kind of mungrel Professors, not so bad as their Father, nor +so good as their Mother, but were betwixt them both. They had their +Mothers Notions, and their Fathers Actions, and were much like those +that you read of in the Book of Nehemiah; These children spake half in +the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews Language, but +according to the language of each people. {81d} + +Atten. What you say in this matter, is observable, and if I take not my +mark amiss, it often happeneth after this manner where such unlawful +Marriages are contracted. + +Wise. It sometimes doth so, and the reason, with respect to their +Parents, is this: Where the one of the Parents is godly, and the other +ungodly and vile, (though they can agree in begetting of Children, +yet) they strive for their Children when they are born. {82a} The +godly Parent strives for the child, and by Prayers, Counsel and good +Examples, labours to make it holy in body and soul, and so fit for the +Kingdom of Heaven; but the ungodly would have it like himself, wicked +and base and sinful; and so they both give instructions accordingly: +instructions did I say? yea, and Examples too, according to their +minds. Thus the godly, as Hannah, is presenting her Samuel unto the +Lord: but the ungodly, like them that went before them, are for +offering their Children to Moloch, to an Idol, to sin, to the Devil, +and to Hell. Thus one harkeneth to the Law of their Mother, and is +preserved from destruction, but as for the other, as their Fathers +did, so do they. Thus did Mr. Badman and his wife part some of their +Children betwixt them; but as for the other three that were as ’twere +Mungrels, betwixt both, they were like unto those that you read of in +Kings, They feared the Lord, but served their own Idols. {82b} They +had, as I sail, their Mothers Notions, and I will adde, Profession +too, but their Fathers Lusts, and something of his Life. Now their +Father did not like them, because they had their Mothers tongue; and +the Mother did not like them because they had still their Fathers +heart and life; nor were they indeed fit company for good or bad. The +Good would not trust them because they were bad, the Bad would not +trust them because they were good, viz. The good would not trust them +because they were bad in their Lives, and the bad would not trust them +because they were good in their Words: So they were forced with Esau to +joyn in affinity with Ishmael; to wit, to look out a people that were +Hypocrites like themselves, and with them they matcht, and lived and +died. + +Atten. Poor woman, she could not but have much perplexity. + +Wise. Yea, and poor Children, that ever they were sent into the world +as the fruit of the loyns, and under the government of such a father as +Mr. Badman. + +Atten. You say right, for such children, lye, almost under all manner +of disadvantages: but we must say nothing, because this also is the +sovereign Will of God. + +Wise. We may not by any means object against God: yet we may talk of +the advantages, and disadvantages that Children have by having for +their Parents such as are either Godly, or the contrary. + +Atten. You say right, we may so, and pray now, since we are about it, +speak something in brief unto it, that is, unto this; What advantage +those Children have above others, that have for their Parents such as +indeed are Godly. + +Wise. So I will, only I must first premise these two or three things. +{83a} + +1. They have not the advantage of Election for their fathers sakes. + +2. They are born, as others, the children of wrath, though they come of +Godly Parents. + +3. Grace comes not unto them as an Inheritance, because they have Godly +Parents. These things premised I shall now proceed. + +1. The children of Godly Parents are the children of many Prayers: they +are prayed for before, and Prayed for after they are born, and the +Prayer of a godly Father and godly Mother doth much. + +2. They have the advantage of what restraint is possible, from what +evils their Parents see them inclinable to, and that is a second mercy. + +3. They have the advantage of Godly instruction, and of being told +which be, and which be not the right ways of the Lord. + +4. They have also those ways commended unto them, and spoken well of in +their hearing, that are good. + +5. Such are also, what may be, kept out of evil company, from evil +Books, and from being taught the way of Swearing, Lying, and the like, +as Sabbath-breaking, and mocking at good men, and good things, and this +is a very great mercy. + +6. They have also the benefit of a godly life set before them +doctrinally by their Parents, and that doctrine backt with a godly and +holy example: and all these are very great advantages. + +Now all these advantages, the children of ungodly Parents want; {84a} +and so are more in danger of being carried away with the error of the +wicked. For ungodly Parents neither Pray for their Children, nor do, +nor can they heartily instruct them; they do not after a godly manner +restrain them from evil, nor do they keep them from evil company. They +are not grieved at, nor yet do they forewarn their children to beware +of such evil actions that are abomination to God, and to all good +men. They let their children break the Sabbath, swear, lye, be wicked +and vain. They commend not to their children an holy life, nor set a +good example before their eyes. No, they do in all things contrary: +Estranging of their children what they can, from the love of God and +all good men, so soon as they are born. Therefore it is a very great +Judgment of God upon children to be the Offspring of base and ungodly +men. {84b} + +Atten. Well, but before we leave Mr. Badmans wife and children, I have +a mind, if you please, to enquire a little more after one thing, the +which I am sure you can satisfie me in. + +Wise. What is that? + +Atten. You said a while ago, that this Mr. Badman would not suffer his +wife to go out to hear such godly Ministers as she liked, but said if +she did, she had as good never come home any more. Did he often carry +it thus to her? + +Wise. He did say so, he did often say so. This I told you then, and had +also then told you more, but that other things put me out. + +Atten. Well said, pray therefore now go on. + +Wise. So I will. Upon a time, she was on a Lords day for going to hear +a Sermon, and Mr. Badman was unwilling {84c} she should: but she at +that time, as it seems, did put on more courage than she was wont; and +therefore, after she had spent upon him, a great many fair words and +entreaties, if perhaps she might have prevailed by them, but all to no +purpose at all: At last she said she would go, and rendred this reason +for it; I have an Husband, but also a God; my God has commanded me, and +that upon pain of damnation, to be a continual Worshipper of him, and +that in the way of his own Appointments: I have an Husband, but also a +Soul, and my Soul ought to be more unto me, than all the world besides. +This soul of mine I will look after, care for, and (if I can) provide +it an Heaven for its habitation. You are commanded to love me, as you +love your own body, and so do I love you; {85a} but I tell you true, I +preferr my Soul before all the world, and its Salvation I will seek. + +At this, first, {85b} he gave her an ugly wish, and then fell into a +fearfull rage, and sware moreover that if she did go, he would make +both her, and all her damnable Brotherhood (for so he was pleased to +call them) to repent their coming thither. + +Atten. But what should he mean by that? + +Wise. You may easily guess what he meant: he meant, he would turn +Informer, and so either weary out those that she loved, from meeting +together to Worship God; or make them pay dearly for their so doing; +the which if he did, he knew it would vex every vein of her tender +heart. + +Atten. But do you think Mr. Badman would have been so base? + +Wise. Truly he had malice, and enmity enough in his heart to do it, +onely he was a Tradesman; also he knew that he must live by his +neighbours, and so he had that little wit in his anger, that he +refrained himself, and did it not. But, as I said, he had malice and +envy enough in his heart {85c} to have made him to do it, only he +thought it would worst him in his trade: yet these three things he +would be doing. + +1. He would be putting of others on to molest and abuse her friends. + +2. He would be glad when he heard that any mischief befell them. + +3. And would laugh at her, when he saw her troubled for them. And now I +have told you Mr. Badmans way as to this. + +Atten. But was he not afraid of the Judgments of God, that did fly +about at that time? + +Wise. He regarded not the Judgment nor Mercy of God, for had he at all +done that, he could not have done as he did. But what Judgments do you +mean? + +Atten. Such Judgments, that if Mr Badman himself had taken but sober +notice of, they might have made him a hung down his ears. + +Wise. Why, have you heard of any such persons that the Judgments of God +have overtaken. + +Atten. Yes, and so, I believe, have you too, though you make so strange +about it. + +Wise. I have so indeed, to my astonishment and wonder. + +Atten. Pray, therefore, if you please, tell me what it is, as to this, +that you know; and then, perhaps, I may also say something to you of +the same. + +Wise. [Picture: Take note symbol] In {86} our Town there was one +W. S. a man of a very wicked life; and he, when there seemed to be +countenance given to it, would needs turn Informer. Well, so he did, +and was as diligent in his business as most of them could be; he would +watch a nights, climb Trees, and range the Woods a days, if possible, +to find out the Meeters, for then they were forced to meet in the +Fields: yea, he would curse them bitterly, and swear most fearfully +what he would do to them when he found them. Well, after he had gone on +like a Bedlam in his course a while, and had done some mischiefs to the +people, he was stricken by the hand of God, and that in this manner. + +1. Although he had his tongue naturally at will, now he was taken with +a faultering in his speech, and could not for weeks together speak +otherwise, than just like a man that was drunk. + +2. Then he was taken with a drauling, or slabbering at his mouth, which +slabber sometimes would hang at his mouth well nigh half way down to +the ground. + +3. Then he had such a weakness in the back sinews of his Neck, that oft +times he could not look up before him, unless he clapped his hand hard +upon his forehead, and held up his head that way, by strength of hand. + +4. After this his speech went quite away, and he could speak no more +than a Swine or a Bear. Therefore, like one of them, he would gruntle +and make an ugly noyse, according as he was offended, or pleased, or +would have any thing done, &c. + +In this posture he continued for the space of half a year, or +thereabouts, all the while otherwise well, and could go about his +business, save once that he had a fall from the Bell as it hangs in +our Steeple, which ’twas a wonder it did not kill him: But after that +he also walked about, till God had made him a sufficient spectacle of +his Judgment for his sin, and then on a sudden he was stricken and dyed +miserably: and so there was an end of him and his doings. + +I will tell you of another. [Picture: Take note symbol] About four +miles from St. Neots, there was a Gentleman had a man, and he would +needs be an Informer, and a lusty young man he was. Well, an Informer +he was, and did much distress some people, and had perfected his +Informations so effectually against some, that there was nothing +further to do, but for the Constables to make distress on the people, +that he might have the Money or Goods; and as I heard, he hastened them +much to do it. Now while he was in the heat of his work, as he stood +one day by the Fire-side, he had (it should seem) a mind to a Sop in +the Pan, (for the Spit was then at the fire,) so he went to make him +one; but behold, a Dog (so say his own Dog) took distaste at something, +and bit his Master by the Leg; the which bite, notwithstanding all the +means that was used to cure him, turned (as was said) to a Gangrene; +however, that wound was his death, and that a dreadful one too: for my +Relator said, that he lay in such a condition by this bite, (as the +beginning) till his flesh rotted from off him before he went out of +the world. But what need I instance in particular persons, when the +Judgement of God against this kind of people was made manifest, I think +I may say, if not in all, yet in most of the Counties in England where +such poor Creatures were. But I would, if it had been the will of God, +that neither I nor any body else, could tell you more of these Stories: +True stories, that are neither Lye, nor Romance. + +Atten. Well, I also heard of both these my self, and of more too, as +remarkable in their kind as these, if I had any list to tell them: +but let us leave those that are behind to others, or to the coming of +Christ, who then will justifie or condemn them as the merit of their +work shall require; or if they repented, and found mercy, I shall be +glad when I know it, for I wish not a curse to the Soul of mine Enemy. + +Wise. There can be no pleasure in the telling of such stories, though +to hear of them may do us a pleasure: They may put us in mind that +there is a God that judgeth in the earth, and that doth not alwayes +forget nor deferre to hear the Crye of the destitute; They also +carry along with them both Caution and Counsel to those that are the +survivors of such. Let us tremble at the Judgements of God, and be +afraid of sinning against him, and it shall be our protection. It shall +go well with them that fear God, that fear before him. + +Atten. Well Sir, as you have intimated, so I think we have in this +place spoken enough about these kind of men; if you please, let us +return again to Mr. Badman himself, if you have any more to say of him. + +Wise. More! we have yet scarce throughly begun with Any thing that we +have said. All the particulars are in themselves so full of badness, +that we have rather only looked in them, than indeed said any thing to +them: but we will pass them, and proceed. You have heard of the sins +of his Youth, of his Apprentiship, and how he set up, and married, and +what a life he hath led his wife; and now I will tell you some more +{88a} of his pranks. He had the very knack of Knavery; had he, as I +said before, been bound to serve an Apprentiship to all these things, +he could not have been more cunning, he could not have been more +artificial at it. + +Atten. Nor perhaps so artificially neither. For as none can teach +Goodness like to God himself, so concerning Sin and Knavery, none can +teach a man it like the Devil, to whom, as I perceive, Mr. Badman went +to School from his Childhood to the end of his life. But pray Sir, make +a beginning. + +Wise. Well so I will. You may remember that I told you what a condition +he was in for Money before he did marry, and how he got a rich Wife, +with whose Money he paid his debts: Now when he had paid his debts, he +having some Moneys left, he sets up again {88b} as briskly as ever, +keeps a great Shop, drives a great Trade, and runs again a great way +into debt; but now not into the debt of one or two, but into the debt +of many, so that at last he came to owe some thousands; and thus he +went on a good while. And to pursue his ends the better, he began now +to study to please all men, and to suit himself to any company; he +could now be as they, say as they, that is, if he listed; and then he +would list, when he perceived that by so doing, he might either make +them his Customers or Creditors for his Commodities. If he dealt with +honest men, (as with some honest men he did) then he would be as they; +talk as they, seem to be sober as they, talk of Justice and Religion as +they, and against Debauchery as they; yea, and would too seem to shew a +dislike of them that said, did, or were otherwise than honest. + +Again, when he did light among those that were bad, then he would be +as they, but yet more close and cautiously, except he were sure of his +company: Then he would carry it openly, be as they; say, Damn’em and +Sink’em, as they. If they railed on Good men, so could he; {89} if +they railed on Religion, so could he: if they talked beastly, vainly, +idlely, so would he; if they were for drinking, swearing, whoring, or +any the like Villanies, so was he. This was now the path he trod in, +and could do all artificially, as any man alive. And now he thought +himself a perfect man, he thought he was always a Boy till now. What +think you now of Mr. Badman? + +Atten. Think! why, I think he was an Atheist: For no man but an Atheist +can do this. I say, it cannot be, but that the man that is such as this +Mr. Badman, must be a rank and stinking Atheist; for he that believes +that there is either God or Devil, Heaven or Hell, or Death, and +Judgment after, cannot doe as Mr. Badman did; I mean, if he could do +these things without reluctancy and check of Conscience; yea, if he had +not sorrow and remorse for such abominable sins as these. + +Wise. Nay, he was so far off from reluctancies and remorse of +Conscience for these things, that he counted them the excellency of +his Attainments, the quintessence of his Wit, his rare and singular +vertues, such as but few besides himself could be the Masters of. +Therefore, as for those that made boggle and stop at things, and that +could not in Conscience, and for fear of Death and Judgement, do such +things as he; he would call them Fools and Noddies, and charge them for +being frighted with the talk of unseen Bugbears; and would encourage +them, if they would be men indeed, to labour after the attainment of +this his excellent art. He would often-times please himself {90a} with +the thoughts of what he could do in this matter, saying within himself; +I can be religious, and irreligious, I can be any thing, or nothing; +I can swear, and speak against swearing; I can lye, and speak against +lying; I can drink, wench, be unclean, and defraud, and not be troubled +for it: Now I enjoy my self, and am Master of mine own wayes, and not +they of me. This I have attained with much study, great care, and more +pains. But this his talk should be only with himself, to his wife, who +he knew durst not divulge it; or among his Intimates, to whom he knew +he might say any thing. + +Atten. Did I call him before an Atheist? I may call him now a Devil, or +a man possessed with one, if not with many. I think that there cannot +be found in every corner such an one as this. True, it is said of King +Ahaz, that he sinned more and more; and of Ahab, that he sold himself +to work wickedness; and of the men of Sodom, that they were sinners +exceedingly before the Lord. {90b} + +Wise. An Atheist he was no doubt, if there be such a thing as an +Atheist in the world, but for all his brags of perfection and security +in his wickedness, I believe that at times God did let down fire from +Heaven into his Conscience. True, I believe he would quickly put it +out again, and grow more desperate and wicked afterward, but this also +turned to his destruction, as afterward you may hear. {90c} + +But I am not of your mind, to think that there are but few such in +the world; except you mean as to the Degree of wickedness unto which +he had attained. For otherwise, no doubt, {90d} there is abundance of +such as he: men of the same mind, of the same principles, and of the +same conscience too, to put them into practice. Yea, I believe that +there are many that are endeavouring to attain to the same pitch of +wickedness; and all them are such as he, in the Judgment of the Law; +nor will their want of hellish wit to attain thereto, excuse them at +the day of Judgment. You know that in all Science, some are more arch +than some; and so it is in the art, as well as in the practice of +wickedness: some are two-fold, and some seven-fold more the children +of Hell than others, (and yet all the children of Hell,) else they +would all be Masters, and none scholars in the school of wickedness. +But there must be Masters, and there must be Learners; Mr. Badman was +a master in this art, and therefore it follows that he must be an arch +and chief one in that mystery. + +Atten. You are in the right, for I perceive that some men, though they +desire it, cannot be so arch in the practice thereof as others, but are +(as I suppose they call them) fools and dunces to the rest, their heads +and capacities will not serve them to act and do so wickedly. But Mr. +Badman wanted not a wicked head to contrive, as well as a wicked heart +to do his wickedness. + +Wise. True, but yet I say, such men shall at the day of Judgment, be +judged, not only for what they are, but also for what they would be. +For if the thought of foolishness is sin, {91a} doubtless the desire +of foolishness is more sin: and if the desire be more, the endeavour +after it must needs be more and more. {91b} He then that is not an +artificial Atheist and Transgressor, yet if he desires to be so, if he +endeavoureth to be so, he shall be Judged and condemned to Hell for +such an one. For the Law Judgeth men, as I said, according to what +they would be. He that looketh upon a woman to lust after her, hath +committed adultery with her already in his heart. {91c} By the same +rule, he that would steal, doth steal; he that would cheat, doth cheat; +he that would swear, doth swear; and he that would commit adultery, +doth do so. For God Judgeth men according to the working of their +minds, and saith; As he thinketh, so is he. That is, so is he in his +heart, in his intentions, in his desires, in his endeavours; and Gods +Law, I say, lays hold of the desires, intentions and endeavours, even +as it lays hold of the act of wickedness it self. {91d} A man then that +desires to be as bad as Mr. Badman, (and desires to be so wicked have +many in their hearts) though he never attains to that proficiency in +wickedness as he, shall yet be Judged for as bad a man as he, because +’twas in his desires to be such a wicked one. + +Atten. But this height of wickedness in Mr. Badman, will not yet out +of my mind. This hard, desperate, or what shall I call it, diabolicall +frame of heart, was in him a foundation, a ground-work, to all acts and +deeds that were evil. + +Wise. The heart, and the desperate wickedness of it, is the foundation +and groundwork of all. Atheism, professed and practicall, spring both +out of the heart, yea and all manner of evils besides. {92a} For they +be not bad deeds that make a bad man, but he is already a bad man that +doth bad deeds. A man must be wicked before he can do wickedness. {92b} +Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked. ’Tis an evil tree that bears +evil fruit, men gather no grapes of thorns; the heart therefore must be +evil, before the man can do evil, and good before the man doth good. + +Atten. Now I see the reason why Mr. Badman was so base, as to get a +Wife by dissimulation, and to abuse her so like a Villain when he had +got her, it was because he was before by a wicked heart prepared to act +wickedness. + +Wise. You may be sure of it; for from within, out of the heart of +man proccedeth evil thoughts, Adulteries, Fornications, Murders, +Thefts, Coveteousness, Wickedness, Deceit, Lasciviousness, an evil +Eye, Blasphemy, Pride, Foolishness. All these things come from within, +and defile a man. {92c} And a man, as his naughty mind inclines him, +makes use of these, or any of these, to gratifie his lust, to promote +his designs, to revenge his malice, to enrich, or to wallow himself +in the foolish pleasures and pastimes of this life: And all these did +Mr. Badman do, even to the utmost, if either opportunity, or purse, or +perfidiousness, would help him to the obtaining of his purpose. + +Atten. Purse! Why he could not but have Purse to do almost what he +would, having married a wife with so much money. + +Wise. Hold you there; some of Mr. Badmans sins were costly, as his +drinking, and whoring, and keeping other bad company; though he was a +man that had ways too many to get money, as well as ways too many to +spend it. + +Atten. Had he then such a good Trade, for all he was such a bad man? or +was his Calling so gainfull to him, as alwayes to keep his Purses belly +full, though he was himself a great spender? + +Wise. No: It was not his Trade that did it, though he had a pretty +trade too. He had another way to get Money, and that by hatfulls and +pocketfulls at a time. + +Atten. Why I trow he was no Highway man, was he? + +Wise. I will be sparing in my speech as to that, though some have +muttered as if he could ride out now and then, about no body but +himself knew what, over night, and come home all dirty and weary next +morning. But that is not the thing I aim at. + +Atten. Pray let me know it, if you think it convenient that I should. + +Wise. I will tell you: It was this, he had an art to Break, {93a} and +get hatfulls of money by breaking. + +Atten. But what do you mean by Mr. Badmans Breaking? you speak +mystically, do you not? + +Wise. No, no, I speak plainly. Or, if you will have it in plainer +language, ’tis this: When Mr. Badman had swaggered and whored away +most of his wifes portion, he began to feel that he could not much +longer stand upon his legs in this course of life, and keep up his +Trade and Repute (such as he had) in the world; but by the new Engine +of Breaking. Wherefore, upon a time, he gives a great, and sudden +{93b} rush into several mens debts, to the value of about four or five +thousand pound, driving at the same time a very great trade, by selling +many things for less than they cost him, to get him custom, therewith +to blind his Creditors eyes. His Creditors therefore feeling that he +had a great employ, and dreaming that it must needs at length turn +to a very good account to them, trusted him freely without mistrust, +and so did others too, to the value of what was mentioned before. +Well, when Mr. Badman had well feathered his Nest with other mens +goods and money, after a little time {93c} he breaks. And by and by +it is noysed abroad that Mr. Badman had shut up Shop, was gone, and +could trade no longer. Now, by that time his breaking was come to his +Creditors ears, he had by Craft and Knavery made so sure of what he +had, that his Creditors could not touch a penny. Well, when he had +done, he sends his mournfull sugered letters to his Creditors, to let +them understand what had happened unto him, and desired them not to +be severe with him; {94a} for he bore towards all men an honest mind, +and would pay so far as he was able. Now he sends his letters by a man +{94b} confederate with him, who could make both the worst, and best +of Mr. Badmans case: The best for Mr. Badman, and the worst for his +Creditors. So when he comes to them, he both bemoans them, and condoles +Mr. Badmans condition: Telling of them, that without a speedy bringing +of things to a conclusion, Mr. Badman would be able to make them no +satisfaction, but at present he both could, and would, and that to the +utmost of his power: and to that end, he desired that they would come +over to him. Well, his Creditors appoint him a time, and come over; and +he, mean while, authorizes another to treat with them, but will not +be seen himself, unless it was on a Sunday, lest they should snap him +with a Writ. So his deputed friend treats with them about their concern +with Mr. Badman, first telling them of the great care that Mr. Badman +took to satisfie them and all men for whatsoever he ought, as far as +in him lay, and, how little he thought a while since to be in this low +condition. He pleaded also the greatness of his Charge, the greatness +of Taxes, the Badness of the times, and the great Losses that he had +by many of his customers, some of which died in his debt, others were +run away, and for many that were alive, he never expected a farthi[n]g +from them. Yet nevertheless he would shew himself an honest man, and +would pay as far as he was able; and if they were willing to come to +terms, he would make a composition with them, (for he was not able to +pay them all.) The Creditors asked what he would give? {94c} ’Twas +replyed, Half a crown in the pound. At this they began to huff, and he +to renew his complaint and entreaty; but the Creditors would not hear, +and so for that time their meeting without success broke up. But after +his Creditors were in cool blood, and admitting of second thoughts, and +fearing lest delays should make them lose all, they admit of a second +debate, come together again, and by many words, and great ado, they +obtained five shillings i’th’ pound. {94d} So the money was produced, +Releases and Discharges drawn, signed, and sealed, Books crossed, and +all things confirmed; and then Mr. Badman can put his head out of +dores again, and be a better man than when he shut up Shop, by several +thousands of pounds. + +Atten. And did he do thus indeed? + +Wise, Yes, once, and again. I think he brake twice or thrice. + +Atten. And did he do it before he had need to do it? + +Wise. Need! What do you mean by need? there is no need at any time for +a man to play the knave. {95} He did it of a wicked mind, to defraud +and beguile his Creditors: he had wherewithall of his Father, and also +by his Wife, to have lived upon, with lawfull labour, like an honest +man. He had also when he made this wicked Break (though he had been +a profuse and prodigal spender) to have paid his creditors their own +to a farthing. But had he done so, he had not done like himself, like +Mr. Badman; had he, I say, dealt like an honest man, he had then gone +out of Mr. Badmans road. He did it therefore of a dishonest mind, and +to a wicked end; to