in his heart and actions I will be mine own chooser and that in mine own way whatever happens or follows thereupon Atten. You have said well in my mind But suppose now that Mr. Badman was here could he not object as to what you have said saying Go and teach your Brethren that are Professors this lesson for they as I am are guilty of Breaking yea I am apt to think of that which you call my Knavish way of breaking to wit of breaking before they have need to break But if not so yet they are guilty of neglect in their Calling of living higher both in Fare and Apparrel than their Trade or Income will maintain Besides that they do break all the world very well knowes and that they have the art to plead for a composition is very well known to men and that it is usual with them to bide their Linnen their Plate their Jewels and 't is to be thought sometimes Money and Goods besides is as common as four eggs a penny And thus they beguile men debauch their consciencies sin against their Profession and make 't is to be feared their lusts in all this and the fulfilling of them their end I say if Mr. Badman was here to object thus unto you what would be your reply Wise. What! Why I would say I hope no Good man no man of good conscience no man that either fearfeareth God regardeth the credit of Religion the peace of Gods people or the salvation of his own soul will do thus Professors such perhaps there may be and who upon earth can help it Jades there be of all colours If men will profess and make their profession a stalking-Horse to beguile their neighbours of their estates as Mr. Badman himself did when he beguiled her that now is with sorrow his wife who can help it The Churches of old were pestered with such and therefore no marvel if these perilous difficult times be so But mark how the Apostle words it Nay you do wrong and defraud and that your Brethren Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived neither Fornicator nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor abusers of themselves with Mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God 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 one Self-denying ones or any other such glorious title and while they thus call themselves they should be the veryest Rogues for all evil sin and villany imaginable who could help it True they are a scandal to Religion a grief to the honest hearted an offence to the world and a stumbling stone to the weak and these offences have come do come and will come do what all the world can but wo be to them through whom they come 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. Badmans Kindred For they are a shame to Religion I say there slithy rob-Shop pick-pocket men they are a shame to Religion and religious men should be ashamed of them God puts such an one among the Fools of the world therefore let not Christians put them among those that are wise for heaven As the Partridge sitteth on eggs and hatcheth them not so he that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his dayes and at his end shall be a fool And the man under consideration is one of these and therefore must look to fall by this Judgment A professor and practice such villianies as these such an one is not worthy to bear that name any longer We may say to such as the Prophet spake to their like to wit to the rebellious that were in the house of Israel Goe ye serve every man his Idols If ye will not hearken to the Law and Testament of God to lead your lives thereafter but pollute Gods holy name no more with your Gifts and with your Idols Goe professors Goe leave off profession unless you will lead your lives according to your profession Better never profess than to make profession a stalking-horse to sin Deceit to the Devil and Hell The ground and rules of Religion allow not any such thing Receive us says the Apostle we have wronged no man we have corrupted no man we have defrauded no man Intimating that those that are guilty of wronging corrupting or defrauding of any should not be admitted to the fellowship of Saints no nor into the common catalogue of Brethren with them Nor can men with all their Rhetorick and Eloquent speaking pâ—ove themselves sit 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 Oxe 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 consciencies of the whole Congregation that they could not but with one voice as with one mouth break out joyntly and say Thou hast not defrauded us nor oppressed us A Professor and defraud away with him a Professor should not owe any man any thing but love A professor should provide things not of other mens but of his own of his own honest getting and that not onely in the sight of God but of all men that he may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Atten. But suppose God should blow upon a Professor in his Estate and Calling and he should be run out before he is aware must he be accounted to be like Mr. Badman and lie under the same reproach as he Wise. No If he hath dutifully done what he could to avoid it It is possible for a Ship to sink at sea notwithstanding the most faithfull endeavour of the most skilful Pilot under Heaven And thus as I suppose it was with the Prophet that left his wife in debt to the hazarding the slavery of her children by the Creditors 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 change dispensations with men and because he will trye their Graces Yea also because he will overthrow the wicked with his Judgments and all these things are
