The Life and Death of Mr. Badman

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 cattle? or what is the matter?

Attentive. Good sir, good morrow to you. I have not as yet lost aught; but yet you give a right guess of me, for I am, as you say, concerned in my heart; but it is 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, until men are better: for they are bad men that make bad times; if men therefore would mend, so would the times. It is a folly to look for good days, 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, because 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 days, they would make you shout.

Atten. Ay, so they would; such times I have prayed for, such times I have longed for: but I fear they will 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 myself 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 a 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 go 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.

Jtten. I perceive what you mean by two deaths at once; and to speak truth, it is a fearful 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 truly 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 man's state is such, that he has a sensible being for ever, For it is 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 ways?

1. Reason will consider thus with himself. For what am I thus tormented? and will easily find it is 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 tor

- ments of hell are? This word hell gives a

very dreadful sound.

Wise. Ay, stf 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 itself, 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 Bad man 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, andyetallof 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, especially since the manner of his death was so corresponding with his life.

Atten. Pray let me know the manner of his death, if yourself 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 sayyou haveleisure and canstay; 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 anacCount 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 likelihood, 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 original corruption; for I dare say he learned none of them of his father and 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 inventor of bad words, and an example in bad actions. To them all he used to be, as we say, the ring.leader, and rnaster-r sinner from a child.

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 pol- Original sin luted with sin into the world, is the root of and that oft-times the sins of actual transtheir youth, especially while gression.

they are very young, are rather by virtue 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.

Wite. I am glad to hear that you are of this opinion, and toconfirm 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 his 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, that by the sin of one judgment 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 scripturaless. Secondly, Because it makes them incapable of salvation by Christ; for none but those that B

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 tor him often other strong arguments, if he be an antagonist worth the taking notice of

Atten. But as was hinted before, he used to be the ringleader 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.

1% ise. I will so. When he was but a child, he was so addicted to lying, that his parents scarce knew when to believe he spake truth; yea, he would invent, tell, and Badman ad- stand to the lyes that he invenditled to ly- ted and told, and that with ivgfrom a such an audacious face, that

child 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 argueththat he began to harden himself in sin betimes. For a lie 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 unto it. Yea, he must make his heart hard, and bold to do it; yea, he must be arrived to an exceeding pitch of wickedness thus to do, 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 a good education, as you have intimated, is many times a cause why children do 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 virtue 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 livingwasagreat 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 The lyar's all lyars should have their part portion. 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: But all availed nothing with him; when a fit, or an occasion to lye came upon him, ne would invent, tell and stand to his lye as sterffastly 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 who stood by a wonder. Nay, and this he would do when under the rod of correction, which is appointed by God for parents to use, that thereby they might

keep their children from hell.

Atten. Truly it was, as I said, a bad beginning, he served the devil betimes; yea, he became nurse to one of his brats, for a spirit of lying is the devil's brat: "for he is a lyar, 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," &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 lyed unto men, but unto God?" True, his lye was a lye of the highest nature, but every lye hath the same father and mother as had the lye last spoken of: "For he is a lyar, and the father of it," A lye then is a brat of hell, and it cannot be in the heart before the person has committed a kind of spiritual adultery with the devil. That soul therefore that telleth a known lye, has lien with, and conceived it by lying with the devil,the only father of lyes. For a lye has only one father and mother, the devil and the heart. No marvel therefore if the hearts that hatch and bring forth lyes, be so much of complexion with the devil. Yea, no marvel though God and Christ have so bent their word against lyars: a lyar is wedded to the devil himself.

Atten. It seems a marvellous thing in mine eyes, that since a lye is the off-spring of the devil, 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, especially 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, arid that for a penny 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 fancy of him to whom they are told. But alas! what will

- these lyars do, 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 God's judgments upon lyars, that one may tell them to lyars when one hears them lye, if perhaps they may by the hearing thereof,.

be made afraid, and ashamed to lye?

Wise. Examples! why, Anar An example nias and his wife are examples; for lyars. 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 peopje. But if God's threatning of lyars with hell fire, and with the loss of the kingdom of heaven, 'will not prevail with them to leave off to lye and make lyes, it cannot be imagined that a relation of temporal judgments that have swept lyars 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 th.em fearfully.

Atten. I am sorry to hear this of him, and so much the more, because, as A spirit ofly- I fear, this sin did not reign in ing accompa- him alone; forusually one that ttied with o- is accustomed to lying, is alsq ther sins accustomed to other evils be

sides; and if it were not so aU so with Mr. Badman, it would be indeed a wencier.

Wise. You say true, the lyar is a captive slave of more than the spirit of lying; and therefore this Mr. Badman, as he was a lyar from a child, so he was also much given to pilfer and steal; so that what he could, as we say, handsomely Badmangivlay his hands on, that was en to pilfer

counted his own, whether they were the things of his fellow-children, or if he_; could lay hold of any thing at a neighbour's house, he would take it away; you must understand me of trifles; for being yet 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 or- Badman

chards; and as he grew up, to -would rob

steal pullen from the neigh- his father.

bourhood; yea, what was his father's 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, ft Thou shah not steal;" And also that, " That is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth, for every one that stealeth shall be cut off," &c. 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 a thief that is found. He would stand gloating, and hanging down his head in a sullen, pouching manner, (a body might read, as weusetosay, the picture of illluck in his face), and when his father did demand his answer to such questions concerning his villainy, he would grumble and mutter at him, and that should be all he could get.

Atten. But you say that he would also rob his father; niethinks that was an unnatural thing,

Wise. Natural or unnatural, all is one to a thief. Besides, you must think that he had likewise companions to whom he was, for the wickedness that he saw in them, more 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 Badman would not, I have heard some say, that rejoice that his when he was at times, among parents death his companions, he would were at hand. greatly rejoice 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, it was a sign that at present he was of a very abominable spirit, and that some judgment waited to take hold of him in time to come.

Atten. But can you imagine 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); 1 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 orchardss, and gardens, and to steal pullen, and the like: these he counted Badman

tricks of youth, nor would he counted his' thieving no be beat out of it by all that hi* great matter, 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 neighbour's; and that if he did, it would be a transgression of the law; but all was one to him j 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, I heard a man once when he

was upon the ladder with therope

-*" 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 of 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 entered upon stories, I

alsowilltellyouone; the which,

The story of though I heard it not with

eld Tod. mine own ears, yet my author I dare believe. It is concern- Touttg thieves ing one old Tod, that was hang- take notice. ed about twenty years ago, or more, at Hertford, for being a thief. The story is this:

At summer assizes holden at Hertford, 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 hi? 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: My Lord said he, here is the verriest rogue that breaths upon the face of the earth. I nave been a thief from a child; when I was but a little one, I gave myself to rob orchards, and to do other such like wicked things, and I have cdntinued a thief ever since. My Lord, there has not been a robbery committed these many years, within so many miles of 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 ftory 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 public shame of sin, which is the gallows.

As for the truth of this story, the relater 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 beggar 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 Lord's day, because of the ho- Badman could liness that did attend it; the not abide the beginning of that day was to Lord'sday 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 until 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 shewby 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, grudging tijl it was over,

Atten. This his abhorring of that day, was pot, I think, for the sake of the day itself; for as it is a day, it is nothing elsebut as other days of the week: But I suppose that the reason of his loathing of it was, for that God hath put sanctity and holiness upon it; zjso because it is the day above ail the days of the week that ought to be spent in holy devotion, in remembrance of our Lord's resurrection from the dead.

Wise. Yes, it was therefore that he w« c

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 inGodprovesthe stituting of a day unto holy heart by insti- duties, make great proof how tuting of the the hearts and inclinations of Lord's day, poor people do stand to holiness of heart, and a conversation in holy duties?

Wise. Yes, doubtless; and a man shall shew his heart and his life what they are, more by one Lord's d*y, than by all the days of the week besides: And the reason is, because on the Lord's day there is a special restraint laid upon man as to thoughts and life, more than upon other days of the week besides. Also, men are injoined on that day to a stricter performance of holy duties, and re€traint of worldly business, than upon other <lays they are; wherefore, if their hearts incline not naturally to good, now they will shew it, now they will appear what they are. The Lord's 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 otlier days a man may be in and out of holy duties, and ail in a quarter of an hour; but now, the Lord's day is, as it were, a day tiuat enjoins to one perpetual duty of holiness: ". Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day, (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 js a greater proof of the frame and temper of Badman's 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, upon the account that now they have an opportunity to shew how they delight to honour him; 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 i" The first he calleth a blessed man, but brandeth the other for an unsanctified worldling. And indeed, to delight ourselves in God's 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 days, 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 i that being the place where a perpetual sabbath is to be kept to God; I say, to be kept for ever and ever. And for ought I know, one reason why one day in seven had 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 do the things that he says. And this Mr Badman was such a one: he could not abide this day, nor any of the duties of it. Indeed, when he could

How Badman get from his friends, and did use to spend so spend it in all manner the Lord's day. of idleness and profaneness then he would be pleased well enough: but what was this; but turning the day into night, or other than taking an opportunity at God's forbidding to follow our callings, to solace and satisfy 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 need not to have made that apology for your censuring of Mr Badman, for all that knew him, will confirm what you say 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, dan 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: 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 inferior to what you have already heard.

Atten. Pray what are they?

Wise. Why, he was greatly given, and that Badman given while a lad, to grievous to swearing and swearing and cursing; yea, cursing. he then made no more of swearing and cursing than I do of telling my fingers; yea, 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 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 a badge of his honour: he reckoned himself a man's fellow when he had learned to swear and curse boldly.

Atien, I am persuaded 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 terror in his words, to stuff them full of the sin of swearing.

Wise. You say right, else, as I am persuaded, 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

Difference be- we are upon it, pray shew

twixt swearing me the difference between

and cursing. swearing and cursing; for

there is a difference, is

. there not?

What swear- Wise. Yes; there is a dif

ihg is. ference between swearing

and cursing ; swearing, vain

swearing, such as young Badman accustomed himself unto. Now vain and sinful swearing, is a light and wicked calling of God, &c. to witness to our vain 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 groundlessly, it is vain, because it is a sin against the third commandment, which says; "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." 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.

Atlen. Then it seems, though as to the matter of fact, a man swears truly, yet if he sweareth lightly and groundlessly, his oath is evil, and he by it under sin.

Wise. Yes, a man may say, "The Lord liveth," and that is true, and yet in so saying, "swear falsely; because he sweareth vainly, need- A man may

lessly, and without a sin in swearing ground. To swear ground- to the truth. edly, and necessarily, (which then a man does, when he swears as being called thereto of God), that is tolerated by the word: But this was none of Mr Badman's 6wearing: and therefore that which now we are not concerned about.

Atten. I perceive by the prophet, that a man may sin in swearing to the truth: They therefore must needs most horribly sin, that swear to confirm their jests and lies; and as they think, the better to beautify their foolish talking.

Wise. They sin with an high hand; for they presume to imagine, that God is as wicked as themsslves, 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 lye, is to call God to witness that that lye 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: For if " God will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain," which a man may do when he swears to a truth, (as 1 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 frantic 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 lyes, 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 mu3ed 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 itself is abominable: 1. Therefore it must be from prompt- Six causes of

ings of the spirit of the vain swearing.

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. 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 villainies, they shall conquer those that at such a time they have to do with, and make them believe their lyes to be true. G. 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 chapman's money into his own pocket.

Atten. All these causes of swearing, so far as I can perceive, flow from the same root as do 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. Swearing, as I said, hath immediately to do with the name of God, and it calls upon him to be witness of 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 curse, to curse profanely, it is to sentence another or ourself,

Of cursing for, or to evil; or to wish .what it is. that some evil might happen

to the person or thing under the curse, unjustly.

1. 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."

This David calls a grievous curse. "And behold," saith he to Solomon his son, "thou hast with thee Shimei a Benja'mite, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim."

But what was this curse? Why, 1. It was a wrong sentence passed upon David: Shimei called him bloody man, man of Belial, when he was not. 2. He sentenced him to the evil that already 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 profane ones of our times, who in their rage and en vy, 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 v. ith one, to cry, Hang him, Damn him, Rogue! This is both a sentencing of him for, and to evil* and is in itself 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, 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 befal another or ourselves: and this kind of cursing young Badman accustomed himself unto. *

1. He would wish that evil might befal o

thers ; he would wish their Badman''s way necks broken, or that their of cursing. brains were out, or that

the pox, or the plague was upon them, and the like: All which is a devilish kind of cursing, and is become one of the common sins of cur age.

2. He would also as often wish a curse to himself, saying, Would I might be hanged, or burned, or the devil might fetch me, if it be not so, or the like. We count the Dam-me blades to be great swearers, but when in their hellish fury they say, God damn 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 them 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

Badman •wouldcurse mouth, and that uphis father, &c. on the least provoca

tion. Yea, he was so versed in such kind of language, that neither father nor mother, nor brother, nor sister, nor servant, no nor the very cattle that his father had, could escape these curses of his. I say, that even the brute beasts when he drove them, or rid upon them, if they pleased not his humour, they must be sure to partake of his curse. He would wish thir 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, would net stick to wish evil to the silly beasts 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, Y. Envy, 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 dishonour that it bringeth to God is this. It taketh away from him his authority, in whose power it is only, 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 God's image, and to curse wickedly the image of God, is to curse God himself. Therefore as when men wickedly swear, they rend and tear God's 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 thould say with his mouth, I wish that the king's picture were burned: would not this man's so saying ren« der 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 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 God's word says of it. If God's word says that swearing and cursing are sins though men should countthem for virtues,their reward will be a reward for sin, to wit, the damnation of the soul.

