| 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. and his second master cannot agree. such a family, into a bad, a wicked one, as Mr. Badman was, must needs be in judgment, and a sign of the anger of God. For in ungodly families men learn to forget God, to hate goodness, and to estrange themselves from the ways of those that are good.1 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 continually 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 have once conceived wickedness, they travail with it, as doth a woman with child, till they have brought it forth; Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.' Ps. vii. 14. Some men, as here is intimated in the text, and as was hinted also before, have a kind of mystical but hellish copulation with the devil, who is the father, and their soul the mother of sin and wickedness; and they, so soon as they have conceived by him, finish, by bringing forth sin, both it and their own damna-prentice; but for that his servant by his sin made tion. Ja. i. 15. ATTEN. How much then doth it concern those It concerns par- parents that love their children, to see, ents to put their children into that if they go from them, they be put good families. into such families as be good, that they may learn there betimes to eschew evil, and to follow that which is good! what servants WISE. It doth concern them indeed; and it doth Masters should also concern them that take children also beware into their families, to take heed what they entertain. children they receive. For a man may soon, by a bad boy, be damaged both in his 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. WISE. This second master was, as before I told you, bad enough; but yet he would Young Badman often fall out with young Badman, his servant, and chide, yea and sometimes 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 master's gains. Could he have done as the damsel that we read of, Ac. xvi. 16, 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 Reasons of their Badman was for neglecting of his disagreeing. master's business, for going to the whore-house, for beguiling of his master, for attempting to debauch his daughters, and the like. No marvel then if they disagreed in these points. Not so much for that his master had an antipathy against the fact itself, for he could do so when he was an ap spoil of his commodities, &c., and so damnified his master. Had, as I said before, young Badman's wickedness had only a tendency to his master's advantage, as could he have sworn, lied, 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 ATTEN. True, for one sinner destroyeth much is wickedness, but because it opposeth their interest. good, and a poor man is better than a liar. But Do you think that that maid's master would have many times a man cannot help it; for such as at been troubled at the loss of her, if he had not lost, the beginning promise very fair are by a little time with her, his gain? No, I'll warrant you; she proved to be very rogues, like young Badman. might have gone to the devil for him; but when WISE. That is true also; but when a man has her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone,' then, then he fell to persecuting Paul. Ac. xvi. 17-20. But Mr. Badman's master did sometimes lose by Mr. Badman's sins, and then Badman and his master were at odds. 1 Ungodly, Christless, prayerless families are little hells— filthy fountains, whose waters cast up mire and dirt; they are the blind and willing captives of sin and Satan, going down to the chambers of death and endless despair.-(ED.) 6 ATTEN. Alas, poor Badman! Then it seems thou couldest not at all times please thy like. WISE. No, he could not, and the reason I have told you. Bad masters con demu them they for bad ness beat their selves, when 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. Ro. xiv. 22. 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 patcs. 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.' 1 Ki. xvi. 7. This is Mr. Badman's master's case; he is like his man, and yet he beats him. servants. He is like his man, and yet he rails at him for being bad. ATTEN. But why did not young Badman run away from this master, as he ran away from the other? WISE. He did not. And if I be not mistaken, the reason 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; Why young Badman did not run but all this would not content, because master, though godliness was promoted there. He he did beat 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 away from this him. 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. Why Badman last master's WISE. There is a great deal of difference indeed. This last master of Mr. Badman's would tell Mr. Badman of his sins in Mr. Badman's could bear his own dialect; he would swear, and reproof better curse, and damn, when he told him of than he could his sins, and this he could bear better, the first. than to be told of them after a godly sort. Besides, that last master would, when his passions and rage were 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. and a man By what means Badman came to be completed in wickedness. WISE. It was hellish living indeed; might say, that with this master, young Badman completed himself yet more and more in wickedness, as well as in his trade: for by that he came out of his time, what with his own inclination to sin, what with his acquaintance with his three companions, and what with this last master, and the wickedness he saw in him; he became a sinner in grain.1 I think he had a bastard laid to his charge before he came out of his time. his time. ATTEN. Well, but it seems he did Badman out of live to come out of his time, but what did he then? to his father. Herefrains himself for money. WISE. Why, he went home to his He goes home father, and he, like a loving and tenderhearted father, received him into 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 stayed 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, and companions, and the fill of his lusts with them, but he used to blind all with this, he was glad to see his old acquaintance, and they as glad to see him, and he could not in civility but accommodate them with a bottle or two of wine, or a dozen or two of drink. CHAPTER V. [BADMAN IN BUSINESS, THE TRICKS OF A WICKED TRADESMAN.] 