as long as it was grudging till it was over Atten. This his abhorring of that day was not I think for the sake of the day it self for as it is a day it is nothing else but 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 also because it is the day above all the days of the week that ought to be spent in holy Devotion in remembrance of our Lords Resurrection from the dead Wise. Yes 't was therefore that he was such an enemy to it even because more restraint was laid upon him on that day from his own ways than were possible should be laid upon him on all others Atten. Doth not God by instituting of a day unto holy Duties make great proof how the hearts and inclinations of poor people do stand to Holiness of heart and a Conversation in doly duties Wise. Yes doubtless and a man shall shew his Heart and his Life what they are more by one Lords-day than by all the days of the week besides And the reason is because on the Lords-day there is a special restraint laid upon men as to Thoughts and Life more than upon other days of the week besides Also men are enjoyned on that day to a stricter performance of holy Duties and restraint of worldly business than upon other days they are wherefore if their hearts incline not naturally to good now they will shew it now they will appear what they are The Lords Day is a kind of an Emblem of the heavenly Sabbath above and it makes manifest how the heart 〈…〉 to the perpetuity of Holiâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 than to be found in a 〈…〉 does 〈…〉 â—ys a man may be in and out of holy Duties and all in a quarter of an hour but now the Lords Day is as it were a day that enjoyns to one perpetual Duty of Holiness Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day which by Christ is not abrogated but changed into the First of the week not as it was given in particular to the Jews but as it was sanctified by him from the Beginning of the world and therefore is a greater proof of the frame and temper of a mans heart and does more make manifest to what he is inclined than doth his other performance of Duties Therefore God puts great difference between them that truly call and walk in this day as holy and count it Honourable 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 The first he calleth a Blessed man but brandeth the other for an unsanctified worldling And indeed to delight our selves in Gods service upon his Holy days gives a better proof of a sanctified Nature than to grudge at the coming and to be weary of the holy duties of such dayes as Mr. Badman did Atten. There may be something in what you say for he that cannot abide to keep one day holy to God to be sure he hath given a sufficient proof that he is an unsanctified man and as such what should he do in Heaven that being the place where a perpetual Sabath is to be kept to God I say to be kept for ever and ever And for ought I know one reason why one day in seven hath been by our Lord â—â—t apart unto holy Duties for men may be to give them conviction that there is enmity in the hearts of sinners to the God of Heaven for he that hateth Holiness hateth God himself They pretend to love God and yet love not a holy day and yet love not to spend that day in one continued act of holiness to the Lord They had as good say nothing as to call him Lord Lord and yet not doe the things that he says And this Mr. Badman was such an one he could not abide this day nor any of the Duties of it Indeed when he could get from his Friends and so spend it in all manner of idleness and profaneness then he would be pleased well enough but what was this but a turning the day into night or other than taking an opportunity at Gods forbidding to follow our Callings to solace and satisfie our lusts and delights of the flesh I take the liberty to speak thus of Mr. Badman upon a confidence of what you Sir have said of him is true Wise. You needed not to have made that Apology for your censuring of Mr. Badman for all that knew him will confirm what you said of him to be true He could not abide either that day or any thing else that had the stamp or image of God upon it Sin sin and to do the thing that was naught was that which he delighted in and that from a little Child Atten. I must say again I am sorry to hear it and that for his own sake and also for the sake of his Relations who must needs be broken to pieces with such doings as these For for these things sake comes the wrath of God upon the Children of disobedience and doubtless he must be gone to Hell if he died without Repentance and to beget a Child for Hell is sad for Parents to think on Wise. Of his Dying as I told you I will give you a Relation anon but now we are upon his Life and upon the Manner of his Life in his Childhood even of the sins that attended him then some of which I have mentioned already and indeed I have mentioned but some for yet there are more to follow and those not at all inferiour to what you have already heard Atten. Pray what were they Wise. Why he was greatly given and that while a Lad to grievous Swearing and Cursing yea he then made no more of Swearing and Cursing than I do of telling my fingers Yea he would do it without provocation thereto He counted it a glory to Swear and Curse and it was as natural to him as to eat and drink and sleep Atten. Oh! what a young Villain was this here is as the Apostle says a yielding of Members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin 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 mans Fellow when he had learnt to Swear and Curse boldly Atten. I am perswaded that many do think as you have said that to Swear is a thing that does bravely become them and that it is the best way for a man when he would