wit, that he might have wherewithall, howsoever +unlawfully gotten, to follow his Cups and Queans, and to live in the +full swinge of his lusts, even as he did before. + +Atten. Why this was a meer Cheat. + +Wise. It was a cheat indeed. This way of breaking, it is else but a +more neat way of Thieving, of picking of pockets, of breaking open of +shops, and of taking from men what one has nothing to do with. But +though it seem easie, it is hard to learn, no man that has conscience +to God or man, can ever be his Crafts Master in this Hellish art. + +Atten. Oh! Sirs! what a wicked man was this? + +Wise. A wicked man indeed. By this art he could tell how to make men +send their goods to his shop, and then be glad to take a penny for that +for which he had promised before it came thither, to give them a Groat: +I say, he could make them glad to take a Crown for a pounds worth, and +a thousand for that for which he had promised before to give them four +thousand pounds. + +Atten. This argueth that Mr. Badman had but little conscience. + +Wise. This argued that Mr. Badman had No Conscience at all; for +Conscience, the least spark of a good Conscience cannot endure this. + +Atten. Before we go any further in Mr. Badmans matters, let me desire +you, if you please, to give me an answer to these two questions. {96a} + +1. What do you find in the Word of God against such a practice, as this +of Mr. Badmans is? {96b} + +2. What would you have a man do that is in his Creditors debt, and can +neither pay him what he owes him, nor go on in a trade any longer? + +Wise. I will answer you as well as I can. And first to the first of +your questions. To wit, What I find in the Word of God against such a +practice, as this of Mr. Badmans is. + +Answ. The Word of God doth forbid this wickedness; and to make it the +more odious in our eyes, it joyns it with Theft and Robbery: Thou shalt +not, says God, defraud thy neighbour, nor rob him. {96c} Thou shalt +not defraud, that is, deceive or beguile. Now thus to break, is to +defraud, deceive and beguile; which is, as you see, forbidden by the +God of Heaven: Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, nor rob him. It is +a kind of theft and robbery, thus to defraud, and beguile. {96d} It is +a wilely robbing of his shop, and picking of his pocket: a thing odious +to Reason and Conscience, and contrary to the Law of nature. It is a +designed piece of wickedness, and therefore a double sin. A man cannot +do this great wickedness on a sudden, and through a violent assault +of Satan. He that will commit this sin, must have time to deliberate, +that by invention, he may make it formidable, and that with lies and +high dissimulations. He that commits this wickedness, must first hatch +it upon his bed, beat his head about it, and lay his plot strong: So +that to the completing of such a wickedness, there must be adjoyned +many sins, and they too, must go hand in hand untill it be compleated. +But what saith the Scripture? {96e}{96f} Let no man go beyond, and +defraud his Brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger +of all such. But this kind of Breaking is a going beyond my Brother; +This is a compassing of him about that I may catch him in my net; and +as I said, an art to rob my Brother, and to pick his pocket, and that +with his consent. Which doth not therefore mitigate, but so much the +more greaten and make odious the offence. For men that are thus wilily +abused cannot help themselves, they are taken in a deceitfull net. But +God will here concern himself, he will be the avenger, he will be the +avenger of all such either here or in another world. + +And this, the Apostle testifies again, where he saith; {97a} But he +that doth wrong, shall receive for the wrong that he hath done, and +there is no respect of persons. {97b} That is, there is no man, be he +what he will, if he will be guilty of this sin, of going beyond, of +beguiling of, and doing wrong to his Brother, but God will call him +to an account for it, and will pay him with vengeance for it too; for +there is no respect of persons. + +I might add, that this sin of wronging, of going beyond, and defrauding +of my Neighbour, it is like that first prank that the Devil plaid with +our first Parents, {97c} (as the Altar that Uriah built for Ahaz, was +taken from the fashion of that that stood at Damascus, to be the very +pattern of it.) The Serpent beguiled me, says Eve; Mr. Badman beguiles +his Creditors. The Serpent beguiled Eve with lying promises of gain; +and so did Mr. Badman beguile his Creditors. The Serpent said one thing +and meant another, when he beguiled Eve; and so did Mr. Badman when he +beguiled his Creditors. + +That man therefore that doth thus deceive and beguile his neighbour, +imitateth the Devil; he taketh his examples from him, and not from God, +the Word, or good men: and this did Mr. Badman. + +And now to your second question: To wit, What I would have a man do, +that is in his Creditors debt, and that can neither pay him, nor go on +in a trade any longer? {97d} + +Answ. First of all. If this be his case, and he knows it, let him not +run one penny further in his Creditors debt. For that cannot be done +with good conscience. He that knowes he cannot pay, and yet will run +into debt; does knowingly wrong and defraud his neighbour, and falls +under that sentence of the Word of God, The wicked borroweth and payeth +not again. Yea worse, he borrows though at the very same time he knows +that he cannot pay again. He doth also craftily take away what is his +Neighbours. That is therefore the first thing that I would propound to +such: Let him not run any further into his Creditors debt. {98a} + +Secondly, After this, let him consider, {98b} how, and by what means +he was brought into such a condition, that he could not pay his just +debts. To wit, whether it was by his own remisness in his Calling, by +living too high in Dyet or Apparel, by lending too ravishingly that +which was none of his own, to his loss; or whether by the immediate +hand and Judgment of God. + +If by searching, he findes, that this is come upon him through +remisness in his Calling, Extravagancies in his Family, or the like; +let him labour for a sence of his sin and wickedness, {98c} for he has +sinned against the Lord: First, in his being slothfull in business, +and in not providing, to wit, of is own, by the sweat of his brows, +or other honest ways, for those of his own house. {98d} And secondly +in being lavishing in Dyet and Apparel in the Family, or in lending +to others that which was none of his own. This cannot be done with +good conscience: it is both against reason and nature, and therefore +must be a sin against God. I say therefore, if thus this debtor hath +done, if ever he would live quietly in conscience, and comfortably in +his condition for the future, let him humble himself before God, and +repent of this his wickedness. For he that is slothfull in his work, +is brother to him that is a great waster. {98e} To be slothfull and a +waster too, is to be as it were a double sinner. + +But again, as this man should enquire into these things, so he should +also into this. How came I into this way of dealing in which I have +now miscarried? is it a way that my Parents brought me up in, put me +Apprentice to, or that by providence I was first thrust into? or is it +a way into which I have twisted my self, as not being contented with my +first lot, that by God and my Parents I was cast into? This ought duly +to be considered. {98f} And if upon search, a man shall find that he is +out of the place and Calling into which he was put by his Parents, or +the Providence of God, and has miscarried in a new way, that through +pride and dislike of his first state he as chose rather to embrace; +his miscarriage is his sin, the fruit of his Pride, and a token of the +Judgment of God upon him for his leaving of his first state. And for +this he ought, as for the former, to be humble and penitent before the +Lord. + +But if by search, {99a} he finds, that his poverty came by none of +these; if by honest search, he finds it so, and can say with good +conscience, I went not out of my place and state in which God by his +providence had put me; but have abode with God in the calling wherein +I was called, and have wrought hard, and fared meanly, been civilly +apparelled, and have not directly, nor indirectly made away with my +Creditors goods: Then has his fall come upon him by the immediate hand +of God, whether by visible or invisible wayes. For sometimes it comes +by visible wayes, to wit, by Fire, by Thieves, by loss of Cattel, or +the wickedness of sinful dealers, &c. And sometimes by means invisible, +and then no man knows how; we only see things are going, but cannot see +by what way they go. Well, Now suppose that a man, by an immediate hand +of God is brought to a morsel of Bread, what must he do now? {99b} + +I answer: His surest way is still to think, that this is the fruit of +some sin, though possibly not sin in the management of his calling, +yet of some other sin. God casteth away the substance of the wicked. +Therefore let him still humble himself before his God, because his hand +is upon him, and say, What sin is this, for which this hand of God is +upon me? and let him be diligent to find it out, for some sin is the +cause of this Judgment; for God doth not willingly afflict nor grieve +the children of men. Either the heart is too much set upon the world, +or Religion is too much neglected in thy Family, or some thing. There +is a Snake in the grass, a Worm in the gourd; some sin in thy bosom, +for the sake of which God doth thus deal with thee. + +Thirdly, This thus done, let that man again consider thus with himself: +Perhaps God is now changing of my Condition and state in the world; +he has let me live in fashion, in fulness, and abundance of worldly +glory, and I did not to his glory improve, as I should, that his good +dispensation to me. {100a} But when I lived in full and fat pasture, +I did there lift up the heel: Therefore he will now turn me into hard +Commons, that with leanness, and hunger, and meanness, and want, I may +spend the rest of my days. But let him do this without murmering, and +repining; let him do it in a godly manner, submitting himself to the +Judgment of God. Let the rich rejoyce in that he is made low. {100b} + +This is duty, and it may be priviledg to those that are under this hand +of God. And for thy encouragement to this hard work, (for this is a +hard work) consider of these four things. {100c} + +1. This is right lying down under Gods hand, and the way to be exalted +in Gods time: when God would have Job embrace the Dunghill, he embraces +it, and says, The Lord giveth, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be +the name of the Lord. {100d} + +2. Consider, That there are blessings also that attend a low condition, +more than all the world are aware of. A poor condition has preventing +mercy attending of it. The poor, because they are poor, are not capable +of sinning against God as the rich man does. + +3. The Poor can more clearly see himself preserved by the providence +of God than the rich, for he trusteth in the abundance of his riches. +{100e} + +4. It may be God has made thee poor, because he would make thee rich. +Hearken my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this +world, rich in Faith, and heirs of a Kingdom which God hath promised to +them that love him? {100f} + +I am perswaded, if men upon whom this hand of God is, would thus +quietly lye down, and humble themselves under it, they would find more +peace, yea, more blessing of God attending them in it, than the most of +men are aware of. But this is an hard Chapter, and therefore I do not +expect that many should either read it with pleasure, or desire to take +my counsel. + +Having thus spoken to the Broken man, with reference to his own self; I +will now speak to him as he stands related to his Creditors. + +In the next place therefore, let him fall upon the most {101a} honest +way of dealing with his Creditors, and that I think must be this. + +First, Let him timely make them acquainted with his condition, and also +do to them these three things. + +1. Let him heartily, and unfeignedly ask them forgiveness for the wrong +that he has done them. + +2. Let him proffer them all, and the whole all that ever he has in the +world; let him hide nothing, let him strip himself to his raiment for +them; let him not keep a Ring, a Spoon, or any thing from them. + +3. If none of these two will satisfie them, let him proffer them his +Body, to be at their dispose, to wit, either to abide imprisonment +their pleasure, or to be at their service, till by labour and travel he +hath made them such amends as they in reason think fit, (only reserving +something for the succour of his poor and distressed Family out of +his labour, which in Reason, and Conscience, and Nature, he is bound +also to take care of:) Thus shall he make them what amends he is able, +for the Wrong that he hath done them in wasting and spending of their +Estates. + +By thus doing, he submits himself to Gods rod, commits himself to the +dispose of his Providence; yea, by thus doing, he casteth the lot of +his present and future condition into the lap of his Creditors, and +leaves the whole dispose thereof to the Lord, {101b} even as he shall +order and incline their hearts to do with him. And let that be either +to forgive him; or to take that which he hath for satisfaction; or to +lay his body under affliction, this way or that, according to Law; +can he, I say, thus leave the whole dispose to God, let the issue be +what it will, that man shall have peace in his mind afterward. And the +comforts of that state, (which will be comforts that attend Equity, +Justice, and Duty,) will be more unto him, because more according to +Godliness, than can be the comforts that are the fruits of Injustice, +Fraudulency, and Deceit. Besides, this is the way to engage God to +favour him by the sentence of his Creditors; (for He can entreat them +to use him kindly,) and he will do it when his ways are pleasing in his +sight: When a mans ways please the Lord, his enemies shall be at peace +with him; {102a} And surely, for a man to seek to make restitution for +wrongs done, to the utmost of his power, by what he is, has, and enjoys +in this world, is the best way, in that capacity, and with reference to +that thing, that a man can at this time be found active in. + +But he that doth otherwise, abides in his sin, refuses to be disposed +of by the Providence of God, chuseth an high Estate, though not +attained in Gods way; when Gods Will is, that he should descend into a +low one: yea, he desperately saith in his heart and actions, I will be +mine own chooser, and that in mine own way, whatever happens or follows +thereupon. + +Atten. You have said well, in my mind. But suppose now, that Mr. Badman +was here, could he not object as to what you have said, saying, Go +and teach your Brethren, that are Professors, this lesson, for they, +as I am, are guilty of Breaking; yea I am apt to think, of that which +you call my Knavish way of breaking; to wit, of breaking before they +have need to break. But if not so, yet they are guilty of neglect in +their Calling, {102b} of living higher, both in Fare and Apparrel, than +their Trade or Income will maintain. Besides, that they do break, all +the world very well knowes, and that they have the art to plead for +a composition, is very well known to men; and that it is usual with +them, to hide their Linnen, their Plate, their Jewels, and (’tis to +be thought, sometimes Money and Goods besides,) is as common as four +eggs a penny. And thus they beguile men, debauch their consciences, sin +against their Profession, and make, ’tis to be feared, their lusts in +all this, and the fulfilling of them, their end. I say, if Mr. Badman +was here to object thus unto you, what would be your reply? + +Wise. What! Why I would say, I hope no Good man, no man of good +conscience, no man that either feareth God, regardeth the credit of +Religion, the peace of Gods people, or the salvation of his own soul, +will do thus. + +Professors, such perhaps there may be, and who, upon earth can help +it? Jades there be of all colours. {103a} If men will profess, and +make their profession a stalking-Horse to beguile their neighbours of +their estates, as Mr. Badman himself did, when he beguiled her that +now is with sorrow his wife, who can help it? The Churches of old +were pestered with such, and therefore no marvel if these perilous +difficult times be so. But mark how the Apostle words it: Nay do wrong +and defraud, and that your Brethren: Know you not, that the unrighteous +shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither +Fornicator, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor abusers +of themselves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, +nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God. {103b} + +None of these shall be saved in this state, nor shall profession +deliver them from the censure of the Godly, when they shall be manifest +such to be. But their profession we cannot help: How can we help it, if +men should ascribe to themselves the title of Holy ones, Godly ones, +Zealous ones, Self-denying ones, or any other such glorious title? and +while they thus call themselves, they should be the veryest Rogues for +all evil, sin, and villany imaginable, who could help it? True, they +are a scandal to Religion, a grief to the honest hearted, an offence +to the world, and a stumbling stone to the weak, and these offences +have come, do come, and will come, do what all the world can; but wo be +to them through whom they come; {103c} let such professors therefore +disowned by all true Christians, and let them be reckoned among those +base men of the world which by such actions they most resemble: They +are Mr. Badmans Kindred. + +For {103d} they are a shame to Religion, I say these slithy, rob-Shop, +pick-pocket men, they are a shame to Religion, and religious men should +be ashamed of them. God puts such an one among the Fools of the world, +therefore let not Christians put them among those that are wise for +heaven. As the Partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not, so he +that getteth riches and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of +his dayes, and at his end shall be a fool. {103e} And the man under +consideration is one of these, and therefore must look to fall by this +Judgment. + +A professor! and practice such villianies as these! such an one is not +worthy to bear that name any longer. We may say to such as the Prophet +spake to their like, to wit, to the rebellious that were in the house +of Israel. Goe ye, serve every man his Idols:—If ye will not hearken +to the Law and Testament of God, to lead your lives thereafter: but +pollute Gods holy name no more with your Gifts, and with your Idols. +{104a} + +Goe professors, Goe; leave off profession, unless you will lead your +lives according to your profession. Better never profess, than to make +profession a stalking-horse to sin, Deceit, to the Devil, and Hell. + +The ground and rules of Religion allow not any such thing: Receive us, +says the Apostle, we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we +have defrauded no man. {104b} Intimating, that those that are guilty of +wronging, corrupting or defrauding of any, should not be admitted to +the fellowship of Saints, no nor into the common catalogue of Brethren +with them. + +Nor can men with all their Rhetorick, and Eloquent speaking prove +themselves fit for the Kingdom of Heaven, or men of good conscience on +earth. {104c} O that godly plea of Samuel: Behold here I am, says he, +witness against me, before the Lord, and before his Anointed, whose +Oxe have I taken, or whose Ass have I taken, or whom have I defrauded, +whom have I oppressed, {104d} &c? This was to do like a man of good +conscience indeed. And in this his Appeal, he was so justified in the +consciencies of the whole Congregation, that they could not but with +one voice, as with one mouth, break out joyntly and say, Thou hast not +defrauded us, nor oppressed us. {104e} + +A Professor, and defraud, away with him! a Professor should not owe +any man any thing, but love. A professor should provide things, not +of other mens, but of his own, of his own honest getting, and that +not onely in the sight of God, but of all men; that he may adorn the +Doctrine if God our Saviour in all things. + +Atten. But {105a} suppose God should blow upon a Professor in his +Estate, and Calling, and he should be run out before he is aware, must +he be accounted to be like Mr. Badman, and lie under the same reproach +as he? + +Wise. No: {105b} If he hath dutifully done what he could to avoid it. +It is possible for a Ship to sink at sea, notwithstanding the most +faithfull endeavour of the most skilful Pilot under Heaven. And thus, +as I suppose, it was with the Prophet that left his wife in debt to the +hazarding the slavery of her children by the Creditors. {105c} He was +no profuse man, nor one that was given to defraud, for the Text says he +feared God; yet, as I said, he was run out more than she could pay. + +If God would blow upon a man, who can help it? and he will do so +sometimes, {105d} because he will change dispensations with men, and +because he will trye their Graces. {105e} Yea, also because he will +overthrow the wicked with his Judgments; and all these things are seen +in Job. But then the consideration of this, should bid men have a care +that they be honest, lest this comes upon them for their sin: It should +also bid them beware of launching further into the world, than in an +honest way by ordinary means they can Godlily make their retreat; for +the further in, the greater fall. It should also teach them, to begg +of God his blessing upon their endeavours, their honest and lawfull +endeavours. And it should put them upon a diligent looking to their +steps, that if in their going they should hear the Ice crack, they may +timely goe back again. + +These things considered, and duely put in practice, if God will blow +upon a man, then let him be content, and with Job embrace the dunghill; +let him give unto all their dues, and not fight against the Providence +of God, (but humble himself rather under his mighty hand,) which comes +to strip him naked and bare: for he that doth otherwise, fights against +God; and declares that he is a stranger to that of Paul; I know both +how to be abased, and I know how to abound; every where, in all things, +I am instructed both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound, and +to suffer need. {105f} + +Atten. But Mr. Badman would not, I believe, have put this difference +’twixt things feigned, and those that fall of necessity. + +Wise. If he will not, God will, Conscience will; and that not thine own +only, but the Consciences of all those that have seen the way, and that +have known the truth of the condition of such an one. + +Atten. Well: Let us at this time leave this matter, and return again to +Mr. Badman. + +Wise. With all my heart will I proceed to give you a relation of what +is yet behind of his Life, in order to our discourse of his Death. + +Atten. But pray do it with as much brevity as you can. + +Wise. Why? are you a weary of my relating of things? + +Atten. No. But it pleases me to hear a great deal in few words. + +Wise. I profess not my self an artist that way, but yet as briefly as I +can, I will pass through what of his Life is behind; and again I shall +begin with his fraudulent dealing (as before I have shewed with his +Creditors, so now) with his Customers, and those that he had otherwise +to deal withall. + +He dealt by deceitfull Weights and Measures. {106} He kept weights to +buy by, and weights to sell by; measures to buy by, and measures to +sell by: those he bought by were too big, those he sold by were too +little. + +Besides, he could use a thing called slight of hand, if he had to do +with other mens weights and measures, and by that means make them +whether he did buy or sell, yea though his Customer or Chapman looked +on, turn to his own advantage. + +Moreover, he had the art to misreckon men in their Accounts whether +by weight, or measure, or money, and would often do it to his worldly +advantage, and their loss: What say you to Mr. Badman now? + +And if a question was made of his faithfull dealing, he had his +servants ready, that to his purpose he had brought up, that would +avouch and swear to his Book, or word: this was Mr. Badmans practice; +What think you of Mr. Badman now? + +Atten. Think! Why I can think no other but that he was a man left to +himself, a naughty man; for these, as his other, were naughty things; +if the tree, as indeed it may, ought to be judged, what it is by its +fruits; then Mr. Badman must needs be a bad Tree. But pray, for my +further satisfaction, shew me now by the Word of God, evil of this his +practice: and first of his using false Weights and Measures. + +Wise. The evil of that! why the evil of that appears to every eye: the +Heathens, that live like Beasts and Bruits in many things, do abominate +and abhorr such wickedness as this. Let a man but look upon these +things as he goes by, and he shall see enough in them from the light of +nature to make him loath so base a practice; although Mr. Badman loved +it. + +Atten. But shew me something out of the Word against it, will you? + +Wise. I will willingly do it. And first we will look into the Old +Testament: {107a} You shall, saith God there, do no unrighteousness in +Judgment, in mete-yard, in weights or in measures, a just Ballance, a +just Weight, a just Ephah, and a just Hin shall you have. {107b} This +is the Law of God, and that which all men according to the Law of the +land ought to obey. So again: Ye shall have just Ballances, and a just +Ephah, &c. {107c} + +Now having shewed you the Law, I will also shew you how God takes +swerving therefrom. A false Ballance is not good; a false Ballance is +an abomination to the Lord. {107d} Some have just Weights but false +Ballances, and by vertue of those false Ballances, by their just +Weights, they deceive the Countrey: {107e} Wherefore, God first of all +commands that the Ballance be made Just: A just Ballance shalt thou +have. Else they may be, yea are, decievers, notwithstanding their just +weights. + +Now, having commanded that men have a just Ballance, and testifying +that a false one is an abomination to the Lord, he proceedeth also unto +weight and measure. + +Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small; +{107f} that is one to buy by, and another to sell by, as Mr. Badman +had. Thou shalt not have in thy house divers measures, a great and a +small, (and these had Mr. Badman also) but thou shalt have a perfect +and a just weight; a perfect and a just measure shalt thou have, that +thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth +thee. For all that do such things, (that is, that use false Weights and +Measures) and all that do unrighteously are abomination to the Lord. +See now both how plentiful, and how punctual the Scripture is in this +matter. But perhaps it may be objected, that all this is old Law, and +therefore hath nothing to do with us under the New Testament. (Not +that I think you, neighbour, will object thus:) Well, to this foolish +objection, let us make an Answer. First, he that makes this objection, +if he doth it to overthrow the authority of those Texts, {108a} +discovereth that himself is first cousen to Mr. Badman: For a Just man +is willing to speak reverently of those commands. That man therefore +hath, I doubt, but little conscience, if any at all that is good, +that thus objecteth against the Text: but let us look into the New +Testament, and there we shall see how Christ confirmeth the same: Where +he commandeth that men make to others good measure, including also that +they make good weight; telling such that doe thus, or those that do it +not, that they may be encouraged to do it; Good measure, pressed down, +shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom; +for with the same measure that ye mete withall, it shall be measured +to you again: {108b} To wit, both from God and man. For as God will +shew his indignation against the false man, by taking away even that +he hath, so he will deliver up the false man to the Oppressor, and the +Extortioner shall catch from him, as well as he hath catched from his +neighbour; therefore another Scripture saith, When thou shalt cease to +deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. That the +New Testament also, hath an inspection into mens Trading, yea even with +their weights and measures, is evident from these general exhortations. +{108c} Defraud not; lye not one to another; let no man goe beyond his +brother in any matter, for God is the avenger of all such: whatsoever +you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, doing all in his name, to his +glory; and the like. All these injunctions and commandments do respect +our life and conversation among men, with reference to our dealing, +trading, and so consequently they forbid false, deceitful, yea all +doings that are corrupt. + +Having thus in a word or two shewed you, that these things are bad; I +will next, for the conviction of those that use them, shew you, where +God saith they are to be found. {109a} + +1. They are not to be found in the house of the good and godly man, for +he, as his God, abhorrs them; but they are to be found in the house +of evil doers, {109b} such as Mr. Badmans is. Are there, saith the +Prophet, yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, +and the scant measure that is abomination? {109c} Are they there yet, +notwithstanding Gods forbidding, notwithstanding