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 Severity, what he had been, both by what he used to it inclines to. do at home, and because he changed a good master for a bad, &c. He should not therefore have given him money so soon. What if he had pinched a little, and gone to journey-work for a time, that he might have known what a penny was, by his earning of it? Then, in all probability, he had known better how to have spent it: yea, and by that time perhaps, have better considered with himself, how to have lived in the world. Ay, 1 'In grain,' material dyed before it is manufactured, so that every grain receives the colour, which becomes indelible. -(ED.) 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. and she prayed for him, counselled him, and carried it motherly to him for several years A good woman together; but still he remained bad. and a bad sou. At last, upon a time, after she had been at prayer, WISE. If his father could also have blessed this as she was wont, for his conversion, she comes to manner of dealing to him, and have made it effec- him, and thus, or to this effect, begins again to tual for the ends that you have propounded, then admonish him. Son, said she, thou hast been and I should have thought as you. But alas, alas, you art a wicked child, thou hast cost me many a talk as if you never knew, or had at this present prayer and tear, and yet thou remainest wicked. We are better forgot what the bowels and compas- Well, I have done my duty, I have done what at giving than taking good sions of a father are. Why, did you I can to save thee; now I am satisfied, that if I counsel. not serve your own son so? But it shall see thee damned at the day of judgment, I is evident enough that we are better at giving good shall be so far off from being grieved for thee, that counsel to others, than we are at taking good coun-I shall rejoice to hear the sentence of thy damnation at that day; and it converted him. sel 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 This is to be if the father had done as I said, the considered. son would have done as you suppose. But if he had done as you have supposed, what had he done worse than what he hath done already? more. WISE. 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 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? Besides, when his father had done for him what he could, with desire to make him an honest man, he would then, whether his son had proved honest or no, have laid down his head with far more peace than if he had taken your counsel. ATTEN. Nay I think I should not 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 inconveniences.1 I remember that I have heard of a good woman, that had, as this old man, a bad and ungodly son, See the note on p. 597. I tell you that if parents carry it lovingly towards their children, mixing their mercies with loving rebukes, and their loving rebukes with fatherly and motherly compassions, they are more likely to save their children, than by being churlish and severe towards them: but if they do not save them, if their mercy do them no good, yet it will greatly ease them at the day of death, to consider; I have done by love as much as I could, to save and deliver my child from hell. ATTEN. Well I yield. But pray let us return again to Mr. Badman. You say, that his father gave him a piece of money that he might set up for himself.2 Mr. Badman sets up for himself, and quickly runs to the land's end. WISE. Yes, his father did give him a piece of money, and he did set up, and almost as soon set down again: for he was not long set up, but by his ill managing of his matters at home, together with his extravagant expenses abroad, he was got so far into debt, and had so little in his shop to pay, that he was hard put to it to keep himself out of prison. But when his creditors understood that he was about to marry, and in a fair way to get a rich wife, they said among themselves, We will not be hasty with him; if he gets a rich wife he will pay us all. ATTEN. But how could he so quickly run out, for I perceive it was in little time, by what you say? The reason of out. running 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 bcing a wild young man, and now hav- his ing the bridle loose before him, and being wholly subjected to his lusts and vices, he gave himself up to the way of his heart, and to the sight of his eye, forgetting that for all these things God would bring him to judgment. Ec. xi. 9. he that doth thus, you may be sure, shall not be And 2 By a piece of money' is here meant two hundred pounds (see p. 616). It probably means a portion or piece of his fortune.-(ED) able long to stand on his legs. Besides he had now an addition of new companions; companions New compa- you must think most like himself in nions. 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 jackpay-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 liked very well; and so his poverty came like 'one that travelleth, and his want as an armed man.' Pr. vi. 11. 