To curse another, and to swear vainly and falsely, are Swearing and sins against the light of nature, cursing are

1 To curse is so, because, sins against whoso curseth another knows the light of that at the same time he would nature. 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.

Atten. But I wonder, since cursing 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 country.

I could present yon with seExamples of veral myself? but waving the God's anger abundance that might be menagainst them tioned, I will here present you that swear with two: One was that dreadand curse. ful judgment^of God upon one

N. P. at Wimbleton in Surry, who after a horrible fit of swearing at, and cursing of some persons that did not please him, suddenly fell sick, and in a little time died raving, cursing and swearing.

But above all, take that dreadful story of Dorothy Mately, an inhabitant of Ashover, in the county of Derby.

This Dorothy Mately, saith the relater, was noted by the people of the town to be a great swearer, and curser, and liar, 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 kinds 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 23d of March 1660, this Dorothy was washing of ore upon the top of a steep hill ahout 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 denied 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 hef ore: there stood also a little child by her tubside, and another a distance from her, calling aloud to her to come away; wherefore the said George took the girl 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 sieve, twisting 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, 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 broke her scull, 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 boy's two single pence in her pocket, but her tub and sieve could not be found.'

Atten, You bring to my mind a sad story, the which I will relate unto you. The thing is this: About a bow shot from where I once dwelt, there was a blind alehouse, 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 alehouse certain jovial companions would once or twice a-week come; and this Ned (for so they called him) his father would entertain his guests withal; to wit, by calling for him to make them sport by his foolish words and gestures. So when these boon blades came to this man's house, the father would call for Ned: Ned therefore would come forth; and the poor wretch was devilishly addicted to cursing, yea, to cursing his father and mother, and any one else that crossed 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 came 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 used to entertain his guests.

The curses wherewith this Ned used 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 judgment of God, that Ned's wishes and curses were in a little time fulfilled 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 go up and down in his body; but when tormenting time was come (as he had often tormenting' fits), then he would lie like an hard bump in the soft place of his chest (I mean, I saw it so), and so would rend and tear him, and make him roar till he died away. I told you before, that I was an ear and eyewitness 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 Ned to curse, thathis mirth might be increased. I saw his father also wheu he was possessed, I sawhiminoneofhis fits,and saw his flesh, (as it was thought) by the devil, gathered up on an heap, about the bigness of half an egg, to the unutterable torment and affliction 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 thereof was this: They had the possessed into an outer.room, and laid him on his belly upon a form, with his head hanging over the form's-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 it was 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 ail sad judgments.

Atten. These were dreadful judgments indeed.

Wise. Aye, 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 oil, into his bones."

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 ofttimes, in my hearing, bewailed the badness of his children, andof this naughty boyinparticu., lar. I believe that the wickedness of his children made him (in the thoughts of it) go many a night with heavy heart to bed, and with as heavy a one to rise in the morning. But all was one to his graceless son, neither wholesome counsel, nor fatherly sorrow, would make him mend his manners. There are some indeed that do train up their children to A grievous swear, curse, lie, and steal, and thing to biing great is the misery of such poor up children children whose hard hap it is wickedly. 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 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 tried 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 Badman put so, he put him out betimes to to be an ap- one of his own acquaintance, prentice. and intreated him of all love,

that he would take care of his son, and keep him from extravagant ways. 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 dp badly } but all was one to him, as he had begun to be vile in his fathsr's 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 governors thereof have made conscience of maintaining the worship and service of God therein; but perhaps that might be wanting in Mr Bad* man's master's house.

Wise. Indeed some children do greatly mend, when put under other men's roofs; but, as I said, this naughty boy did not so > nor did his badness continue, because he wanted a master His master's that both could and did correct qualifications. it; for his 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 J This is rare; I for my part can see but few that can parallel, in these things, with Mr Badman's master.

Wise. Nor I* neither, (yet Mr Badman had such a one); A had master for, for the most part, masters a bad thing 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 ways a master may be the ruin of his poor apprentice.

Wise. Nay, I cannot tell you of all the ways, 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 rained many ways; that is, if his master be not circumspect in all things that respect both God and man, and that before his apprentice.

1. If he be not moderate in the use of his apprentice; if he drives him beyond his strength; if he holds him to his 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 beginnings 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 have a tendency to provoke to profane drollery and jesting; and, lastly, such as tend to corrupt, and pervert the doctrine of faith and holiness. AH these things will eat as doth a canker, and will quickly spoil in youth, &c. those good beginnings that may pe 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 is away 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 3nd 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, children make a greater inspection into the lives of fathers, masters, &c. than oft-times they are aware of: And therefore should masters be careful, 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. "Eli's sons being bad before the congregation, made men despise the sacrifices, of the Lord."

But these things, by the by; only they may serve for a hint to masters to take heed that they Badman had take not apprentices to destroy all advantages their souls. But young Bad- to be good. man had none of the hinderances; 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, ncr good -':.amples, no nor good fellow servants neither! but all would not do.

Atten. It is a wonder that in such a family,

amidst so many spiritual helps, nothing should take hold of his heart! What I 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 abominable to him.

1. For good books, they might lie in his master's house till they rotted for him; he would riot regard to look into them, but contrariwise, would get all the bad and abominable books that he could, as beastly romances, and books full of ribbaldry, 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 instructions, 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 it was 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 little ease, even a continual torment to him; nor did he ever count himself at liberty, but when farthest off of wholesome 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 religous and civil matters, these young Badman would laugh at, and would also make a by-word 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 way was, when

come into the place of hearing, How Badman to sit down in some corner, used to behave and then to fall fast asleep. himself at ser

2. Or else to fix his adult- mons. rous eyes upon some beautiful

object that was in the place, and so all sermon-while, therewith be feeding his fleshly lusts.

3. Or, if he could get near to some that he 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 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 apprenticeship tolearn 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 say true, and I

The desperate know not to whom more fitly •words of one to compare him, than to that H. S. who man, who, when I myself reance was my buked him for his wickedness, companion. in this great huff, replied,

What would the devil do for company, if it was not for such as I? Atten. Why, did youeyer hear anymansayso. JP ise. 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 adamantstone, lest they should hear the law, and the words that the Lord of hosts hath sent." 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 jyas solacing myself 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! Do 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 cry, and I will not hear, saith the Lord," Doubtless there is a time coming, when Mr Badman will cry 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, ner 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.

Atten. Well, he was as wicked a ycung man as commonly one shall hear of.

Wise. You will say so, when you know all,.

Atten. All! I think here is great all; buf 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

Badman's ap- came acquainted with guaintance. three young villains (who

here shall be nameless) that taught him to add to his sin, much of like kind; and he as aptly received their in_T Structions. One of them was chiefly given to uncleanness, another to drunkenness,' and the third to purloining, or stealing from hi$ master.

Atten. Alas I 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 ways.

Atten. It was an ill hap that he ever came acquainted with them.

Wise. You must rather word it thus. It was the judgment of

A sign of God that he did; that is, God's anger. 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 to-? gether; but his heart was set upon mischief; he loved wickedness more than to do good, evea J£ nti his iniquity came to bejiateful; therefore, f^rom the anger of God it was, that these companions of his, and he, did at last so acquaint together. Says Paul, "They did not like to retain God in their knowledge;" and what follows ?" wherefore, God gave them over, pr up to their own hearts lusts." And again, *' As for such as turn aside to their own crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity." This therefore was God's 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 Jie might be destroyed.

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 devil's the devil's decoys, even those decoys. by whom he draws the simple into his net? A whoremaster, a drunkard, a £hief, what are they but the devil's baits, by which he catcheth others?'

Wise. You say right; but this young Badman was np 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 father than life, and to live hi continual opposition to God, rather than to be reconciled unto him: according to that saying of the wise man, "The fools hated knowledge, and did not chuse the fear of the Lord:" And what judgment more dreadful 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 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 This was done their lusts; wherefore God at Bedford. gave them up to the com

pany 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.

Atten. But such men do not believe, that thus to be given up of God, is in judgment 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 on their neck; they -are glad that they may sin without controul, and that they may chuse such company as can make them more expert in an evil way. Wise. Their judgment 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, till a dart strike through their liver, not knowing that it is for their life. This, I say, makes their judgment 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." These are those that Peter speaks of, that shall utterly perish in their own corruptions; these, I say, who count it pleasure to riot in the day.time, and that sport themselves with their own deceivings, are as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed.

Atten. Well, but I pray now concerning these three villains that were young Badman's 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 taverns and tippling-houses, and would stay there until he Badman frewas even as dTunk as a quoits taverns. 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.

Win. It is a swinish vanity indeed. I will tell you another stoA story of a ry. There was a gentledrunkard. man 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 go 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 a second time, but his master's 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 satisfy nature, but thou wilt drink to the abuse of nature; he will drink but to refresh himself, but thou to thy hurt and damage; be will drink, that he may be more serviceable to his master, but thou, till thou art incapable 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, 1 say, that there are 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." 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 and 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 die before their time.

3. Drunkenness is a sin that is oftentimes attended with abundance of other evils, "Who hath wo? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babblings? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine:" they that go to seek mixt wine: that is, the drunkard.

4. By drunkenness men do oftentimes shorten their days; go 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 that which is worse than all is, it also prepares men for everlasting burnings.

Wise. Yea, and it so stupifies and besots 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 i No, no, such an one will sleep till he dies, though he sleeps on the top of a 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 pleasure and sweetness thereof, that they have neither heart nor mind to think of that which is better in itself, and would, if embraced, do them good.

Atten. You say that drunkenness tends to poverty, yet some make themselves rich by drunken bargains.

Wise. I 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 ways, 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;" whether he makes drunkenness, or ought else, the engine or 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 is 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 off this beastly sin.

jitten. 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 paid for all. For (as I told you before) as he learned of these three vil- Badman's

lains to be a beastly drunk- masters purse E

paid for his ard; so he learned of them to drunkenness. pilfer and steal from his master. Sometimes he would sell off his master's goods, but keep the money, that is, when he could: also sometimes he would beguile his master, by taking out of his cash-box; and when he could do neither of these, he would convey away of his master's 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 fellows.

Atten. This was as bad, nay, I think, worse than the former; for by thus doing, he did Tiot only run himself under the wrath of God, tut has endangered the undoing of his master and his family.

Wise. Sins go not alone, but follow one the Ciher as do the links of a chain; he that will he a drunkard, must have money, either of his own, or of some other man's; either of his father's, mother's, master's, or at the highway, or some way.

sltten. I fear that many an honest man is Hi done by such kind of servants.

Wise. I am of the same mind with you, but 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 a strict account of all things that are bought and sold by his servants. The master's 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 days of ours.

Wise. -Now, while it is in my mind, I will tell you a sto- "*-"

ry. 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 causeof those fears. She told me, That she had some time since lived with a shopkeeper 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 master's name. But all that she said in answer to this was, Pray let it alone till I come to you again. So away she vent, and neither told me her master's 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 lays upou them) to betray themselves.

I could tell you of another, that came to me with a like relation concerning herself, 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 Badman's third companion.

Wise. Uncleanness: 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 Sins of great that are great and chief, spread men danger- sooner, and more universally, bus. than 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.

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 the 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 know this young villain, would at first discover themselves in all their whorish pranks to those that he brought with him.

Alien. That is a deadly thing: I mean, it is a deadly thing to young men, when such beastly queens 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 man's counsel is the best; «* Come not near the door of her house;" 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 street near her corner, and he went the way to her house, in the twisins to tale person, and he had lived so long notice of. in that sin, that he had almost

lost his sight. So his physicians were sent for, to whom he told his 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 to his soul, but he will commit this ein, 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.

First, There often follows this foul sin, the foul disease, called by us the venereal disease_t which is so nauseous and stinking, so infectious to the whole body, (and so entailed to this sin,) that hardly are any corr.mon with unclean women, but they have more or less a touch of it, to their shame.

Aiten. That is a foul disease indeed! I knew a man once that rotted away with it; and another that had his nose eaten off, and his mouth almost quite sewed up thereby.

Wise. It 4s a disease, that where it is, it commonly declares, that the cause thereof is uncleanness. It declares to all that beholds 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.

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 V 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 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/' 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 judgment; yet something is manifest now.

I will tell you another story. An ancient man, one of mine acquaintance, '--_*- a man of good credit in our

country, had a mother that was a midwife, who was mostly employed in laying g^reat persons. To this woman's 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 rode far, but the gentleman alighting from his horse, took the old midwife in his arms from the horse, turned round with het several times, and then set her up again; then he got up, and away they went till they come to 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 gentlemen 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 tne 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 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 midwife's son, who was a minister, told me; and also protested that his mother told it him for a truth.

Atten. Murder doth otten 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 ot one, (I think a doctor ot physic), and his wnore, who had three or four bastards betwixt them,

and had murdered them all, but

_,_ at last themselves were hanged

for it, in or near Colchester. It

came out after this manner: The whore was

so afflicted in her conscience about it, that

she could not be quiet until 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 condign

punishment for their own sins.

Wise. There have 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 her (as she lay upon her -¹- bed) cry out thus : I am a whore, and all my children arc bastards; and I must go to hell for my sin: and lcok, there stands the devil at my bed's feet to receive my soul when I die.

AiUn. These are sad stories, 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 inchanting and bewitching pleasures of it. This is manifest by these and such-like texts.

"The adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Whoso commiteth adultery with a woman, lacketh understanding; and he that doth it, destroyeth his own soul. An whore is a deep ditch, and a strange woman is a narrow pit. Her house inclines to death,, and her paths 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."

Atteu. These are dreadful sayings, and do shew the dreadful state of those that are guilty of this sin.

