in the Morning But all was one to his graceless Son neither wholsom counsel nor fatherly sorrow would make him mend his Manners There are some indeed that do train up their Children to swear curse lye and steal and great is the misery of such poor Children whose hard hap it is to be ushered into the world by and to be under the tuition too of such ungodly Parents It had been better for such Parents had they not begat them and better for such Children had they not been born O! methinks for a Father or a Mother to train up a Child in that very way that leadeth to Hell and Damnation what thing so horrible But Mr. Badman was not by his Parents so brought up Atten. But methinks since this Young Badman would not be ruled at home his Father should have tryed what good could have been done of him abroad by putting him out to some man of his acquaintance that he knew to be able to command him and to keep him pretty hard to some employ So should he at least have been prevented of time to do those wickednesses that could dot be done without time to do them in Wise. Alas his Father did so he put him out betimes to one of his own Acquaintance and entreated him of all love that he would take care of his Son and keep him from extravagant wayes His Trade also was honest and commodious he had besides a full Employ therein so that this young Badman had no vacant seasons nor idle hours yielded him by his Calling therein to take opportunities to do Badly but all was one to him as he had begun to be vile in his Fathers house even so he continued to be when he was in the house of his Master Atten. I have known some Children who though they have been very Bad at home yet have altered much when they have been put out abroad especially when they have fallen into a Family where the Governours thereof have made conscience of maintaining of the Worship and Service of God therein but perhaps that might be wanting in Mr. Badmans Masters house Wise. Indeed some Children do greatly mend when put under other mens Roofs but as I said this naughty boy did not so nor did his badness continue because he wanted a Master that both could and did correct it For his 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 over-drive young Badman in business nor that kept him at it at unseasonable hours Atten. Say you so This is rare I for my part can see but few that can parallel in these things with Mr. Badmans Master Wise. Nor I neither yet Mr. Badman had such an one for for the most part Master 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 wayes a Master may be the ruin of his poor Apprentice Wise. Nay I cannot tell you of all the wayes yet some of them I will mention Suppose then that a towardly Lad be put to be an Apprentice with one that is reputed to be a Godly man yet that Lad may be ruined many wayes that is if his Master be not circumspect in all things that respect both God and man and that before his Apprentice 1. If he be not moderate in the use of his Apprentice if he drives him beyond his strength if he holds him to work at unseasonable hours if he will not allow him convenient time to read the Word to Pray c. This is the way to destroy him that is in those tender beginings of good thoughts and good beginnings about spiritual things 2. If he suffers his house to be scattered with profane and wicked Books such as stir up to lust to wantonness such as teach idle wanton lascivious discourse and such as has a tendency to provoke to profane drollery and Jesting and lastly such as tend to corrupt and pervert the Doctrine of Faith and Holiness All these things will eat as doth a canker and will quickly spoil in Youth c. those good beginnings that may be putting forth themselves in them 3. If there be a mixture of Servants that is if some very bad be in the same place that 's a way also to undo such tender Lads for they that are bad and sordid Servants will be often and they have an opportunity too to be distilling and fomenting of their profane and wicked words and tricks before them and these will easily stick in the flesh and minds of Youth to the corrupting of them 4. If the Master have one Guise for abroad and another for home that is if his Religion hangs by in his house as his Cloak does and he be seldom in it except he be abroad this young beginners will take notice of and stumble at We say Hedges have eyes and little Pitchers have ears and indeed 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 Eliâ—s Sons being bâ—d before the congregation made Man despise the sacrifices of the Lord. But these things by the â—y 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 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. 'T is 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 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 contrarywise would get all the bad and abominable Books that he could as 〈◊〉 Romances and books full
of 〈◊〉 evâ—n such as immediately 〈◊〉 tâ— set all sleshly lusts on fire True he durst not be known to have any of these to his Master therefore would he never let them be seen by him but would keep them in close places and peruse them at such times as yielded him fit opportunities thereto 2. For good Instruction he liked that much as he liked good books his care was to hear but little thereof and to forget what he heard as soon as 't 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 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 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 to sit down in some corner and then to fall fast asleep 2. Or else to fix his adulterous eyes upon some beautifull Object that was in the place and so all Sermon-while therewith be feeding of his fleshly lusts 3. Or if he could get near to some that he had observed would fit his humour he would be whispering gigling and playing with them till such time as Sermon was done Atten. Why he was grown to a prodigious height of wickedness Wise. He was so and that which aggravates all was this was his practice as soon as he was come to his Master he was as ready at all these things as if he had