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 stroking him over the face. Thus they colleagued with him, and got yet more and more into him, and so, like horse leeches, they drew away that little that his father had given him, and brought him quickly down, almost to dwell next door to the beggar. Mr. Badman's temper. ATTEN. Then was the saying of the wise man fulfilled, He that keepeth company with harlots,' and a companion of fools, shall be destroyed.' Pr. xxix. 3; xiii. 20. WISE. Ay, and that too, A companion of riotous persons shameth his father.'2 Pr. xxviii. 7. 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 after vain persons, shall have poverty enough.' Pr. xxviii. 19. 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.' Pr. xxiii. 21.3 ATTEN. But now, methinks, when he was brought thus low, he should have considered the hand of God that was gone out against him, and should have smote upon the breast, and have returned. WISE. Consideration, good consideration, was far from him, he was as stout and proud now his decays. WISE. Two things were now his play. 1. He bore all in hand by swearing, and How he covered cracking, and lying, that he was as well to pass as he was the first day he set up for himself, yea that he had rather got than lost; and he had at his beck some of his companions that would swear to confirm it as fast as he. ATTEN. This was double wickedness, 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? CHAPTER VI. [HIS HYPOCRITICAL COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE TO A PIOUS RICH YOUNG LADY.] ATTEN. And what was the other thing? WISE. Why that which I hinted before, he was for looking out for a rich wife: and Badman is for now I am come to some more of his a rich wife. invented, devised, designed, and abominable roguery, such that will yet declare him to be a most desperate sinner. Badman has a how. 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 gdy maid in his eye get a wife neither, except he became an artist at the way of dissembling; nor would dissembling do among that people that could dissemble as well as he. But there He seeks to get dwelt a maid not far from him, that her, why, and was both godly, and one that had a good portion, but how to get her, there lay all the craft. Well, he calls a council of some of his most trusty and cunning companions, and breaks his mind to them; to wit, that he had a mind to marry: and he also told them to whom; but, said he, how shall I accomplish my end; she is religious, and I am not? Then one of them made reply, saying, Since she is religious, you must pretend to be so likewise, and that for some time before you go to her. Mark therefore whither she goes daily to hear, and do you go thither also; but there you must be sure to behave yourself soberly, and make also where she may see you, and when you come as if you liked the Word wonderful well; stand home, be sure that you walk the street very so He calls has companxms tothey advise hum gether, and how to get ber. ATTEN. But had the maid no friend to look after her? berly, and go within sight of her. This done for | Besides he would be often telling of her what a a while, then go to her, and first talk of how sorry godly father he had, and what a new man he was you are for your sins, and show great love to the also become himself; and thus did this treacherous religion that she is of, still speaking well of her dealer deal with this honest and good girl, to her preachers and of her godly acquaintance, bewail- great grief and sorrow, as afterward you shall ing your hard hap that it was not your lot to be hear. 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 entangle the lass. Thus was the snare laid for this poor honest maid, and she was quickly catched in his pit. the damsel as ATTEN. Why, did he take this counsel? WISE. Did he! yes, and after a while, went as boldly to her, and that under a vizard of religion, Badman goes to as if he had been for honesty and his counsel ad- godliness one of the most sincere and vised him. upright-hearted 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 clothes 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 show thereof. plament, his ment. So he appointed his day, and went to her, as Badman's com- that he might easily do, for she had fying compli neither father nor mother to oppose. Well, when he was come, and had given 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 entreated 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. | sel about marriage danger. ous. WISE. Her father and mother were dead, and that he knew well enough, and so she was the more easily overcome by his naughty lying tongue. But if she had never so many friends, she might have been beguiled by him. It is too much the custom of young people now, to think Neglect of counthemselves wise enough to make their own choice; and that they need not ask counsel of those that are older, 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 honest girl, and her money, is married to her, brings her home, makes a feast, entertains her royally, but her portion must pay for all. ATTEN. This was wonderful deceitful doings, a man shall seldom hear of the like. Badman obtains his desire, is married, &c. His carriage judged ungod ly and wicked. WISE. By this his doing, he showed how little he feared God, and what little dread he had of his judgments. For all this carriage, and all these words were by him premeditated evil; he knew he 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. Mat. xxiii. 27. Now was he a grave that appeared not. Lu. xi. 44. For this poor, honest, godly damsel, little thought that both her peace and comfort, and estate, and liberty, and person, and all, were go- The great aling 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. teration that pened to Bad quickly hap man's wife. ATTEN. 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. |