Wise. Verily so they do. 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 flatt'ring lips) of a strange woman is a deep pit, the abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein." Therefore it saith again of such, that they "have none inheritance in the kingdom oi Christ and of God." 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 thoroughly 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 these things, the "punishments that God hath threatened to inflict upon the committers of them, that at last they arive 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 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

Desperate soul. And I myself heard a-, words. nother say, when he was temp

ting of a maid to commit uncleanness with him, (it was in Olivet's days), That if she did prove with child, he would tell her bow she might escape punishment, (and that was then somewhat severe;) say, saith he, when you come be4_ fore the judge, Than you are

with child by the Holy Ghost. I heard him say thus, and it greatly afflicted me; I had a mind to have accused him for it before some magistrate; but he was a great man, and I was poor, and young; sa 1 let it alone, but it trpubled me very much. Atten. It was the most horrible thing that

ever 1 heard in my life. But how iar 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; yea, she laid hold Of Chaste on him, and said, with her Joseph, whore's forehead, '< Come, lie with me;" but he refused: He hearkened not to lie with her, or to be with her. Mr Badman would have taken the opportunity. And alittle tocomment upon this of Joseph.

1. Here is a Miss, a great Miss, the wife of the captain of the guard, some beautiful dame, I'll warrant you.

2. Here is a Miss won, and in her whoreish 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 pone of the men of the house there within.

5. Joseph was a young man lull 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 kit 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 verily believe that many of them are made whores at first by the flatteries of Badman's fellows. Alas, there is many a woman plunged into this sin at first even by the promises of marriage; I say, by these promises they are flattered, yea, forced into a consenting to these villains, 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 stories: and I wish Mr Badman's companions may hear of them. They are found in Clark's Looking-glass for sinners: and are these.

Mr Cleaver (says Mr Clark) reports of one wtwip 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 magistrate's part, because the punishment of this sin is death.'

Clark doth also make mention of two more, who asthey were committing adultery in London, were immediately struckdead with fire from heaven in the very act. Their bodies were 6o found, half burnt up, and sending out a most loathsome savour.

Atten. These are notable stories indeed.

Wise. So they are, and I suppose they are as true as notable.

Atten. Well, but I wonder if young Badman's master knew him to be such a wretch, that he would suffer him in his house.

Wise. They liked one another even as fire and water do. Badman and Young Badman's ways were his master abodious to his master, and his hor one master's ways were such as another. 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 an abomination to the wicked."

The good man's ways Mr Badman could not abide, nor could the good man abide the bad ways of his base appientice. Yet would, soul. For a family where godliness is professed and practised, is God's ordinance, the place which he has appointed to teach young ones the way and fear of God. Now to be put out of such a family, into a bad, a wicked one, as Mr Badman was, must needs be a 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 ways 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 judgment.

3. Such places are the very haunts and walks of the infernal spirits, who are continue ally poisoning the cogitations and minds of one or other in such families, that they may be able to poison others. Therefore observe it, usually in wicked families, some one, or two, are more arch for wickedness than are any other that are there. Now, such are Satan's conduit pipes; for by them he conveys of the spawn of hell, through their being crafty in wickedness, into the ears and souls of their companions: Yea, and when they haveonce conceived wickedness they travail with it, as doth a woman with a child, till they have brought it forth: "Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood." Some men, as here 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.

Atten. How 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 that take children into their families, to take heed what children they receive. For a man may soon, by a bad boy, be damaged both in Ms name, estate, and family, and also hindered 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 liar, but many times a man cannot help it; for such as at the beginning promise very

It concerns parents to put their children into good fa~

milks.

Masters should also beware what servants they entertain.

fair, are by a little time proved to be veryrogues 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

ToungBad- yet he would often fall out

man and his with young Badman his ser

second master vant, and chide, yea and some

cannot agree, 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, it is as I say; for you must know that Badman's ways suited not with his masters gains. Could ye have done as the damsel that we read of Acts xvi. did, to wit, fill his master's 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 Badmaa was fur neglecting of his master's business, for going to the whore- Reasons of house, for beguiling of his their disagreemaster, for attempting to de- ing. bauch 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 itself, 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 Badman's wickedness only a tendency to his master's advantage; as could he have sworn, lyed, cozened, 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 Badman's 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 opposed 1 their interest. Do you think that that maid's master would have been troubled at the loss of her, if he had not lost with her his gain 1 No, I'll warrant you; she might have gone to the devil for him. But when her master saw "that the hope of his ga»n was gone," then, then he fell to persecuting Paul. But Mr Badman's master did sometimes lose by Mr Badman's sins, and then Badman and his master were at odds.

Atten- Alas, poor Badman! Then it seems thou couldst 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?

Wise. Yes; 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." This is Mr Badman's master's 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 he not mistaken, the reason 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 master's 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 lasl master of Mr Badman would tell Mr Badman of his sins, in Mr Badman's own dialect; he would swear, and curse, and damn, when he told him of his sins, and this he could bear better, than to be told of them after a godly sort. Besides the 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. It washellish living indeed : Andaman

might say, that with this masBy what ter young Badman completed means Bad- himself yet more and more in man came to wickedness, as well as in his he completed trade; for by that he came out in wicked- of his time, what with his own ftess, inelination 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 hia time.

Atten. Well, but it seems he did live to come to out of his time: But what did he then?

Wise. Why, he went home to his father; and he, like a loving and tenderhearted father, received him intp his house.

Atten. And how did he carry it there?

Wise. Why, the reason why he went home was, for money to set up for himself. He staid but a little at home, but that little while that he did stay, he refrained himself as well as 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, jmd companions, and the fiil 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 accommodate 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 journeywork 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 villainies that he had committed against them.

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 atthis present forgot, what E -A

the bowels and compassions

We are bel- of a father are. Why did you tir at giving not serve your own son so? than taking But it is evident enough, that good counsel. we are better at giving good counsel to others, than we are at taking good counsel ourselves. But mine honest neighbour, suppose that Mr Badman's 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 is true'; but it doth not follow, that if the father had done as 1 said, the son would have done as you suppose. But if he had done as you have supposed, what had he done worse thanwhat he hath done already 1

Wue. He had done bad enough, that is true. But suppose his father had given him no money, and suppose that young Badman had taken a pet 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 highway 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 i

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 ad 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 have been forward to have given advice in the cause; but truly you have given me such an account of his villainies, that the hearing thereof has made me angry with him.

Wise. In an angry mood we may soon outshoot ourselves: 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 son, and she prayed for him, counselled him, and carried it motherly to him, for several years together; but still he re« mained 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 remained wicked: Well, 1 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 re* joicetohear 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, then by being churlish and severe towards them : But if they do not save them, if their mercy do them no good, yet it will greatly ease them at the drty 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, and almost as sown set down again: for he Mr Bad- was not long set up, but by man sets up for his ill-managing of his matkimself. ters at home, together with

his extravagant expences abroad, he was got so far in 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 a-, bout to marry, and in a f;:ir way to get a rich wife, thty said, among themselves, We will not be hasty with him; if he gets a rich wile, he will pay us all. 'Atten, But how could he so quickly run

cut? for I perceive it was in little time, by what you say.

Wise. It was in little time indeed.; I think he was not above two years and a half in doing of it: but the reason is apparent, for he being a The reason wild young man, and now of bis running having the bridle loose before out. 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 would bring him to judgment: and he that doth thus, you may be sure shall not be able long to stand on his legs.

Besides he had now an addition of 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 alehouse, but yet make him Jacjtpay-for-all: They would also be borrowing money of him, but take no care to pay again, except it was with more of their company, which also he lilied very well: and so his poverty came "like one that travaileth," and his "want like an armed man."

But all the while they studied his temper; he loved to 'be flattered, praised, and .commended for wit, manhood, and personage; and this was like stroaking him over the face. Thus they colleagued with him, and yet got 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 door to the beggar.

Atten. Then was the saying of the wise* man fulfilled; "He that keepeth company with harlots, and a companion of fools, shall be destroyed."

Wise. Ay, and that too, "A companion of riotous persons shameth his father;" 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 lawful use of which he might have lived to God's glory, his own comfort, and credit among his neighbours. "But he that followeth vain persons, shall have poverty enough." 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 clothe a man with rags."

Attn. 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 His behavihim; he was as stout and our under his proud now as ever in all his decays. 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 like a tired jade; the devil had rid him almost off" his legs.

Atten. Well, but what did he do when all Was almost gone?

Wise. Two things were now his play. 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 tas fast as he.

Atten. This was double wickedness, it was a sin to say it, and another to swear it.

Wise. That is true; but what evil is that that he will not do, 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 lor look- Badman is nig out for a rich wife: and for a rich now I am come to some more wife. 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. Eut there dwelt a maid not far from him, that was both godly, and one that had a good portion; but how to get her, there lay all the craft. He calls his Well, he calls a council of companions to- some of his trusty and cungether, and ning companions, and breaks they advise his mind to them; to wit, him how to that he had a mind to marry: get her. 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 yourself 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 a one: As for her money, slight it, it will be never the further off; that is 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^l as boldly to her, and that under a vizard of religion, as if he had been for honesty and godliness, one of the most sincere and uprighthearted in England. He observed all his points, and followed the advice of his counsellors, 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 Badman's she had neither father nor mo

compliment, ther to oppose. Well, when his lying he was come, and had given

compliment. her a civil compliment, 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 damsels 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 myself 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: it is 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 after" wards you shall hear.

Atten. But had the maid no friend to look after her?

Wise. Her father and mother were dead, and that he knew well enough, and so sfia was the more easily overcome by his naughty lying tongue. But if she had never so many friends, she NegkB of might have been beguiled by counsel about him. It is too much the cus- marriage torn of young people now; to dangerous. think themselves wise enough to make their own choice; and they that need not ask counsel of those that are elder, and also wiser than they; 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, gets this honestgirl, andher money, Badman obis married to her, brings her tains his dehome, makes afeast, entertains sire, is marhex royally, but her portion ried, &c. must pay for all.

Atten. This was wonderful deceitful doings, a man shall seldom hear of the like.

Wise. By this his doing, he shewed how

little he feared God, and what little dread he

had of his judgments. For all this carriage,

.aad all these words were by him premeditated

c

evil; he knew he lied; 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 pretence of religion, he was but a glorious painted hypocrite, and hypocrisy 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, now was he a grave that appeared not; For this poor, honest, godly damsel, little thought that both her peace, and comfort, and estate, and liberty, and person, and all, were going to her burial, when she was going to be married to Mr Badman; and yet so it was, she enjoyed herself but little afterwards; she was as if she was dead and buried to what she enjoyed before.

Allen. Certainly some wonderful 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 always come, no not upon those that are worthy thereof: "They that tempt God are delivered, and they that work wickedness are set up:" But they are reserved to the day of wrutii; and then for their wickedness, Gol will repay them to their faces: "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:" 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 God's wrath upon men that have acted this tragical wicked deed of Mr Badman?

Wise. Yes; Hamor and Shechem, and all the men, of their city, for attempting to make God and religion the stalking.horse to get Jacob's daughters to wife, were together slain, with the edge of the sword; -z judgment of God upon them, no doubt, for their dissembling in that matter. All manner of lying and dissembling is dreadful; but to makeGd and religion a disguise, therewith to blind thy dissimulation from others eyes, is highly provoking to the Divine Majesty.

I knew one that dwelt not far or? from our town, that got ""*"

him a wife as Mr Badman got his; buthe did not enjoy her long; for one night as he was riding home, (from his companions, where he had been ac a neighbouring town) his horse threw him to the ground, where he wis 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 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 paid 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? It was 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 it was too late to repent; 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 herself, she must take what follows, even such a life now as Mr Badman her husband will lead her, and that will be bad enough.

Altai. This beginning was bad, and yet I fear it was but the beginning of bad.

Wise, You may be 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, 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 offhis vizard, 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 ehop 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 He drives wife, began to be amazed and good company discouraged; also he would from his wife. frown and glut upon them, as He goes to his if he abhorred the appearance -whores. of them; so that in a 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 who were his familiars before, with whom he would stay sometimes till midnight, and G S

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 abused himself, though her words were spoken in ever so much meekness and love, then she was whore, and bitch, and jade; and it was well if she missed his fingers and heels. Sometimes also he would bring his punks 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

He seeks to had cast away all religion himferce his wife self, so he attempted, if possifromker reli- b)e, to make her do so too. He gion. 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 rcflectingly speak of her preachers; and would receive, yea, raise scandals of them, to her very great grief and affliction.

Now, she scarce durst go to an honest neighbour's house, or have a good book in her hand; especially 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 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 one* abroad.

If she did ask him (as sometimes she would) to let her go out to a sermon, he would in a churlish manner reply, Keep at home, keep at home, and look to your business, we cannot live by hearing of sermons. If she still urged that he would let her go, then he would say to her, Go, if you dare. He would also charge her with giving of what he had to her minister's, when, vile wretch, he had spent it on his vain companions before.

This was the life that Mr Badman's good wife lived, within few months after he had married her.

dtten. 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 have 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, or on a journey, or among his drunken companions, but with all privacy imaginable; 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 world, 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 it did effectually do it. It killed her

Her repett- in time, yea, it was all the time tance and com. a-killing of her. She would plaint. oftentimes, when she sat by

herself, thus mournfully bewail her condition. "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. 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 : Itt was not me, but my money that he wanted^t: O that he 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 beggary, but robbed her of the word of God.

Atten. It is a deadly thing, I see, to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. If this woman had had The evil ofbea good husband, how happily ing unequally might they have lived together! yoked together. Such an one would have prayed for her, taught her, and also would havi encouraged 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 joined in marriage with them, " Be not (saith it) unequally yoked 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? 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." 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 Cod said of Eli'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 yoked, especially if they were such as would be so yoked, against their light, and good counsel to the contrary.