before he came to his Master served an Apprentiship to learn them Atten. There could not but be added as you relate them Rebellion to his sin Methinks it is as if he had said I will not hear I will not regard I will not mind good I will not mind I will not turn I will not be converted Wise. You say true and I know not to whom more fitly to compare him than to that man who when I my self rebuked him for his wickedness in this great huff replied What would the Devil do for company if it was not for such as I. Atten. Why did you ever hear any man say so Wise. Yes that I did and this young Badman was as like him as an Egg is like an Egg. Alas the Scripture makes mention of many that by their actions speak the same They say unto God Iâ—epart 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 〈◊〉 hard as an Adamant-stone lest they should hear the Law and the words that the Lord of Host 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 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 fâ—r 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. Hâ— poor obstinate sinners doe they think that God cannot be even with them Wise. I do not know what they think but I know that God hath said That as He cried and they would not hear so they shall crie and I will not hear saith the Lord. 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 soâ—n 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 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 prayâ— 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 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 acquinted with them Wise. You must rather word it thus It was the Judgement of God that he did that is he came acquainted with them through the anger of God He had a good Master and before him a good Father By these he had good counsel given him for Months and Years together but his heart was set upon mischief he loved wickedness more than to do good even untill his Iniquity came to be hateful therefore from the anger of God it was that these companions of his and he did at last so acquaint together Sayes Paul They did not like to retain God in their knowledge and what follows wherefore God gave them over or up to their own hearts lusts And again As for such as turn aside to their own crooked wayes the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity This therefore was Gods hand upon him that he might be destroyed be damned because he received not the love of the Truth that he might be saved He chose his Delusions and Deluders for him even the company of base men of Fools that he might be destroyed Atten. I cannot but
think indeed that it is a Great Judgment of God for a man to be given up to the company of vile men for what are such but the Devils * Decoyes even those by whom he drawes the simple into his Net A Whoremaster a Drunkard a Thiefe what are they but the Devils baits by which he catcheth others Wise. You say right but this young Badman was no simple one if by simple you mean one â—instructed for he had often good counsel given him but if by simple you mean him that is a Fool as to the true Knowledge of and Faith in Christ then he was a simple one indeed for he chose death rather than life and to live in continual opposition to God rather than to be Reconciled unto him according to that saying of the wise man The fooles hated knowledge and did not choose the Fear of the Lord 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 â—ipen 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 their lusts wherefore God gave them up to the company of three or four men that in less than three years time brought them roundly to the Gallows where they were hanged like Dogs because they refused to live like honest men Atten. But such men do not believe that thus to be given up of God is in Judgement and anger they rather take it to be their liberty and do count it their happiness they are glad that their Cord is loosed and that the reins are in their neck they are glad that they may sin without controul and that they may choose such company as can make them more expert in an evil way Wise. Their Judgement is therefore so much the greater because thereto is added blindness of Mind and hardness of Heart in a wicked way They are turned up to the way of Death but must not see to what place they are going They must go as the Ox to the slaughter and as the Fool to the Correction of the Stocks till a Dart strikes through their Liver not knowing that it is for their life This I say makes their Judgement double they are given up of God for a while to sport themselves with that which will assuredly make them mourn at last when their flesh and their body is consumed These are those that Peter 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 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 thaâ— beastly a thing Wise. It is a Swinish vanity indeed I will tell you another Story There was a Gentleman that had a Drunkard to be his 〈◊〉 and coming home one night 〈◊〉 much abulâ—d 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 and told his Master Then said his Master 〈◊〉 drunken lot thou art far worse thaâ— my Horse he will drink but to satisfie nature but thou wilt drink to the abuse of nature he will drink but to refresh himself but thou to thy hurt and dammage He will drink that he may be more serviceable to his Master but thou till thou art uncapable of serving either God or Man O thou Beast how much art thou worse than the horse that thou ridest on Atten. Truly I think that his Master served him right for in doing as he did he shewed him plainly as he said that he had not so much government of himself as his horse had of himself and consequently that his beast did live more according to the Law of his nature by far than did his man But pray go on with what you have further to say Wise. Why I say that there are 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 rendeth 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 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 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 That is the Drunkard 4. By Drunkennnes Men do often times shorten their dayes goe out of the Ale-house drunk and break their Necks before they come home Instances not a few might be given of this but this is so manifest a man need say nothing Atten. But that which is worse than all is it also prepares men for everlasting burnings Wise. Yea and it so stupifies and besotts the soul that a man that is