Gods tokens of anger +against those that do such things? O how loth is a wicked man to let +goe a sweet, a gainful sin, when he hath hold of it! They hold fast +deceit, they refuse to let it goe. + +2. These deceitful Weights and Measures are not to be found in the +house of the Mercifull, but in the house of the Cruel; in the house +of them that love to oppress. {109d} The Ballances of deceit are in +his hand, he loveth to oppress. {109e} He is given to oppression and +cruelty, therefore he useth such wicked things in his calling. Yea +he is a very cheat, and as was hinted before, concerning Mr. Badmans +breaking, so I say now, concerning his using these deceitful weights +and measures, it is as bad, as base, as to take a purse, or pick a +pocket; for it is a plain robbery, it takes away from a man that which +is his own, even the price of his money. + +3. The deceitful Weights and Measures are not to be found in the house +of such as relieve the belly, and that cover the loyns of the poor, +but of such as indeed would swallow them up. {109f} Hear ye this, +ye that swallow up the needy, and that make the poor of the land to +fail, saying, When will the new Moon be gone that we may sell corn, +and the Sabbath that we may set forth Wheat, making the Ephah small +and the Sheckle great, (making the Measure small, and the Price great) +and falsifying the Ballances by deceit, that ye may buy the poor for +silver, and the needy for a pair of shooes, and sell the refuse of the +Wheat. The Lord hath sworn by the excellencie of Jacob, surely I will +not forget any of their works. {109g} So detestable and vile a thing is +this in the sight of God. + +4. God abominates the thoughts of calling of those that use false +weights and measures, by any other term than, that they be Impure ones +{110a} or the like: Shall I count them pure (saith he) with the bag of +deceitful weights? {110b} no by no means, they are impure ones, their +hands are defiled, deceitful gain is in their houses, they have gotten +what they have by coveting an evil Covetousness, and therefore must and +shall be counted among the impure, among the wicked of the world. + +Thus you see how full and plain the Word of God is, against this sin, +and them that use it. And therefore Mr. Badman, for that he used by +these things thus to rook and cheat his neighbours, is rightly rejected +from having his Name in, and among the catalogue of the godly. + +Atten. But I am perswaded, that the using of these things, and the +doing by them thus deceitfully, is not counted so great an evil by some. + +Wise. Whether it be counted an evil or a vertue, by men, it mattereth +not; you see by the Scriptures, the Judgment of God upon it. It was not +counted an evil by Mr. Badman, nor is it by any that still are treading +in his steps. But, I say, ’tis no matter how men esteem of things, let +us adhere to the Judgment of God. And the rather, because when we our +selves have done weighing and measuring to others, then God will weigh +and measure both us and our actions. And when he doth so, as he will +do shortly, then wo be to him to whom, and of whose actions it shall +be thus said by him: Tekel, Thou art weighed in the Ballances, and art +found wanting. {110c} God will then recompense their evil of deceiving +upon their own head, when he shall shut them out of his presence, +favour, and kingdom, for ever and ever. + +Atten. But ’tis a wonder, that since Mr. Badmans common practice was to +do thus, that some one or more did not find him out, and blame him for +this his wickedness. + +Wise. For the generality of people, he went away clever with his +Knavery. For what with his Ballance, his false Ballance, and good +weight, and what with his slight of hand to boot, he beguiled, +sometimes a little, and sometimes more, most that he had to deal with: +Besides, those that use this naughty trade, are either such as blind +men with a shew of Religion, or by hectoring the buyer out by words. +I must confess Mr. Badman was not so arch at the first; {111a} that +is, to do it by shew of Religion; for now he began to grow threadbare, +(though some of his brethren are arch enough this way, yea and of his +sisters too, for I told you at first that there was a great many of +them, and of them good:) but for hectoring, for swearing, for lying, if +these things would make weight and measure, they should not be wanting +to Mr. Badmans Customers. + +Atten. Then it seems he kept good Weights, and a bad Ballance; well +that was better than that both should be bad. + +Wise. Not at all. There lay the depth of his deceit: {111b} For if +any at any time found fault, that he used them hardly, and that they +wanted their weight of things; he would reply: Why did you not see +them weighed? will you not believe your own eyes: If you question my +weights, pray carry them whether you will, I will maintain them to be +good and just. The same he would say of his scales. So he blinded all, +by his Ballance. + +Atten. This is cunning indeed: but as you say, there must be also +something done or said, to blind therewith, and this I perceive Mr. +Badman had. + +Wise. Yes. He had many ways to blind, but he was never clever at it, +by making a shew of Religion, (though he cheated his wife therewith:) +for he was, especially by those that dwelt near him, too well known +to do that, though he would bungle at it as well as he could. But +there are some that are arch villains this way; they shall to view +live a whole life Religiously, and yet shall be guilty of these most +horrible sins: And yet Religion in it self is never the worse, nor +yet the true professors of it. But as Luther says, In the name of +God begins all mischief. For Hypocrites have no other way to bring +their evils to maturity, but by using and mixing the Name of God and +Religion therewith. {112b} Thus they become whited Walls; {112a} for by +this white, the white of Religion, the dirt of their actions is hid. +Thus also they become graves that appear not, and they that goe over +them, (that have to do with them) are not aware of them, but suffer +themselves to be deluded by them. Yea, if there shall, as there will +sometimes, rise a doubt in the heart of the buyer about the weight and +measure he should have, why, he suffereth his very sences to be also +deluded, by recalling of his Chapmans Religion to mind, and thinks +verily that not his good chapman but himself is out; for he dreams not +that his chapman can deceive. But if the buyer shall find it out, and +shall make it apparent, that he is beguiled; then shall he be healed by +having amends made, and perhaps fault shall be laid upon servants, &c. +and so Master Cheat shall stand for a right honest man in the eye of +his Customer, though the next time he shall pick his pocket again. + +Some {112c} plead Custom for their Cheat, as if that could acquit +them before the Tribunal of God: And others say, it came to them for +so much, and therefore another must take it for so much, though there +is wanting both as to weight and measure: but in all these things +there are Juggles; or if not, such must know, {112d} That that which +is altogether just, they must doe. Suppose that I be cheated my self +with a brass half-Crown, must I therefore cheat another therewith? +if this be bad in the whole, it is also bad in the parts. Therefore +however thou are dealt withall in thy buying, yet thou must deal justly +in selling, or thou sinnest against thy soul, and art become as Mr. +Badman. And know, that a pretence to custom is nothing worth. ’Tis not +custom, but good conscience that will help at Gods Tribunal. + +Atten. But I am perswaded, that that which is gotten by men this way, +doth them but little good. + +Wise. I am of your mind for that, but this is not considered by those +thus minded. For if they can get it, though they get, as we say, the +Devil and all, by their getting, yet they are content, and count that +their getting is much. + +Little good! Why do you think they consider that? No: no more than +they consider what they shall doe in the Judgment, at the day of God +Almighty, for their wrong getting of what they get, and that is just +nothing at all. {113a} + +But to give you a more direct answer. This kind of getting, is so far +off from doing them little good, that it doth them no good at all; +because thereby they lose their own souls; What shall it profit a man +if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? {113b} He +loseth then, he loseth greatly that getteth after this fashion. This is +the man that is penny-wise, and pound-foolish; this is he that loseth +his good Sheep for a halfpennyworth of tarr; that loseth a soul for +a little of the world. And then what doth he get thereby, but loss +and dammage? {113c} Thus he getteth, or rather loseth about the world +to come: But what doth he get in this world, more than travel and +sorrow vexation of spirit, and disappointment? Men aim at blessedness +in getting, I mean, at temporal blessedness; but the man that thus +getteth, shall not have that. For though an Inheritance after this +manner may be hastily gotten at the beginning, yet the end thereof +shall not be blessed. They gather it indeed, and think to keep it too, +but what says Solomon? God casteth it away. The Lord will not suffer +the soul of the righteous to famish, but he casteth away the substance +of the wicked. + +The time, as I said, that they do enjoy it, it shall doe them no good +at all; but long to be sure they must not have it. For God will either +take it away in their life time, or else in the generation following, +according to that of Job: He, the wicked, may prepare it, but the just +shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver. {113d} + +Consider that also that is written in the Proverbs: A good man leaveth +an Inheritance to his childrens children, and the wealth of the sinner +is laid up for the just. {113e} What then doth he get thereby, that +getteth by dishonest means? why he getteth Sin and Wrath, Hell and +Damnation: and now tell me how much he doth get. + +This, I say, is his getting; so that as David says, we may be bold +to say too: I beheld the wicked in great prosperity, and presently I +cursed his habitation: for it cannot prosper with him. Fluster and +huff, and make a doe for a while he may, but God hath determined that +both he and it shall melt like grease, and any observing man may see it +so. Behold, the unrighteous man in a way of Injustice getteth much, and +loadeth himself with thick Clay, but anon it withereth, it decayeth, +and even he, or the Generation following decline, and return to beggery. + +And this Mr. Badman, notwithstanding his cunning and crafty tricks to +get money, did dye, no body can tell whether worth a farthing or no. + +Atten. He had all the bad tricks, I think, that it was possible for a +man to have, to get money; one would think that he should a been rich. + +Wise. You reckon too fast, if you count these all his bad tricks to get +money: For he had more besides. {114a} + +If his customers were in his Books (as it should goe hard but he would +have them there; at least, if he thought he could make any advantage of +them,) then, then would he be sure to impose upon them his worst, even +very bad Comodity, yet set down for it the price that the best was sold +at: like those that sold the Refuse Wheat, or the worst of the wheat; +making the Sheckle great, {114b} yet hoisting up the price: This was +Mr. Badmans way. He {114c} would sell goods that cost him not the best +price by far, for as much as he sold the best of all for. He had also +a trick to mingle his comodity, that that which was bad might goe off +with the less mistrust. + +Besides, if his customers at any time paid him money, let them look to +themselves, and to their Acquitances, for he would usually attempt to +call for that payment again, specially if he thought that there was +hopes of making a prize thereby, and then to be sure if they could not +produce good and sufficient ground of the payment, a hundred to one but +they payed it again. Sometimes the honest Chapman would appeal to his +servants for proof of the payment of money, but they were trained up by +him to say after his mind, right or wrong: so that, relief that way, he +could get none. + +Atten. It is a bad, yea an abominable thing for a man to have such +servants. For by such means a poor customer may be undone and not +know how to help himself. Alas! if the master be so unconscionable, +as I perceive Mr. Badman was, to call for his money twice, and if his +servant will swear that it is a due debt, where is any help for such a +man? he must sink, there is no remedy. + +Wise. This is very bad, but this has been a practice, and that hundreds +of years agoe. But what saith the Word of God? I will punish all those +that leap upon the threshold, which fill their masters houses with +violence and deceit. {115a} {115b} + +Mr. Badman also had this art; could he get a man at advantage, that +is, if his chapman durst not go from him, or if the comodity he wanted +could not for the present be conveniently had elsewhere; Then let him +look to himself, he would surely make his purse-strings crack; he would +exact upon him without any pity or conscience. + +Atten. That was Extortion, was it not? I pray let me hear your Judgment +of Extortion, what it is, and when committed? + +Wise. Extortion {115c} is a screwing from men more than by the Law of +God or men is right; and it is committed sometimes by them in Office, +about Fees, Rewards, and the like: but ’tis most commonly committed +by men of Trade, who without all conscience, when they have the +advantage, will make a prey of their neighbour. And thus was Mr. Badman +an Extortioner; for although he did not exact, and force away, as +Bailifs and Clarks have used to doe; yet he had his opportunities, and +such cruelty to make use of them, that he would often, in his way, be +Extorting, and forcing of money out of his Neighbours pocket. For every +man that makes a prey of his advantage upon his neighbours necessities, +to force from him more than in reason and conscience, according to +the present prizes of things such comodity is worth; may very well be +called an Extortioner, and Judged for one that hath No inheritance in +the Kingdom of God. {115d} + +Atten. Well, this Badman was a sad wretch. + +Wise. Thus you have often said before. But now we are in discourse of +this, give me leave a little to goe on. We have a great many people +in the Countrey too that live all their dayes in the practice, and so +under the guilt of Extortion: people, alas! that think scorn to be so +accounted. + +As for Example: {116a} There is a poor body that dwells, we will +suppose, so many miles from the Market; and this man wants a Bushel of +Grist, a pound of Butter, or a Cheese for himself, his wife and poor +children: But dwelling so far from the Market, if he goes thither, +he shall lose his dayes work, which will be eight pence or ten pence +dammage to him, and that is something to a poor man. So he goeth to +one of his Masters or Dames for what he wanteth, and asks them to help +him with such a thing: Yes, say they, you may have it; but withall +they will give him a gripe, perhaps make him pay as much (or more) for +it at home, as they can get when they have carryed it five miles to +a Market, yea and that too for the Refuse of their Commodity. But in +this the Women are especially faulty, in the sale of their Butter and +Cheese, &c. Now this is a kind of Extortion, it is a making a prey of +the necessity of the poor, it is a grinding of their faces, a buying +and selling of them. + +But above all, your {116b} Hucksters, that buy up the poor mans +Victuals by whole-sale, and sell it to him again for unreasonable +gains, by retale, and as we call it, by piece meal; they are got into a +way, after a stingeing rate, to play their game upon such by Extortion: +I mean such who buy up Butter, Cheese, Eggs, Bacon, &c. by whole sale, +and sell it again (as they call it) by penny worths, two penny worths, +a half penny worth, or the like, to the poor, all the week after the +market is past. + +These, though I will not condemn them all, do, many of them, bite and +pinch the poor by this kind of evil dealing. These destroy the poor +because he is poor, and that is a grievous sin. He that oppresseth the +poor to increase his riches, and that giveth to the rich, shall surely +come to want. {116c} Therefore he saith again, Rob not the poor because +he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate; for the Lord +will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of them that spoile them. + +Oh that he that gripeth and grindeth the face of the poor, would take +notice of these two Scriptures! Here is threatned the destruction of +the Estate, yea and of the Soul too, of them that oppress the poor. +Their Soul we shall better see where, and in what condition that is in, +when the day of Doom is come; but for the Estates of such, they usually +quickly moulter; and that sometimes all men, and sometimes no man knows +how. + +Besides, these are Usurers, yea they take usury for victuals, which +thing the Lord has forbidden. {117a} And because they cannot so +well do it on the Market-day, therefore they do it, as I said, when +the market is over; for then the poor falls into their mouths, and +are necessitated to have, as they can, for their need, and they are +resolved they shall pay soundly for it. Perhaps some will find fault +for my medling thus with other folks matters, and for my thus prying +into the secrets of their iniquity. But to such I would say, since such +actions are evil, ’tis time they were hissed out of the world. For +all that doe such things, offend against God, wrong their neighbour, +and like Mr. Badman doe provoke God to Judgment. God knows, there is +abundance of deceit in the world! + +Wise. Deceit! Aie, but I have not told you the thousandth part of it; +nor is it my business now to rake to the bottom of that dunghill: what +would you say, if I should anatomize some of those vile wretches called +Pawn-Brokers, that lend Money and Goods to poor people, who are by +necessity forced to such an inconvenience; and will make, by one trick +or other, the Interest of what they so lend, amount to thirty, forty, +yea sometimes fifty pound by the year; nothwithstanding the Principal +is secured by a sufficient pawn; which they will keep too at last, if +they can find any shift to cheat the wretched borrower. + +Atten. Say! Why such Miscreants are the pest and Vermin of the +Common-Wealth, not fit for the society of men; but methinks by some of +those things you Discoursed before, you seem to import that it is not +lawful for a man to make the best of his own. + +Wise. If by making the best, you mean, to sell for as much as by hook +or crook he can get for his comodity; then I say, it is not lawful. +And if I should say the contrary, I should justifie Mr. Badman and all +the rest of that Gang: but that I never shall doe, for the Word of God +condemns them. But that it is not lawful for a man at all times, to +sell his commodity for as much as he can, I prove by these reasons. +{118a} + +First, If it be lawful for me alway to sell my commodity as dear, +or for as much as I can, then ’tis lawful for me to lay aside in my +dealing with others, good conscience, to them, and to God: but it +is not lawful for me, in my dealing with others, to lay aside good +conscience, &c. Therefore it is not lawful for me always to sell my +commodity as dear, or for as much as I can. + +That {118b} it is not lawful to lay aside good conscience in our +dealings, has already been proved in the former part of our discourse: +but that a man must lay it aside that will sell his commodity always as +dear or for as much as he can, is plainly manifest thus. + +1. He that will (as is mentioned afore) sell his commodity as dear as +he can, must sometimes make a prey of the ignorance of his chapman: +{118c} but that he cannot doe with a good conscience (for that is to +overreach, and to goe beyond my chapman, and is forbidden, 1 Thess. 4. +6.) Therefore he that will sell his commodity, as afore, as dear, or +for as much as he can, must of necessity lay aside good conscience. + +2. He that will sell his commodity always as dear as he can, must +needs, sometimes make a prey of his neighbours necessity; {118d} but +that he cannot doe with a good conscience, (for that is to goe beyond +and defraud his neighbour, contrary to 1 Thess. 4. 6.) Therefore he +that will sell his commodity, as afore, as dear, or for as much as he +can, must needs cast off and lay aside a good conscience. + +3. He that will (as afore) sell his commodity as dear, or for as much +as he can, must, if need be, make a prey of his neighbours fondness; +but that a man cannot doe with a good conscience, {119a} (for that is +still a going beyond him, contrary to 1 Thess. 4. 6.) Therefore, he +that will sell his commodity as dear, or for as much as he can, must +needs cast off, and lay aside good conscience. + +The same also may be said for buying; no man may always buy as cheap as +he can, but must also use good conscience in buying; {119b} The which +he can by no means use and keep, if he buyes always as cheap as he can, +and that for the reasons urged before. For such will make a prey of the +ignorance, necessity, and fondness of their chapman, the which they +cannot doe with a good consceince. + +When Abraham would buy a Burying-place of the Sons of Heth, thus he +said unto them. Intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may +give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, in the end his field. For +as much as it is worth shall he give it me. Gen. 23. 8, 9. {119c} He +would not have it under foot, he scorned it, he abhored it: It stood +not with his Religion, Credit, nor Conscience. So also when David, +would buy a field of Ornon the Jebusite: Thus he said unto him: Grant +me the place the threshing-floor, that I may build an Altar there unto +the Lord. Thou shalt give it me for the full price. {119d} He also, as +Abraham, made conscience of this kind of dealing: he would not lie at +catch to go beyond, no not the Jebusite, but will give him his full +price for his field. For he knew that there was wickedness, as in +selling too dear so in buying too cheap, therefore he would not do it. + +There ought therefore to be good conscience used, as in selling, so in +buying; for ’tis also unlawful for a man to goe beyond or to defraud +his neighbour in buying; yea ’tis unlawful to doe it in any matter, +and God will plentifully avenge that wrong: as I also before have +forewarned and testified. See also the {119e} text in the margent. But, + +Secondly, if it be lawful for me always to sell my commodity as dear, +or for as much as I can, then it is lawful for me to deal with my +neighbour without the use of {120a} charity: but it is not lawful +for me to lay aside, or to deal with my neighbour without the use of +charity, therefore it is not lawful for me always to sell my commodity +to my neighbour for as much as I can. A man in dealing should as really +design his Neighbours good, profit, and advantage, as his own: For this +is to exercise Charity in his dealing. + +That I should thus use, or exercise charity towards my Neighbour in my +buying and selling, &c. with him, is evident from the general command: +[Let all your things be done in charity:] {120b} But that a man cannot +live in the exercise of charity, that selleth, as afore, as dear, or +that buyeth as cheap as he can, is evident by these reasons. + +1. He that sells his commodity as dear, or for as much money (always) +as he can, seeks himself, and himself only; (but charity seeketh not +her own, nor her own only {120c}:) So then, he that seeks himself, and +himself onely, as he that sells (as afore) as dear as he can, does; +maketh not use of, nor doth he exercise charity, in his so dealing. + +2. He that selleth his commodity (always) for as much as he can get, +hardeneth his heart against all reasonable entreaties of the buyer. But +he that doth so, cannot exercise charity in his dealing; therefore it +is not lawful for a man to sell his commodity, as afore, as dear as he +can. + +Thirdly, If it be lawful for me to sell my commodity, as afore, as dear +as I can, then there can be no sin in my Trading, how unreasonably +soever I manage my calling, whether by Lying, Swearing, Cursing, +Cheating; for all this is but to sell my commodity as dear as I can: +but that there is sin in these, is evident, therefore I may not sell my +commodity always as dear as I can. {120d} {120e} + +Fourthly, He that sells, as afore, as dear as he can, offereth violence +to the law of Nature: {121b} for that saith, Doe unto all men, even as +ye would that they should doe unto you. {121a} Now, was the Seller a +Buyer, he would not that he of whom he buyes, should sell him always as +dear as he can; therefore he should not sell so himself, when it is his +lot to sell, and others to buy of him. + +Fifthly, He that selleth, as afore, as dear as he can, makes use of +that instruction, that God hath not given to others, but sealed up in +his hand, {121c} to abuse his Law, and to wrong his neighbour withall: +which indeed is contrary to God. {121d} God hath given thee more +skill, more knowledge and understanding in thy commodity than he hath +given to him that would buy of thee. But what! canst thou think, that +God has given thee this, that thou mightest thereby make a prey of +thy neighbour? that thou mightest thereby goe beyond and beguile thy +neighbour? No, verily; but he hath given thee it, for his help; that +thou mightest in this, be eyes to the blind, and save thy neighbour +from that dammage, that his ignorance, or necessity, or fondness would +betray him into the hands of. + +Sixthly, In all that a man does, he should have an eye to the glory of +God, {121e} but that he cannot have that sells his commodity always for +as much as he can, for the reasons urged before. + +Seventhly, All that a man does, he should doe in the Name of the Lord +Jesus Christ; {121f} that is, as being commanded, and authorized to doe +it by him: but he that selleth always as dear as he can, cannot so much +as pretend to this, without horrid blaspheming of that Name, because +commanded by him to doe otherwise. + +Eightly, and lastly, In all that a man does, he should have an eye to +the day of Judgment, and to the consideration of how his actions will +be esteemed of in that day. {121g} Therefore there is not any man can +or ought to sell always as dear as he can: unless he will, yea he must +say, in so doing, I will run the hazard of the tryal of that day, If +thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour, +ye shall not oppress one another. {122a} + +Atten. But why doe you put in those cautionary words? They must not +sell [always] as dear, nor buy [always] as cheap as they can: doe you +not thereby intimate that a man may sometimes do so? + +Wise. I doe indeed intimate that somtimes the seller may sell as dear, +and the buyer buy as cheap as he can; but this is allowable only +in these cases: When he that sells is a Knave, and lays aside all +good conscience in selling; or when the buyer is a Knave, and layes +aside all good conscience in buying. If the buyer therefore lights +of a Knave, or if the seller lights of a Knave, then let them look +to themselves: but yet so, as not to lay aside conscience, because +he that thou dearest with doth so: but how vile or base soever the +chapman is, do thou keep thy commodity at a reasonable price: or if +thou buyest, offer reasonable gain for the thing thou wouldest have: +and if this will not do with the buyer or seller, then seek thee a more +honest chapman: If thou objectest, But I have not skil to know when a +pennyworth is before me: Get some that have more skill than thy self in +that affair, and let them in that matter dispose of thy money. But if +there were no Knaves in the world, these objections need not be made. + +And thus, my very good neighbour, have I given you a few of my reasons, +why a man that hath it, should not always sell too dear, nor buy as +cheap as he can: but should use good Conscience to God, and Charity to +his Neighbour in both. + +Atten. But were some men here, to hear you, I believe they would laugh +you to scorn. + +Wise. I question not that at all, for so, {122b} Mr. Badman used to +doe, when any man told him of his faults: he used to think himself +wiser than any, and would count, as I have hinted before, that he +was not arrived to a manly spirit that did stick or boggle at any +wickedness. But let Mr. Badman and his fellowes laugh, I will bear it, +and still give them good counsel. But I will remember also, for my +further relief and comfort, that thus they that were covetous of old, +served the Son of God himself. It is their time to laugh now, that they +may mourn in time to come. {122c} And, I say again, when they have +laughed out their laugh; He that useth not good conscience to God, and +charity to his neighbour, in buying and selling, dwells next dore to an +Infidel, and is near of kin to Mr. Badman. + +Atten. Well, but what will you say to this question? {123a} (you know +that there is no settled price set by God upon any Commodity that is +bought or sold under the Sun; but all things that we buy and sell, do +ebbe and flow, as to price, like the Tide:) How (then) shall a man of a +tender conscience doe, neither to wrong the seller, buyer, nor himself, +in buying and selling of commodities? + +Wise. This Question is thought to be frivolous by all that are of Mr. +Badmans way; ’tis also difficult in it self: yet I will endeavour +to shape you an Answer, {123b} and that first to the matter of the +question; to wit, How a Tradesman should, in Trading, keep a good +conscience; (A