Life and Death of Mr. Badman Part 5

4. If the Master have one Guise for abroad, and another for home; that is, if his Religion hangs by in his house as his Cloak does, and he be seldom in it, except he be abroad; this, young beginners will take notice of, and stumble at. We say, Hedges have eyes, and little Pitchers have ears; and indeed, {43a} Children make a greater inspection into the Lives of Fathers, Masters, &c. than oft-times they are aware of: And therefore should Masters be carefull, else they may soon destroy good beginnings in their Servants.

5. If the Master be unconscionable in his Dealing, and trades with lying words; or if bad Commodities be avouched to be good, or if he seeks after unreasonable gain, or the like; his servant sees it, and it is enough to undo him. Elies Sons being bad before the congregation, made Men despise the sacrifices of the Lord. {43b}

But these things by the by, only they may serve for a hint to Masters to take heed that they take not Apprentices to destroy their Souls. But young Badman had none of these hinderances; {43c} His father took care, and provided well for him, as to this: He had a good Master, he wanted not good Books, nor good Instruction, nor good Sermons, nor good Examples, no nor good fellow-Servants neither: but all would not doe.

Atten. 'Tis a wonder, that in such a Family, amidst so many spiritual helps, nothing should take hold of his heart! What! not good Books, nor good Instructions, nor good Sermons, nor good Examples, nor good fellow-Servants, nor nothing do him good!

Wise. You talk, he minded none of these things; nay, all these were {43d} abominable to him.

1. For good Books, they might lie in his Masters house till they rotted for him, he would not regard to look into them; but, contrary-wise, would get all the bad and abominable Books that he could, as beastly Romances, and books full of Ribbauldry, even such as immediately tended to set all fleshly l.u.s.ts on fire. True, he durst not be known to have any of these, to his Master; therefore would he never let them be seen by him, but would keep them in close places, and peruse them at such times, as yielded him fit opportunities thereto.

2. For good Instruction, he liked that, much as he liked good books; his care was to hear but little thereof, and to forget what he heard as soon as 'twas spoken. Yea, I have heard some that knew him then, say, that one might evidently discern by the shew of his countenance and gestures, that good counsel was to him like {44a} little-ease, even a continual torment to him; nor did he ever count himself at liberty, but when farthest off of wholsom words. He would hate them that rebuked him, and count them his deadly enemies.

3. For good Example; which was frequently set him by his Master, both in Religious and Civil matters; these, young Badman would laugh at, and would also make a byword of them, when he came in place where he with safety could.

4. His Master indeed would make him go with him to Sermons, and that where he thought the best Preachers were, but this unG.o.dly young man, what shall I say, was (I think) a Master of Art in all mischief; he had these wicked ways to hinder himself of hearing, let the Preacher thunder never so loud.

1. His {44b} way was, when come into the place of hearing, to sit down in some corner, and then to fall fast asleep.

2. Or else to fix his adulterous eyes upon some beautifull Object that was in the place, and so all Sermon-while, therewith be feeding of his fleshly l.u.s.ts.

3. Or, if he could get near to some that he had observed would fit his humour, he would be whispering, gigling, and playing with them, till such time as Sermon was done.

Atten. Why! he was grown to a prodigious height of wickedness.

Wise. He was so, and that which aggravates all, was, this was his practice as soon as he was come to his Master, he was as ready at all these things, as if he had, before he came to his Master, served an Apprentis.h.i.+p to learn them.

Atten. There could not but be added (as you relate them) Rebellion to his sin. Methinks it is as if he had said, I will not hear, I will not regard, I will not mind good, I will not mend, I will not turn, I will not be converted.

[Picture: Take note symbol] Wise. You say true, and I know not to whom more fitly to compare him, {45b} than to that man, who when I my self rebuked him for his wickedness, in this great huff replied; What would the Devil do for company, if it was not for such as I.

Atten. Why did you ever hear any man say so.

Wise. Yes, that I did; and this young Badman was as like him, as an Egg is like an Egg. Alas! the Scripture makes mention of many that by their actions speak the same. They say unto G.o.d, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways; Again, They refuse to hearken, and pull away their shoulder, and stop their ears; yea, they make their hearts hard as an Adamant-stone, lest they should hear the Law, and the words that the Lord of Host[s] hath sent. {45c} What are all these but such as Badman, and such as the young man but now mentioned? That young man was my Play-fellow when I was solacing my self in my sins: I may make mention of him to my shame; but he has a great many fellows.