Atten. Alas he.deluded her with his tongue, and feigned reformation.

If ise. Well, well; she should have gone more warily to work: What Ccunselto those if she had acquainted some of godly maids that her best, most knowing and are to marry. godly friends therewith? What if she had engaged a godly minister or two to have miked with Mr Badman r Also, what if she had laid wait round about him, to espy 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 jf 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 that all young maidens will take heed of be- A caution to ing beguiled with flattering young maidens. 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 go sorrowing to their graves.

Atten. Well, things are past with this poor woman, and cannot be called back; let others 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 they smart, as this poor woman has done. And, ah! methinks, that they that yet are single persons, and that are tempted to marry such as Mr Badman, would, to inform and warn . themselves in this matter, before they intangle themselves, but go 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 eaTs 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, until she conies 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 go headlong on: and therefore I fear, that but little warning will be taken by young girls, at Mr Badman's wise affliction.

Atten. But are there no dissuasive 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. vii. 4, 5. 2. In tl.s New Testament it is forbidden: "be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; let them marry to whom they will, only in the Lord."

Here now is a prohibition, plainly forbidding the believer to marry with the unbeliever; therefore they Rules for those should not doit. Again, these that are to marunwarrantable marriages are, ry. as I may so say, condemned by irrational creatures, who will not couple but with their own sort. Will the sheep couplewith a dog? the partridge with a crow? or the pheasant with an owl? No, they will strictly tie up themselves to those of their own sort only: Yea, it sets all the world a-wondering, when they see or hear the contrary. Man only is most subject to wink at and allow of these unlawful mixturesofmenand women. Because man only is a sinful beast, a sinful bird, thereforehe, 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 interrogatories, What fellowship? What concord i What a* greement f What communion, can there be in such marriages? be counted of weight, or thought worth the answering by him.

But further, the dangers that such do commonly run themselves into, should be to others a dissuasive argument to stop them from doing the like: for besides the distresses of Mr Badman's wife, many that have had very hopeful beginnings for heaven, have, by virtue of the mischiefs that have attended these unlawful marriages, miserably and fearfully miscarried. Soon after such marriages, conviction (the first step towards heaven) hatli ceased i prayers (the next step towards heaven) hath ceased; hungerings and thirstings after salvation (another step towards the kingdom of heaven) hath 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 theyhavein 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." Now mark, there were some in Isreal 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.

Atten. But let us 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 hearken to her voice. Now that child she had the opportunity to instruct in the Eadtnan's principles of the Christian re- children that ligion, and it became a very he had by this gracious child. But that goodwoman child Mr Badman could not abide; he would seldom afford it a pleasant word, but would scold and frown upon, speak churlishly and doggedly to it; arid 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 mongrel professors, not so bad as their father, nor so good as their mother, but were betwixt them both. They had their mother's notions, and their father's actions, and were much like those that you read of in the book of Nehemiah; "These children were half of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews language, but according to the language of each people."

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. The godly parent strives for the child, and byprayers, 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: Iustructions, 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 hearkeneth 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 it were mongrels, betwixt both, they were like unto those that you read of in Kings, "They heard the Lord, but served their own idols." They had, as I said, their mother's notions, and I will add, profession too; but their father's lusts and something of his life. Now, their father did not like them, because they had their mother's tongue; and the mother did not like them, because they had still their father's 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 be

cause 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 join in affinity with lshmael; to wit, to look out a people that were hypocrites, like themselves, and with them they matched, 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 loins, and under the government of such a father as Mr Badman.

Atten. You say right; for such children lie 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 g»dly 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.

1. They have not the adTheadvan- vantage of election for their tages that chil- father's sakes. dren have, 2. They are born as others,

whose parents the children of wrath, though are both godly, 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 hooks, 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 pa« rents, and that doctrine backed with a godly and holy example: And all these are very great advantages.

Now all these advantages the chiidren of ungodly parents want; and so are more in danger of being The disad

carried away by the error of vantages that the wicked, for ungodly pa- children of rents neither pray for their ungodly pachildren, nor do, nor can rents have. they heartily instruct them. They do not after agodlymannerrestrain 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 an 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.

Atten. Well, but before we leave Mr 'Badman's wife and children, I have a mind if you please, to inquire a little more after one thing, the which I am sure you can satisfy me in.

Wise. What is that?

Atten. You said a while ago, that this Mf 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 neyer 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 Lord's day for going to hear a sermon, and Mr Badman was unwilA contest be- ling she should: but she at that fwixt Mr time, as it seems, did put on Badman and more courage than she was his -wife. wont; and therefore after she

had spent upon him a great many fair words and intreaties, if perhaps she might have prevailed by them; but all to no purpose at all: At last she said she would go, and tendered 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 tove your own body, and so do I love you v but I tell you true, I prefer my soul before all the world, and its salvation I will seek.

At this, first he gave her an ugly, wish, and then fell into a fearful rage, and swore 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 5 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, only 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 1 said, he had malice and envy enough in his heart 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 befel them,

3. And would laugh at her, when he saw her troubled for them. And now I have told you Mr Badman's 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 hang 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 our town there was one W. S. a man of a very wicked life; and he, when there seemed to be countenance given to it, would need3 "*-" turn informer. Well, so he did, and was as diligent in his business as most of them could be; he would watch of nights, climb trees, and range the woods of 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 we 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 noise, 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 it was a wonder it did not kill him: But after that he also walked about, until God had made a sufficient spectacle of his judgment for his sin, and then on a sudden he was stricken, and died miserably: and so there was an end of him and his doings.

I'll tell you of another. About four miles from St Neots, there was a gen"*" tleman 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 shouldseem) a mind to a sop in the pan, (for the spit was then at the fire) so he went to make one; but behold a dog (some say his own favourite dog) took distaste at something, and immediately 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, (at 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 judgment 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 lie nor romance.

Atten. Well, I also heard of both these myself, 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 justify 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, tho' 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 always forget nor defer to hear the cry of the destitute: they also carry along with them both caution and counsel to those that are the survivors ot such. Let us tremble at the judgments of God, and be afraid of sinning against him, and it shall be our protection. It shall go well with him that fear God, that fear before him.

At tin. Well, Sir, as you have intimated, H

so I think we have in this place spoken e» nough 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 thoroughly 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: JBut we will pass them, and proceed. You have heard of the sins of his youth, of his apprenticeship, and how he set up, and married, and what a life he hath led his wife; and now I will tell you some more of his pranks, tie had the very knack;

New dis- of knavery. Had he, as I said fcurse of Mr before, been bound to serve Jfadman, an apprenticeship to all these

things, he could not have been; more cunning, he could not have been more artificial at it.

Attep. Nor perhaps so artificially neither; for as none can teach goodness like to God himself, so concerning sin and knavery none £an teach a man it like the devil, to whom, as I perceive, Mr Badman went to school fronx ^Jiis 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 waq for money before he did marry, and how lie got a rich wife, with whose money he paict his debts. Now when he had paidhis debts, Ha having some money left, he sets up again 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 of pounds; and thus he Mr Badwent on for a long time. And man plays a to pursue his ends the better, neiv prank. 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 3ure of his company: Then he would carry it openly, be as they; say, Damn them, sink them, as they. If they railed on good men, so could he; if they railed on religion so Could he; if they talked beastly, vainly, idly, so would he; if they were

Mr Bad- for drinking, swearing, whormaris perfec- ing, or any the like villainies, tions. so was he. This was now the

path that he trod in, and could tlo 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?

Aiten. 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 rnan 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, ©i death, and judgment after, cannot do 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 lor 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 virtues, 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 judgment, do such things as he, he would call them fools and noddies, and charge them for being fri-'uted 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 oftentimes please himself 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 lie, and speak against lying 5 I can drink, wench, be unclean, and defraud, and not be troubled for How Mr it: Now'I enjoy myself, and Badman am master of mine own came to en* ways, and not they of me. joy himself. 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 a one as this True, it is said of King Ahaz, "That he s'piaed more and more;" and of Ahab, "That he sold himself to work wickedness;" and of the men of Sodom, "That they were sinners exceedinglybeforethe Lord."

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 H S

into his conscience. True, I believe, he would quickly put it out again, and grow more¹ desperate and wicked afterward; but this also turned to his destruction, as afterward you may hear.

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, there are abundance of

There are such as he; men of- the same plutidance like mind, of the same principles, Mr Badman. and of the same conscience too, to put them into practice. Yea, I believe that there are many that areendeavouring 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 wicked-* ness; some are two-fold, and some sevcnfold, more the children of hell than othtrs, (and yet all the c^Mdren 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 chiet one in that mystery.

Atten. You are in the right; for I perceive that some men, though they desir y, 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, doubtless the desire of foolishness is more sin: and if the desire be more, the endeavour after it must needs be more and more. 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 a 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." 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 God's law, I say, lays hold of the desires, intentions, and. endeavours, even as it lays hold of the act of wickedness itself. 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 it was 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? diabolical 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, pro

Abad heart fessed and practical, spring makes a bad both out of the heart, yea, man. and all manner of evil besides.

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: "Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked. It is 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, proceedeth evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these tilings come from within, and defile a man." And a man, as his naughty mind inclines him, makes use of these, or any of these, to gratify .his lust, to promote his designs, to revenge his malice, to inrich, 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 perfidiousrjess, would help him to the obtaining of his purpose,

Atten. Purse ! Why, he could not but have a purse to do almost what he would, having married a wife with so much money.

Wise. Hold you there ; some of Mr Badman's sins were costly; as his drinking, 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 I Or, Was his calling so gainful to him, as always to keep his purse's belly lull, though he was himself a great spender F

v'fiw. 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 hatfuls and pocketfuls at a time.

Atten, Why, I trow he was no highwayman 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, and get money by hatfuls by breaking.

Atten. But what do you mean by Mr Badman's breaking? You speak mystically, do you not?

Wise. No, no; I speak plainly: or, if you will have it in plainer lanMr Badman guage it is this; when Mr had an art to Badman had swaggered and break and to whoredaway most of his wife's get money portion, he began to feel that

that way. 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 rush into several mens debts, to the value of about four or five thousand pounds, driving £t 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 seeing that he had agreat 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 he breaks, And by and by it is noised abroad that Mr He breaks. Badman had shut up his shop, was gone, and could trade no longer. Now by that time his breaking had come to his creditors ears, he had by craft and knavery made so sure ofwhathe had, that his creditors could not touch a penny. Well, when he had done, he sends his mournful sugared letters to his creditors, to let them understand, what had happened unto him, and desired them not to be severe with him; 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 confederate with him, who could make both the worst and best of Mr Badman'scase: The best for Mr Badman, and the worst for his creditors: So when he comes to them, he both bemoans them, and condoles Mr Badman's condition; telling of them, that, without a speedy bringing of filings 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, authorises 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 satisfy them and all men for whatsoever he owed, 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 miny of his customers, some of which died in his debt, others were run away, and for many that were alive, he never expected a farthing from them. Yet nevertheless he would shew himself an honest man,

and would pay as far as he

What Mr was able: and if they were

Badman pro- willing to come to terms, he

pounds to his would make a composition

creditors. with them 5 for he was not

able to pay them all. The creditors asked what he would give 1 It was replied, Half a crown in the pound: At this they began to huff, and he to renew his complaint and intreaty; 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 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 in the pound, So the money was produced, releases and' dUcharges drawn, signed, and Mr Badmatt sealed, books crossed, and all gains by things confirmed; and then breaking. Mr Badman can put his head out a-doors again, and be a better man than when he shut up his shop, by several thousands of pounds.

Atten. and did he do thus indeed? Wise. Yes once and again. I think he broke 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 There is no knave. He did it of a wicked plea for bis mind, to defraud and beguile dishonesty. his creditors: He had wherewithal of his father, and also by his wife, to have lived upon with lawful 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 I

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 Badman's road. He did it therefore of a dishonest mind, and to a wicked end, to wit, that he might have wherewithal, howsoever unlawfully gotten, to follow his cups and .queens and to live in the swing of his lusts, even as he did before.

jltten. Why, this was a mere cheat. Wise. It was a cheat indeed. This way of breaking is nothing 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 seems easy, it is hard to learn; no man that has conscience to God or man, can ever be his craftmaster in this hellish art.

Atten. Oh, Sir! 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 pennyforthatwhich he had promised, before it came thither, to give a groat; I say he could make them glad to take a crown for a pound's worth, and a thousand for that for which he had promised before to give them four thousand pounds.

Atlm. 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 farther in Mr Badman's matters, let me desire you, if you please, to give me an answer to these two questions.

1. What do you find in the word of God against such a practice as thisofMr Badman'sis?

2. What would you have a man do that is in his creditor's debt, and can neither pay him what he owes him, nor go on in a trade any longer. ,

Wise. I will answer you as well as I can. And first, to the first of your questions, to wit, What I find in the word of God against such a practice as this of Mr Badman's is?

Am. The word of God doth forbid 'this wickedness; and to make it the more odious in our eyes, it joins it with theft and robbery: "Thou shalt not" says God, "defraud thy neighbour, nor rob him." 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. It is a vilely 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 lyes and high dissimulation. 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 adjoined many sins, and they too must go hand in hand until it be completed. But what saith the scripture? "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 deceitful 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, where he 6aith, "But he that doth wrong, shall receive for the wrong which he hath done; and there is no respect of persons;" 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 >»lth rengeance 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 played with our first parents, (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 creditor's debt, and that can neither pay him, nor go in a trade any longer?