alone but it troubled me very much Atten. 'T was the most horrible thing that ever I heard in my life But how far off are these men from that Spirit and Grace that dwelt in Joseph Wise. Right when Joseph's Mistress tempted him yea tempted him daily yea she laid hold on him and said with her Whores forehead Come lie with me but he refused He hearkned not to lie with her or to be with her Mr. Badman would have taken the opportunity And a little to comment upon this of Joseph 1. Here is a Miss a great Miss the Wife of the Captain of the Guard some beautiful Dame I 'le warrant you 2. Here is a Miss won and in her whorish Affections come over to Joseph without his speaking of a word 3. Here is her unclean Desire made known Come lie with me said she 4. Here was a fit opportunity There was none of the men of the house there within 5. Joseph was a young man full of strength and therefore the more in danger to be taken 6. This was to him a Temptation from her that lasted days 7. And yet Joseph refused 1. Her daily Temptation 2. Her daily Solicitation 3. Her daily Provocation heartily violently and constantly For when she caught him by the Garment saying Lie with me he left his Garment in her hand and gat him out Ay and although contempt treachery slander accusation imprisonment and danger of death followed for an Whore careth not what mischief she does when she cannot have her end yet Joseph will not defile himself sin against God and hazard his own eternal salvation Atten. Blessed Joseph I would thou hadst more fellows Wise. Mr. Badman has more fellows than Joseph else there would not be so many Whores as there are For though I doubt not but that that Sex is bad enough this way yet I verily believe that many of them are made Whores at first by the flatteries of Badmans fellows Alas there is many a woman plunged into this sin at first even by promises of Marriage I say by these promises they are flattered yea forced into a consenting to these Villanies and so being in and growing hardened in their hearts they at last give themselves up even as wicked men do to act this kind of wickedness with greediness But Joseph you see was of another mind for the Fear of God was in him I will before I leave this tell you here two notable storyes and I wish Mr. Badmans companions may hear of them They are found in Clarks Looking-glass for Sinners and are these Mr. Cleaver says Mr. Clark reports of one whom he knew that had committed the act of Uncleanness whereupon he fell into such horror of Conscience that he hanged himself leaving it thus written in a paper Indeed saith he I acknowledge it to be utterly unlawful for a man to kill himself but I am bound to act the Magistrates part because the punishment of this sin is death Clark doth also in the same page make mention of two more who as they were committing Adultery in London were immediately struck dead with fire from Heaven in the very Act. Their bodyes were so found half burnt up and sending out a most loathsom savour Atten. These are not able storyes indeed Wise. So they are and I suppose they are as true as notable Atten. Well but I wonder if young Badmans Master knew him to be such a Wretch that he would suffer him in his house Wise. They liked one another even as fire and water doe Young Badmans wayes were odious to his Master and his Masters wayes were such as young Badman could not endure Thus in these two was fulfilled that saying of the Holy Ghost An unjust man is an abomination to the just and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked The good mans wayes Mr. Badman could not abide nor could the good man abide the bad wayes of his base Apprentice Yet would his Master if he could have kept him and also have learnt him his trade Atten. If he could why he might if he would might he not Wise. Alas Badman ran away from him once and twice and would not at all be ruled So the next time he did run away from him he did let him go indeed For he gave him no occasion to run away except it was by holding of him as much as he could and that he could do but little to good and honest rules of life And had it been ones own case one should have let him go For what should a man do that had either regard to his own Peace his Childrens Good or the preservation of the rest of his servants from evil but let him go Had he staid the house of Correction had been most fit for him but thither his Master was loth to send him because of the love that he bore to his Father An house of correction I say had been the fittest place for him but his Master let him go Atten. He ran away you say but whither did he run Wise. Why to one of his own trade and also like himself Thus the wicked joyned hand in hand and there he served out his time Atten. Then sure he had his hearts desire when he was with one so like himself Wise. Yes So he had but God gave it him in his anger Atten. How do you mean Wise. I mean as before that for a wicked man to be by the Providence of God turned out of a good mans doors into a wicked mans house to dwell is a sign of the Anger of God For God by this and such Judgements says thus to such an one Thou wicked one thou lovest not me my wayes nor my people Thou castest my Law and good Counsel behinde thy back Come I will dispose of thee in my wrath thou shalt be turned over to the ungodly thou shalt be put to school to the Devil I will leave thee to sink and swim in sin till I shall visit thee with Death and Judgment This was therefore another Judgment that did come upon this young Badman Atten. You have said the truth for God by such a Judgment as this in effect says so indeed for he takes them out of the hand of the just and binds them up in the hand of the wicked and whither they then shall be carried a man may easily imagin Wise. It is one of the saddest tokens of Gods anger that happens to such kind of persons And that for several reasons 1. Such an one by this Judgment is put out out of the way and from under the means which ordinarily are made use of to do good to the soul. For a Family where Godliness is professed and practised is Gods Ordinance the place which he has appointed to teach young ones the way and fear of God Now to be put out of such a Family into a bad a wicked one as Mr. Badman