buyer or seller either.) Secondly, How he should prepare +himself to this work, and live in the practice of it. + +For the first: He {123c} must observe what hath been said before, to +wit, he must have conscience to God, charity to his neighbour; and I +will add, much moderation in dealing. Let him therefore keep within the +bounds of the affirmative of those eight reasons that before were urged +to prove, that men ought not in their Dealing, but to do Justly and +mercifully ’twixt man and man; and then there will be no great fear of +wronging the seller, buyer, or himself. + +But particularly to prepare, or instruct a man to this work: + +1. Let the Tradesman or others consider, that there is not that in +great Gettings, and in abundance, which the most of men do suppose: For +all that a man has over and above what serves for his present necessity +and supply, serves only to feed the lusts of the eye. For what good +is there to the owners thereof, save the beholding of them with their +eyes? {123d} Men also, many times, in getting of riches, get therewith +a snare to their soul: {123e} But few get good by getting of them. But +this consideration, Mr. Badman could not abide. + +2. Consider, that the getting of wealth dishonestly (as he does, that +getteth it without good conscience and charity to his neighbour,) is a +great offender against God. Hence he says, I have smitten mine hands +at thy dishonest gain, which thou hast made. {124a} It is a manner of +speech that shews anger in the very making of mention of the Crime. +Therefore, + +3. Consider, that a little honestly gotten, though it may yield thee +but a dinner of herbs at a time, will yield more peace therewith, than +will a stalled Ox, ill gotten. Better is a little with righteousness, +than great revenues without right. {124b} + +4. Be thou confident, that Gods eyes are upon all thy wayes, and that +he pondereth all thy goings, and also that he marks them, writes them +down, and seals them up in a bag, against the time to come. {124c} + +5. Be thou sure that thou remembrest, that thou knowest not the day +of thy death. Remember also, that when death comes, God will give thy +substance, for the which thou hast laboured, and for the which perhaps +thou hast hazarded thy soul, to one, thou knowest not who, nor whether +he shall be a wise man or a fool. And then, what profit hath he that +laboureth for the wind? {124d} + +Besides, thou shalt have nothing that thou mayest so much as carry +away in thine hand. Guilt shall goe with thee, if thou hast got it +dishonestly, and they also to whom thou shalt leave it, shall receive +it to their hurt. + +These things duly considered, and made use of by thee to the preparing +of thy heart to thy calling of buying or selling; I come in the next +place to shew thee how thou shouldest live in the practick part of this +art. Art thou to buy or sell? + +1. If thou sellest, do not commend; if thou buyest, do not dispraise, +any otherwise, but to give the thing that thou hast to do with, its +just value and worth; for thou canst not do otherwise knowingly, but of +a covetous and wicked mind. Wherefore else are comodities over-valued +by the Seller, and also under-valued by the Buyer. It is naught, it is +naught, says the buyer, but when he hath got his bargain he boasteth +thereof. {124e} What hath this man done now but lyed in the dispraising +of his bargain? and why did he dispraise it, but of a covetous mind, to +wrong and beguile the seller? + +2. Art thou a seller, and do things grow dear? set not thy hand to +help, or hold them up higher; this cannot be done without wickedness +neither; for this is a making of the sheckle great: {125a} Art thou a +buyer, and do things grow dear? use no cunning or deceitful language +to pull them down: for that cannot be done but wickedly too. What then +shall we do? will you say. Why I answer: Leave things to the providence +of God, and do thou with moderation submit to his hand. But since, when +they are growing dear, the hand that upholds the price, is, for the +time, more strong than that which would pull it down; That being the +hand of the seller, who loveth to have it dear, specially if it shall +rise in his hand: therefore I say, do thou take heed, and have not a +hand in it. The which thou mayest have to thine own and thy neighbours +hurt, these three ways: + +1. By crying out scarcity, scarcity, beyond the truth and state of +things: especially take heed of doing of this by way of a prognostick +for time to come. ’Twas for {125b} this for which he was trodden to +death in the gate of Samaria, that you read of in the book of Kings. +This sin has a double evil in it. 1. It belieth the present blessing +of God amongst us: and, 2. It undervalueth the riches of his goodness, +which can make all good things to abound towards us. + +2. This wicked thing may be done by hoarding up, when the hunger and +Necessity of the poor calls for it. Now that God may shew his dislike +against this, he doth, as it were, license the people to curse such an +hoarder up. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him, but +blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. {125c} + +3. But if things will rise, do thou be grieved; Be also moderate in all +thy sellings, and be sure let the poor have a pennyworth, and sell thy +Corn to those in necessity: {125d} Which then thou wilt do, when thou +shewest mercy to the poor in thy selling to him, and when thou for his +sake, because he is poor, undersellest the market. This is to buy and +sell with good conscience: thy buyer thou wrongest not, thy Conscience +thou wrongest not, thy self thou wrongest not, for God will surely +recompense thee. + +I have spoken concerning Corn, but thy duty is, to let thy moderation +in all things be known unto all men, the Lord is at hand. {125e} + +Atten. Well, Sir, now I have heard enough of Mr. Badmans naughtiness, +pray now proceed to his Death. + +Wise. Why Sir, the Sun is not so low, we have yet three hours to night. + +Atten. Nay; I am not in any great hast, but I thought you had even now +done with his Life. + +Wise. Done! no, I have yet much more to say. + +Atten. Then he has much more wickedness than I thought he had. + +Wise. That may be. But let us proceed: This Mr. Badman, added to all +his wickedness this, He was a very proud man, a Very proud man. {126a} +He was exceeding proud and haughty in mind; He looked, that what he +said, ought not, must not be contradicted or opposed. He counted +himself as wise as the wisest in the Countrey, as good as the best, +and as beautiful as he that had most of it. He took great delight in +praising of himself, and as much in the praises that others gave him. +He could not abide that any should think themselves above him, or that +their wit or personage should by others be set before his. {126b} He +had scarce a fellowly carriage for his equals. But for those that were +of an inferior ranck, he would look over them in great contempt. And +if at any time he had any remote occasion of having to do with them, +he would shew great height, and a very domineering spirit. So that in +this it may be said that Solomon gave a characteristical note of him, +when he said: Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in +proud wrath. {126c} He never thought his Dyet well enough dressed, his +Cloathes fine enough made, or his Praise enough refined. + +Atten. This Pride, is a sin that sticks as close to nature I think, as +most sins. There is Uncleanness and Pride, I know not of any two gross +sins that stick closer to men then they. They have, as I may call it, +an interest in Nature; it likes them because they most suit its lusts +and fancies: and therefore no marvel though Mr. Badman was tainted with +pride, since he had so wickedly given up himself to work all iniquity +with greediness. + +Wise. You say right; Pride, is a sin that sticks close to Nature, +{126d} and is one of the first follies wherein it shews it self to be +polluted. For even in Childhood, even in little children, Pride will +first of all shew it self; it is a hasty, an early appearance of the +sin of the soul. It, as I may say, is that corruption that strives +for predominancy in the heart, and therefore usually comes out first. +But though children are so incident to it, yet methinks those of more +years, should be ashamed thereof. I might at the first have begun with +Mr. Badmans Pride, only I think it is not the Pride in Infancy, that +begins to make a difference betwixt one and another, as did, and do +those wherewith I began my relation of his life: therefore I passed it +over, but now, since he had no more consideration of himself, and of +his vile and sinful state, but to be proud when come to years; I have +taken the occasion in this place to make mention of his pride. + +Atten. But pray, if you can remember them, tell me of some places of +Scripture that speak against pride. I the rather desire this, because +that pride is now a reigning sin, and I happen sometimes to fall into +the company of them that in my conscience are proud, very much, and I +have a mind also to tell them of their sin; now when I tell them of it, +unless I bring Gods word too, I doubt they will laugh me to scorn. + +Wise. Laugh you to scorn! the Proud man will laugh you to scorn, bring +to him what Text you can, except God shall smite him in his conscience +by the Word: Mr. Badman did use to serve them so that did use to tell +him of his: and besides, when you have said what you can, they will +tell you they are not proud, and that you are rather the proud man, +else you would not judge, nor so malapertly meddle with other mens +matters as you do. Nevertheless, since you desire it, I will mention +two or three texts: They are these. Pride and arrogancy do I hate. A +mans pride shall bring him low. And he shall bring down their pride. +And all the proud, and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble, and +the day that comes shall burn them up. {127} This last, is a dreadful +Text; it is enough to make a proud man shake: God, saith he, will make +the proud ones as stubble; that is, as fuel for the fire, and the day +that cometh shall be like a burning oven, and that day shall burn them +up, saith the Lord. But Mr. Badman could never abide to hear pride +spoken against, nor that any should say of him, He is a proud man. + +Atten. What should be the reason of that? + +Wise. He did not tell me the reason; but I suppose it to be that which +is common to all vile persons. They love this Vice, but care not to +bear its name. {128a} The Drunkard loves the sin, but loves not to be +called a drunkard. The Thief loveth to steal, but cannot abide to be +called a thief, the whore loveth to commit uncleanness, but loveth not +to be called a Whore; And so Mr. Badman loved to be proud, but could +not abide to be called a proud man. The sweet of sin, is desirable to +polluted and corrupted man, but the name thereof, is a blot in his +Scutcheon. + +Atten. ’Tis true that you have said: but pray how many sorts of pride +are there? + +Wise. There are two sorts of Pride; {128b} Pride of Spirit, and Pride +of Body. The first of these is thus made mention of in the Scriptures. +Every one that is proud in heart is abomination to the Lord. {128c} A +high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked is sin. +The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Bodily pride +these Scriptures mention. In that day the Lord shall take away the +bravery of their tinckling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, +and their round tires like the Moon, the chains, and the bracelets, +and the mufflers, the bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the +headbands, and the tablets, and the ear-rings, the rings, and the +Nose-jewels: {128d} The changable suits of Apparell, and the mantles, +and the wimples, and the crisping pins, the glasses, and the fine +linnen, and the hoods and the vails. By these expressions it is evident +that there is Pride of Body, as well as Pride of Spirit, and that both +are sin, and so abominable to the Lord. But these Texts Mr. Badman +could never abide to read, they were to him as Micaiah was to Ahab, +they never spake good of him, but evil. + +Atten. I suppose that it was not Mr. Badmans case alone even to maligne +those Texts that speak against their vices: For I believe, that most +ungodly men, (where the Scriptures are) have a secret antipathy against +those words of God that do most plainly and fully rebuke them for their +sins. {128e} + +Wise. That is out of doubt, and by that antipathy, they shew, that sin +and Satan are more welcome to them than are the wholesome instructions +of life and godliness. + +Atten. Well, but not to goe off from our discourse of Mr. Badman. You +say he was proud: but will you shew me now some symptoms of one that is +proud? + +Wise. Yes, that I will: And first I will shew you some symptoms of +Pride of Heart. {129a} Pride of heart, is seen by outward things, as +Pride of Body in general, is a sign of pride of heart; for all proud +gestures of the body flow from Pride of heart: therefore Solomon saith; +There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes, and their eye-lids +are lifted up: {129b} And again; There is that exalteth their gate, +their going. {129c} Now these lofty eyes, and this exalting of the +gate, is a sign of a Proud heart: for both these actions come from the +heart: for out of the heart comes Pride, in all the visible appearances +of it. {129d} But more particularly: + +1. Heart Pride is discovered {129e} by a stretched out Neck, and by +mincing as they go. For the wicked, the Proud, have a proud Neck, a +proud Foot, a proud Tongue, by which this their going is exalted. This +is that which makes them look scornfully, speak ruggedly, and carry it +huffingly among their Neighbours. + +2. A proud heart, is a persecuting one: The wicked through his pride +doth persecute the poor. {129f} + +3. A prayerless man is a proud man. {129g} + +4. A contentious man is a proud man. {129h} + +5. The disdainful man is a proud man. {129i} + +6. The man that oppresses his neighbour is a proud man. {129j} + +7. He that hearkeneth not to Gods Word with reverence and fear, is a +proud man. {129k} + +8. And he that calls the proud happy, is, be sure, a proud man. All +these are proud in heart, and this their pride of heart doth thus +discover it self. {129l} {129m} + +As to bodily {129n} pride, it is discovered, that is, something of it, +by all the particulars mentioned before; for though they are said to +be symptoms of pride of heart, yet they are symptoms of that pride, +by their shewing of themselves in the Body. You know diseases that +are within, are seen oft-times by outward and visible Signs, yet by +them very signs even the outside is defiled also. So all those visible +signs of heart-pride, are signs of bodily pride also. But to come to +more outward signs: The putting on of Gold, and Pearls, and costly +array; the pleating of the hair, the following of fashions, the seeking +by gestures to imitate the proud, either by speech, looks, dresses, +goings, or other fools baubles, (of which at this time the world is +full) all these, and many more, are signs, as of a proud heart, so of +bodily pride also. {130b} + +But Mr. Badman would not allow, by any means, that this should be +called Pride, {130c} but rather neatness, handsomness, comeliness, +cleanliness, &c. neither would he allow that following of fashions +was any thing else, but because he would not be proud, singular, and +esteemed fantastical by his neighbours. + +Atten. But I have been told, that when some have been rebuked for their +pride, they have turned it again upon the brotherhood of those by whom +they have been rebuked: saying, Physician heal thy Friends, look at +home, among your Brotherhood, even among the wisest of you, and see if +you your selves be clear, even you professors: for who is prouder than +you professors? scarcesly the Devil himself. + +Wise. My heart akes at this answer, because there is too much cause for +it. {130d} This very Answer would Mr. Badman give his wife, when she +(as she would sometimes) reproved him for his pride: We shall have, +says he, great amendments in living now, for the Devil is turned a +corrector of vice: For no sin reigneth more in the world, quoth he, +than pride among professors. And who can contradict him? let us give +the Devil his due, the thing is too apparent for any man to deny. + +And I doubt not but the same answer is ready in the mouths of Mr. +Badmans friends; for they may and do see pride display it self in the +Apparel and carriages of professors; one may say, almost as much, as +among any people in the Land, the more is the pity. Ay, and I fear that +even their Extravagancies in this, hath hardened the heart of many a +one, as I perceive it did somewhat the heart of Mr. Badman himself. + +For mine own part, I have seen many my self, and those Church-members +too, so deckt and bedaubed with their Fangles and Toyes, and that when +they have been at the solemn Appointments of God, in the way of his +Worship, that I have wondred with what face such painted persons could +sit in the place where they were without swounding. But certainly the +holiness of God, and also the pollution of themselves by sin, must +needs be very far out of the minds of such people, what profession +soever they make. + +I have read of an Whores forehead, {131a} and I have read of +christian-shamefacedness; I have read of costly array, and of that +which becometh women professing Godliness, with good works; {131b} +{131c} but if I might speak, I know what I know, and could say, and +yet do no wrong, that which would make some professors stink in their +places; {131d} but now I forbear. + +Atten. Sir, you seem to be greatly concerned at this, but what I shall +say more? it is whispered, that some good Ministers have countenanced +their people in their light and wanton Apparrel, yea have pleaded for +their Gold, and Pearls, and costly array, &c. + +Wise. I know not what they have pleaded for, but ’tis easily seen that +they tolerate, or at least wise, wink and connive at such things, both +in their Wives and Children. And so from the Prophets of Jerusalem is +profaneness gone forth into all the land. {131e} And when the hand of +the Rulers are chief in a trespass, who can keep their people from +being drowned in that trespass? + +Atten. This is a lamentation, and must stand for a lamentation. + +Wise. So it is, and so it must. And I will add, it is a shame, it is +a reproach, it is a stumbling-block to the blind; {131f} for though +men be as blind as Mr. Badman himself, yet they can see the foolish +lightness that must needs be the bottom of all these apish and wanton +extravagancies. But many have their excuses ready; to wit, their +Parents, their Husbands, and their breeding calls for it, and the like: +yea, the examples of good people prompt them to it: but all these will +be but the Spiders webb, when the thunder of the Word of the great God +shall rattle from Heaven against them, as it will at Death or Judgment; +but I wish it might do it before. But alas! these excuses are but bare +pretences, these proud ones love to have it so. I once talked with a +Maid, by way of reproof, for her fond and gaudy garment. But she told +me, [Picture: Take note symbol] The Tailor would make it so: when alas, +poor proud Girle, she gave order to the Taylor so to make it. Many make +Parents, and Husbands, and Taylors, &c. the Blind to others, but their +naughty hearts, and their giving of way thereto, that is the original +cause of all these evils. + +Atten. Now you are speaking of the cause of pride, pray shew me yet +further why pride is now so much in request? {132b} + +Wise. I will shew you what I think are the reasons of it. + +1. The first is, {132c} Because such persons are led by their own +hearts, rather than by the Word of God. I told you before, that the +original fountain of pride is the heart. For out of the heart comes +pride; it is therefore because they are led by their hearts, which +naturally tends to lift them up in pride. This pride of heart, tempts +them, and by its deceits overcometh them; {132d} yea it doth put a +bewitching vertue into their Peacocks feathers, and then they are +swallowed up with the vanity of them. + +2. Another reason why professors are so proud, (for those we are +talking of now) is because they are more apt to take example of those +that are of the World, than they are to take example of those that are +Saints indeed. Pride is of the world. For all that is of the world, +the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, +are not of the Father but of the world. {132e} Of the world therefore +Professors learn to be proud. But they should not take them for +example. It will be objected, No, nor your saints neither, for you are +as proud as others: Well, let them take shame that are guilty. But when +I say, professors should take example for their life by those that are +saints indeed, I mean as Peter says: They should take example of those +that were in old time, the saints; for saints of old time were the +best, therefore to these he directeth us for our pattern. Let the wives +conversation be chast, and also coupled with fear. Whose adorning, +saith Peter, let it not be that outward adorning, of pleating the hair, +and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of Apparel: but let it be the +hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the +ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of +great price. For after this manner, in the old time, the holy women +also who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to +their own husbands. {132f} + +3. Another reason is, {133a} Because they have forgotten the pollution +of their Nature. For the remembrance of that, must needs keep us +humble, and being kept humble, we shall be at a distance from pride. +The proud and the humble are set in opposition; (God resisteth the +proud, but giveth grace to the humble.) And can it be imagined, that a +sensible Christian should be a proud one; sence of baseness tends to +lay us low, not to lift us up with pride; not with pride of Heart, nor +pride of Life: But when a man begins to forget what he is, then he, if +ever, begins to be proud. + +Methinks it is one of the most senceless and ridiculous things in the +world, that a man should be proud of that which is given him on purpose +to cover the shame of his nakedness with. + +4. Persons that are proud, have gotten God and his Holiness out of +their sight. {133b} If God was before them, as he is behind their back; +And if they saw him in his holiness, as he sees them in their sins +and shame, they would take but little pleasure in their apish Knacks. +The Holiness of God makes the Angels cover their faces, crumbles +Christians, when they behold it, into dust and ashes: {133c} and as his +Majesty is, such is his Word; Therefore they abuse it, that bring it to +countenance pride. + +Lastly, {133d} But what can be the end of those that are proud, in +the decking of themselves after their antick manner? why are they for +going with their Bulls-foretops, with their naked shoulders, and Paps +hanging out like a Cows bag? why are they for painting their faces, +for stretching out their necks, and for putting of themselves into all +the Formalities which proud Fancy leads them to? Is it because they +would honour God? because they would adorn the Gospel? because they +would beautifie Religion, and make sinners to fall in love with their +own salvation? No, no. It is rather to please their lusts, to satisfie +their wild and extravagant fancies; and I wish none doth it to stir up +lust in others, to the end they may commit uncleanness with them. I +believe, whatever is their end, this is one of the great designes of +the Devil: and I believe also, that Satan has drawn more into the sin +of uncleanness, by the spangling shew of fine cloaths, than he could +possibly have drawn unto it, without them. I wonder what it was, that +of old was called the Attire of an Harlot: certainly it could not be +more bewitching and tempting than are the garments of many professors +this day. + +Atten. I like what you say very well, and I wish that all the proud +Dames in England that profess, were within the reach and sound of your +words. + +Wise. What I have said, I believe is true, but as for the proud Dames +in England that profess, they have Moses and the Prophets, and if they +will not hear them, how then can we hope that they should recieve good +by such a dull sounding Ramshorn as I am? However, I have said my mind, +and now if you will, we will proceed to some other of Mr. Badmans +doings. + +Atten. No: pray before you shew me any thing else of Mr. Badman, shew +me yet more particularly the evil effects of this sin of Pride. + +Wise. With all my heart, I will answer your request. {134a} + +1. {134b} Then: ’Tis pride that makes poor Man so like the Devil in +Hell, that he cannot in it be known to be the Image and similitude of +God. The Angels when they became Devils, ’twas through their being +lifted or puffed up with pride. ’Tis pride also that lifteth or puffeth +up the heart of the sinner, and so makes him to bear the very image of +the Devil. + +2. {134c} Pride makes a man so odious in the sight of God, that he +shall not, must not come nigh his Majesty. Though the Lord be high, yet +hath he respect to the lowly, but the proud he knows afar off. Pride +sets God and the Soul at a distrance; pride will not let a man come +nigh God, nor God will not let a proud man come nigh unto him: Now this +is a dreadful thing. + +3. {134d} As pride sets, so it keeps God and the Soul at a distance. +God resisteth the proud; resists, that is, he opposes him, he thrusts +him from him, he contemneth his person and all his performances. Come +in to Gods Ordinances, the proud man may; but come into his presence, +have communion with him, or blessing from him, he shall not. For the +high God doth resist him. {135a} + +4. {135b} The Word saith, that The Lord will destroy the House of the +proud. He will destroy his House; it may be understood, he will destroy +him and his. So he destroyed proud Pharaoh, so he destroyed proud +Corah, and many others. + +5. {135c} Pride, where it comes, and is entertained, is a certain +forerunner of some Judgment that is not far behind. When pride goes +before, shame and destruction will follow after. When pride cometh, +then cometh shame. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit +before a fall. + +6. {135d} Persisting in pride makes the condition of a poor man as +remediless as is that of the Devils themselves. + +And this I fear was Mr. Badmans condition, and that was the reason that +he died so as he did; as I shall shew you anon. + +But what need I thus talk of the particular actions, or rather +prodigious sins of Mr. Badman, when his whole Life and all his actions, +went as it were to the making up one massie body of sin? {135e} +Instead of believing that there was a God, his Mouth, his Life and +Actions declared, that he believed no such thing. His transgression +said within my heart, that there was no fear of God before his eyes. +{135f} {135g} Instead of honouring of God, and of giving glory to him +for any of his Mercies, or under any of his good Providences towards +him (for God is good to all, and lets his Sun shine, and his Rain fall +upon the unthankful and unholy,) he would ascribe the glory to other +causes. If they were Mercies, he would ascribe them (if the open face +of the providence did not give him the lye) to his own wit, labour, +care, industry, cunning, or the like: if they were Crosses, he would +ascribe them, or count them the offspring of Fortune, ill Luck, Chance, +the ill mannagement of matters, the ill will of neighbours, or to his +wifes being Religious, and spending, as he called it, too much time in +Reading, Praying, or the like. It was not in his way to acknowledge +God, (that is, graciously) or his hand in things. But, as the Prophet +saith; Let favour be skewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn +righteousness. {136a} And again, They returned not to him that smote +them, nor did they seek the Lord of hosts. {136b} This was Mr. Badmans +temper, neither Mercies nor Judgment would make him seek the Lord. Nay, +as another Scripture sayes, he would not see the works of God, nor +regard the operations of his hands either in mercies or in Judgments. +{136c} But further, when by Providence he has been cast under the best +Means for his soul, (for, as was shewed before, he having had a good +master, and before him a good father, and after all a good wife, and +being sometimes upon a Journey, and cast under the hearing of a good +Sermon, as he would sometimes for novelties sake go to hear a good +Preacher;) he was always without heart to make use thereof: In this +land of righteousness he would deal unjustly, and would not behold the +majesty of the Lord. + +Instead of reverencing the Word, {136g} when he heard it preached, +read, or discoursed of, he would sleep, talk of other Business, or else +object against the authority, harmony, and wisdom of the Scriptures. +Saying, How do you know them to be the Word of God? how do you know +that these sayings are true? The Scriptures, he would say, were as +a Nose of Wax, and a man may turn them whithersoever he lists: one +Scripture says one thing, and another sayes the quite contrary; +Besides, they make mention of a thousand imposibilities; they are the +cause of all dissensions and discords that are in the Land: Therefore +you may (would he say) still think what you will, but in my mind they +are best at ease that have least to do with them. + +Instead of loving and honouring of them that did bear in their +Foreheads the Name, and in their Lives the Image of Christ, they should +be his Song, {136h} the matter of his Jests, and the objects of his +slanders. He would either make a mock at their sober deportment, their +gracious language, quiet behaviour, or else desperately swear that they +did all in deceit and hypocrisie. He would endeavour to render godly +men as odious and contemptable as he could; any lyes that were made +by any, to their disgrace, those he would avouch for truth, and would +not endure to be controlled. He was much like those that the prophet +speaks of, that would sit and slander his mothers son; {137a} yea, +he would speak reproachfully of his wife, though his conscience told +him, and many would testifie, that she was a very vertuous woman. He +would also raise slanders of his wives friends himself, affirming that +their doctrine tended to lasciviousness, and that in their assemblies +they acted and did unbeseeming men and women, that they committed +uncleanness, &c. He was much like those that affirmed the Apostle +should say, Let us do evil that good may come: {137b} Or like those +of whom it is thus written: Report, say they, and we will report it. +{137c} And if he could get any thing by the end that had scandal in it, +if it did but touch professors, how falsely soever reported; Oh! then +he would glory, laugh, and be glad, and lay it upon the whole party: +Saying, Hang them Rogues, there is not a barrel better Herring of all +the holy Brotherhood of them: Like to like, quoth the Devil to the +Collier, this is your precise Crew. And then he would send all home +with a curse. + +Atten. If those that make profession of Religion be wise, Mr. Badmans +watchings and words will make them the more wary and careful in all +things. + +Wise. You say true. For when we see men do watch for our halting, and +rejoyce to see us stumble and fall, it should make us so much abundance +the more careful. {137d} + +I do think it was as delightful to Mr. Badman to hear, raise, and tell +lies, and lying stories of them that fear the Lord, as it was for him +to go to bed when a weary. But we will at this time let these things +pass. For as he was in these things bad enough, so he added to these, +many more the like. + +He was an {137e} angry, wrathfull, envious man, a man that knew not +what meekness or gentleness meant, nor did he desire to learn. His +natural temper was to be surly, huffie, and rugged, and worse; and +he so gave way to his temper, as to this, that it brought him to be +furious and outrageous in all things, specially against goodness it +self, and against other things too, when he was displeased. {138a} + +Atten. Solomon saith, He is a fool that rageth. + +Wise. He doth so; and sayes moreover, That anger rests in the bosom of +fools. {138b} And truly, if it be a sign of a Fool to have anger rest +in his bosom, then was Mr. Badman, notwithstanding the conceit that he +had of his own abilities, a Fool of no small size. + +Atten. Fools are mostly most wise in their own eyes. + +Wise. True. But I was a saying, that if it be a sign that a man is a +Fool, when Anger rests in his bosom; Then what is it a sign of, think +you, when Malice and Envy rests there? For to my knowledge Mr. Badman +was as malicious and as envious a man as commonly you can hear of. + +Atten. Certainly, malice and envy flow {138c} from pride and arrogancy, +and they again from ignorance, and ignorance from the Devil; And I +thought, that since you spake of the pride of Mr. Badman before, we +should have something of these before we had done. + +Wise. Envy flows from Ignorance indeed. And this Mr. Badman was so +envious an one, where he set against, that he would swell with it, as +a Toad, as we say, swells with poyson. He whom he maligned, might at +any time even read envy in his face wherever he met with him, or in +whatever he had to do with him. + +His envy was so rank and strong, that if it at any time turned its head +against a man, it would hardly ever be pulled in again: He would watch +over that man to do him mischief, as the Cat watches over the Mouse +to destroy it; yea, he would wait seven years, but he would have an +opportunity to hurt him, and when he had it, he would make him feel the +weight of his Envy. + +Envy is a devilish thing, the Scripture intimates that none can stand +before it. A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty, but a fools wrath is +heavier than them both. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous, but +who can stand before envy? {138d} {138e} + +This Envy, for the foulness of it, is reckoned {138f} among the foulest +Villanies that are, as adultery, murder, drunkenness, revellings, +witchcrafts, heresies, seditions, &c. Yea, it is so malignant a +corruption, that it rots the very bones of him in whom it dwells. A +sound heart is life to the flesh, but envy the rottenness of the bones. +{139a} + +Atten. This Envy is the very Father and Mother of a great many hideous +and prodigious wickednesses: I say, it is the very {139b} Father and +Mother of them; it both besets them, and also nourishes them up, till +they come to their cursed maturity in the bosom of him that entertains +them. + +Wise. You have given it a very right description, in calling of it +the Father and Mother of a great many other prodigious wickednesses: +for it is so venomous and vile a thing, that it puts the whole course +of Nature out of order, and makes it fit for nothing but confusion, +and a hold for every evil thing. For where envy and strife is, there +is confusion, and every evil work. {139c} Wherefore, I say, you have +rightly called it, The very Father and Mother of a great many other +sins. And now for our further edification, I will reckon up some of the +births of Envy. + +1. Envy, as I told you before, it rotteth the very bones of him that +entertains it. And, {139d} + +2. As you have also hinted, it is heavier than a Stone, than Sand; yea, +and I will add, It falls like a Mill-stone upon the head. Therefore, + +3. It kills him that throws it, and him at whom it is thrown. Envy +slayeth the silly one. {139e} That is, him in whom it resides, and him +who is its object. + +4. ’Twas that also that slew Jesus Christ himself; for his adversaries +persecuted him through their envy. {139f} {139g} + +5. Envy was that by vertue of which Joseph was sold by his Brethren +into Egypt: {139h} + +6. ’Tis envy that hath the hand in making of variance among Gods +Saints. {139i} + +7. ’Tis envy in the hearts of Sinners, that stirres them up to thrust +Gods Ministers out of their coasts. + +8. What shall I say? ’Tis envy that is the very Nursery of whisperings, +debates, backbitings, slanders, reproaches, murders, &c. + +’Tis not possible to repeat all the particular fruits of this sinfull +root. Therefore, it is no marvel that Mr. Badman was such an ill +natured man, for the great roots of all manner of wickedness were in +him, unmortified, unmaimed, untouched. + +Atten. But it is {140a} a rare case, even this of Mr. Badman, that he +should never in all his life be touched with remorse for his ill-spent +life. + +Wise. Remorse, I cannot say he ever had, if by remorse you mean +repentance for his evils. Yet twice I remember he was under some +trouble of mind about his condition: {140b} Once when he broke his legg +as he came home drunk from the Ale-house; and another time when he fell +sick, and thought he should die: Besides these two times, I do not +remember any more. + +Atten. Did he break his legg then? + +Wise. Yes: Once, as he came home drunk from the Ale-house. + +Atten. Pray how did he break it? + +Wise. Why upon a time he was at an Ale-house, that wicked house, about +two or three miles from home, and having there drank hard the greatest +part of the day, when night was come, he would stay no longer, but +calls for his horse, gets up, and like a Madman (as drunken persons +usually ride) away he goes, as hard as horse could lay legs to the +ground. Thus he rid, till coming to a dirty place, where his horse +flouncing in, fell, threw his master, and with his fall broke his legg: +so there he lay. {140c} But you would not think how he {140d} swore at +first. But after a while, he comeing to himself, and feeling by his +pain, and the uselesness of his legg, what case he was in, and also +fearing that this bout might be his death; he began to crie out after +the manner of such; {140e} Lord help me, Lord have mercy upon me, good +God deliver me, and the like. So there he lay, till some came by, who +took him up, carried him home, where he lay for some time, before he +could go abroad again. + +Atten. And then, you say, he called upon God. + +Wise. He cryed out in his pain, and would say, O God, and O Lord, +help me: but whether it was that his sin might be pardoned, and his +soul saved, or whether to be rid of his pain, I will not positively +determine; though I fear it was but for the last; {141a} because, when +his pain was gone, and he had got hopes of mending, even before he +could go abroad, he cast off prayer, and began his old game; to wit, to +be as bad as he was before. He then would send for his old companions; +his Sluts also would come to his house to see him, and with them he +would be, as well as he could for his lame leg, as vicious as they +could be for their hearts. + +Atten. ’Twas a wonder he did not break his neck. + +Wise. His neck had gone instead of his leg, but that God was +long-suffering towards him; he had deserved it ten thousand times over. +There have been many, as I have heard, and as I have hinted to you +before, that have taken their Horses when drunk, as he; but they have +gone from the pot to the grave; for they have broken their necks ’twixt +the Ale-house and home. [Picture: Take note symbol] One hard by us also +drunk himself dead; he drank, and dyed in his drink. + +Atten. ’Tis a sad thing to dye drunk. + +Wise. So it is: But yet I wonder that no more do so. For considering +the heinousness of that sin, and with how many other sins it is +accompanied, {141c} as with oaths, blasphemies, lyes, revellings, +whoreings, brawlings, &c. it is a wonder to me, that any that live in +that sin should escape such a blow from heaven that should tumble them +into their graves. Besides, when I consider also how, when they are +as drunk as beasts, they, without all fear of danger, will ride like +Bedlams and mad men, even as if they did dare God to meddle with them +if he durst, for their being drunk: I say, I wonder that he doth not +withdraw his protecting providences from them, and leave them to those +Dangers and Destructions that by their sin they have deserved, and +that by their Bedlam madness they would rush themselves into: only I +consider again, that he has appointed a day wherein he will reckon with +them, {141d} and doth also commonly make Examples of some, to shew that +he takes notice of their sin, abhorrs their way, and will count with +them for it at the set time. + +Atten. It is worthy of our remark, to take notice how God, to shew his +dislike of the sins of men, strikes some of them down with a blow; as +the breaking of Mr. Badmans legg, for doubtless that was a stroak from +heaven. + +Wise. It is worth our remark indeed. It was an open stroak, it fell +upon him while he was in the height of his sin: And it looks much like +to that in Job; Therefore he knoweth their works, and overturneth them +in the night, so that they are destroyed. He striketh them as wicked +men in the open sight of others: {142a} Or as the Margent reads it, +in the place of beholders. He layes them with his stroak in the place +of beholders. There was {142b} Mr. Badman laid, his stroak was taken +notice of by every one: his broken legg was at this time the Town-talk. +Mr. Badman has broken his legg, sayes one: How did he break it? sayes +another: As he came home drunk from such an Ale-house, said a third; A +Judgment of God upon him, said a fourth. This his sin, his shame, and +punishment, are all made conspicuous to all that are about him. I will +here tell you another story or two. + +I have read in Mr. Clark’s Looking-glass for Sinners; {142c} That upon +a time, a certain drunken fellow boasted in his Cups, that there was +neither Heaven nor Hell; also he said, He believed, that man had no +Soul, and that for his own part, he would sell his soul to any that +would buy it. Then did one of his companions buy it of him for a cup of +Wine; and presently the Devil in mans shape bought it of that man again +at the same price; and so in the presence of them all laid hold on this +Soul-seller, and carried him away through the Air, so that he was never +more heard of. + +In pag. 148, he tells us also: That there was one at Salisbury, in the +midst of his health drinking and carousing in a Tavern; and he drank +a health to the Devil, saying, That if the Devil would not come and +pledge him, he would not believe that there was either God or Devil. +Whereupon his companions stricken with fear, hastened out of the room: +and presently after, hearing a hideous noise, and smelling a stinking +savour, the Vintner ran up into the chamber; and coming in, he missed +his Guest, and found the window broken, the Iron barr in it bowed, and +all bloody: But the man was never heard of afterwards. + +Again, in pag. 149. he tells us of a Bailiff of Hedly: Who upon a +Lords Day being drunk at Melford, got upon his horse, to ride through +the streets, saying, That his horse would carry him to the Devil: and +presently his horse threw him, and broke his neck. These things are +worse than the breaking of Mr. Badmans Leg, and should be a caution to +all of his friends that are living, lest they also fall by their sin +into these sad Judgements of God. + +But, as I said, Mr. Badman quickly forgot all, his conscience was +choaked, before his legg was healed. And therefore, before he was well +of the fruit of one sin, he tempts God to send another Judgment to +seize upon him: And so he did quickly after. For not many months after +his legg was well, he had a very dangerous fit of sickness, insomuch +that now he began to think he must dye in very deed. {143a} + +Atten. Well, and what did he think and do then? + +Wise. He thought he must go to Hell; this I know, for he could not +forbear but say so. {143b} To my best remembrance, he lay crying out +all one night for fear, and at times he would so tremble, that he would +make the very bed shake under him. {143c} But, Oh! how the thoughts +of Death, of Hell-fire, and of eternal Judgment, did then wrack his +conscience. Fear might be seen in his face, and in his tossings to and +fro: It might also be heard in his words, and be understood by his +heavy groans. He would often cry, I am undone, I am undone; my vile +life has undone me. + +Atten. Then his former atheistical thoughts and principles, were too +weak now to support him from the fears of eternal damnation. + +Wise. Aie! they were too weak indeed. They may serve to stifle +conscience, when a man is in the midst of his prosperity, and to harden +the heart against all good counsel when a man is left of God, and +given up to his reprobate mind: {143d} But alas, atheistical thoughts, +Notions and Opinions, must shrink and melt away, when God sends, yea +comes with sickness to visit the soul of such a sinner for his sin. +There was a man dwelt about 12 miles off from us, that had so trained +up himself in his atheistical Notions, that at last he attempted to +write a book against Jesus Christ, and against the divine Authority +of the Scriptures. (But I think it was not printed:) Well, after many +days God struck him with sickness, whereof he dyed. So, being sick, +and musing upon his former doings, the Book that he had written came +into his mind, and with it such a sence of his evil in writing of +it, that it tore his Conscience as a Lyon would tare a Kid. He lay +therefore upon his death-bed in sad case, {144a} and much affliction +of conscience: some of my friends also went to see him; and as they +were in his chamber one day, he hastily called for Pen Ink and Paper, +which when it was given him, he took it and writ to this purpose. +[Picture: Take note symbol] I, such an one, in such a Town, must goe +to Hell-fire, for writing a Book against Jesus Christ, and against the +Holy Scriptures: And would also have leaped out of the window of his +house to have killed himself, but was by them prevented of that: so he +dyed in his bed, such a death as it was. ’Twill be well if others take +warning by him. + +Atten. This is a remarkable story. + +Wise. ’Tis as true as remarkable; I had it from them that I dare +believe, who also themselves were eye and ear witnesses; and also that +catcht him in their arms, and saved him when he would have leaped out +of his chamber-window, to have destroyed himself. + +Atten. Well, you have told me what were Mr. Badmans thoughts (now, +being sick) of his condition; pray tell me also what he then did when +he was sick? + +Wise. Did! he did many things, which I am sure he never thought to +have done, and which, to be sure, was not looked for of his wife and +children. + +In this fit of sickness, his Thoughts were quite altered about his +wife; I say his Thoughts, so far as could be judged by his words and +carriages to her. {144c} For now she was his good wife, his godly wife, +his honest wife, his duck, and dear, and all. Now he told her, that she +had the best of it, she having a good Life to stand by her, while his +debaucheries and ungodly Life did always stare him in the face. Now he +told her, the counsel that she often gave him, was good; though he was +so bad as not to take it. + +Now he would hear her talk to him, and he would lie sighing by her +while she so did. Now he would bid her pray for him, that he might be +delivered from Hell. {145a} + +He would also now consent, that some of her good Ministers might come +to him to comfort him; and he would seem to shew them kindness when +they came, for he would treat them kindly with words, and hearken +diligently to what they said, only he did not care that they should +talk much of his ill spent life, because his conscience was clogged +with that already; he cared not now to see his old companions, the +thoughts of them was a torment to him: and now he would speak kindly to +that child of his that took after its mothers steps, though he could +not at all abide it before. + +He also desired the prayers of good people, that God of his mercy would +spare him a little longer, promising that if God would but let him +recover this once, what a new, what a penitent man he would be toward +God, and what a loving husband he would be to his wife: what liberty +he would give her, yea how he would goe with her himself to hear her +Ministers, and how they should go hand in hand in the way to heaven +together. + +Atten. Here was a fine shew of things; I’le warrant you, his wife was +glad for this. + +Wise. His wife! Aie, and a many good people besides: it was noysed all +over the Town, {145b} what a great change there was wrought upon Mr. +Badman; how sorry he was for his sins, how he began to love his wife, +how he desired good men should pray to God to spare him; and what +promises he now made to God in his sickness, that if ever he should +raise him from his sick bed to health again, what a new penitent man he +would be towards God, and what a loving husband to his good wife. + +Well, ministers prayed, and good people rejoyced, thinking verily that +they now had gotten a man from the Devil; nay, some of the weaker sort +did not stick to say that God had began a work of Grace in his heart; +and his wife, poor woman, {145c} you cannot think how apt she was to +believe it so; she rejoyced, and she hoped as she would have it. But, +alas! alas! in little time things all proved otherwise. + +After he had kept his Bed a while, his distemper began to abate, and he +to feel himself better, so he in little time was so finely mended, that +he could walk about the house, and also obtained a very fine stomach +to his food: {146a} and now did his wife and her good friends stand +gaping, to see Mr. Badman fulfill his promise of becoming new towards +God, and loving to his wife: but the contrary only shewed it self. For +so soon as ever he had hopes of mending, and found that his strength +began to renew, his trouble began to goe off his heart, and he grew as +great a stranger to his frights and fears, as if he had never had them. + +But verily, I am apt to think, that one reason of his no more +regarding, or remembring of his sick-bed fears, and of being no better +for them, was, some words that the Doctor that supplied him with +Physick said to him when he was mending. For as soon as Mr. Badman +began to mend, the Doctor comes and sits him down by him in his house, +and there fell into discourse with him about the nature of his disease; +and among other things they talked of Badmans trouble, and how he +would cry out, tremble, and express his fears of going to Hell when +his sickness lay pretty hard upon him. To which the Doctor replyed: +{146b} That those fears and Out-cries did arise from the height of +his distemper, for that disease was often attended with lightness of +the head, by reason the sick party could not sleep, and for that the +vapours disturbed the brain: But you see Sir, quoth he, that so soon +as you got sleep and betook your self to rest, you quickly mended, and +your head settled, and so those frenzies left you. + +And was it so indeed, thought Mr. Badman; was my troubles, only the +effects of my distemper, and because ill vapours got up into my brain? +Then surely, since my Physician was my Saviour, my Lust again shall be +my God. So he never minded Religion more, but betook him again to the +world, his lusts and wicked companions: And there was an end of Mr. +Badmans Conversion. + +Atten. I thought, (as you told me of him) that this would be the result +of the whole; for I discerned by your relating of things, that the +true symptoms of conversion were wanting in him, and that those that +appeared to be any thing like them, were only such as the reprobates +may have. + +Wise. You say right, for there wanted in him, when he was most +sensible, a sence of the pollution of his Nature; he only had guilt for +his sinful actions, the which Cain, and Pharaoh, and Saul, and Judas, +those reprobates, have had before him. {147a} + +Besides, the great things that he desired, were, to be delivered from +going to Hell, (and who would willingly?) and that his life might be +lengthened in this world. We find not by all that he said or did, that +Jesus Christ the Saviour was desired by him, from a sence of his need +of his Righteousness to cloath him, and of his Spirit to sanctifie him. +{147b} + +His own strength was whole in him, he saw nothing of the treachery of +his own heart; for had he, he would never have been so free to make +promises to God of amendment. He would rather have been afraid, that +if he had mended, he should have turned with the dog to his vomit, and +have begged prayers of Saints, and assistance from heaven upon that +account, that he might have been kept from doing so. + +’Tis true he did beg prayers of good people, and so did Pharaoh of +Moses and Aaron, and Simon Magus of Simon Peter. {147c} + +His mind also seemed to be turned to his wife and child; but alas! +’twas rather from conviction that God had given him concerning their +happy estate over his, than for that he had any true love to the work +of God that was in them. True, some shews of kindness he seemed to have +for them, and so had rich Dives, when in Hell, to his five brethren +that were yet in the world; yea he had such love, as to wish them in +Heaven, that they might not come thither to be tormented. {147d} + +Atten. Sick-bed Repentance is seldom good for any thing. + +Wise. You {147e} say true, it is very rarely good for any thing indeed. +Death is unwelcom to Nature, and usually when sickness and death visit +the sinner; the first taking of him by the shoulder, and the second +standing at the Bed-chamber door to receive him; then the sinner begins +to look about him, and to bethink with himself, These will have me +away before God; and I know that my Life has not been as it should, +how shall I do to appear before God! Or if it be more the sence of the +punishment, and the place of the punishment of sinners, that also is +starting to a defiled conscience, now rouzed by deaths lumbring at the +door. + +And hence usually is sick-bed Repentance, and the matter of it: To wit, +to be saved from Hell, and from Death, and that God will restore again +to health till they mend; concluding that it is in their power to mend, +as is evident by their large and lavishing promises to do it. + +I have known many, that, when they have been sick, have had large +measures of this kind of Repentance, and while it has lasted, the noyse +and sound thereof, has made the Town to ring again: but alas! how long +has it lasted? oft-times scarce so long as untill the party now sick +has been well. It has passed away like a mist or a vapour, it has +been a thing of no continuance. But this kind of Repentance is by God +compared to the howling of a dog. And they have not cried unto me with +their heart, when they howled upon their bed. {148a} + +Atten. Yet one may see, by this, the desperateness of mans heart: +{148b} for what is it but desperate wickedness, to make promise to God +of amendment, if he will but spare them; and yet so soon as they are +recovered (or quickly after,) fall to sin as they did before, and never +to regard their promise more. + +Wise. It is a sign of desperateness indeed; yea, of desperate madness. +For surely, they must needs think, that God took notice of their +promise, that he heard the words that they spake, {148c} and that he +hath laid them up against the time to come; and will then bring out, +and testifie to their faces, that they flattered him with their mouth, +and lyed unto him with their tongue, {148d} when they lay sick, to +their thinking, upon their death-bed, and promised him that if he would +recover them they would repent and amend their ways. But thus, as I +have told you, Mr. Badman did. He made great promises that he would be +a New man, that he would leave his sins, and become a Convert, that he +would love, &c. his godly wife, &c. Yea many fine words had Mr. Badman +in his sickness, but no good actions when he was well. + +Atten. And how did his good wife take it, when she saw that he had no +Amendment, but that he returned with the Dog to his vomit, to his old +courses again? + +Wise. Why it {149a} broke her heart, it was a worse disappointment to +her than the cheat that he gave her in marriage: At least she laid it +more to heart, and could not so well grapple with it. You must think +that she had put up many a prayer to God for him before, even all the +time that he had carried it so badly to her, and now when he was so +affrighted in his sickness, and so desired that he might live and mend, +poor woman, she thought that the time was come for God to answer her +prayers; nay, she did not let with gladness, to whisper it out amongst +her Friends, that ’twas so: but when she saw her self disappointed by +her husbands turning Rebel again, she could not stand up under it, but +falls into a languishing distemper, and in a few weeks gave up the +Ghost. + +Atten. Pray how did she dye? + +Wise. Die! she dyed bravely; full of comfort of the faith of her +Interest in Christ, and by him, of the world to come: she had many +brave Expressions in her sickness, and gave to those that came to +visit her many signs of her salvation; the thoughts of the Grave, but +specially of her Rising again, were sweet thoughts to her. She would +long for Death, because she knew it would be her Friend. She behaved +her self like to some that were making of them ready to go meet their +Bridegroom. {149b} Now, said she, I am going to rest from my sorrows, +my sighs, my tears, my mournings and complaints: I have heretofore +longed to be among the Saints, but might by no means be suffered to +goe, but now I am going, (and no man can stop me) to the great Meeting, +to the general Assembly, and Church of the first-born which are written +in Heaven. {149c} There I shall have my hearts desire; there I shall +worship without Temptation or other impediment; there I shall see the +face of my Jesus, whom I have loved, whom I have served, and who now, +I know, will save my soul. {149d} I have prayed often for my husband, +that he might be converted, but there has been no answer of God in that +matter; Are my prayers lost? are they forgotten? are they thrown over +the barr? No; they are hanged upon the horns of the golden Altar, and I +must have the benefit of them my self, that moment that I shall enter +into the gates, in at which the righteous Nation that keepeth truth +shall enter: I say, I shall have the benefit of them. I can say as holy +David; I say, I can say of my husband, as he could of his enemies. As +for me, when they were sick my cloathing was of sack-cloth, I humbled +my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into my bosom. {150a} My +prayers are not lost, my tears are yet in God’s bottle; I would have +had a Crown, and Glory for my husband, and for those of my children +that follow his steps; but so far as I can see yet, I must rest in the +hope of having all my self. + +Atten. Did she talk thus openly? + +Wise. No; this she spake but to one or two of her most intimate +acquaintance, who were permitted to come and see her, when she lay +languishing upon her death-bed. + +Atten. Well, but pray go on in your relation, this is good: I am glad +to hear it, this is as a cordial to my heart while we sit thus talking +under this tree. + +Wise. When she drew near her end, she called for her husband, and when +he was come to her, she told him, {150b} That now he and she must +part, and said