Ans. 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 knows he cannot pay, and yet will run into debt, does knowingly wrong and defraud his neighbour, and falls under Hoixj those that sentence of the word of that art bunk* rupts should God, " The wicked borrow* deal with eth, and payeth not again;"

their con- yea, worse, he borrows

sciences. though at the very same time

he knows that he cannot pay again. He doth also craftily take away what is his neighbours. That istherefore the first thing that I would propound to such, let him not run any farther into his creditors debt.

Secondly, After this, let him consider 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 re» missness in his calling, by living too high in diet or apparel, by lending too lavishly that which was none of his own, to his loss; or whether by the immediate hand and judgment of God.

If by searching he finds that this is come upon him through remissness in his calling, extravagancies in his family, or the like, let him labour for a sense of his sin and wickedness, for he has sinned against the Lord; first, in his being slothful in business, and in not providing, to wit, of his own, by the sweat of his brows, or other honest ways, for those of his own house. And, secondly, in being lavishing in diet 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 na-i ture, 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 slothful in his work, is brother to him that is a great waster." To be slothful and a waster too, is to b? as it were a double sinner.

But again, as this man should inquire 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 myself, as not being contented with my first lot, that by God and my parents I was cast into? This ought duly to be considered: And it 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 has 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 t was called, and have wrought hard, and fared meanly, been civilly apparelled, and have not, directly nor indirectly, made away with my creditor's goods; then had his fall come upon Lim by the immediate hand of God, whether by visible or invisible ways. For sometimes it comes by visible ways, to wit, by fire, by thieves, by loss of cattle, or the wickedness of •inful 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 the 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. 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 murmuring and repining; let him do it in a godly manner, submitting himself to the judgment of God. "Let the rich rejoice in that he is made low."

This is duty, and it may be privilege 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.

1. This is right lying down under God's hand, and the way to be exalted in God's 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."

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 thfe rich, for he trusteth in the abundance of his riches.

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 1"

I am persuaded, if men upon whom this hand of God is, would thus quietly lie 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 honest way of Honest dealing with his creditors, and dealing -with that 1 think must be this: creditors. 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 satisfy them,' let him proffer them his body, to be at their dispose, to wit, either to abide imprisonment at 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 their estates.

By thus doing, he submits himself to God's 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, even as he shall order and incline their hearts to do with them. And let that be either to forgive him, or to take that which he hath for satisfaction.^ or to lay-his body under affliction, thisjwaVor that, according to law; can he, I say, thus leave the whole to God, let the issue be what it will, th-t- man shall have peace in his mind afterwards. And the comforts of that state (which will be the comforts I 6 «*>V

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 man's ways please the Lord, his enemies shall be at peace with him:" 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 God's way; when God's will is, that he should descend into a low one; yea, he desperately saith in his heart and actions, I will be mine own chuser, and that in mine own way, whatever happens or follows thereupon.

Atten.. You have said well in my mind. But suppose, now, that Mr Badrrian was here, could he not object as to what ybii' 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 thick, of that which you call piy 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, of living higher, both in fare and apparel, than their trade and income will maintain. Besides, that they do break, all the world very well knows; 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 linen, their plate, their jewels, (and it is to be thought, sometimes money and goods besides) is 3S common as four eggs a-penny. And thus they beguile men, debauch their consciences, sin against their firofession, and make, it is to be feared, their usts 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 ofGod's people, or Che 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. 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 luch, and therefore no marvel if these perilous difficult times be so. But mark how the apostle words it: "Nay, you do wrong and defraud, and that your brethren: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolators, 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."

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 titles 1 and while they thus call themselves, they should be the veriest rogues for all evil, sin, villainy imaginable, who could help it i 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." Let ,such professors, therefore, be 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 Badman's kindred.

For they are a shame to religion; I say^

these slithy, rob-shop, pick-pocket men, they are a shame to religion, and religious men ghould 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 days, and at his end shall be a fool." And the man under consideration is one of these, and therefore must look to fall by this judgment.

A professor! and practise such villainies • 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, "Go ye, serve every man his idols :"—If ye will not hearken to the law and testament of God, to lead your lives hereafter: " but pol..*'Jute God's holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols."

Go, professors, go; 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:" 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 rhetoric, and eloquent speaking, prove themselves fit for the kingdom of heaven, or men of good conscience on earth. O that godly plea of Samuel: "Behold here I am," says he ** witness against me, before the Lord, and before his anointed, whose ox have I taken, or whose ass have I taken; or whom have I defrauded, whom have I oppressed?" &c. This was to do like a man of good conscience indeed; and in this his appeal, he was so justified in the consciences of the whole congregation, that they could not but with one voice, as with one mouth, break out jointly, and say, "Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us."

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 only in the sight of God, but of all men; that he may adom the doctrine of God out Saviour in all things.

Atlen. But suppose God should blow upon a prosessor 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: If he hath dutifully done what he could to avoid it. It is possible for a ship to sink at sea, notwithstanding a most faith* ful endeavour of the most skilful pilot under heaven. And thui, 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. 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, because he will God does

change dispensations with sometimes blow men, and because he will try upon his own their graces: Yea, also, be- people. cause 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 beg of God his blessing upon their endeavours, their honest and lawful endeavours. And it should put upon them a diligent looking to their steps, that if in their going they should hear the ice crack, they may timely go back again.

These things considered, and duly 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; everywhere, and in all things, I am instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."

Atten. But Mr Badman would not, I believe, have put this difference betwixt things feigned and those tljat 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 i are you weary of my relating of things?

Atten. No; but it pleases me to hear a great deal in few wortjs.

Wise. I profess myself not 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 shewed with his creditors, so now) with his customers, and those that he had otherwise to deal withal.

He dealt by deceitful weights and measures. He kept weights to buy by, and weights to sell by; More of measures to buy by, and mea- Mr Badsures to sell by : those he bought maris frauby were too big, those that he dulent deal. sold by were too little. ing. He used

Besides, he could use a deceitful thing called slight of hand, if weights and he had to do with other mens scales. 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 faithful 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 Badman's practice: What think you of Mr Badman now?

jtttea. TJiink! 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, the 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 brutes in many things, do abominate and abhor 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 i

Wis*. I will willingly do it. And first look into the Old Testament: "You shall," saith God there, "do no unrighteousness in judgment, in mete-yard, in weights, or in measures; a just balance, a just weight, a just ephah, and a just hin shall you have." 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 balances, and. a just ephah," &c.

Now having shewed you the law, I will also shew you how God takes swerving therefrom; "A false balance is not good: a false? balance is an abomination to the Lord." Some hive just weights, but false balances; and by virtue of these false balances, by their just weights, they deceive the country: Wherefore, God first of all commands that the balance be made just: A just balance shalt thou have; else they may be, yea are, deceivers notwithstanding their just weights. Now, having commanded that men have a just balance, and testifying that a false one is mn 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; 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 u* The law make an answer. First, He commands that makes this objection, if he

men to be ho- doth it to overthrow the authonest in their rity pi those texts, discovereth •weights and that himself is first cousin to measures. 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 goad, that thus objecteth against the text: But let us look into the New Testar ment, and there we shall see how Christ confirmeth the same : Where he commandeth that men make to others good measure, including also that^hey make good weight; telling such that do 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 withal, it shall be measured to you again;" 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 msn's trading, yea, «ven with their weights and measures, is evident from these general exhortations; "Defraud not; lye not one to another; let no man go 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 they are to be found. ,

1. They are not to be found in the house of the good and godly man, for he, as his /<God, abhors them; but they are to be found in the house of evil doers, such as Mr BadOman's is. "Are there," saith the prophet,

"yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abomination?" Are th?y there yet, notwithstanding God's forbidding, notwithstanding God's tokens of anger against those that do such things r O how loth is a wicked man to let go a sweet, a gainful sin, when he hath hold of it! They hold fast deceit, they refuse to let it go.

2. The deceitful weights and measures are not to be found in the house of the merciful, but in the Louse of the ciuel; in the house of them that love to oppress: "The balancet of deceit are in his hand; he loveth to oppress." 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 MrBadman's 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 loins of the poor, but of such as indeed would swallow them up: Here 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 i and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great:" making the measure small, and the price great, "and falsifying the balances by deceit, that we may buy the poor for silver, and tne needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the refuse of the wheat? The Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jicob, Surely I will not forget any of their works." 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, or the like: "Shall I count them pure," saith he, "with the bag of deceitful weights?" 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 ccvetousness, 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 persuaded 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 virtue, by men, it mattereth not; you see, by the scriptures, the judgment of Gad 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, it is no matter how men est^m of things, let us adhere to the judgment of God. And the rather, because when we ourselves 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 woe be to him to whom, and to whose actions it shall be thus said by him . "Teksl, K

thou art weighed in the balance and art found wanting." 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 it is a wonder, that since Mr Badman's common practice was to do thus, that some one or more did not find him out, »nd blame him for this his wickedness,

Wise. For the generality of people he went away clever with his knavery. Jor what with, his balance, his false balance, 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 that Mr Badman was not so arch at the first , ^tna'

How Mr is, to do it by shew of reliBadtnan did gion; for now he began to cheat and hide grow threadbare, (though some bis cheating. of his brethren are arch enough this way, yea and of his sisters too; for 1 told you at £rst that there were a great many of them, and never a one pf them good); but for hectoring, for swearing, for lying, if these things w^uld make weight and measure, they should not be wanting to Mr Badman's customers.

4tun_% Then it seerng he kept good weighftiiiiid a bad balance; well, that was better than that both should be bad.

Wise. Not at all. There lay the depth of his deceit; for if any at any time found fault that he used them hardly, and that they want* ed their weight of things, he would reply* Why! did not you see them weighed ? will you not believe Good -weights your own eyes? if you ques- and a bad bation my weights, pray carry lance a deep them whither you will, I will piece of knaxnaiutain them to be good and very. just. The Same he would say of his scales; So he blinded all by his balance.

Atteii. 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 wa3, 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 itself is never the worse, nor yet the true professors of it. But as Luther says, In the name of God begins all mischief. For Jjypocrites have no other way to bring their evils to maturity, but by using and mixing the name of God and religion therewith, Thus they become whited walls; 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 go 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 senses to be also deluded, by recalling of his chapman's 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 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 pi his customer, though the next time he shall pick his pocket again.

Some 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, that that which is "altogether just, they must do." Suppose that I be cheated myself with a brass half-crown, must 1 therefore cheat another therewith? if this be bad in the whole, it is also bad in the parts. Therefore, however thou art dealt withal 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. It is not custom, but good conscience, that will help at God's tribunal.

Atten. But I am persuaded, 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 do in the judgment, at the day of God Almighty, for their wrong getting of what they get, and that is just nothing at all. 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?'* He loseth then, he loseth greatly that getteth after this fashion. This is the man that h penny-wise and pound-foolish; this is he thit loseth his good ship for a halfpenny worn* ot tar; that loseth a soul for a little of the world. And then what doth he get thereby, but loss and damage? Thus he getteth, or rather lo* seth about the world to come: but what doth he get in this world more than travail 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 do them no good at all; but long, to be sure, they must not have it. For God will either take it away in their lifetime, or else in the generation following, according to. that of Job: <' He (the wicked) may pre-? pare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver."

Consider that also that this is written in Proverbs: "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his childrens children, and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just." What then doth he get thereby, that getteth by dishonest means? Why, he getteth sin and wrath, hell and damnation; and now tell Cie how much he doth get.

This, I say, is his getting; so that as David says, we may be bold to say too: "I be» held the wicked in great prosperity, and pre-, serjtly I cursed his habitation:" for it cannot prosper with him. Fluster and huff, and make ado 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 beggary.

And this Mr Badman, notwithstanding his cunning and crafty tricks to get money, did die, nobody 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 gee money; one would think that he should have been rich.

You reckon too fast, if you count these all his bad tricks to get money; for he had move besides. More of Mr

If his customers were in his Badman's bad books, (as it should go hard tricks. but he would have them there; at least if he thought he could make any advantage of them), then would he be sure to impose upfSh them his worst, even very bad commodity, 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 shekle great, yet hoisting up the price: this was Mr Badman's way. He would sell goods that cost Another art to him not the best price by far, cheat withal. for as much as he sold his best of all for. He had also a trick to mingle his commodity, that that which was bad might go off with the least mistrust.

Besides, if his customers at any time paid him money, let them look to themselves, and to their acquaintances, for he would usually attempt to call for that payment again, especially if he thought that there were 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 paid 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 beeg. a practice, and that hundreds of years ago. But what saith Servants ob~ the word of God ?'' I will serve these

punish all those that leap up- words. on the threshold, which fill their masters houses with violence and deceit."

Mr Badrnan also had this art: Could he get a man at advantage, that is, if his chapman durst not go from him, or if the commodity 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 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, a- Of extortion, bout fees, rewards, and the like: but it is 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 bailiffs and clerks have used to do; yet he had his opportunities, and such cruelty to make use of them, that he would often, in his way, be exporting and forcing of money out of his neighbour's pocket. For every man thai makes a prey of his advantage upon his neighbour's necessities, to force from him more than in reason and conscience, according to the present prices of things, such commodity is worth, may very well be called an extortioner, and judged for one that hath no in* heritance in the kingdom of God.

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 go on. We have a great many people in the country too that live all their days in the practice, and so under the guilt of extortion: People, alas! that think scorn to be so accounted.

As for example: There is a poor body that

dwells, we will suppose, so many miles from

the market; and this man

Who are wants a bushel of grist, a

extortioners. 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

day's work, which will be eight pence or ten

pence damage 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 withal

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 carried it five miles ft> 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 hucksters, that buy up the poor man's victuals by wholesale, and sell it to him again for unreasonable gains, by retail, arid Hucksters. as we call it, by piecer-meal, they are got into a way, after a stinging rate,, to play their game upon such by extortion. I mean such who buy up butter, cheese, eggs, bacon, &c. by wholesale, and sell it again (as they call i{) by penny-worths, twopenny-worths, a half-penny-worth, or the like, to the popT> all (he 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." Therefpre he saith again, "Rob not the poor because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted m the gate; for the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of them that spoil them."