Atten. Young Badman was like him indeed, and he trod his steps, as if his wickedness had been his very Copy; I mean, as to his desperateness: for had he not been a desperate one, he would never have made you such a reply, when you was rebuking of him for his sin. But when did you give him such a rebuke?

Wise. A while after G.o.d had parted him and I, by Calling of me (as I hope) by his Grace, still leaving him in his sins; and so far as I could ever gather, as he lived, so he died, even as Mr. Badman did: but we will leave him, and return again to our discourse.

Atten. Ha, poor obstinate sinners! doe they think that G.o.d cannot be even with them?

Wise. I do not know, what they think, but I know that G.o.d hath said, That as He cried, and they would not hear, so they shall crie, and I will not hear, saith the Lord. {45d} Doubtless there is a time a coming, when Mr. Badman will crie for this.

Atten. But I wonder that he should be so expert in wickedness, so soon!

alas, he was but a Stripling, I suppose, he was, as yet, not Twenty.

Wise. No, nor Eighteen neither: but (as with Ishmael, and with the Children that mocked the Prophet) the seeds of sin did put forth themselves betimes in him. {46a}

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

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

Atten. All, I think here is a great All; but if there is more behind, pray let us hear it.

Wise. Why, then I will tell you, that he had not been with his Master much above a year and a half, but he came {46b} acquainted with three young Villains (who here shall be nameless,) that taught him to adde to his sin, much of like kind; and he as aptly received their Instructions.

One of them was chiefly given to Uncleanness, another to Drunkenness; and the third to Purloining, or stealing from his Master.

Atten. Alas poor Wretch, he was bad enough before, but these, I suppose, made him much worse.

Wise. That they made him worse you may be sure of, for they taught him to be an Arch, a chief one in all their wayes.

Atten. It was an ill hap that he ever came acqu[a]inted with them.

Wise. You must rather word it thus. It {46c} was the Judgement of G.o.d that he did; that is, he came acquainted with them, through the anger of G.o.d. He had a good Master, and before him a good Father: By these he had good counsel given him for Months and Years together; but his heart was set upon mischief, he loved wickedness more than to do good, even untill his Iniquity came to be hateful; therefore, from the anger of G.o.d it was, that these companions of his, and he, did at last so acquaint together.

Sayes Paul, They did not like to retain G.o.d in their knowledge; {46d} and what follows? wherefore, G.o.d gave them over, or up to their own hearts l.u.s.ts. And again, As for such as turn aside to their own crooked wayes, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. {46e} This therefore was G.o.ds hand upon him, that he might be destroyed, be d.a.m.ned; because he received not the love of the Truth that he might be saved. He chose his Delusions and Deluders for him, even the company of base men, of Fools, that he might be destroyed. {46f} {47a}

Atten. I cannot but think indeed, that it is a Great Judgment of G.o.d for a man to be given up to the company of vile men; for what are such but the Devils {47b} Decoyes, even those by whom he drawes the simple into the Net? A Wh.o.r.emaster, a Drunkard, a Thiefe, what are they but the Devils baits, by which he catcheth others?

Wise. You say right; but this young Badman was no simple one, if by simple, you mean one uninstructed; for he had often good counsel given him: but if by simple, you mean, him that is a Fool as to the true Knowledge of, and Faith in Christ, then he was a simple one indeed: for he chose death, rather than life, and to live in continual opposition to G.o.d, rather than to be Reconciled unto him; according to that saying of the wise man; The fooles hated knowledge, and did not choose the Fear of the Lord: {47c} and what Judgement more dreadfull can a fool be given up to, than to be delivered into the hands of such men, that have skill to do nothing, but to ripen sin, and hasten its finis.h.i.+ng unto d.a.m.nation?