she, God knows, and thou shalt know, that I have been a +loving, faithful Wife unto thee; my prayers have been many for thee; +and as for all the abuses that I have received at thy hand, those I +freely and heartily forgive, and still shall pray for thy conversion, +even as long as I breathe in this world. But husband, I am going +thither, where no bad man shall come, and if thou dost not convert, +thou wilt never see me more with comfort; let not my plain words offend +thee: I am thy dying wife, and of my faithfulness to thee, would leave +this Exhortation with thee: Break off thy sins, fly to God for mercy +while mercies gate stands open; remember, that the day is coming, when +thou, though now lusty and well, must lye at the gates of death, as I +do: And what wilt thou then do, if thou shalt be found with a naked +soul, to meet with the Cherubims with their flaming swords? yea, what +wilt thou then do, if Death and Hell shall come to visit thee, and thou +in thy sins, and under the Curse of the Law? + +Atten. This was honest and plain: but what said Mr. Badman to her? + +Wise. He did what he could to divert her talk, {151a} by throwing in +other things; he also shewed some kind of pity to her now, and would +ask her, What she would have? and with various kind of words put her +out of her talk; for when she see that she was not regarded, she fetcht +a deep sigh, and lay still. So he went down, and then she called for +her Children, and began to talk to them. And first she spake to those +that were rude, {151b} and told them the danger of dying before they +had grace in their hearts. She told them also, that Death might be +nearer them than they were aware of; and bid them look, when they went +through the Church-yard again, if there was not little graves there. +And, ah children, said she, will it not be dreadful to you, if we only +shall meet at the day of Judgment, and then part again, and never see +each other more? And with that she wept, the Children (also) wept; so +she held on her discourse: Children, said she, I am going from you, I +am going to Jesus Christ, and with him there is neither sorrow, nor +sighing, nor pain, nor tears, nor death. {151c} Thither would I have +you go also, but I can neither carry you, nor fetch you thither; but if +you shall turn from your sins to God, and shall beg mercy at his hands +by Jesus Christ, you shall follow me, and shall, when you dye, come to +the place where I am going, that blessed place of Rest: and then we +shall be for ever together, beholding the face of our Redeemer, to our +mutual and eternal joy. So she bid them remember the words of a dying +mother when she was cold in her grave, and themselves were hot in their +sins, if perhaps her words might put check to their vice, and that they +might remember and turn to God. + +Then they all went down; but her {151d} Darling, to wit, the child that +she had most love for, because it followed her ways. So she addressed +her self to that. Come to me, said she, my sweet child, thou art the +child of my joy: I have lived to see thee a Servant of God; thou shalt +have eternal life. I, my sweet heart, shall goe before, and thou shalt +follow after; if thou shalt hold the beginning of thy confidence +stedfast to the end. {152a} When I am gone, do thou still remember my +words, love thy Bible, follow my Ministers, deny ungodliness still, and +if troublous times shall come, set an higher price upon Christ, his +Word and Wayes, and the testimony of a good conscience, than upon all +the world besides. Carry it kindly and dutifully to thy Father, but +choose none of his ways. If thou mayest, goe to service, choose that, +rather than to stay at home; but then be sure to choose a service where +thou mayest be helped forwards in the way to heaven; and that thou +mayest have such a service, speak to my Minister, he will help thee, if +possible, to such an one. + +I would have thee also, my dear child, to love thy Brothers and +Sisters, but learn none of their naughty tricks. Have no fellowship +with the unfruitfull works of darkness, but rather reprove them. {152b} +Thou hast Grace, they have none: do thou therefore beautifie the way +of salvation before their eyes, by a godly life, and conformable +conversation to the revealed will of God, that thy Brothers and Sisters +may see and be the more pleased with the good wayes of the Lord. + +If thou shalt live to marry, take heed of being served as I was; that +is, of being beguiled with fair words, and the flatteries of a lying +tongue. But first be sure of godliness. Yea, as sure as it is possible +for one to be in this world: trust not thine own eyes, nor thine own +Judgment; I mean as to that persons godliness that thou art invited to +marry. Ask counsel of good men, and do nothing therein, if he lives, +without my Ministers advice. I have also my self desired him to look +after thee. Thus she talked to her children, and gave them counsel, and +after she had talked to this a little longer, she kiss’d it, and bid it +go down. + +Well, in short, her time drew on, and the day that she must die. So she +{152c} died with a soul full of Grace, an heart full of comfort, and by +her death ended a life full of trouble. Her husband made a Funerall for +her, perhaps because he was glad he was rid of her, but we will leave +that to be manifest at Judgment. + +Atten. This Woman died well: And now we are talking of the dying of +Christians, I will tell you a story of one that died some time since +in our Town. The man was a godly old Puritan, for so the godly were +called in time past. This man after a long, and godly life, fell sick, +of the sickness, whereof he died. And as he lay drawing on, the woman +that looked to him thought she heard Musick, and that the sweetest that +ever she heard in her life, which also continued untill he gave up the +Ghost: [Picture: Take note symbol] now when his soul departed from +him, the Musick seemed to withdraw and to go further and further off +from the house, and so it went untill the sound was quite gone out of +hearing. + +Wise. What do you think that might be? + +Atten. For ought I know, the melodious Notes of Angels, that were sent +of God to fetch him to Heaven. + +Wise. I cannot say but that God goes out of his Ordinary Road with us +poor mortals sometimes. I cannot say this of this woman, but yet she +had better musick in her heart than sounded in this womans ears. + +Atten. I believe so; but pray tell me, did any of her other children +hearken to her words, so as to be bettered in their souls thereby? + +Wise. One of them did, {153b} and became a very hopefull young man: but +for the rest I can say nothing. + +Atten. And what did Badman do after his wife was dead? + +Wise. Why even as he did before, he scarce mourned a fortnight for her, +and his mourning then was, I doubt, more in fashion than in heart. + +Atten. Would he not sometimes talk of his Wife, when she was dead? + +Wise. Yes, when the fit took him, and could commend her too extremely; +saying, she was a good, godly, vertuous woman. But this is not a thing +to be wondred at: It is common with wicked men, to hate Gods Servants +while alive, and to commend them when they are dead. So served the +Pharisees the Prophets: Those of the Prophets that were dead, they +commended; and those of them that were alive they condemned. {153c} + +Atten. But did not Mr. Badman marry again quickly? + +Wise. No, not a good while after: and when he was asked the reason, +he would make this slighty answer, Who would keep a Cow of their own, +that can have a quart of milk for a penny? {154a} Meaning, Who would be +at the charge to have a Wife, that can have a Whore when he listeth? +So villanous, so abominable did he continue after the death of his +wife. Yet at last there was one was too hard for him. For, getting of +him to her upon a time, and making of him sufficiently drunk, she was +so cunning as to get a promise of marriage of him, and so held him to +it, and forced him to marry her. {154b} And she, as the saying is, was +as good as he, {154c} at all his vile and ranting tricks: she had her +companions as well as he had his, and she would meet them too at the +Tavern and Ale-house, more commonly than he was aware of. To be plain, +she was a very Whore, and had as great resort came to her, where time +and place was appointed, as any of them all. Aie, and he smelt it too, +but could not tell how to help it. For if he began to talk, she could +lay in his dish the whores that she knew he haunted, and she could fit +him also with cursing and swearing, for she would give him Oath for +Oath, and Curse for Curse. + +Atten. What kind of oaths would she have? + +Wise. Why damn her, and sink her, and the like. + +Atten. These are provoking things. + +Wise. So they are: but God doth not altogether let such things goe +unpunished in this life. Something of this I have shewed you already, +and will here give you one or two Instances more. + +There lived, saith one, {154d} in the year 1551. in a city of Savoy, +a man who was a monstrous Curser and Swearer, and though he was often +admonished and blamed for it, yet would he by no means mend his +manners. At length a great plague happening in the City, he withdrew +himself into a Garden, where being again admonished to give over his +wickedness, he hardned his heart more, Swearing, Blaspheming God, and +giving himself to the Devil: And immediately the Devil snatched him +up suddenly, his wife and kinswoman looking on, and carried him quite +away. The Magistrates advertised hereof, went to the place and examined +the Woman, who justified the truth of it. + +Also at Oster in the Dutchy of Magalapole, (saith Mr. Clark) a wicked +Woman, used in her cursing to give herself body and soul to the Devil, +and being reproved for it, still continued the same; till (being at a +Wedding-Feast) the Devil came in person, and carried her up into the +Air, with most horrible outcries and roarings: And in that sort carried +her round about the Town, that the Inhabitants were ready to dye for +fear: And by and by he tore her in four pieces, leaving her four +quarters in four several high-wayes; and then brought her Bowels to the +Marriage-feast, and threw them upon the Table before the Maior of the +Town, saying, Behold, these dishes of meat belong to thee, whom the +like destruction waiteth for, if thou dost not amend thy wicked life. + +Atten. Though God forbears to deal thus with all men that thus rend and +tare his Name, and that immediate Judgments do not overtake them; yet +he makes their lives by other Judgments bitter to them, does he not? + +Wise. Yes, yes. And for proof, I need goe no further than to this +Badman and his wife; for their railing, and cursing, and swearing ended +not in words: They would fight and fly at each other, and that like +Cats and Dogs. But it must be looked upon as the hand and Judgment of +God upon him for his villany; he had an honest woman before, but she +would not serve his turn, and therefore God took her away, and gave +him one as bad as himself. Thus that measure that he meted to his +first wife, this last did mete to him again. And this is a punishment, +wherewith sometimes God will punish wicked men. So said Amos to +Amaziah: Thy wife shall be an Harlot in the City. {155} With this +last wife Mr. Badman lived a pretty while; but, as I told you before, +in a most sad and hellish manner. And now he would bewail his first +wifes death: not of love that he had to her Godliness, for that he +could never abide, but for that she used alwayes to keep home, whereas +this would goe abroad; his first wife was also honest, and true to +that Relation, but this last was a Whore of her Body: The first woman +loved to keep things together, but this last would whirl them about as +well as he: The first would be silent when he chid, and would take it +patiently when he abused her, but this would give him word for word, +blow for blow, curse for curse; so that now Mr. Badman had met with his +match: {156a} God had a mind to make him see the baseness of his own +life, in the wickedness of his wives. {156b} But all would not do with +Mr. Badman, he would be Mr. Badman still: This Judgment did not work +any reformation upon him, no, not to God nor man. + +Atten. I warrant you that Mr. Badman thought when his wife was dead, +that next time he would match far better. + +Wise. What he thought I cannot tell, but he could not hope for it in +this match. For here he knew himself to be catcht, he knew that he was +by this woman intangled, and would therefore have gone back again, but +could not. He knew her, I say, to be a Whore before, and therefore +could not promise himself a happy life with her. For he or she that +will not be true to their own soul, will neither be true to husband nor +wife. And he knew that she was not true to her own soul, and therefore +could not expect she should be true to him but Solomon says, An whore +is a deep pit, and Mr. Badman found it true. For when she had caught +him in her pit, she would never leave him till she had got him to +promise her Marriage; and when she had taken him so far, she forced him +to marry indeed. And after that, they lived that life that I have told +you. + +Atten. But did not the neighbours take notice of this alteration that +Mr. Badman had made? + +Wise. Yes; and many of his Neighbours, yea, many of those that were +carnal said, {156c} ’Tis a righteous Judgment of God upon him, for +his abusive carriage and language to his other wife: for they were +all convinced that she was a vertuous woman, and he, vile wretch, had +killed her, I will not say, with, but with the want of kindness. + +Atten. And how long I pray did they live thus together? + +Wise. Some fourteen or sixteen years, even untill (though she also +brought somthing with her) they had sinned all away, and parted as poor +as Howlets. {156d} And, in reason, how could it be otherwise? he would +have his way, and she would have hers; he among his companions, and she +among hers; he with his Whores, and she with her Rogues; and so they +brought their Noble to Nine-pence. + +Atten. Pray of what disease did Mr. Badman die, for now I perceive we +are come up to his death? + +Wise. I cannot so properly say that he died of one disease, {157a} +for there were many that had consented, and laid their heads together +to bring him to his end. He was dropsical, he was consumptive, he was +surfeited, was gouty, and, as some say, he had a tang of the Pox in his +bowels. Yet the Captain of all these men of death that came against him +to take him away, was the Consumption, for ’twas that that brought him +down to the grave. + +Atten. Although I will not say, but the best men may die of a +consumption, a dropsie, or a surfeit; yea, that these may meet upon a +man to end him: yet I will say again, that many times these diseases +come through mans inordinate use of things. Much drinking brings +dropsies, consumptions, surfeits, and many other diseases; and I doubt, +that Mr. Badman’s death did come by his abuse of himself in the use +of lawfull and unlawfull things. I ground this my sentence upon that +report of his life that you at large have given me. + +Wise. I think verily that you need not call back your sentence; for +’tis thought by many, that by his Cups and his Queans he brought +himself to this his destruction: he was not an old man when he dyed, +nor was he naturally very feeble, but strong, and of a healthy +complexion: Yet, as I said, he moultered away, and went, when he set a +going, rotten to his Grave. And that which made him stink when he was +dead, I mean, that made him stink in his Name and Fame, was, that he +died with a spice of the foul disease upon him: A man whose life was +full of sin, and whose death was without repentance. + +Atten. These were blemishes sufficient to make him stink indeed. + +Wise. They were so, and they did do it. No man could speak well of him +when he was gone. {157b} His Name rotted above ground, as his Carkass +rotted under. And this is according to the saying of the wise man: The +memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot. +{157c} + +This Text, in both the parts of it, was fulfilled upon him and the +woman that he married first. For her Name still did flourish, though +she had been dead almost seventeen years; but his began to stink and +rot, before he had been buried seventeen dayes. + +Atten. That man that dieth with a life full of sin, and with an heart +void of repentance, although he should die of the most Golden disease +(if there were any that might be so called) I will warrant him his Name +shall stink, and that in Heaven and Earth. + +Wise. You say true; and therefore doth the name of Cain, Pharaoh, Saul, +Judas, and the Pharisees, though dead thousands of years agoe, stink as +fresh in the nostrils of the world as if they were but newly dead. + +Atten. I do fully acquiesce with you in this. But, Sir, since you have +charged him with dying impenitent, pray let me see how you will prove +it: {158a} not that I altogether doubt it, because you have affirmed +it, but yet I love to have proof for what men say in such weighty +matters. + +Wise. When I said, he died without repentance, I meant, so far as those +that knew him, could judge, when they compared his Life, the Word, and +his Death together. + +Atten. Well said, they went the right way to find out whether he had, +that is, did manifest that he had repentance or no. Now then shew me +how they did prove he had none? + +Wise. So I will: And first, {158b} this was urged to prove it. He had +not in all the time of his sickness, a sight and sence of his sins, but +was as secure, and as much at quiet, as if he had never sinned in all +his life. + +Atten. I must needs confess that this is a sign he had none. For how +can a man repent of that of which he hath neither sight nor sence? But +’tis strange that he had neither sight nor sence of sin now, when he +had such a sight and sence of his evil before: I mean when he was sick +before. + +Wise. He was, as I said, as secure now, as if he had been as sinless as +an Angel; though all men knew what a sinner he was, for he carried his +Sins in his Forehead. His debauched Life was read and known of all men; +but his Reputation was read and known of no man; for, as I said, he had +none. And for ought I know, the reason he had no sence of his sins now, +was because he profited not by that sence that he had of them before. +He liked not to retain that knowledge of God then, that caused his sins +to come to remembrance: Therefore God gave him up now to a reprobate +mind, to hardness and stupidity of Spirit; and so was that Scripture +fulfilled upon him, He hath blinded their eyes. And that, Let their +eyes be darkned that they may not see. {159a} Oh! for a man to live +in sin, and to go out of the world without Repentance for it, is the +saddest Judgement that can overtake a man. + +Atten. But, Sir, although both you and I have consented that {159b} +without a sight and sence of sin there can be no Repentance, yet that +is but our bare Say-so; let us therefore now see if by the Scripture we +can make it good. + +Wise. That is easily done. The three thousand that were converted, +(Acts the second,) repented not, till they had sight and sence of their +sins: {159c} Paul repented not till he had sight and sence of his sins: +the Jailor repented not till he had sight and sence of his sins: nor +could they. For of what should a man repent? The Answer is, of Sin. +What is it to Repent of sin? The answer is, To be sorry for it, to turn +from it. {159d} But how can a man be sorry for it, that has neither +sight nor sence of it. David did, not only commit sins, but abode +impenitent for them, untill Nathan the Prophet was sent from God to +give him a sight and sence of them; {159e} and then, but not till then, +he indeed repented of them. Job, in order to his Repentance, cries unto +God, Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. And again, That which I +see not teach thou me, I have born chastisement, I will not offend any +more: {159f} That is, not in what I know, for I will repent of it; nor +yet in what I know not, when thou shalt shew me it. + +Also Ephraims Repentance was after he was turned to the sight and sence +of his sins, and after he was instructed about the evil of them. {159g} + +Atten. These are good testimonies of this truth, and doe (if matter +of fact, with which Mr. Badman is charged, be true), prove indeed +that he did not repent, but as he lived, so he dyed in his sin: For +without Repentance a man is sure to dye in his sin; for they will lie +down in the dust with him, {160a} rise at the Judgement with him, hang +about his Neck like Cords and Chains when he standeth at the Barre +of Gods Tribunal, and goe with him too when he goes away from the +Judgment-seat, with a Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, +prepared for the Devil and his Angels; and there shall fret and gnaw +his Conscience, because they will be to him a never-dying worm. {160b} + +Wise. You say well, and I will add a word or two more to what I have +said: Repentance, as it is not produced without a sight and sence +of sin, so every sight and sence of sin cannot produce it: I mean, +every sight and sence of sin cannot {160c} produce that Repentance, +that is Repentance unto salvation; repentance never to be repented +of. For it is yet fresh before us, that Mr. Badman had a sight and +sence of sin, in that fit of sickness that he had before, but it dyed +without procuring any such godly fruit; as was manifest by his so +soon returning with the Dog to his Vomit. Many people think also that +Repentance stands in Confession of sin only, but they are very much +mistaken: For Repentance, as was said before, is a being sorry for, and +a turning from transgression to God by Jesus Christ. Now, if this be +true, that every sight and sence of sin will not produce Repentance, +then Repentance cannot be produced there where there is no sight and +sence of sin. That every sight and sence of sin will not produce +repentance, to wit, the godly repentance that we are speaking of, is +manifest in Cain, Pharaoh, Saul and Judas, who all of them had sence, +great sence of sin, but none of them repentance unto life. + +Now I conclude, that Mr. Badman did die impenitent, and so a death most +miserable. + +Atten. But pray now, before we conclude our discourse of Mr. Badman, +give me another proof of his dying in his sins. + +Wise. Another proof is this. {160d} He did not desire a sight and +sence of sins, that he might have repentance for them. Did I say he +did not desire it, I will add, he greatly desired to remain in his +security: and that I shall prove by that which follows. First, he could +not endure that any man, now, should talk to him of his sinfull life, +and yet that was the way to beget a sight and sence of sin, and so of +repentance from it in his soul. But, I say, he could not endure such +discourse. Those men that did offer to talk unto him of his ill-spent +Life, they were as little welcome to him in the time of his last +sickness, as was Elijah when he went to meet with Ahab, as he went down +to take possession of Naboths Vineyard. Hast thou found me, said Ahab, +O mine enemy? {161a} So would Mr. Badman say in his heart to and of +those that thus did come to him, though indeed they came even of love, +to convince him of his evil life, that he might have repented thereof, +and have obtained mercy. + +Atten. Did good men then goe to see him in his last sickness? + +Wise. Yes: Those that were his first wifes acquaintance, they went to +see him, and to talk with, and to him, if perhaps he might now, at +last, bethink himself, and cry to God for mercy. + +Atten. They did well to try now at last if they could save his soul +from Hell: But pray how can you tell that he did not care for the +company of such? + +Wise. Because of the differing Carriage that he had for them, from +what he had when his old carnal companions came to see him: When his +old Campanions came to see him, he would stir up himself as much as he +could both by words and looks, to signifie they were welcome to him; he +would also talk with them freely, and look pleasantly upon them, though +the talk of such could be none other but such as David said, carnal men +would offer to him, when they came to visit him in his sickness: If +he comes to see me, says he, he speaketh vanity, his heart gathereth +iniquity to itself. {161b} But these kind of talks, I say, Mr. Badman +better brooked, than he did the company of better men. + +But I will more particularly give you a Character {161c} of his +carriage to good men (and good talk) when they came to see him. + +1. When they were come, he would seem to fail in his spirits at the +sight of them. + +2. He would not care to answer them to any of those questions that they +would at times put to him, to feel what sence he had of sin, death, +Hell, and Judgment: But would either say nothing, or answer them by way +of evasion, or else by telling of them he was so weak and spent that he +could not speak much. + +3. He would never shew forwardness to speak to, or talk with them, but +was glad when they held their tongues. He would ask them no question +about his state and another world, or how he should escape that +damnation that he had deserved. + +4. He had got a haunt at last to bid his wife and keeper, when these +good people attempted to come to see him, to tell them that he was +asleep or inclining to sleep, or so weak for want thereof, that he +could not abyde any noyse. And so they would serve them time after +time, till at last they were discouraged from coming to see him any +more. + +5. He was so hardned, now, in this time of his sickness, that he would +talk, when his companions came unto him, to the disparagement of those +good men (and of their good doctrine too) that of love did come to see +him, and that did labour to convert him. + +6. When these good men went away from him, he would never say, Pray +when will you be pleased to come again, for I have a desire to more of +your company, and to hear more of your good instruction? No not a word +of that, but when they were going would scarce bid them drink, or say, +Thank you for your good company, and good instruction. + +7. His talk in his sickness with his companions, would be of the World, +as Trades, Houses, Lands, great Men, great Titles, great places, +outward Prosperity, or outward Adversity, or some such carnal thing. + +By all which I conclude, that he did not desire a sence and sight of +his sin, that he might repent and be saved. + +Atten. It must needs be so as you say, if these things be true that you +have asserted of him. And I do the rather believe them, because I think +you dare not tell a lie of the dead. + +Wise. I was one of them that went to him, and that beheld his carriage +and manner of way, and this is a true relation of it that I have given +you. + +Atten. I am satisfied. But pray if you can, shew me now by the Word, +what sentence of God doth pass upon such men? + +Wise. Why, the man that is thus averse to repentance, that desires not +to hear of his sins, that he might repent and be saved; is said to be a +man that saith unto God, Depart from me, for I desire not the knowledge +of thy wayes. {163a} He is a man that sayes in his heart and with his +actions, I have loved strangers, (sins) and after them I will goe. He +is a man that shuts his eyes, stops his ears, and that turneth his +spirit against God. Yea he is the man that is at enmity with God, and +that abhorres him with his soul. {163b} + +Atten. What other signe can you give me that Mr. Badman died without +repentance? + +Wise. Why, he did never heartily cry to God for mercy all the time of +his affliction. {163c} True, when sinking fits, stitches, or pains took +hold upon him, then he would say as other carnal men use to do, Lord +help me, Lord strengthen me, Lord deliver me, and the like: But to cry +to God for mercy, that he did not, but lay, as I hinted before, as if +he never had sinned. + +Atten. That is another bad sign indeed; for crying to God for mercy, +is one of the first signs of repentance. When Paul lay repenting of +his sin, upon his bed, the Holy Ghost said of him, Behold he prayes. +{163d} But he that hath not the first signs of repentance, ’tis a sign +he hath none of the other, and so indeed none at all. I do not say, but +there may be crying, where there may be no sign of repentance. They +cryed, says David, to the Lord, but he answered them not; {163e} but +that he would have done, if their cry had been the fruit of repentance. +But, I say, if men may cry, and yet have no repentance, be sure, they +have none, that cry not at all. It is said in Job, They cry not when +he bindeth them; {163f} that is, because they have no repentance; no +repentance, no cryes; false repentance, false cryes; true repentance, +true cryes. + +Wise. I know that it is as possible for a man to forbear crying that +hath repentance, as it is for a man to forbear groaning that feeleth +deadly pain. He that looketh into the Book of Psalms, (where repentance +is most lively set forth even in its true and proper effects,) shall +there find, that crying, strong crying, hearty crying, great crying, +and uncessant crying, hath been the fruits of repentance: (But none of +this had this Mr. Badman, therefore he dyed in his sins.) + +That Crying is an inseparable effect of repentance, is seen in these +Scriptures. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to the multitude of +thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. O Lord, rebuke me +not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have +mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak. O Lord, heal me for my bones are +vexed. My soul is also vexed, but thou, O Lord, how long: Return, O +Lord, deliver my soul: O save me for thy mercies sake: O Lord, rebuke +me not in thy wrath, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure; for +thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There +is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger, neither is there +any rest in my bones, because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone +over mine head, as an heavy burthen, they are too heavy for me. My +wounds stink and are corrupt; because of my foolishness. I am troubled, +I am bowed down greatly, I goe mourning all the day long. My loyns +are filled with a loathsom disease, and there is no soundness in my +flesh. I am feeble, and sore broken, I have roared by reason of the +disquietness of my heart. {164a} + +I might give you a great number more of the holy sayings of good men, +whereby they express how they were, what they felt, and whether they +cryed or no, when repentance was wrought in them. Alas, alas, it is as +possible for a man, when the pangs of Guilt are upon him to forbear +praying, as it is for a woman when pangs of travel are upon her to +forbear crying. If all the world should tell me that such a man hath +repentance, yet if he is not a praying man, I should not be perswaded +to believe it. + +Atten. I know no reason why you should: for there is nothing can +demonstrate that such a man hath it. But pray Sir, what other sign have +you, by which you can prove that Mr. Badman died in his sins, and so in +a state of damnation? + +Wise. I have this to prove it. {164b} Those who were his old sinfull +companions in the time of his health, were those whose company and +carnal talk he most delighted in, in the time of his sickness. I did +occasionally hint this before, but now I make it an argument of his +want of grace: for where there is indeed a work of Grace in the heart, +that work doth not only change the heart, thoughts and desires, but the +conversation also; yea conversation and company too. When Paul had a +work of grace in his soul, he assayed to Joyn himself to the Disciples. +He was for his old companions in their abominations no longer: he was +now a Disciple, and was for the company of Disciples. And he was with +them coming in and going out in Jerusalem. {165a} + +Atten. I thought something when I heard you make mention of it before. +Thought I, this is a shrewd sign that he had not grace in his heart. +Birds of a feather, thought I, will flock together: If this man was +one of Gods children, he would heard with Gods children, his delight +would be with, and in the company of Gods children. As David said, I +am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy +precepts. {165b} + +Wise. You say well, for what fellowship hath he that believeth with +an Infidel? And although it be true, that all that joyn to the godly +are not godly, yet they that shall inwardly choose the company of the +ungodly and open profane, rather than the company of the godly, as +Mr. Badman did; surely are not godly men, but profane. He was, as I +told you, out of his element, when good men did come to visit him, but +then he was where he would be, when he had his vain companions about +him. Alas! grace, as I said, altereth all, heart, life, company, and +all; for by it the heart and man is made new: and a new heart, a new +man, must have objects of delight that are new, and like himself: Old +things are passed away; Why? For all things are become new. {165c} Now +if all things are become new, to wit, heart, mind, thoughts, desires, +and delights, it followeth by consequence that the company must be +answerable: hence it is said, That they that believed were together; +that they went to their own company; that they were added to the +Church; that they were of one heart and of one soul; {165d} and the +like. Now if it be objected that Mr. Badman was sick, and so could +not goe to the godly, yet he had a tongue in his head, and could, had +he had an heart, have spoken to some to call or send for the godly to +come to him. Yea, he would have done so; yea the company of all others, +specially his fellow sinners, would, even in every appearance of them +before him, have been a burden and a grief unto him. His heart and +affection standing bent to good, good companions would have suited him +best. But his Companions were his old Associates, his delight was in +them, therefore his heart and soul were yet ungodly. + +Atten. Pray how was he when he drew near his end? for I perceive that +what you say of him now, hath reference to him, and to his actions, +at the beginning of his sickness? Then he could endure company, and +much talk; besides, perhaps then he thought he should recover and not +die, as afterwards he had cause to think, when he was quite wasted +with pining sickness, when he was at the graves mouth. But how was he, +I say, when he was (as we say) at the graves mouth, within a step of +death? when he saw, and knew, and could not but know, that shortly he +must dye, and appear before the Judgment of God? + +Wise. Why {166a} there was not any other alteration in him, than what +was made by his disease upon his body: sickness, you know, will alter +the body, also pains and stitches will make men groan; but for his +mind he had no alteration there. His mind was the same, his heart was +the same. He was the self-same Mr. Badman still: not onely in Name but +Conditions, and that to the very day of his death: yea, so far as could +be gathered to the very moment in which he died. + +Atten. Pray how was he in his death? was Death strong upon him? or did +he dye with ease, quietly? + +Wise. As quietly as a {166b} Lamb. There seemed not to be in it, to +standers by, so much as a strong struggle of Nature: and as for his +Mind, it seemed to be wholly at quiet. But pray why do you ask me this +question? + +Atten. Not for mine own sake, but for others. For there is such {166c} +an opinion as this among the ignorant: That if a man dies, as they call +it, like a Lamb, that is, quietly, and without that consternation of +mind that others shew in their death, they conclude, and that beyond +all doubt, that such an one is gone to Heaven, and is certainly escaped +the wrath to come. + +Wise. There is no Judgment to be made by a quiet death, of the Eternal +state of him that so dieth. Suppose one man should die quietly, another +should die suddenly, and a third should die under great consternation +of spirit; no man can Judge of their eternall condition by the manner +of any of these kinds of deaths. He that dies quietly, suddenly, or +under consternation of spirit, may goe to Heaven, or may goe to Hell; +no man can tell whether a man goes, by any such manner of death. The +{167a} Judgment therefore that we make of the eternall condition of a +man must be gathered from another consideration: To wit, Did the man +die in his sins? did he die in unbelief? did he die before he was born +again? then he is gone to the Devil and hell, though he died never so +quietly. Again, Was the man a good man? had he faith and holiness? +was he a lover and a Worshipper of God by Christ, according to his +Word? Then he is gone to God and Heaven, how suddenly, or in what +consternation of mind soever he died: But Mr. Badman was naught, his +life was evil, his wayes were evil; evil to his end: he therefore went +to Hell and to the Devil, how quietly soever he died. + +Indeed there is, in some cases, a Judgment to be made of a mans eternal +condition by the manner of the death he dieth. {167b} As suppose now +a man should murder himself, or live a wicked life, and after that +die in utter despair; these men without doubt do both of them goe to +Hell. And here I will take an occasion to speak of two of Mr. Badmans +Brethren, (for you know I told you before that he had Brethren,) and of +the manner of their death. One of them killed himself, and the other +after a wicked life died in utter despair. Now I should not be afraid +to conclude of both these, that they went by, and through their death +to hell. + +Atten. Pray tell me concerning the first, how he made away himself? + +Wise. Why, he took a knife and cut his own Throat, and immediately gave +up the Ghost and died. Now what can we judge of such a mans condition; +since the Scripture saith, No murderer hath eternall life, &c. but +that it must be concluded, that such an one is gone to Hell. He was a +murderer, a Self-murderer; and he is the worst murderer, one that slays +his own body and soul: nor doe we find mention made of any but cursed +ones that doe such kind of deeds. I say, no mention made in holy Writ +of any others, but such, that murder themselves. + +And this is the sore Judgment of God upon men, when God shall, for the +sins of such, give them up to be their own Executioners, or rather to +execute his Judgment and Anger upon themselves. And let me earnestly +give this Caution to sinners. Take heed, Sirs, break off your sins, +lest God serves you as he served Mr. Badmans Brother: That is, lest he +gives you up to be your own Murderers. + +Atten. Now you talk of this. [Picture: Take note symbol] I did once +know a man, a Barber, that took his own Raisor, and cut his own Throat, +and then put his head out of his Chamber-window, to shew the neighbours +what he had done, and after a little while died. + +Wise. [Picture: Take note symbol] I can tell you a more dreadful thing +than this: I mean as to the manner of doing the fact. {168c} There was +about twelve years since, a man that lived at Brafield by Northampton, +(named John Cox) that murdered himself; the manner of his doing of it +was thus. He was a poor man, and had for some time been sick (and the +time of his sickness was about the beginning of Hay-time;) and taking +too many thoughts how he should live afterwards, if he lost his present +season of work, he fell into deep despair about the world, and cryed +out to his wife the morning before he killed himself, saying, We are +undone. But quickly after, he desired his wife to depart the room, +Because, said he, I will see if I can get any rest; so she went out: +but he instead of sleeping, quickly took his Raisor, and therewith cut +up a great hole in his side, out of which he pulled, and cut off some +of his guts, and threw them, with the blood up and down the Chamber. +But this not speeding of him so soon as he desired, he took the same +Raisor and therewith cut his own throat. His wife then hearing of him +sigh and fetch his wind short, came again into the room to him, and +seeing what he had done, she ran out and called in some Neighbours, +who came to him where he lay in a bloody manner, frightfull to behold. +Then said one of them to him, Ah! John, what have you done? are you +not sorry for what you have done? He answered roughly, ’Tis too late +to be sorry. Then said the same person to him again, Ah! John, pray to +God to forgive thee this bloody act of thine. At the hearing of which +Exhortation, he seemed much offended, and in angry manner said, Pray! +and with that flung himself away to the wall, and so after a few gasps +died desperately. When he had turned him of his back, to the wall, the +blood ran out of his belly as out of a boul, and soaked quite through +the bed to the boards, and through the chinks of the boards it ran +pouring down to the ground. Some said, that when the neighbours came to +see him, he lay groaping with his hand in his bowels, reaching upward, +as was thought, that he might have pulled or cut out his heart. ’Twas +said also, that some of his Liver had been by him torn out and cast +upon the boards, and that many of his guts hung out of the bed on the +side thereof. But I cannot confirm all particulars; but the general of +the story, with these circumstances above mentioned, is true; I had it +from a sober and credible person, who himself was one that saw him in +this bloody state, and that talked with him, as was hinted before. + +Many other such dreadful things might be told you, but these are +enough, and too many too, if God in his wisdom had thought necessary to +prevent them. + +Atten. This is a dreadful Story: and I would to God that it might +be a warning to others to instruct them to fear before God, and +pray, lest he gives them up to doe as John Cox hath done. For surely +self-murderers cannot goe to Heaven: and therefore, as you have said, +he that dieth by his own hands, is certainly gone to Hell. But speak a +word or two of the other man you mentioned. + +Wise. What? of a wicked man dying in Despair? + +Atten. Yes, of a wicked man dying in despair. + +Wise. Well then: {169a} This Mr. Badmans other Brother was a very +wicked man, both in Heart and Life; I say in Heart, because he was so +in Life, nor could anything reclaim him; neither good Men, good Books, +good Examples, nor Gods Judgements. Well, after he had lived a great +while in his sins, God smote with a sickness of which he died. Now in +his sickness his Conscience began to be awakened, and he began to roar +out of his ill-spent Life, insomuch that the Town began to ring of him. +Now when it was noysed about, many of the Neighbours came to see him, +and to read by him, as is the common way with some; but all that they +could doe, [Picture: Take note symbol] could not abate his terror, but +he would lie in his Bed gnashing of his teeth, and wringing of his +wrists, concluding upon the Damnation of his Soul, and in that horror +and despair he dyed; not calling upon God, but distrusting in his +Mercy, and Blaspheming of his Name. + +Atten. This brings to my mind a man that a Friend of mine told me of. +[Picture: Take note symbol] He had been a wicked liver; so when he +came to die, he fell into despair, and having concluded that God had +no mercy for him he addressed himself to the Devil for favour, saying, +Good Devil be good unto me. + +Wise. This is almost like Saul, who being forsaken of God, went to the +Witch of Endor, and so to the Devil for help. {170a} But alas, should +I set my self to collect these dreadful Stories, it would be easie in +little time to present you with hundreds of them: But I will conclude +as I began; They that are their own Murderers, or that die in Despair, +after they have lived a life of wickedness, do surely go to Hell. + +And here I would put in a Caution: Every one that dieth under +consternation of spirit; that is, under amazement and great fear, do +not therefore die in Despair: For a good man may have this for his +bands in his death, and yet go to Heaven and Glory. For, as I said +before, He that is a good man, a man that hath Faith and Holiness, a +lover and Worshipper of God by Christ, according to his Word, may die +in consternation of spirit: for Satan will not be wanting to assault +good men upon their death-bed, but they are secured by the Word and +Power of God; yea, and are also helped, though with much agony of +spirit, to exercise themselves in Faith and Prayer, the which he that +dieth in Despair, can by no means doe. But let us return to Mr. Badman, +and enter further Discourse of the manner of his Death. + +Atten. I think you and I are both of a mind; for just now I was +thinking to call you back to him also. And pray now, since it is your +own motion to return again to him, let us discourse a little more of +his quiet and still death. + +Wise. With all my heart. You know we were speaking before of the manner +of Mr. Badmans death: {171a} How that he dyed very stilly and quietly; +upon which you made observation, that the common people conclude, +that if a man dyes quietly, and as they call it, like a Lamb, he is +certainly gone to Heaven: when alas, if a wicked man dyes quietly, if a +man that has all his dayes lived in notorious sin, dyeth quietly; his +quiet dying is so far off from being a sign of his being saved, that it +is an uncontrollable proof of his damnation. This was Mr. Badmans case, +he lived wickedly even to the last, and then went quietly out of the +world: therefore Mr. Badman is gone to Hell. + +Att. Well, but since you are upon it, and also so confident in it, to +wit, that a man that lives a wicked life till he dyes, and then dyes +quietly, is gone to Hell; let me see what shew of proof you have for +this your opinion. + +Wise. My first argument is drawn from the Necessity of repentance: No +man can be saved except he repents, nor can he repent that sees not, +that knows not that he is a sinner, and he that knows himself to be +a sinner, will, I will warrant him, be molested for the time by that +knowledge. {171b} This, as it is testified by all the Scriptures, so +it is testified by Christian experience. He that knows of himself to +be a sinner, is molested, especially if that knowledge comes not to +him untill he is cast upon his death-bed; molested, I say, before he +can dye quietly. Yea, he is molested, dejected and cast down, he is +also made to cry out, to hunger and thirst after mercy by Christ, +and if at all he shall indeed come to die quietly, I mean with that +quietness that is begotten by Faith and Hope in Gods mercy (to the +which Mr. Badman and his brethren were utter strangers,) his quietness +is distinguished by all Judicious observers, by what went before it, by +what it flows from, and also by what is the fruit thereof. + +I must confess I am no admirer of sick-bed repentance, for I think +verily it is seldom {171c} good for any thing: but I say, he that hath +lived in sin and profaneness all his dayes, as Mr. Badman did, and yet +shall dye quietly, that is, without repentance steps in ’twixt his life +and death, he is assuredly gone to Hell, and is damned. + +Atten. This does look like an argument indeed; for Repentance must +come, or else we must goe to Hell-fire: and if a lewd liver shall (I +mean that so continues till the day of his death), yet goe out of the +world quietly, ’tis a sign that he died without repentance, and so a +sign that he is damned. + +Wise. I am satisfied in it, for my part, and that from the Necessity, +and Nature of repentance. It is necessary, because God calls for it, +and will not pardon sin without it: Except ye repent ye shall all +likewise perish. This is that which God hath said, and he will prove +but a fool-hardy man that shall yet think to goe to Heaven and glory +without it. Repent, for the Ax is laid to the root of the tree, every +tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit, (but no good fruit +can be where there is not sound repentance) shall be hewn down, and +cast into the fire. {172a} This was Mr. Badmans case, he had attending +of him a sinfull life, and that to the very last, and yet dyed quietly, +that is, without repentance; he is gone to Hell and is damned. For the +Nature of repentance, I have touched upon that already, and shewed, +that it never was where a quiet death is the immediate companion of a +sinfull life; and therefore Mr. Badman is gone to Hell. + +Secondly, {172b} My second argument is drawn from that blessed Word of +Christ, While the strong man armed keeps the house, his goods are in +peace, till a stronger than he comes: but the strong man armed kept Mr. +Badmans house, that is, his heart, and soul, and body, for he went from +a sinfull life quietly, out of this world: the stronger did not disturb +by intercepting with sound repentance, betwixt his sinful life and his +quiet death: Therefore Mr. Badman is gone to Hell. + +The strong man armed is the Devil, and quietness is his security. The +Devil never fears losing of the sinner, if he can but keep him quiet: +can he but keep him quiet in a sinfull life, and quiet in his death, he +is his own. Therefore he saith, his goods are in peace; that is, out +of danger. There is no fear of the Devils losing such a soul, I say, +because Christ, who is the best Judge in this matter, saith, his goods +are in peace, in quiet, and out of danger. + +Atten. This is a good one too; {173a} for doubtless, peace and quiet +with sin, is one of the greatest signs of a damnable state. + +Wise. So it is. Therefore, when God would shew the greatness of his +anger against sin and sinners in one word, he saith, They are joyned +to Idols, let them alone. {173b} Let them alone, that is, disturb +them not; let them goe on without controll; let the Devil enjoy them +peaceably, let him carry them out of the world unconverted quietly. +This is one of the sorest of Judgments, and bespeaketh the burning +anger of God against sinfull men. See also when you come home, the +fourteenth Verse of the Chapter last mentioned in the Margent: I will +not punish your daughters when they commit Whoredom. I will let them +alone, they shall live and dye in their sins. But, + +Thirdly, My third argument {173c} is drawn from that saying of Christ: +He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts; that they should +not see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, and be +converted, and I should heal them. {173d} + +There are three things that I will take notice of from these words. + +1. The first is, That there can be no conversion to God where the eye +is darkned, and the heart hardened. The eye must first be made to see, +and the heart to break and relent under and for sin, or else there +can be no conversion. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardned their +hearts, lest they should see, and understand and (So) be converted. And +this was clearly Mr. Badmans case, he lived a wicked life, and also +died with his eyes shut, and heart hardened, as is manifest, in that a +sinful life was joyned with a quiet death; and all for that he should +not be converted, but partake of the fruit of his sinfull life in Hell +fire. + +2. The second thing that I take notice of from these words is, That +this is a dispensation and manifestation of Gods anger against a man +for his sin. When God is angry with men, I mean, when he is so angry +with them, this among many is one of the Judgments that he giveth them +up unto, to wit, to blindness of mind, and hardness of heart, which +he also suffereth to accompany them till they enter in at the gates +of death. And then, and there, and not short of then and there, their +eyes come to be opened. Hence it is said of the rich man mentioned in +Luke, He dyed, and in Hell he lifted up his eyes: {174a} Implying that +he did not lift them up before: He neither saw what he had done, nor +whither he was going, till he came to the place of execution, even into +Hell. He died asleep in his soul; he dyed bespotted, stupified, and so +consequently for quietness, like a Child or Lamb, even as Mr. Badman +did: this was a sign of Gods anger; he had a mind to damn him for his +sins, and therefore would not let him see nor have an heart to repent +for them, lest he should convert, and his damnation, which God had +appointed, should be frustrate: lest they should be converted, and I +should heal them. + +3. The third thing that I take notice of from hence, is, That a +sinfull life and a quiet death annexed to it, is the ready, the open, +the beaten, the common high-way to Hell: there is no surer sign of +Damnation, than for a man to dye quietly after a sinfull life. I do +not say that all wicked men, that are molested at their death with a +sence of sin and fears of Hell, do therefore goe to Heaven, (for some +are also made to see, and are left to despair (not converted by seeing) +that they might go roaring out of this world to their place:) But I +say, there is no surer sign of a mans Damnation, than to dye quietly +after a sinful life; than to sin, and dye with his eyes shut; than to +sin, and dye with an heart that cannot repent. He hath blinded their +eyes and hardened their heart, that they should not see with their +eyes, nor understand with their heart; (no, not so long as they are in +this world) lest they should see with their eyes, and understand with +their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. {174b} + +God has a Judgment for wicked men; God will be even with wicked men: +God knows how to reserve the ungodly to the day of Judgment to be +punished: {174c} And this is one of his wayes by which he doth it. Thus +it was with Mr. Badman. + +4. Fourthly, {174d} It is said in the Book of Psalms, concerning the +wicked, There is no bands in their death, but their strength is firm. +By no bands, he means no troubles, no gracious chastisements, no such +corrections for sin as fall to be the Lot of Gods people for theirs; +yea, that many times falls to be theirs, at the time of their death. +Therefore he adds concerning the wicked, They are not troubled (then) +like other men, neither are they plagued like other men; but go as +securely out of the world, as if they had never sinned against God, +and put their own souls into danger of damnation. There is no band in +their death. They seem to go unbound, and set at liberty, out of this +world, though they have lived notoriously wicked all their dayes in it. +The Prisoner that is to dye at the Gallows for his wickedness, must +first have his Irons knock’t off his legs; so he seems to goe most at +liberty, when indeed he is going to be executed for his transgressions. +Wicked men also have no bands in their death, they seem to be more at +liberty when they are even at the Wind-up of their sinfull life, than +at any time besides. + +Hence you shall have them boast of their Faith and Hope in Gods Mercy, +when they lye upon their death-bed; yea, you shall have them speak as +confidently of their salvation, as if they had served God all their +dayes: when the truth is, the bottom of this their boasting is, because +they have no bands in their death. + +Their sin and base life comes not into their mind to correct them, and +bring them to repentance; but presumptuous thoughts, and an hope and +faith of the Spiders (the Devils) making, possesseth their soul, to +their own eternal undoing. {175a} + +Hence wicked mens hope, is said to dye, not before, but with them; they +give up the Ghost together. And thus did Mr. Badman. His sins and his +hope went with him to the Gate, but there his hope left him, because it +dyed there; but his sins went in with him, to be a worm to gnaw him in +his conscience for ever and ever. + +The opinion therefore of the common people concerning this kind of +dying, is {175b} frivolous and vain; for Mr. Badman died like a Lamb, +or as they call it, like a Chrisom child, quietly and without fear. I +speak not this with reference to the strugling of nature with death, +but as to the strugling of the conscience with the Judgment of God. +I know that Nature will struggle with death. I have seen a Dog and +Sheep dye hardly: And thus may a wicked man doe, because there is an +antipathy betwixt nature and death. But even while, even then, when +Death and Nature are strugling for mastery, the soul, the conscience, +may be as besotted, as benummed, as senceless and ignorant of its +miserable state, as the block or bed on which the sick lyes: And thus +they may dye like a Chrisom child in shew, but indeed like one who by +the Judgment of God is bound over to eternal damnation; and that also +by the same Judgment is kept from seeing what they are, and whither +they are going, till they plunge down among the flames. + +And as it is a very great Judgment of God on wicked men that so dye, +(for it cuts them off from all possibility of repentance, and so of +salvation) {176a} so it is as great a Judgment upon those that are +their companions that survive them. For by the manner of their death, +they dying so quietly, so like unto chrisom children, as they call it, +they are hardened, and take courage to go on in their course. + +For comparing their life with their death, their sinful cursed lives +with their child-like, Lamb-like death, they think that all is well, +that no damnation is happened to them; Though they lived like Devils +incarnate, yet they dyed like harmless ones. There was no whirl-wind, +no tempest, no band, nor plague in their death: They dyed as quietly +as the most godly of them all, and had as great faith and hope of +salvation, and would talk as boldly of salvation as if they had +assurance of it. But as was their hope in life, so was their death: +Their hope was without tryal, because it was none of Gods working, and +their death was without molestation, because so was the Judgment of God +concerning them. + +But I say, at this their survivors take heart to tread their steps, and +to continue to live in the breach of the Law of God; yea they carry it +statelily in their villanies; for so it follows in the Psalm. There +is no bands in their death, but their strength is firm, &c. Therefore +pride compasseth them (the survivors) about as a chain, violence +covereth them as a garment. {176b} Therefore they take courage to do +evil, therefore they pride themselves in their iniquity. Therefore, +Wherefore? Why, because their fellows died, after they had lived long +in a most profane and wicked life, as quietly and as like to Lambs, as +if they had been innocent. + +Yea, they are bold, by seeing this, to conclude, that God, either does +not, or will not take notice of their sins. They speak wickedly, they +speak loftily. They speak wickedly of sin, for that they make it better +than by the Word it is pronounced to be. They speak wickedly concerning +oppression, that they commend, and count it a prudent act. They also +speak loftily: They set their mouth against the Heavens, &c. And they +say, How doth God know, and is there knowledge in the most High? +And all this, so far as I can see, ariseth in their hearts from the +beholding of the quiet and lamb-like death of their companions. {177a} + +Behold these are the ungodly that prosper in the world, {177b} (that +is, by wicked ways) they increase in riches. + +This therefore is a great Judgment of God, both upon that man that +dyeth in his sins, and also upon his companion that beholdeth him so +to dye. He sinneth, he dyeth in his sins, and yet dyeth quietly. What +shall his companion say to this? What Judgment shall he make how God +will deal with him, by beholding the lamb-like death of his companion? +Be sure, he cannot, as from such a sight say, Wo be to me, for Judgment +is before him: He cannot gather, that sin is a dreadful and a bitter +thing, by the child-like death of Mr. Badman. But must rather, if +he judgeth according to what he sees, or according to his corrupted +reason, conclude with the wicked ones of old, That every one that doth +evil, is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or +where is the God of Judgment? {177c} + +Yea, this is enough to puzzle the wisest man. David himself, was put +to a stand, by beholding the quiet death of ungodly men. Verily, sayes +he, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and have washed my hands in +innocency. Psal. 73. 