was must needs be in Judgment and a sign of the anger of God For in ungodly Families men learn to forget God to hate goodness and to estrange themselves from the wayes of those that are good 2. In Bad Families they have continually fresh Examples and also incitements to evil and fresh encouragements to it too Yea moreover in such places evil is commended praised well-spoken of and they that do it are applauded and this to be sure is a drowning Judgement 3. Such places are the very haunts and Walks of the infernal Spirits who are continually poysoning the Cogitations and Minds of one or other in such Families that they may be able to poyson others Therefore observe it usually in wicked Families some one or two are more arch for wickedness then are any other that are there Now such are Satans Conduit-pipes for by them he conveighs of the spawn of Hell through their being crafty in wickedness into the Ears and Souls of their Companions Yea and when they have once conceived wickedness they travel with it as doth a woman with Child till they have brought it forth Behold he travelleth with iniquity and hath conceived mischief and brought forth falshood Some men as here is intimated in the Text and as was hinted also before have a kind of mystical but hellish copulation with the Devil who is the Father and their Soul the Mother of sin and wickedness and they so soon as they have conceived by him finish by bringing forth sin both it and their own damnation 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 be times 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 dammaged both in his Name Estate and Family and also hindred in his Peace and peaceable pursuit after God and godliness I say by one such Vermin as a wicked and filthy Apprentice Atten. True for one Sinner destroyeth much good and a poor man is better than a Lier But many times a man cannot help it for such as at the beginning promise very fair are by a little time proved to be very Rogues like young Badman Wise. That is true also but when a man has done the best he can to help it he may with the more confidence expect the Blessing of God to follow or he shall have the more peace if things go contrary to his desire Atten. Well but did Mr. Badman and his Master agree so well I mean his last Master since they were Birds of a Feather I mean since they were so well met for wickedness Wise. This second Master was as before I told you bad enough but yet he would often fall out 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 't is as I say For you must know that Badmans wayes suited not with his Masters gains Could he have done as the Damsel that we read of Acts 16. did to wit fill his Masters Purse with his badness he had certainly been his White-boy but it was not so with young Badman and therefore though his Master and he did suit well enough in the main yet in this and that point they differed Young Badman was for neglecting of his Masters business for going to the Whore-house for beguiling of his Master for attempting to debauch his Daughters and the like No marvel then if they disagreed in these points Not so much for that his Master had an antipathy against the fact it self for he could do so when he was an Apprentice but for that his servant by his sin made spoil of his Commodities c. and so damnified his Master Had as I said before young Badmans wickedness had only a tendency to his Masters advantage as could he have sworn lied cousened cheated and defrauded customers for his Master and indeed sometimes he did so but had that been all that he had done he had not had no not a wry word from his Master But this was not always Mr. Badmans way Atten. That was well brought in even the Maid that we read of in the Acts and the distinction was as clear betwixt the wickedness and wickedness of servants Wise. Alas men that are wicked themselves yet greatly hate it in others not simply because it is wickedness but because it opposeth their interest Do you think that that Maids master would have been troubled at the loss of her if he had not lost with her his gain No I 'le warrant you she might have gone to the Devil for him But when her master saw that the hope of his gain was gone then then he fell to persecuting Paul But Mr. Badmans master did sometimes lose by Mr. Badmans sins and then Badman and his master were at odds Atten. Alas poor Badman Then it seems thou couldest not at all times please thy like Wise. No he could not and the reason I have told you Atten. But do not bad Masters condemn themselves in condemning the badness of their servants 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. Badmans Masters case he is like his man and yet he beats him He is like his man and yet he rails at him for being bad Atten. But why did not young Badman run away from this Master as he ran away from the other Wise. He did not And if I be not mistaken the reason why was this There was Godliness in the house of the first and that young Badman could not endure For fare for lodging for work and time he had better and more by this Masters allowance than ever he had by his last but all this would not content because Godliness was promoted there He could not abide this praying this reading of Scriptures and hearing and repeating of Sermons he could not abide to be told of his transgressions in a sober and Godly manner Atten. There is a great deal in the Manner of reproof wicked men both can and cannot abide to hear their transgressions spoken against Wise. There is a great deal of difference