from their godly and faithful Friends and have brought them again into carnal company among carnal Friends and also into carnal Delights where and with whom they have in conclusion both sinfully abode and miserably perished And this is one reason why God hath forbidden this kind of unequal marriages For they saith he meaning the ungodly will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other Gods so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you and destroy you suddenly Now mark there were some in Israel that would notwithstanding this prohibition venture to marry to the Heathens and Unbelievers But what followed They served their Idols they sacrificed their Sons and their Daughters unto Devils Thus were they defiled with their own works and went a whoring with their own Inventions Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people insomuch that he abhorred his own Inheritance Atten. But let 's return again to Mr. Badman had be any Children by his wife Wise. Yes seven Atten. I doubt they were but badly brought up Wise. One of them loved its Mother dearly and would constantly harken to her voice Now that Child she had the opportunity to instruct in the Principles of Christian Religion and it became a very gracious child But that child Mr. Badman could not abide he would seldom afford it a pleasant word but would scowl and frown upon it speak churlishly and doggedly to it and though as to Nature it was the most feeble of the seven yet it oftenest felt the weight of its Fathers fingers Three of his Children did directly follow his steps and began to be as vile as in his youth he was himself The other that remained became a kind of mungrel Professors not so bad as their Father nor so good as their Mother but were betwixt them both They had their Mothers Notions and their Fathers Actions and were much like those that you read of in the Book of Nehemiah These children spake half in the speech of Ashdod and could not speak in the Jews language but according to the language of each people 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 by Prayers Counsel and good Examples labours to make it holy in body and soul and so fit for the Kingdom of Heaven but the ' ungodly would have it like himself wicked and base and sinful and so they both give instructions accordingly instructions did I say yea and Examples too according to their minds Thus the godly as Hannah is presenting her Samuel unto the Lord but the ungodly like them that went before them are for offering their Children to Moloch to an Idol to sin to the Devil and to Hell Thus one harkeneth to the Law of their Mother and is preserved from destruction but as for the other as their Fathers did so do they Thus did Mr. Badman and his wife part some of their Children betwixt them but as for the other three that were as 't were Mungrels betwixt both they were like unto those that you read of in Kings They feared the Lord but served their own Idols They had as I said their Mothers Notions and I will adde Profession too but their Fathers Lusts and something of his Life Now their Father did not like them because they had their Mothers tongue and the Mother did not like them because they had still their Fathers heart and life nor were they indeed fit company for good or bad The Good would not trust them because they were bad the Bad would not trust them because they were good viz. The good would not trust them because they were bad in their Lives and the bad would not trust them because they were good in their Words So they were forced with Esau to joyn in affinity with Ishmad to wit to look out a people that were Hypocrites like themselves and with them they matcht and lived and died Atten. Poor woman she could not but have much perplexity Wise. Yea and poor Children that ever they were sent into the world as the fruit of the loyns and under the government of such a father as Mr. Badman Atten. You say right for such children lye almost under all manner of disadvantages but we must say nothing because this also is the soveraign Will of God Wise. We may not by any means object against God yet we may talk of the advantages and disadvantages that Children have by having for their Parents such as are either Godly or the contary 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 advantage of Election for their fathers sakes 2. They are born as others the children of wrath though they come of Godly Parents 3. Grace comes not unto them as an Inheritance because they have Godly Parents These things premised I shall now proceed 1. The children of Godly Parents are the children of many Prayers they are prayed for before and Prayed for after they are born and the Prayer of a godly Father and godly Mother doth much 2. They have the advantage of what restraint is possible from what evils their Parents see them inclinable to and that is a second mercy 3. They have the advantage of Godly instruction and of being told which be and which be not the right ways of the Lord. 4. They have also those ways commended unto them and spoken well of in their hearing that are good 5. Such are also what may be kept out of evil company from evil Books and from being taught the way of Swearing Lying and the like as Sabbath-breaking and mocking at good men and good things and this is a very great mercy 6. They have also the benefit of a godly life set before them doctrinally by their Parents and that doctrine backt with a godly and holy example and all these are very great advantages Now all these advantages the children of ungodly Parents want and so are more in danger of being carried away with the error of the wicked For ungodly Parents neither Pray for their Children nor do nor can they heartily instruct them they do not after a godly manner restrain them from evil nor do they keep them from evil company They are not grieved at nor yet do they forewarn