And therefore men should be afraid of offending G.o.d, because he can in this manner punish them for their sins. [Picture: Take note symbol] I knew a man that once was, as I thought, hopefully awakened about his Condition; yea, I knew two that were so awakened; but in time they began to draw back, and to incline again to their l.u.s.ts; wherefore, G.o.d gave them up to the company of three or four men, that in less than three years time brought them roundly to the Gallows, where they were hanged like Dogs, because they refused to live like honest men. {47e}

Atten. But such men do not believe, that thus to be given up of G.o.d, is in Judgement and anger; they rather take it to be their liberty, and do count it their happiness; they are glad that their Cord is loosed, and that the reins are in their neck; they are glad that they may sin without controul, and that they may choose such company as can make them more expert in an evil way.

Wise. Their Judgement is therefore so much the greater, because thereto is added blindness of Mind, and hardness of Heart in a wicked way. They are turned up to the way of Death, but must not see to what place they are going: They must go as the Ox to the slaughter, and as the Fool to the Correction of the Stocks, {48a} till a Dart strikes through their Liver, not knowing that it is for their life. This, I say, makes their Judgement double, they are given up of G.o.d, for a while to sport themselves with that which will a.s.suredly make them mourn at last, when their flesh and their body is consumed. {48b} These are those that Peter {48c} speaks of, that shall utterly perish in their own corruptions; these, I say, who count it pleasure to ryot in the day-time, and that sport themselves with their own deceivings, are, as natural bruit beasts, made to be taken and destroyed.

Atten. Well, but I pray now concerning these three Villains that were young Badmans companions: Tell me more particularly how he carried it then.

Wise. How he carried it! why, he did as they. I intimated so much before, when I said, they made him an arch, a chief one in their ways.

First, He became a Frequenter of {48d} Taverns and Tippling-houses, and would stay there untill he was even as drunk as a Beast. And if it was so, that he could not get out by day, he would, be sure, get out by night. Yea, he became so common a Drunkard, at last, that he was taken notice of to be a Drunkard even by all.

Atten. This was Swinish, for Drunkenness, is so beastly a sin, a sin so much against Nature, that I wonder that any that have but the appearance of Men, can give up themselves to so beastly (yea, worse than beastly) a thing.

Wise. It is a Swinish vanity indeed. I will tell you another Story.

{48f} [Picture: Take note symbol] There was a Gentleman that had a Drunkard to be his Groom, and coming home one night very much abused with Beer, his Master saw it. Well (quoth his Master within himself,) I will let thee alone to night, but to morrow morning I will convince thee that thou art worse than a Beast, by the behaviour of my Horse. So when morning was come, he bids his man goe and water his Horse, and so he did; but coming up to his Master, he commands him to water him again; so the fellow rid into the water the second time, but his masters horse would now drink no more, so the fellow came up and told his Master. Then said his Master, Thou drunken sot, thou art far worse than my Horse, he will drink but to satisfie nature, but thou wilt drink to the abuse of nature; he will drink but to refresh himself, but thou to thy hurt and dammage; He will drink, that he may be more serviceable to his Master, but thou, till thou art uncapable of serving either G.o.d or Man. O thou Beast, how much art thou worse than the horse that thou ridest on.

Atten. Truly I think that his Master served him right; for in doing as he did, he shewed him plainly, as he said, that he had not so much government of himself as his horse had of himself, and consequently that his beast did live more according to the Law of his nature by far, than did his man. But pray go on with what you have further to say.

Wise. Why, I say, that there are {49a} four things, which if they were well considered, would make drunkenness to be abhorred in the thoughts of the Children of men.

1. It greatly tendeth to impoverish and beggar a man. The Drunkard, says Solomon, shall come to poverty. {49b} Many that have begun the world with Plenty, have gone out of it in Rags; through drunkenness.

Yea, many Children that have been born to good Estates, have yet been brought to a Flail & a Rake, through this beastly sin of their Parents.

2. This sin of Drunkenness, it bringeth upon the Body, many, great, and incurable Diseases, by which Men do in little time come to their end, and none can help them. So, because they are overmuch wicked, therefore they dye before their time. {49c}

3. Drunkenness, is a sin that is often times attended with abundance of other evils. Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contention? Who hath babblings? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of the eyes? They that tarry long at the Wine, they that go to seek mixt wine.

{49d} That is, the Drunkard.

4. By Drunkenness, Men do often times shorten their dayes; goe out of the Ale-house drunk, and break their Necks before they come home.