Ql), th«4 U (hat g'ipcth and grindeth the face of the poor would take notice of these two scriptures! Here is threatened the de^ scruction 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 moulder; 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. 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 meddling 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, it is time they were hissed out of the world: For all that do such things offend against God, wrong their neighbour, and, like Mr Badman do provoke God to judgment.

Atten. God knows, there is abundance of ^leceit in the world!

Wite. Deceit ! ay! 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 aiutomize 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 80 lend, amount to thirty, forty, yea, sometimes fifty pound by the year, notwithstanding 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 commonwealth, 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 commodity, then I say it is not lawful. And if I should say the contrary, I should justify Mr Badman, and all the rest , of that gang; but that I never shall do, 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.

1. 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 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 h

conscience, &c. Therefore it is not lawful for me always to sell my commodity as dear, or for as much as I can.

That it is not lawful to lay aside goodconscience 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; but that he cannot do with a good conscience, for that is to over-reach, and to go beyond my chapman, and is forbidden, 1 Thess. iv. 6. Therefore he that will sell his commodity, as afore, as dear, or for as much as he can, must of necessity lay aside a food conscience.

'2, He that will sell his commodity always as dear as he can, must needs sometimes in. k J a prey of his neighbour's necessity; but that he cannot do with a good conscience, for that is to go beyond and defraud his neighbour, contrary to I Thess. iv. 6. Therefore he that will sell his commodity, as afore, as dear, or for as much as he can, must needs Cp.st off and lay aside a good conscience.

(a.) 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 neighbour's fondness; but that a man cannot do with a good conscience, for that is stiil a going beyond him, contrary to 1 Thess. iv. 6. Therefore he that will sell his commodity as dearj of for as much as he can, must needs cast off, and lay aside a 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; the which he can by no means use and keep, if he buys 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 do with a good conscience.

When Abraham would buy a buryingplace 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 of his field; for as much as it is worth shall he give it me," Gen. xxiii. 8, 9. He would not have it under foot, he scorned it, he abhorred 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 of the threshing floor, that I may build an altar there unto the Lord; thou shalt give it me for the full price." 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 this field I For he knew that there was wick , edness, 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 it is also unlawful for a man to go beyond or to defraud his neighbour in buying; yea, it is unlawful to do it in any matter, and God will plentifully avenge that wrong; as I also before have warned and testified. But,

2. 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 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 neighbour's 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:" 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, ot for as much money Calways) as lie can, seeks himself, and himself only : (But charity seeketh not her own, not her own only), so then, he that seeks himself, and himself only, 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 sellethfhis commodity (always) for as much as he can get, hardeneth his heart against all reasonable intreaties 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.

3. If it be lawful for me to sell my commodity, as afore, as dear as I can, then there cart be no sin jn my trading, how unreasonably soever I manage my calling, whether by lying, swearing, cursing, or 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.

4. He that sells, as afore, as dear as he can, offereth violence to the law of nature:- For that saith, "Do unto all men, even as ye would that they should do unto you." Now, was the seller a buyer, he would not that he of whom he buys, 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.

5. He that selleth, as afore, as dear as he can, makes use of that instruction, that \}oA hath not given to others, but sealed up i.. jjus hand, to abuse his law, and to wrong - i,. neighbour withal; which indeed is cor.trar* to God. 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 piey of thy neighbour? that thou mightest thereby go 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 sate thyneighbour from that damage that his ignorance, or necessity, or fondness, would betray him into the hands of.

6. In all that a man does, he should have an eye to the glory of God, but that hecannot have, that sells his commodity always for as much as he can, for the reason urged before.

7. All that a man does,he should do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; that is, as being commanded and authorised to do 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; be» cause commanded by him to do otherwise.

8. 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: 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 haiard. of the trial of that day.

>««If thou sell aught unto thy neighbour, or buyest aught of thy neighbour ye shall not oppress one another.

Atten. But why do you put in those cautionary words? They must not sell always as dear, nor buy always as cheap as they can; Do you not thereby intimate that a man may sometimes do so?

Wise. 1 do indeed intimate, that sometimes 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 lays 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 dealest 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 wouldst 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 skill to know when a pennyworth is before me; get some that have more skill than thyself 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 laughyou to scorn.

Wise. I question not that at all, for so Mr Badman used to do when any man told him of his faults: he used to think Badman himself wiser than any, and used to laugh would count, as I have hintat them that ed before, that he was not artold him of his rived to a manly spirit, that faults. did stick or boggle at any

wickedness. But let Mr Badman and his fellows 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. 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 door to an infidel, and is near of kin to Mr Badman.

Atten. Well, but what will you say to this question? 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 ebb and flow, as to price, like the tide; how then shall a man of a tender conscience do, 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 Badman's way; it is also difficult in itself; yet I will endeavour to shape you an answer, 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 must observe what hath been said before, to wit, he must have conscience to God, Preparacharity to his neighbour; and tions to be a I will add, much moderation good dealer. in dealing. Let him therefore keep within the bounds of the affr _t;iative of those eight reasons that before v^?i urged to prove, that men ought not in the-'<- dealing, but to do justly, and mercifully bi**Wixt man and man; and then there will be r-> '.reatfear of wronging the seller, buyer, or ^,iself.

But particularly to prepare or :nstruct a man to this work.

1. Let the tradesmen or others consider, that there is not that in great gettings, and in abundance, which the most pf 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 lyuts of the eye; *' For what good is there to the owners thereof, save the beholding of thtm with their eyes?" Men also, many times, in getting of riches, get therewith a snare to their soul: But few get good by getting of them. But this consideration Mr Badman could net 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 offence against God. Hence he says, "I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain, which thou hast made." 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 hut a dinner of herbs •t a time, will yield more peace therewith than will a stalled ox, ill gotten: "Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues yvhout right.

4. Bp thou confident, that God's eyes are upon a]'„.thy ways, and that he pondereth all thy goings, and also that he makes them, writes !^jm down, and seals them up in a bag, against the time to come.

5. Be thou sure that thou rememberest, that thou knowest not the day of thy death. Remember also, that when death comes, God will give thy substance, tor the which thou hast laboured, and for the which perhaps thou hast hazarded thy soul, to one thou knowest aot who, nor whether he shall be a wise man t>r a fool. And then, "what profit hath h^e •that laboureth for the wind?

Besides, thou shalt have nothing that thou mayest so much as carry away in thine hand. Guilt shall go 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 shouldst live in the practice 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 commodities overvalued by the seller, and also undervalued by the buyer ?" It is naught, it is naught, says the buyer, but when he hath got his bargain he boasteth thereof." 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 shekel great." Art thou a buyer, and *4p things grow dear? Use no cuaning 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, especially 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 neighbour's hurt, these three ways.

1. By crying out scarcity, scarcity, beyond the truth and state of things; especially take heed of doing this by way of a prognostick for time to come. It was for 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 belyeth the present blessing of God among 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 ior it. Mow that God may shew his dislike against this, he doth, as it were, license the people to curse such an hoarder up: "He that with-holdeth corn, the people shall curse him} but blessing shall be upon the head of them that selleth it."

3. But if things will rise, do thou be grieved: Be also moderate in all thy sellihgs, and be sure let the poor have a pennyworth, and sell thy corn to those in necessity: Which then thou wilt do, when thou shewest mercy to the poot 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, thyself 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.

Atten. Well, Sir, now I have heard enough of Mr Badman's 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 haste; 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; He was exceeding pioud and haughty

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 ycu desire it, I will mention two or three texts: They are these: "Pride and arrogancy do I hate. A man's 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." 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. The drunkard loves the sin, but loves not to be called a drunkard. The thkf loveth to steal, but cannot abide to be called a thief: the whore loveth to commit uncleanness, butdoveth lot 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. It is true that you have said: but pray how many sorts of pride are there?

Wise. There are two sorts of pride; 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. A high look, and a proud heart, and the ploughing of the wicked, is sin. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." Bodily pride the scripture mentions. "In that day the Lord shall take away the bravery of their tinkling 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 head-bands, and the tablets, and the ear-rings, the rings and the nose jewels; the changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, the glasses and the fine linen, and the hoods and the vails." By these expressions it is evident, that there is a pride of body, as well as a pride of spirit, and that both are sin, and so abominable fo the Lord. But these ,.texts Mr Budniau could never abide to read, they were to him as Micaiah was to Ahab, they never

spoke good of him, but evil.

Atten. I suppose that it was not Mr Bidman's case alone, even to malign 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 jrebuke them for their sins.

Wise. That is out of doubt; and by that antipathy they shew that sin and Satan are more welcome to them, than are the more wholesome instructions of life and godliness.

Atten. Well, but not to go off from our discourse of Mr Badman. You say he was proud; but will you shew me now some sy mp. toms of one that is proud?

Wise. Yes that I will: And first I will shew you some symptoms of pride of heart. Pride of heart is seen by outward things, as

Eride of body in general is a sign of pride of eart; for all proud gestures of the body How from pride of heart: therefore Solomon saith, "There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes, and their eye lids are lifted up. And again, "There is that exalteth their gait, their going. Now these lofty eyes, and this exalting of the gait, 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. But, more particularly.

1. Heart pride is discovered by a stretchy

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.

3. A prayerless man is a proud man.

4. A contentious man is a proud man.

5. The disdainful man is a proud man.

6. The man that oppresses his neighbour is a proud man.

7. He that hearkeneth not to God's word with reverence and fear, is a proud man.

8. And he that calls the proud happy, is to be sure, a proud man. All these are proud in heart, and this their pride of heart doth thus discover itself.

As to bodily 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 symtoms 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 dafiled also. So all those visible signs of heart pride arc signs of bodily pride also. But to come to more outward signs. The putting on of gold, and peails, and costly array; the plaiting 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.

But Mr Badman would not allow, by any means, that this should be called pride, but rather neatness, handsomeness, 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 yourselves be clear, even your professors; for who is prouder than your professors? Scarce the devil himself.

Wise. My heart akes at this, because there is too much cause for it. This very answer would Mr Badman give his wife, when she as she would sometimes reprove him for his pride. We shall have, says he, great amendments in living now, for the devil is turned a correcter 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 Badman's friends; for they may and do see pride display itself 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 an one, as I perceive it did somewhat the heart of Mr Badman himself.

For my own part, I have seen many myself, and those church.mei?ibers too, so decked and bedaubed with their frangles and toys, and that when they have been in the solemn appointments of God, in the way of his worship, that I have wondered with what face such painted persons could sit in the place where they were without swooning. But certainly the holiness of God, and also the pollution of themselves by sin, must need be very far out of the minds of such people, what profession soever they make.

I have read of an whore's forehead, and I have read of Christian shame-faced ness; I have read of cost J y array, and of that which becometh women professing godliness, with good works; but if I might speak, I know what I know, and could say, and yet do no wrong, that which would make some professors sunk in their places; but now I forbear. JLtten. Sir you seem greatly concerned at this; but what if I shall say more: It is whis* pered, that some good ministers have countenanced their people in their light and wanton apparel, yea have pleaded for their gold and pearls, and costly array.

Wise, I know not what they have pleaded for: but it is 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." 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 muse 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; 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 spider's web, when the thunder of the word of thq 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 lore to have it so. I once talked with \ maid, by way of reproof, for her fond and gaudy garment. But she told me, The tailor would make it so; when alas! poor proud girl, she gave order to the tailor so to make it. Many make parents and husbands, and tailors, &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.

Wise. I will shew you what I think are the reasons of it.

1. The first is, 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 deceit overcometh them; yea, it doth put a bewitching virtue into their peacock's feathers, and then they are swallowed up with the vanity ot 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 by 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 lust of the flesh, the Just of the eyesj and the pride oi life, are

not of the Father, but of the world." 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 directed us for our pattern: Let the wives conversation be chaste, and also coupled with fear. Whose adorning, (saith Peter), let it not be that outward adorning, of plaiting 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."

3. Another reason is, 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 Chrisflan should be a proud one? Sense 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 senseless and ridiculous things in the world, that a man should be proud of that which is giveu 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. 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: and as his Majesty is, such is his word; therefore they abuse it, that bring it to countenance pride.

Lastly, But what can be the end of those that are proud, in the decking of themselves after their antic manner? Why are they for going with their bulls foretops, with their naked shoulders, and paps hanging out like a cow's bag? Why are they for painting their faces, for stretching out their neck, and for putting of themselves unto all the formalities which proud fancy leads them to i Is it because they would honour Gad ( because

they would adorn the gospel? because they would beautify religion, and make sinners to fall in love with their own salvation? No, no, it is rather to please their lusts, to satisfy 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 designs 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 k 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. 1 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 pro* phets; and if they will not hear them, how then can we hope that they should receive good by such a dull sounding ram's horn as I am? However, I have said my mind; and now if you will, we will proceed to some other of Mr Badman's doings.

AtUn. 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.

1. Then: It is 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, it was through their being lifted or puffed up with pride. It is 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. 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 distance; 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. 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 into God's ordinances the proud man may; but come into his presence, have communion with him, or blessing from him, he shallnot; for the High God doth resist him.

At. The word saith, that " the Lord will

destroy the house of the proud:" He will

destroy his house: It may Jje understood,

be will destroy him and his. So he destroyed proud Pharaoh, so he destroyed proud

Korah, and many others.

