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diff --git a/old/badmn10.txt b/old/badmn10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..acf03ab --- /dev/null +++ b/old/badmn10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8870 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Etext Life and Death of Mr. Badman, by Bunyan +#3 in our series by John Bunyan +Also see several in our index referencing John Bunyan + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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BADMAN + + + + +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 {1a} 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) 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 {1b} 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. {1c} +9 October, 1905. + + + +THE AUTHOR TO THE READER + + + +Courteous Reader, + +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: {2a} + +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 Hebraeo Latine redditum. Et Testamentum Novum a Theod. Beza e +Graeco in Latinum versum. Argumentis Capitum additis versibusque +singulis distinctis, & seorsum expressis. 12 [degree sign]. + +[Greek text], 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. + +Atten. Well, {26c} 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: + +At {27a} 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: {27b} 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 it were, think every +godly as it was, grudging till it that day, was not, I think) as it +is a day, it is nothing 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. + +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. + +This {37d} 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. + +Atten. You {38a} 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. + +Wise. You {45a} 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. I {47d} 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. {48e} {48f} 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. {51c} +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. + +I could tell you of another, {52a} 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 AEgypt: 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. I {54e} +{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: I knew {55b} 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. {56a} 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. {56b} 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. I heard {57a} 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, I heard {57b} 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. {57c} 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. + +I heard {58d} 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. {58e} 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. I heard {59a} 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. + +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. + +I knew {74b} 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. In {86a} our Town {86b} 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 {87a} of another. 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; {89a} 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 be 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. {95a} 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 be 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, 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? + +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. {106a} 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 seem 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. {110c} 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, {121f} 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; {121g} 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. {121h} 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. {127a} 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, {132a} 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, + +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. One hard by us {141b} 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. I, {144b} 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: {153a} 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. {155a} 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: 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. I did once know a man, {168a} 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. I can tell you {168b} 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, {170a} 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. {170b} 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. {170c} 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 hat 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. The footnote numbering isn't +strictly consecutive but rather is the page the margin note appears +on followed by a single letter.--DP) + +{1a} 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 + +{1b} Not included in this Project Gutenberg eText as we have +already released "The Holy War."--DP + +{1c} John Brown, D.D. + +{2a} The symbol used in the original book (a hand pointing) cannot +be reproduced. In this Project Gutenberg eText it will therefore +be rended as a footnote: NOTE.--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. + +{26c} NOTE. + +{26d} The Story of old Tod. + +{26e} Young Thieves takes notice. + +{27a} NOTE. + +{27b} 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. + +{37d} NOTE. + +{38a} NOTE. + +{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. + +{45a} NOTE. + +{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. + +{47d} NOTE. + +{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. + +{48e} NOTE. + +{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. + +{51c} NOTE. + +{52a} NOTE. + +{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. + +{54e} NOTE. + +{54f} A Story for unclean persons to take notice of. + +{55a} More evils attend this sin. + +{55b} NOTE. + +{55c} Job 31. 1, 2, 3. + +{56a} Prov. 6. 33. + +{56b} NOTE. + +{57a} NOTE. + +{57b} NOTE. + +{58c} Prov. 6. 26. + +{59a} Chap. 23. 27. Prov. 2. 18, 19. Chap. 7. 25, 26, 27. + +{59b} Prov. 22. 14. + +{59c} Ephes. 5. 5. + +{59d} NOTE. + +{59e} Desperate words. + +{59a} NOTE. + +{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. + +{74b} NOTE. + +{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. + +{86a} Mark + +{86b} NOTE. + +{87a} NOTE. + +{88a} New discourse of Mr. Badman. + +{88b} Mr. Badman plays a new prank. + +{89a} 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. + +{95a} 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. + +{106a} 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. + +{127a} 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. + +{132a} NOTE. + +{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. + +{141b} NOTE. + +{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. + +{144b} NOTE. + +{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. + +{153a} NOTE. + +{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. + +{155a} 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. + +{168a} NOTE. + +{168b} NOTE. + +{168c} The story of John Cox. + +{169a} Of dying in Despair. + +{170a} NOTE. + +{170b} NOTE. + +{170c} 1 Sam. 28. + +{170d} 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 Project Gutenberg's Etext Life and Death of Mr. Badman, by Bunyan + |