13. They, to appearance fare better by far than I: +Their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart can wish; +But all the day long have I been plagued, and chastned every morning. +This, I say, made David wonder, yea, and Job and Jeremiah too: But +he goeth into the Sanctuary, and then he understands their end, nor +could he understand it before. I went into the Sanctuary of God: What +place was that? why there where he might enquire of God, and by him be +resolved of this matter: Then, says he, understood I their end. Then I +saw, that thou hast set them in slippery places, and that thou castest +them down to destruction. Castest them down, that is, suddenly, or +as the next words say, As in a moment they are utterly consumed with +terrors: which terrors did not cease them on their sick-bed, for they +had no bands in their death. The terrors therefore ceased them there, +where also they are holden in them for ever. This he found out, I say, +but not without great painfulness, grief and pricking in his reins: so +deep, so hard and so difficult did he find it, rightly to come to a +determination in this matter. + +And indeed, this is a deep Judgment of God towards ungodly sinners; +it is enough to stagger a whole world, only the Godly that are in the +world have a Sanctuary to go to, where the Oracle and Word of God is, +by which his Judgements, and a reason of many of them are made known +to, and understood by them. + +Atten. Indeed this is a staggering dispensation. It is full of the +wisdom and anger of God. And I believe, as you have said, that it is +full of Judgment to the world. Who would have imagined, that had not +known Mr. Badman, and yet had seen him die, but that he had been a man +of an holy life and conversation, since he died so stilly, so quietly, +so like a Lamb or Chrisom child? Would they not, I say, have concluded, +that he was a righteous man? or that if they had known him and his +life, yet to see him die so quietly, would they not have concluded that +he had made his peace with God? Nay further, if some had known that he +had died in his sins, and yet that he died so like a Lamb, would they +not have concluded, that either God doth not know our sins, or that +he likes them; or that he wants power, or will, or heart, or skill +to punish them; since Mr. Badman himself went from a sinfull life so +quietly, so peaceably, and so like a Lamb as he did? + +Wise. Without controversie, this is an heavy judgment of God upon +wicked men; (Job 21. 23) one goes to Hell in peace, another goes to +Hell in trouble; one goes to Hell being sent thither by his own hands; +another goes to Hell, being sent thither by the hand of his companion; +one goes thither with his eyes shut, and another goes thither with his +eyes open; one goes thither roaring, and another goes thither boasting +of Heaven and Happiness all the way he goes: One goes thither like Mr. +Badman himself, and others go thither as did his Brethren. But above +all, Mr. Badmans death, as to the manner of dying, is the fullest of +Snares and Traps to wicked men; therefore they that die as he, are the +greatest stumble to the world: They goe, and goe, they go on peaceably +from Youth to old Age, and thence to the Grave, and so to Hell, without +noyse: They goe as an Ox to the slaughter, and as a fool to the +correction of the Stocks; that is, both sencelesly and securely. O! but +being come at the gates of Hell! O! but when they see those gates set +open for them: O! but when they see that that is their home, and that +they must go in thither, then their peace and quietness flies away for +ever: Then they roar like Lions, yell like Dragons, howl like Dogs, and +tremble at their Judgment, as do the Devils themselves. Oh! when they +see they must shoot the Gulf and Throat of Hell! when they shall see +that Hell hath shut her ghastly Jaws upon them! when they shall open +their eyes, and find themselves within the belly and bowels of Hell! +then they will mourn, and weep, and hack, and gnash their teeth for +pain. But this must not be (or if it must, yet very rarely) till they +are gone out of the sight and hearing of those mortals whom they do +leave behind them alive in the world. + +Atten. Well, my good Neighbour Wiseman, I perceive that the Sun grows +low, and that you have come to a conclusion with Mr. Badmans Life and +Death; and therefore I will take my leave of you. Only first, let me +tell you, I am glad that I have met with you to day, and that our +hap was to fall in with Mr. Badmans state. I also thank you for your +freedom with me, in granting of me your reply to all my questions: I +would only beg your Prayers; that God will give me much grace, that I +may neither live nor die as did Mr. Badman. + +Wise. My good Neighbour Attentive, I wish your welfare in Soul and +Body; and if ought that I have said of Mr. Badmans Life and-Death, may +be of Benefit unto you, I shall be heartily glad; only I desire you to +thank God for it, and to pray heartily for me, that I with you may be +kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation. + +Atten. Amen. Farewell. + +Wise. I wish you heartily Farewell. + + + + +MARGIN NOTES + + +_General note_. When Mr. Badman was printed much of the text was +annotated with notes in the margins. These are unlike our modern +footnotes in that they may apply to a range of text rather than at a +single point. However, in this Project Gutenberg eText it has not been +possible to reproduce the margin notes as such and hence they have been +turned into footnotes.—DP. + +{1a} Not included in this Project Gutenberg eText as we have already +released “The Holy War.”—DP. + +{1b} In this Project Gutenberg eText italics have been dropped as they +are excessive but otherwise the text, complete with capitalisation, +punctuation, spelling etc., is as in the edition transcribed.—DP. + +{20a} Original sin is the root of Actual transgressions. + +{20b} Mark 7. + +{21a} Job 11. 12. Ezek. 16. Exod. 13. 13. Chap. 34. 20. + +{21b} Rom. 5. + +{21c} Badman addicted to Lying from a child. + +{21d} A Lie knowingly told demonstrates that the heart is desperately +hard. + +{22a} The Lyers portion. Rev. 21. 8. 27. Chap. 22. 15. + +{22b} Prov. 22. 15. Chap. 23. 13, 14. + +{22c} Joh. 8. 44. + +{22d} The Devils Brat. + +{22e} Acts 5. 3, 4. + +{22f} The Father and Mother of a Lie. + +{23a} Mark. + +{23b} Some will tell a Lie for a Peny profit. + +{23c} An Example for Lyers. Acts 5. + +{24a} A Spirit of Lying accompanyed with other sins. + +{24b} Badman given to pilfer. + +{24c} Badman would rob his Father. + +{24d} Exod. 20. 15. + +{25a} Zech. 5. 3. + +{25b} Jer. 2. 26. How Badman did use to carry it when his Father used +to chide him for his sins. + +{25c} Badman more firmly knit to his Companions than either to Father +or Mother. + +{25d} Badman would rejoyce to think that his Parents death were at hand. + +{26a} 1 Sam. 2. 25. + +{26b} Badman counted his thieving no great matter. + +{26d} The Story of old Tod. + +{26e} Young Thieves takes notice. + +{27} Old Tod began his way to the Gallows by robbing of Orchards and +the like. + +{28a} Badman could not abide the Lords Day. + +{28b} Why Badman could not abide the Lords Day. + +{29a} God proves the heart what it is, by instituting of the Lords day, +and setting it apart to his service. + +{29b} Gen. 2. 2. Exod. 31. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Mar. 16. 1. Acts 20. +7. 1 Cor. 16. 1, 2. Mar. 2. 27, 28. Revel. 1. 10. + +{29c} Isa. 5. 8, 13.—Could not see where this fits in the text.—DP. + +{29d} Chap. 56. 2. + +{29e} Amos 8. 5. + +{30a} Heb. 4. 9. + +{30b} How Badman did use to spend the Lords Day. + +{30c} Ephes. 5. 6. + +{31a} Badman given to Swearing and Cursing. + +{31b} Rom. 6. 13. + +{31c} Swearing and Cursing a badge of Mr. Badmans honour. + +{31d} Difference betwixt Swearing and Cursing. + +{31e} What Swearing is. + +{32a} Exod. 20. 7. + +{32b} A man may sin in swearing to a truth. Jer. 5. 2. + +{32c} He that swears to a Lie, concludes that God is as wicked as +himself. + +{32d} Zech. 5. 3. Jer. 7. 9. Hos. 4. 2, 3. + +{33a} Six Causes of vain Swearing. + +{33b} Jam. 3. 6, 7, 8, 9. + +{34a} How Cursing is distinguished from Swearing. + +{34b} Of Cursing, what it is. + +{34c} 2 Sam. 16. 6, 7, 8. + +{34d} 1 King. 2. 8. + +{34e} How the profane ones of our times Curse. + +{35a} Job 30. 31. + +{35b} Badmans way of Cursing. + +{35c} The Damme Blade. + +{35d} Badman would curse his Father, &c. + +{35e} Badman would curse his Fathers Cattel. + +{36a} Job 15. Eccles. 7. 22. + +{36b} Four causes of Cursing. + +{36c} The dishonour it brings to God. + +{36d} Jam. 3. 9. + +{37a} Swearing and Cursing, are sins against the light of Nature. + +{37b} Gen. 31. + +{37c} Examples of Gods anger against them that Swear and Curse. + +{40a} Psal. 109. 17,18. + +{40b} A grievous thing to bring up Children wickedly. + +{41a} Badman put to be an Apprentice. + +{41b} Young Badmans Master, and his qualifications. + +{42a} A bad Master, a bad thing. + +{42b} How many ways a Master may be the ruin of an Apprentice. + +{43a} Children are great observers of what older folks doe. + +{43b} 1 Sam. 2. + +{43c} Badman had all advantages to be good, but continued Badman still. + +{43d} All good things abominable to Badman. + +{44a} Good counsel to Badman like Little-Ease. Prov. 9. 8. Chap. 15. +12. + +{44b} How Badman used to behave himself at Sermons. + +{45b} The desperate words of one H. S. who once was my Companion. He +was own bother to Ned, of whom you read before. + +{45c} Job 21. 14. Zech. 1. 11, 12, 13. + +{45d} Zech. 7. 13. + +{46a} Gen. 21. 9, 10. 2 King. 2. 23, 24. + +{46b} Badmans Acquaintance. + +{46c} A Sign of Gods Anger. + +{46d} Rom. 1. 28. + +{46e} Psal. 125. 5. + +{46f} 2 Thess. 2. 10, 11, 12. + +{47a} Prov. 12. 20. + +{47b} The Devils Decoys. + +{47c} Prov. 1. 29. + +{47e} This was done at Bedford. + +{48a} Prov. 7. 12, 13. + +{48b} Prov. 5. 11. + +{48c} 2 Pet. 2. 12, 13. + +{48d} Badman becomes a frequenter of Taverns. + +{48f} A Story for a Drunkard. + +{49a} Four evils attend drunkenness. + +{49b} Prov. 23. 20, 21. + +{49c} Eccles. 7. 17. + +{49d} Prov. 23. 29, 30. + +{50a} 1 Cor. 6. 10. + +{50b} The fifth evil the worst. + +{50c} Prov. 23. 34, 35. + +{50d} An Objection answered. + +{50e} Habak. 2, 9, 10, 11, 12. Ver. 5, 15. + +{51a} Badmans Masters Purse paid for his drunkenness. + +{51b} A Caution for Masters. + +{52b} Badmans third companion addicted to Uncleanness. + +{52c} Sins of great men dangerous. + +{53a} Prov. 5. 8. + +{53b} Chap. 7. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. + +{53c} Signs of a whore. + +{54a} The sin of Uncleanness cried out against. + +{54b} What evils attend this sin. Prov. 6. 26. + +{54c} Gen. 38. 18. + +{54d} Prov. 31. 1, 2. + +{54f} A Story for unclean persons to take notice of. + +{55a} More evils attend this sin. + +{55c} Job 31. 1, 2, 3. + +{56} Prov. 6. 33. + +{57} Prov. 6. 26. + +{58a} Chap. 23. 27. Prov. 2. 18, 19. Chap. 7. 25, 26, 27. + +{58b} Prov. 22. 14. + +{58c} Ephes. 5. 5. + +{58d} Desperate words. + +{59b} Gen. 39. 10. + +{59c} Of chaste Joseph. + +{60a} Many are made whores by promises of Marriage, &c. + +{60b} Clarks Looking-glass for Sinners, Chap. 2. Pag. 12. + +{60c} Badman and his Master abhor one another. + +{60d} Prov. 29. 27. + +{61a} Young Badman runs away from his Master. + +{61b} He gets a new Master like himself. + +{61c} A sign of Gods anger upon young Badman. + +{62a} Demonstration of Gods anger towards him. + +{62b} Gen. 18. 18, 19. + +{62c} Psal. 7. 14. + +{62d} Jam. 1. 15. + +{63a} It concerns Parents to put their Children into good Families. + +{63b} Masters should also beware what Servants they entertain. + +{63c} Young Badman and his second Master cannot agree. + +{63d} Acts 16. 16. + +{63e} Reasons of their disagreeing. + +{64a} Acts 16. 17, 18, 19, 20. + +{64b} Ro. 14. 22. + +{64c} Bad Masters condemn themselves when they for badness beat their +Bad servants. + +{64d} 1 King. 16. 7. + +{65a} Why young Badman did not run away from this Master though he did +beat him. + +{65b} Why Badman could bear his last Masters reproof better than he +could the first. + +{65c} By what means Badman came to be compleated in his wickedness. + +{66a} Badman out of his time. + +{66b} He goes home to his Father. + +{66c} He refrains himself for Money. + +{66d} Severity what it inclines to. + +{67a} We are better at giving then taking good Counsel. + +{67b} This is to be considered. + +{68a} A good woman and her bad son. + +{68b} Mr. Badman sets up for himself, and quickly runs to the lands end. + +{69a} The reason of his runing out. + +{69b} Eccle. 11, 9. + +{69c} New companions. + +{69d} Mr. Badmans temper. + +{69e} Pro. 29. 3. Chap. 13. 20. + +{69f} Pro. 28. 7. + +{69g} Pro. 28. 19. + +{70a} Pro. 23. 21. + +{70b} His Behaviour under his decays. + +{70c} How he covered his decayes. + +{70d} Badman is for a rich Wife. + +{70e} Badman has a godly Maid in his eye. + +{71a} He seeks to get her, why, and how. + +{71b} He calls his Companions together, and they advise him how to get +her. + +{71c} Badman goes to the Damosel as his Counsel advised him. + +{72a} Badmans complement, his lying complement. + +{72b} Neglect of Counsel about marriage dangerous. + +{73a} Badman obtains his desire, is married, &c. + +{73b} His carriage judged ungodly and wicked. + +{73c} Mat. 23. + +{73d} The great alteration that quickly happened to Badmans wife. + +{73e} Mala. 3. 15. + +{73f} Expectation of Judgment is for such things. + +{73g} Job. 21. 30, 31, 32. + +{74a} An example of Gods anger on such as have heretofore committed +this sin of Mr. Badman. Gen 34. + +{74c} After Badman is married, his Creditors come upon him, and his +wives Portion pays for that which his whores were feasted with before +he was married. + +{75a} Now she reaps the fruits of her unadvisedness. + +{75b} Now Badman has got him a wife by Religion, he hangs it by as a +thing out of use, and entertains his old Companions. + +{75c} He drives good company from his wife. + +{75d} He goes to his Whores. + +{76a} He rails at his wife. + +{76b} He seeks to force his wife from her Religion. + +{76c} He mocks at her Preachers. + +{76d} He mocks his wife in her dejections. + +{76e} He refuses to let her go out to good company. + +{77a} She gets out sometimes by stealth. + +{77b} Her repentance and complaint. + +{77c} Psal. 120 + +{77d} The evil of being unequally yoaked together. + +{78a} 2 Cor. 6. 13. + +{78b} Gen. 3. 15. + +{78c} Deut. 2. 43. (This doesn’t exist but is as given in the text. +DP) + +{78d} Good counsel to those godly maids that are to marry. + +{79a} A caution to young women. + +{79b} Let Mr. Badmans wife be your Example. + +{80a} Deut. 7. 4, 5. (Rather unnecessary footnote. DP) + +{80b} 1 Cor. 7. 39. 2 Cor. 6. 14, 15, 16. + +{80c} Rules for those that are to marry. + +{80d} If you love your Souls take heed. + +{81a} Duet 7. + +{81b} Psal. 106. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40. + +{81c} Badmans Children that he had by this good woman. + +{81d} Nehem. 13. 24. + +{82a} How the ungodly Father and godly Mother doe strive for the +Children that God doth give them. + +{82b} 2 King. 17. + +{83a} The advantages that Children have, whose Parents are both godly. + +{84a} The disadvantages that the Children of ungodly Parents have. + +{84b} Job 30. 8. + +{84c} A contest betwixt Mr. Badman and his wife. + +{85a} Ephes. 5. 28. + +{85b} With what weapons Badman did deal with his wife. + +{85c} Mr. Badmans heart discovered as to its enmity against the friends +of his wife. + +{86} Mark + +{88a} New discourse of Mr. Badman. + +{88b} Mr. Badman plays a new prank. + +{89} Mr. Badmans perfection. + +{90a} How Mr. Badman came to enjoy himself. + +{90b} 2 Chron. 28. 22. 1 King 21. 25. Gen. 13. 13. + +{90c} Job 21. 17. + +{90d} There are abundance like Mr. Badman. + +{91a} Pro. 24. 9. + +{91b} He that would be bad is bad. + +{91c} Matt 5. 28. + +{91d} Pro. 23. 7. Mat. 5. Rom. 7. 7. + +{92a} A bad heart makes a bad man. + +{92b} 1 Sam. 24. 13. Mat. 7. 16, 17, 18. + +{92c} Mar. 7. 20, 21, 22, 23. + +{93a} Mr. Badman had an art to break, and to get money that way. + +{93b} How he managed things in order to his breaking. + +{93c} He breaks. + +{94a} Mr. Badmans suger words to his Creditors. + +{94b} Badmans friend. + +{94c} What Mr. Badman propounds to his Creditors. + +{94d} They at last agree, and Mr. Badman gains by breaking. + +{95} There is no plea for his dishonesty. + +{96a} An answer to two questions. + +{96b} 1. Q[u]estion. + +{96c} Levit. 19. 13. + +{96d} The hainousness of this sin. + +{96e} 1 Thess. 4. 6. + +{96f} fair warning. + +{97a} Colos. 3. 25. + +{97b} Fair warning again. + +{97c} He that designedly commits this sin is like the Devil. + +{97d} 2. Question. + +{98a} How those that are Banckrupts should deal with their consciences. + +{98b} Good advice. + +{98c} Rom. 12. 11. + +{98d} 1 Tim. 5. 8. + +{98e} Pro. 18. 9. + +{98f} Good counsel again. + +{99a} How to find that thy decay came by the Judgment of God, or by thy +miscarriage. + +{99b} Another question. + +{99c} Pro. 10. 3. 1 Pet. 5. 6. + +{99d} Lam. 3. 33. + +{100a} Good advice again. Deut. 32. 15. + +{100b} James 1. 9, 10. + +{100c} Consider four things. + +{100d} Job 1. 21. Chap. 2. 8. + +{100e} Psal. 49. 6. + +{100f} Jam. 2. 5. + +{101a} Honest dealing with Creditors. + +{101b} Pro. 16. 33. + +{102a} Jer. 15. 10, 11. Pro. 16. 7. + +{102b} A heavy blot upon Religion. + +{103a} If Knaves will make profession their cloak to be vile, who can +help it? + +{103b} 1 Cor. 6. 8, 9, 10. 2 Tim. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. + +{103c} Matt. 18. 6, 7, 8. + +{103d} Let such be disowned of all good men. + +{103e} Jer. 17. 11. + +{104a} Ezek. 20. 38, 39. + +{104b} 2 Cor. 7. 2. + +{104c} Mar. 10. 19. + +{104d} 1 Sam. 12. 3. + +{104e} Ver. 4. + +{105a} A question. + +{105b} An answer. + +{105c} 2 King. 4. 1, 2. + +{105d} Hag. 1. 9. + +{105e} God does sometimes blow upon his own people. How they should doe +at that time. + +{105f} Philip. 4. 12. + +{106} More of Mr. Badmans fraudulent dealing. He used deceitful weights +and scales. + +{107a} Levit. 19. 35, 36. + +{107b} Of Just weights and measures. + +{107c} Ezek. 45. 10. + +{107d} Pro. 20. 23. Chap. 11. 1. + +{107e} The evil of deceitful Balances, Weights and Measures. + +{107f} Deut. 25. 13, 14, 15, 16. + +{108a} The Old and New Law commands all men to be honest and upright in +their weights and measures. + +{108b} Luke 6. 88. + +{108c} Pat Scriptures for our purpose. + +{109a} Where false weights and measures are to be found. + +{109b} 1. With evil doers. + +{109c} Mic. 6. 10. + +{109d} 2. With the merciless and Oppressors. + +{109e} Hos. 12. 7. + +{109f} 3. With such as would swallow up the poor. + +{109g} Amos 8. 4, 5, 6, 7. + +{110a} 4. With impure ones. + +{110b} Mic. 6. 11. + +{110c} Dan. 5. 27. + +{111a} How Mr. Badman did cheat, and hide his cheating. + +{111b} Good Weights and a bad Ballance a deep piece of Knavery. + +{112a} Mat. 23. + +{112b} A cloak of Religion to blind Mr. Cheats Knavery. + +{112c} Some plead Custom to cheat. + +{112d} Deut. 16. 20. + +{113a} They get nothing that cozen and cheat. + +{113b} Mar. 9. + +{113c} Prov. 10. 3. Jer. 15. 13. Chap. 17. 3. + +{113d} Job 27. 17. + +{113e} Pro. 13. 22. + +{114a} More of Mr. Badmans Bad tricks. + +{114b} Amos 8. + +{114c} Another art to cheat withall. + +{115a} Zeph. 1. 9. + +{115b} Servants observe these words. + +{115c} Of Extortion. + +{115d} 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. + +{116a} Who are Extortioners. + +{116b} Hucksters. + +{116c} Pro. 22. 16, 22. + +{117a} Deut. 23. 19. + +{118a} Whether it be lawful for a man to make the best of his own. +Proved in negative by 8 reasons. + +{118b} Good conscience must be used in selling. + +{118c} We must not make a prey of our neighbours Ignorance. + +{118d} Nor of his Neighbours Necessity. + +{119a} Nor of his Fondness of our commodity. + +{119b} We must use good conscience in buying. + +{119c} Gen. 23. 8, 9. + +{119d} 1 Chron. 21, 22. 24. + +{119e} Levit. 25. 14. + +{120a} Charity must be used in our dealings. + +{120b} 1 Cor. 16. 14. + +{120c} 1 Cor. 13. + +{120d} Ephes. 4. 25. + +{120e} There may be and is sin in trading. + +{121a} Matt. 7. 12. + +{121b} A man in trading must not offer violence to the Law of nature. + +{121c} Job. 37. 7. + +{121d} We must not abuse the Gift we have in the knowledge of earthly +things. + +{121e} 1 Cor. 10. 13. (Don’t see where this fits into text. DP) + +{121f} An eye to the glory of God in all we should have. + +{121g} Colo. 3. 17. + +{121h} Acts, 24. 15, 16. + +{122a} Levit. 25. 14. + +{122b} Badman used to laugh at them that told him of his faults. + +{122c} Luke. 16. 13, 14, 15. Chap. 6. 25. + +{123a} A question. + +{123b} An answer. + +{123c} Preparations to be a good dealer. + +{123d} Eccle. 5. 10, 11. + +{123e} 1 Tim. 6. 7, 8, 9. + +{124a} Ezek. 22. 13. + +{124b} Pro. 15. 17. Chap 16. 8. 1 Sam. 2. 5. Pro. 5. 21. + +{124c} Job 14. 17. + +{124d} Eccles. 5. 13, 14, 15. + +{124e} Prov. 20. 14. + +{125a} Amos 8. 5. + +{125b} A Judgment of God. 2 King. 7. + +{125c} Pro. 11. 26. + +{125d} Isa. 58. 6, 7, 8. + +{125e} Philip. 4. 5. + +{126a} Mr. Badman a very proud man. + +{126b} Of pride in general. + +{126c} Pro. 21. 24. + +{126d} Pride sticks close to nature. + +{127} Pro. 8. 13. Chap. 29. 23. Isa. 25. 11. Mal. 4. 1. + +{128a} Proud men do not love to be called proud. + +{128b} Two sorts of pride. + +{128c} Pro. 16. 5. Chap. 21. 4. Eccle. 7. 8. + +{128d} Isa. 3. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. + +{128e} Wicked men do hate that word that reproves their vice. + +{129a} Signes of a proud man in general. + +{129b} Pro. 30. 13. + +{129c} Pro. 17. 19. + +{129d} Mar. 7. + +{129e} In particular. + +{129f} Psal. 10. 2. + +{129g} Psal. 10. 4. + +{129h} Pro. 13. 10. + +{129i} Psal. 119. 51. + +{129j} Ver. 122. + +{129k} Jer. 13. 17. + +{129l} Chap. 43. 2. + +{129m} Mal. 3. 15. + +{129n} Of outward pride. + +{130a} 1 Tim. 2. 2. (Don’t see where this fits in the text.—DP) + +{130b} 1 Pet. 3. 3, 4, 5. + +{130c} Mr. Badman was not for having pride called pride. + +{130d} Professors guilty of the sin of pride. + +{131a} Jer. 3. 3. + +{131b} 1 Tim. 2. 9. + +{131c} 1 Pet. 3. 1, 2, 3. + +{131d} Jer. 23. 15. + +{131e} Ezra. 9. 2. + +{131f} Pride in professors a shame and stumbling-block to the world. + +{132b} Why pride is in such request. + +{132c} 1 Reason. Mar. 7. 22, 23. + +{132d} Obad. 3. + +{132e} 1 Joh. 2. 16. + +{132f} 1 Pet. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. + +{133a} 3 Reason. + +{133b} 4 Reason. + +{133c} Isa. 6. + +{133d} 5 Reason. + +{134a} The evil effects of the sin of Pride. + +{134b} 1 Evil effect. 1 Tim. 3. 6. + +{134c} 2 Evil effect. Psal. 138. 9. + +{134d} 3 Evil effect. + +{135a} Jam. 4. 6. + +{135b} 4 Evil effect. Pro. 16. 25. + +{135c} 5 Evil effect. Pro. 11. 2. Prov. 16. 8. + +{135d} 6 Evil effect. 1 Tim. 3. 6. + +{135e} A general character of Mr. Badman. + +{135f} Psalm. 36. 1. + +{135g} A brief relation of Mr. Badmans ways. + +{136a} Isa. 26. 10. + +{136b} Isa. 9. 13. + +{136c} Isa. 26. 11. + +{136d} Psal. 29. 5. (Cannot see where this fits in the text.—DP) + +{136e} Pro. 17. 6. (Cannot see where this fits in the text.—DP) + +{136f} Isa. 26. 10. + +{136g} Mr. Badmans judgment of the Scriptures. + +{136h} Good men Mr. Badmans song. + +{137a} Psal. 50. 19. 20. + +{137b} Rom. 3. 7, 8. + +{137c} Jer. 23. 10. + +{137d} When the wicked watch, Gods people should be wary. + +{137e} Badman an angry, envious man. + +{138a} Pro. 14. 16. + +{138b} Eccle. 7. 9. + +{138c} Whence Envy flows. + +{138d} Pro. 27. 3, 4. + +{138e} Envie the worst of the four. + +{138f} Gal. 5. 19, 20. + +{139a} Pro. 14. 30. + +{139b} Envy is the father and mother of a many wickednesses. + +{139c} Jam. 3. 14, 15. + +{139d} Some of the births of Envy. + +{139e} Job. 5. 2. + +{139f} Matt. 27. 18. + +{139g} Mar. 15. 10. + +{139h} Acts 7. 9. + +{139i} Isa. 11. 13. + +{139j} Acts 13. 14. (Cannot see where this fits in the text.—DP) + +{140a} A rare thing. + +{140b} Mr. Badman under some trouble of mind. + +{140c} Mr. Badman brake his legg. + +{140d} He swears. + +{140e} He prays. + +{141a} It has no good effect upon him. + +{141c} How many sins do accompany drunkenness. + +{141d} Acts 17. 30, 31, 32. + +{142a} Job 34. 24, 25, 26. + +{142b} An open stroak. + +{142c} pag. 41. + +{143a} Mr. Badman fallen sick. + +{143b} His conscience is wounded. + +{143c} He cryes out in his sickness. + +{143d} His Atheism will not help him now. + +{144a} A dreadful example of Gods anger. + +{144c} What Mr. Badman did more when he was sick. + +{145a} Great alteration made in Mr. Badman. + +{145b} The Town-talk of Mr. Badmans change. + +{145c} His wife is comforted. + +{146a} Mr. Badman recovers and returns to his old course. + +{146b} Ignorant physicians kill souls while they cure bodyes. + +{147a} Gen. 4. 13. 14. Exo. 9. 27. 1 Sam. 15. 24. Matt. 27. 3, 4, 5. + +{147b} The true symptoms of conversion wanting in all Mr. Badmans sence +of sin and desires of mercy. + +{147c} Exo. 19. 28. Acts 8. 24. + +{147d} Luke 16. 27, 28. + +{147e} Of sick-bed repentance, and that it is to be suspected. + +{148a} Hos. 7. 14. + +{148b} A sign of the desperateness of mans heart. + +{148c} Deut. 1. 34, 35. + +{148d} Psal. 78. 34, 35, 36, 37. + +{149a} Mr. Badmans wifes heart is broken. + +{149b} Her Christian speech. + +{149c} Heb. 12. 22, 23, 24. + +{149d} Her talk to her friends. (Don’t see how this relates to the +text. DP) + +{150a} Ps. 35. 13. + +{150b} Her talk to her husband. + +{151a} He diverts her discourse. + +{151b} Her speech to her children that were rude. + +{151c} Rev. 7. 16. Chap. 21. 3, 4. + +{151d} Her speech to her darling. + +{152a} Heb. 3. 14. + +{152b} Ephes. 5. 11. + +{152c} Her death. + +{153b} One of her children converted by her dying words. + +{153c} Mat. 23. + +{154a} Mr. Badmans base language. + +{154b} He marryes again, and how he got this last wife. + +{154c} What she was, and how they lived. + +{154d} Clarks Looking Glass. + +{155} Amo. 7. 16, 17. + +{156a} He is punished in his last wife for his bad carriages towards his +first. + +{156b} He is not at all the better. + +{156c} None did pity him for his sorrow, but looked upon it as a just +reward. + +{156d} Badman and this last wife part as poor as Howlets. + +{157a} Mr Badmans sickness and diseases of which he died. + +{157b} Badmans name stinks when he is dead. + +{157c} Pro. 10. 7. + +{158a} That Mr. Badman dies impenitent is proved. + +{158b} 1 Proof that he died impenitent. + +{159a} Isa. 6. Ro. 11. + +{159b} No sence of sin, no repentance proved. + +{159c} Acts 2. Chap. 9. Chap. 16. + +{159d} Psal. 38. 18. + +{159e} 2 Sam. 12. + +{159f} Job 10. 2. Chap. 34. 32. + +{159g} Jer. 31. 18, 19, 20. + +{160a} Job 20. 11. Prov. 5. 22. + +{160b} Matt. 25. Isa. 66. 24. Mar. 9. 44. + +{160c} Every sight and sence of sin cannot produce repentance. + +{160d} 2 proof that he died impenitent. + +{161a} 1 King. 21. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. + +{161b} Psal. 41. 6. + +{161c} How Badman carried it to good men when they came to visit him in +his last sickness. + +{163a} Job. 21. 14. + +{163b} Jer. 2. 25. Zech. 7. 11, 12. Acts. 28. 26, 27. + +{163c} 3 Proof that he died impenitent. + +{163d} Acts 9. 11. + +{163e} Psal. 18. 14. + +{163f} Job 36. 13. + +{164a} Psal. 51. 1. Psal. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4. Psal. 38. + +{164b} 4 Proof that he died impenitent. + +{165a} Acts. 9. 26. 28. + +{165b} Psal. 119. 63. + +{165c} 2 Cor. 5. 17. + +{165d} Acts. 4. 32, 33. Chap. 2. 44, 45, 46, 47. + +{166a} How Mr. Badman was when near his End. + +{166b} He died like a Lamb. + +{166c} The opinion of the Ignorant about his manner of dying. + +{167a} How we must judge whether men dye well or no. + +{167b} When we may judge of a mans eternal state by the manner of his +death. + +{168c} The story of John Cox. + +{169a} Of dying in Despair. + +{170a} 1 Sam. 28. + +{170b} Psal. 73. 4. (Don’t see where this fits into the text.—DP) + +{171a} Further discourse of Mr. Badmans death. + +{171b} He that after a sinfull life dies quietly, that is, without +repentance, goes to Hell. 1 Proof + +{171c} Sick-bed repentance seldom good for any thing. + +{172a} Luke 13. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. + +{172b} 2 Proof. + +{173a} Peace in a sinfull state is a sign of damnation. + +{173b} Hos 4. 17. + +{173c} 3 Proof. + +{173d} Joh. 12. 40. + +{174a} Luk. 16. 22. + +{174b} Rom. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Acts 28. 26, 27. + +{174c} 2 Pet. 2. + +{174d} 4 Proof. Psal. 73. 4, 5, 6. + +{175a} Job 8. 13, 14. + +{175b} A frivolous opinion. + +{176a} When a wicked man dyes in his sins quietly, it is a Judgment of +God upon his wicked beholder. + +{176b} Ver. 6. + +{177a} Ver. 8. 9, 10, 11. + +{177b} Vers. 12. + +{177c} Mala. 2. 17. + + + + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MR BADMAN +*** + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/8/1986 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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