5. 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. 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 Badman's 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 the prodigious sins, of Mr Badman, when his whole life, and all his actions, went as it were to the making up one massy body of sin? 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." 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 wi<, labour, care, industry, cunning, or the iike: If they were crosses, he would ascribe them, or count them the offspring of fortune, illluck, chance, the ill management of matters, the ill-will of neighbours, or to his wife's 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 shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness." And again, "They returned not to him that smote them, nor did they seek the Lord of Hosts." This was Mr Badman's temper; neither mercies nor judgment would make him seek the Lord. Nay, as another scripture says, "He would not see the works of God, nor regard the operations of his hands, either in mercies or in judgments." But further, when by providence he has been cast under the best means for his soul, (for, as was shewed before, he haying 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 novelty's 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, 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 says the quite contrary; besides, they make mention of a thousand impossibilities; they are the cause of all dissentions and discords that are in the land. Therefore you may (would he say) still think what you will, but in my mind they rare 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, the matter of his jests, and the objects of his slander. 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 hypocrisy. He would endeavour to render godly men as odious and contemptible as he could; any lies that were made by . any, to their disgrace, those he would avouch for truth, and would not endure to be controuled. He was much like those that the ■prophet speaks of, « that would sit and slauder his mother's son;" yea, he would speak reproachfully of his wife, though his conscience told him, and many would testify that she was a very virtuous woman. He would also raise slanders of his wife's friends himself, affirming that theirdoctrine tended to lasciviousness, and that in their assemblies, they acted and did, unbeseeming men and women; that they committed uneleanness, &c. He was much like those that affirmed the apostle should say, "Let us do evil that good may come;" or like those of whom it is thus written; "Report say they, and we will report it." 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 Badman's 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 rejoice to see us stumble and fall, it should make us the more careful.

I do think it was as delightful to Mr Badjhaa to hear, raise, and tejl lyes, aad 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 angry, wrathful, 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, huffy, 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, especially against goodness itself, and against other things too, when he was displeased.

Atten. Solomon saith, "He is a fool that rageth."

Wise. He doth so; and says moreover, •« that anger rests in the bosom of fools." 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 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 tcad, as we say, swells with poison. 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 fool's wrath is heavier than them both. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who can stand before envy?"

This envy, for the foulness of it, is reckoned among the foulest villainies that are, as adultery, murder, drunkenness, revellings, -witchcrafts, heresies, seditions, &c. Yea, ic 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."

Atten. This envy is the very father and mother of a great many hideous and prodigious wickednesses; I say, it is the very father and mother of them; it both begets 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 venemous 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 living thing : "For where envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." 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 of 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 was thrown. "Envy slayeth the^ •illy one;" that is, him in whom it resides and him who is its object.

4. It was that also that slew Jesus Christ himself; for his adversaries persecuted him, through their envy.

5. Envy was that by virtue of which Joseph was sold by his brethren into Egypt.

6. It is envy that hath the hand in making of variance among God's saintsJ

7. It is envy in the heart of sinners, that stirs them up to thrust God's ministers out of their coasts.

8. What shall I say? It is envy that is the very nursery of whisperings, debates, backbitings, slanders, reproaches, murders, &c.

It is not possible to repeat all the particular fruits of this sinful root. Therefore, it is no marvel that Mr Badman was such an illnatured man; for the great roots of all manner of wickednesses were in him, unmortified, unmaimed, untouched.

jltten. But it is 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 1 remember he was under some trouble of mind about his condition: Once when he broke his leg as he (jame 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 remembe

any more.

Atten. Did he break his leg 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 alehouse, 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 his 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 leg; so there he lay. But you would not think how he swore at first. But after a while, he coming to himself, and feeling by his pain, and the uselessness of his leg, what case he was in, and also fearing that this bout might be his death; he began to cry , out after the manner of such, 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 cried out in his pain, and would say, O God! and, U Lord help me! Bu£ 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; 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 a3 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. It was 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 betwixt the ale-house and home. One hard by us also drunk himself dead; he drank and died in his drink.

Atten. It is a sad thing to die 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, as with oaths, blasphemies, lyes, revellings, brawlings, &c. it is a wonder to me, that any that live in that sin should escapa such a blow from heaven, that should

N

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 madmen, even as if they did dare God to meddle with them if he durst, for their being drunkv 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 hath appointed a day wherein he will reckon with them, and doth also commonly make examples of some, to shew that he takes notice of their sin, abhors 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 Badman's leg: for doubtless that was a stroke from heaven.

Wise. It is worth our remark indeed. It was an open stroke, 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;" or as the margin reads it, " in the place of beholders." He lays them with his stroke in the place of beholders. There was Mr Badniau laid; his ttroke was taken noticd of by every one: His broken leg was at this time the town-talk. Mr Badman has broke his leg, says one; how did he break it ? says another; as he came home drunk from such an alehouse, said a third: a judgment of God upon him, says 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, 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 man's shape bought it of that man again at the same price; and so in the presence of them all, laid hold on the soul-seller, and carried him away through the air, so that he was never more heard of.

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 alter, 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 bar in it bowed, and al! bloody: But the m in was never heard of afterwards.

Again, he tells us of a bailiff of Hedley, who upon a Lord's 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 Badman's leg, and should be a caution to all of his friends that are living, lest they also fall by their sin into these sad judgments of God.

But, as I said, Mr Badman quickly forgot all; his conscience was choked, before his leg 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 leg was well, he had a very dangerous fit of sickness, insomuch, that now he began to think he must die in very deed.

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. 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. 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, 1 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. Ay! 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 tp his reprobate mind. But, alas! Atheistical thoughts, notions, and opinions, must shrink and melt away, when Godsends, yea, comes with sickness to visit the soul of such a sinner for his sin. There was a man dwelt about twelve miles off from us, that had so trailed 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 died. So being sick, and musing upon his former doings, the book that he had written came into his mind, and with it such a sense of his evil in writing of it, that it tore his conscience as a lion would tear a kid. He lay therefore upon his death-bed in sad case, 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 whea it was given him, he took it and writ to this pnrpose, I, such a one, in such a town, must go 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 died in his bed, such a death as it was. It will be well if others take warning by him.

Atten. This is a remarkable story.

Wise. It is as true as remarkable: I had it from them that I dare believe, who also themselves were eye and ear witnesses; and also that catched 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 Badman's 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. For 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, JNow 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.

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 were 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 go 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'll Warrant you his wife was glad for this. W *

Wise. His wife! Ay, and a gcod many people besides; it was noised all over the town 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 rejoiced, 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 begun a work of grace in his heart; and his wife, poor woman, you cannot think how apt she was to believe it so; she rejoiced, 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 a little time was so finely mended, that he could walk about the house, and also obtained a very fine stomach to his food; and now did his wife and her good friends stand gaping to see Mr Badman fulfil his promise of becoming new towards God, and loving to his wife; but the contrary only shewed itself. For so soon as ever he had hopes of mending, and found that his strength began to rjnew, lis trouble began to go 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 remembering of his sickbed fears, and of heing no better for them, was, some words that the doctor that supplied him with physic 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 Mr Badman's 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 replied, That those fears and outcries 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 yourself to rest, you quickly mended, and your head settled, and so those frenzies left you.

And was it so indeed, thought Mr Badmarj? Were 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 * S

companions: And there was an end of Mr Badman's conversion.

Atten. I thought (as you told me of him) that this would be the result of the whole; fur 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.

Wue. You say right; for there wanted in him, when he was most sensible, a sense cf 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.

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 sense of his need of his righteousness to clothe him, and of his Spirit to sanctify him.

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 the vomit, and have begged prayers of saints, and assistance from heaven, upon that account, that he might have been kept from doing so. It is true he did beg prayers of good people, and so did Pharaoh of Moses and Aaron, and Simon Magus of Simon Peter.

His mind also seemed to be turned to his wife and child; but', alas! it was rather from conviction that God had given him concerning their happy state 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.

Atten. Sickbed-repentance is seldom good for any thing.

Wise. You say true, it is very rarely good for any thing indeed. Death is unwelcome 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 bedchamber-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 sense of the punishment of sinners, that also is starting to a defiled conscience now roused by death's lumbering at the door.

And hence usually is sickbed-repentance, and the matter of it, to wit, to be saved from hell, and from death, and that God will restore them 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 noise and the sound thereof has made the town: to ring again. But alas! how long has it lasted ? Oft-times scarce so long as until 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 beds."

Atten. Yet one may see, by this, the despefateness of man's heart; 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, and that he hath laid them up against the time to come, and will then bring out, and testify to their faces, that they flattered him with their mouth, and lyed unto him with their tongue, when they lay sick, to their thinking, upon their deathbed, 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 lie 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 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. 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 it was so: But when she saw herself disappointed by her husband 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 die?

Wise. Die! she died bravely; full of com

fort 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, especially of her rising again, were sweet; thoughts to her. She would long for death, because she knew it would be he? friend. She delivered herself like to some that were making of them ready to go meet their bridegroom. Now, said she, I am going to rest from my sorrows, my 6ighs, my tears, my mournings and complaints: I have heretofore longed to be among the saints, but might by no means be suffered to go; 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." There I shall have my heart's 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. 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 bar? No ; they are hanged upon the horns of the golden altar, and I must have the benefit of them myself, 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 cloaching was of sack-cloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into my bosom." 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 myself.

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 deathbed.

Atten. Well, but pray go on in your relation. This is good; I am glad to hear it; this is 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, 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 v here no bad man shall come; and if thou dost not convert, thou wilt never see me mere 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 mercy's gate stands open: remember that the day is coming, when thou tho' now lusty and well, must lye at the gates of death, as 1 do: And what wilt thou then} do, if thou shall 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, 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 saw that she was not regarded, she fetched 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, and told them the danger of dying before they had grace in their hearts. She told them also that death might be nearer than they were aware of; and bid them look, when they went through the church-yard again, if there were not little graves there. And, ah! children, said she, wjll 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, 1 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. 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 die, 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 a check to their vice, and that they might remember and turn to God.

Then they all went down, but her darling, to wit, the child that she had most love for, because it followed her ways. So she addressed herself 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 go before, and thou shalt follow after; "if thou shalt hold the beginning of thy confidence stedfast to the end." W 1 en I am gone, do thou still remember my 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 music in her heart, than sounded in this woman's 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, and became a very hopeful young man: But for the rest I can say nothing.

Atten. And what did Mr 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, virtuous woman. But this is not a thing to be wondered at: It is common with wicked men to hate God's 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 that were alive they condemned.

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 slight answer: Who would keep a cow of their own, that can have a quart of milk for a penny? Meaning, who would be at the charge to have a wife, that can have a whore when he listeth? So villainous, 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. And she, as the saying is, was as good as he, 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. Ay, and he smelt it too, but could not tell how to help it. For if he began to talk, she could Jay 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.

jltten. These are provoking things. Wise. So they are; but God doth not altogether let such things go 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, 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 hardened 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 quire away. The magistrates, advertised hereof, went to the place and examined the woman, who justified the truth of it.

Also at Oster in the duchy of Magapole, 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 weddingfeast, 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 die for fear; and by and by lie tore her in four pieces, leaving her four quarters in four several high-ways, and brought her bowels to the marriage-feast, and threw them upon the table before the mayor of the town, saying, Behold those 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 tear 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 go 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 villainy : 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 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." 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 wife's death; not of love that he had to her godliness, for that he could never abide, but for that she used always to keep at home, whereas this would go 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: God had a mind to make him see the baseness of his own life, in the wickedness of his wife's. 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 catched ; 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 6oul, 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, It is 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 virtuous woman, and that he, vile wretch, had killed her, I will not say with, but with the want of kindness.

Atten. And how long, 1 pray, did they live together?

Wise. Some fourteen or sixteen years; eyen until (though she also brought something with her) they had sinned all away, and parted as poor as howlets. 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 Bad* man die? for now I perceive Wj are come up to his death.

o

Wise. I cannot so properly say that he Hied of one disease, 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 foul distemper in his bowels. Yet the captain of all these men of death that came against him to take him away was the consumption, for it was that that brought him down to the grave.

Atten. Although I will not say but the best men may die of a consumption, a dropsy, 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 man's 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 lawful and unlawful 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 it is thought by his cups and his queens, he brought himself to this his destruction. He was not an old man when he died, nor was he naturally very feeble, but strong and of a healthy complexion: Yet, as I said, he mouldered away, and went; when set a-going rotten, to his grave. And that which made him stink when Jhe 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 maa whose life was full of sin, and whose deaths 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. His name rotted above ground, as his carcase 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."

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 days.

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 ago, 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 hira 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 a 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, this was urged to prove it. He had not in all the time of his sickness, a sight and sense 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 sense? But it is strange that he had neither sight nor sense of sin now, when he had such a sight and sense 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 repentance was read and known of no man; for, as I said, he had none. And for ought I know, the reason why he had no sense of his sins now, was, because he profited not by that sense 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 tupidity of spirit; and so was that scripture fulfilled upon him, "He that blindeth their eyes." And that, "Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see." Oh! for a man to live in sin, and go out of the world without repentance for it, is the saddest judgment that can overtake a man.

Atten. But, Sir, although both you and I have consented, that without a sight and, sense 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 ii.) repented not until they had sight and sense of their sins? Paul repented not till he had sight and sense of his sins; the jailor repented not till he had sight and sense 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 i The answer is, to be sorry for it, to turn from it. But how can a man be sorry for it, that has neither sight nor sense of it i David did not only commit sins, but abode impenitent for them, until Nathan the prophet was sent from God to give him a sight o?

and sense of them; 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 borne chastisement; I will not offend any more;" that is, not iu what I know, for I will repent of it; nor yet in what I know not, when thou shalt shew me it.

Also Ephraim's repentance was after he was turned to the sight and sense of his sins, - and after he was instructed about the evil of them.

Atten. These are good testimonies of this truth, and do, (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 died in his sin: for without repentance a man is sure to die in his sin; for they will lie down in the dust with him, rise at the judgment with him, hang about his neck like cords and chains when he standeth at the bar of God's tribunal, and go with him too, when he goes away from the judgmentseat, 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.

Wise. You say well: and I will add a word cr two more to what I have said; repentance, as it is not produced without a sight and sense of sin, so every sight and sense of sin cannot produce it: I mean every sight and sense of sin cannot produce that reptntance, 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 sense of sin, in that fit of sickness that he had before, but it died 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 returning from transgression to God by Jesus Christ. Now, if this be true, that every right and sense of sin will not produce repentance, then repentance cannot be produced there where there is no sight and sense of sin. That every sight and sense 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 sense, great sense 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, he did not desire a sight and sense of his 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 sinful life, and yet that was the way to beget a sight and sense 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 htm 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 Naboth's vineyard. "Hast thou found me, (said Ahab), O mine enemy i" 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 repentance thereof, and have obtained mercy.

Alten. Did good men then go to see him in his last sickness?

Wise. Yes: Those that were his first wife's acquaintance, they went to see hitn, and to talk with him, 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 tha company of such?

Wise. Because of the differing carriage that he^had towards them, from what he had when his old carnal companions came to see, him: When his old companions came to see him, he would stir up himself as much as he could, both by words and looks, to signify 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." 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 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 sense 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 dunnation 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 abide any noise. And so he would serve them time after time, till at last they were discouraged from coming to see him any more.

5. He was so hardened 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 sense 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 daie not tell a lye of the dead.

Wilt. 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 ihat I have given you.

Atten. I am satisfied: But pray, if you can, shew me now by the word, what sentence 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 ways." He is a man that says in his heart, and with his actions, I have loved strangers, (sins), and after them I will go." 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 abhors him with his soul.

Atten. What other sign 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. True, when sinking fits, stitches, or painsj 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. . I

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 prays." But he that hath not the first signs of repentance, it is 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 cried," says David, *'• to the Lord, but he answered them not;" 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;" that is, because they have no repentance; Bo repentance, no cries; false repentance, false criesi true repentance, true cries.

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 incessant crying, hath been the fruits of repentance: But none of thi8 had this Mr Badman; therefore he died 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 ift' 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 burden, 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 go mourning all the day long. My loins are filled with a loathsome 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."

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 cried 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 travail are upon her, to forbear crying. If all the world should P

tell me that such a man hath repentance, yet if he is not a praying man, 1 should not be persuaded 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. Those who were his old sinful 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 essayed to join himself to the disciples. He was for his oJd 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 of Jerusalem."

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 God's children, he would herd with God's children. his delight would be with, and in the company of God's children: As David said, "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts."

Wise. You say well; for what fellowship hath he that believeth with an infidel? And although it be true, that all that join to the godly are not godly, yet they that shall inwardly chuse the company of the ungodly and openly 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, altefeth all, heart, life, company, and all; for by it the heart of man is made new; and a new heart and 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." 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;" and the like. Now, if it be objected, that Mr Badman was sick, and s j could not go 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 thj

godly to come to him. Yea, he would have done so; yea, the company of all others, especially his fellow-sinners, would even in every appearance of them before him, have been a burden and a grief unto him. His heart and affections 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 scul were vet 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 withpiningsickness,whenhe was atthegrave's mouth. But how was he, 1 say, when he was (as we say) at the grave's mouth, within a step of cleath; wlien he saw and knew, and could not but know, that shortly he must die, and appear before the judgment of God?

Wise. Why, 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 only in name, but conditiuj";s_a and that to the very day of bis death jyea, 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 die with ease, quietly i

Wise. As quietly as a lamb. There seemed not to be in it, to standers by, so much as % 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 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 eternal con. dition by the manner of any of these kinds of deaths. He that dies quietly, suddenly, or under consternation of spirit, may go to heaven, or may go to hell , no man can tell whether a man goes, by any such manner of death. The judgment, therefore, that we make of the eternal condition of man, must be gathered from another consideration; to wit,

i

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 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 ways were evil, evil to his end ; . Hetherefore 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 man's eternal condition by the manner of the death he dieth. 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 go' to hell. And here I will take an occasion to speak of two of Mr Badman's 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.

Aiten. Pray tell me concerning the first, how he made away with himself?

Wise. Why, he took a knife and cut his owu throat, and immediately gave up the ghost and died. Now, what can we judge of Such a man's condition, since the scripture saith, "No murderer hath eternal life," &c. but that it must be concluded, that such a one is gone to hell? He was a murderer, a selfmurderer; and he is the worst murderer, one that slays his own body and soul: Nor do we find mention made of any but cursed ones that do such kind of deeds: I say, no mention made in holy writ of any others, but such that murder themselves.

And this is a 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 serve you as he 3erved Mr Badman's brother, that is, lest he give you up to be your own murderers.

Atten. Now you talk of this; I did once know a man, a barber, that took his own razor, 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 a more dreadful thing than this; I mean as to the manner of doing the fact. There was about twelve years since, a man that lived at lirafield 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 ha lost his present season of work, he fell into deep despair about the world, and cried 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 razor, and therewith cut up a great hole in his side, out of which he pulled and cut off some of his bowels, 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 razor and therewith cut his own throat. His wife then hearing of him sigh, and fetch his wind short, came zgain 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 3 bloody manner, frightful 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, it is too late to be sorry. Then said the same person to him again, Ah! John, pray to God to forgive this bloody act of thine. At the hearing of which exhortation, he seemed much offended, and in an 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 off his back to the wall, the blood ran out of his belly as out of

a bowl, 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 groping with his hand in his bowels, reaching upward, as was thought, that he might have pulled or cut out his heart. It was said also, that some of his liver had been by him torn out and cast upon the boards, and that many of his bowels 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 do as'Joiin Cox hath done. For surely self-murderers cannot go to heaven; and therefore, as you have said, he that d.ieth by his own hands, is certainly gone to hell. But speak a word or two of the other man you mentioied.

Wise. What! of a wicked man dying in despair?

Alten. Yes, of a wicked man dying in despair.

Wise. Well then: This Mr Badman's other brother was a very wicked man, both in heart and life; I say in heart, because he was so in life; nor could any thing reclaim him; neither good men, good books, good examples, nor God's judgments. Well, after he had lived a great while in his sins, God smote him 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 noised 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 do, 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 died; net 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. 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, But alas, should I set myself to collect these dreadful stories, it would be easy in a 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 mart 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 do. But let us return to Mr Badman, and enter into 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 Badman's death; how that he died still and quietly •, upon which you made observation, that the common people conclude, that if a man dies quietly, and as they call it like a lamb, he is certainly gone to heaven; when, alas! if a wicked man dies quietly, if a man that has all his days lived in notorious sin, dieth quietly, his quiet dying is so far off from being a sign of his being saved, that it is an Uncontroulable proof of his damnation. This was Mr Badman's case; he lived wickedly even to the last, and then went quietly out of the world; therefore Mr Badman is gone to hell.

Atttti. Well, hut since you are upon it_y and also so confident in it, to wit, that a man that lives a wicked life till he dies, and then dies quietly, is gone to hell, let me see what shew of proof you have for this your opinion.

Wise. My first argument is drawn from the necessity of repentance. No man can be saved except he repents, nor can he repent that sees not, that knows, not that he is ? sinner; and he that knows himself to be a sinner, will, I warrant him, be molested for the time by that knowledge. Thisj as it-is testified by all the scriptures, .so it is testified by Christian experience, He that knows himself to be a sinner, is molested, especially if that knowledge comes not to him until he is cast upon his death bed; molested, I say, before he can die quietly; yea, he is molested, 'ejected, and cast down; foe 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 God's 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 sickbedrepentance, fori think vetily it is seldom good for any thing: but I say, he that hath lived in sin and profaneness all his days, as Mr Badman did, and yet shall die quietly, that is, without repentance steps in betwixt hi* 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 go to hell.fire; and if a lewd liver shall (I mean that so continues till the day of his death) yet go out of the world quietly, it is 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 go 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 no sound repentance) shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire." This was Mr Bad man's case; he had attending of him a sinful life, and that to the very last, and yet died 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 sinful life; and therefore Mr Badman is gone to hell.

2. 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 Bsdman's house, that is, his heart, and soul, and body, for he went from a sinful life quietly ouf 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 sinful 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 devil's losing such a soul, I say, because Christ, who is the best judge in this matter, saith, his goods are at peace, in quiet, and out of danger.

Atten. This is a good one too; 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 joined to idols, let them alone." Let them alone, that is, disturb them not; let them go on without controul •, 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 sinful men. See also when you come home, Hosea iv. 14. "I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom." I will let them alone, they shall live and die in their sins. But,

3. My third argument i3 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."

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 darkened, 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 hardened their hearts, lest they should see, and understand, and (so) be converted." And this was clearly Mr Badman's 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 joined with a quiet death; and all for that he should not be converted, but partake of the fruit of his sinful 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 God's 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 died, and in hell he lift up his eyes;" 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 died besotted, stupified, and so consequently for quietness like a child or lamb, even as Mr Badman did: This was a sign of God's 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 ap

pointed, should be frustrate: "Lest they should be converted, and I should heal them."

(3.) The third thing I take notice of from hence is, That a sinful life, and quiet death annexed to it, is the ready, the open, the beaten, the common highway to hell: There is no surer sign of damnation, than for a man to die quietly after a sinful life. I do not say that all wicked men that are molested at their death with a sense of sin and fears of hell, do therefore go 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 man's damnation, than to die quietly after a sinful life; than to sin and die with his eyes shut; than to sin and die 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."

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; and this is one of his ways by which he doth it. Thus it was with Mr Badman.

(4.) It is said in the book of Psalms concerning the wicked, "There are no bands ia 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 God's people for theirs; yea, that many times fall 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 are no bands in their death." They seem to go unbound, and set at liberty out of this world, though they have lived notoriously wicked all their days in it. The prisoner that is to die at the gollows for his wickedness, must first have his irons knocked off his legs; so he seems to go 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 sinful life, than at any time besides.

Hence you shall have them boast of their faith and hope in God's mercy, when they lie upon their deathbed; yea, you shall have them speak as confidently of their salvation* as if they had served God all their days : when the tiuth 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 spider's (the devil's) making, possesseth their soul, to their own eternal undoing.

Hence wicked mens hope is said to die, 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 died there; but his sins went in with him, to be a worm to gnaw him in conscience for ever and ever.

The opinion, therefore, of the common people, concerning this kind of dying, is 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 struggling of nature with death, but as to the struggling of the conscience with the judgment of God, I know that nature will struggle with death: I have seen a dog and sheep die hardly: And thus may a wicked man do, because there is an antipathy betwixt nature and death. But even while, even then, when death and nature are struggling for mastery, the soul, the conscience may be as besotted, as benumbed, as senseless and ignorant of its miserable state, as the block or bed on which the sick lies: And thus they may die 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 die, (for it cuts them off" from all possibility of repentance, and so of salvation,) 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 theiriife 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 died like harmless ones: There was no whirlwind, no tempest, no band nor plague in their death: They died as quietly as the most godly of them all, and had as great faith. and hope of salvation, and would talk as bold' ly of salvation, as if they had assurance of it,But as was their hope in life, so was their death: Their hope was without trial, because it was none of God's 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 stately in their villanies; for so it follows in the Psalms: "There are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm, &c. Therefore pride compasseth them (the survivors) aboutasa chain, violence covereth them as a garment." Thefore 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.

Tea, 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 their knowledge in the Most High F" And all this, so far as I can see, ariseth in their hearts from their beholding of the quiet and lamb-like death of their companions.

"Behold these are the ungodly that prosper in die world, (that is, by wicked ways,) they increase in riches."

This, therefore, is a great judgment of God, both upon that man that dieth in his sins, anl also upon his companion that btholdeth him so to die. He sinneth, he dieth in his sins, and yet dieth quietly. What shall his companion say Co this i What judgment shall he make how God will deal with him, by beholding the lamb.like death of his companion i Be sure, he cannot, a3 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 i"

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," says he, " I have cleansed my heart in vain, and have washed my hands in innocency," Psalm lxxiii. 13. 'Ihey, 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 chastened 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 inquire 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 m slippery places}" and that " thou -casteth them

down to destruction." Casteth 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 seize them on their sickbed, for they had no bands in their death. The terrors therefore seized 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 judgments, and a reason of many of them, are made known to, ana 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 Bad-, man, 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 a 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, farther, if some had known that he had died in his sins, and ye* 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 sinful life so quietly, so peaceably, and So like a lamb, as he did? flies away for ever; then they roar like Hobs, 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! when 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.

Wise. Without controversy, this is an heavy judgment of God upon wicked men; one goes to hell in peace, another goes to hell in trouble; one 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 Badman's 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 go, and go, they go on peaceably from youth to old age, and thence to the grave, and so to hell, without noise: "They go as an ox to the slaughter, and as a fool to the correction of the stocks;" that is, both senselessly 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 vud quietness . ._,

Atten. Well, my good neighbour Wiseman, I perceive that the sun grows low, and that you have come to a conclusion with Mr Badman's 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 Badman's 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

Srace, that I may neither live nor die as did Ir Badman. Wise. My good neighbour Attentive, I wish your welfare in soul and body; and if aught that I have said of Mr Badman's 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 Godj

through faith, unto salvation.

Atten. Amen. Farewel.

Wise. I wish you heartily farewel.

FINIS.

A