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T H E By J O H N.B U N Y A N. 1680. Published two years after Pilgrim's Progress. |
CHAPTER III.
[BADMAN'S APPRENTICESHIP TO A PIOUS MASTER.]
ISE. 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 for 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 do badly;
but all was one to him, as he had begun to be vile in his father'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 of
the worship and service of God therein; but perhaps that might be wanting in Mr.
Badman'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 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. Badman's master.
WISE. Nor I neither, yet Mr. Badman had such an one; for, for the most part, masters
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, show
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 ruined 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 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 beginning 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. 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 is 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;[23] and, indeed, children
make a greater inspection into the lives of fathers, masters, &c., than ofttimes
they are aware of. And therefore should masters be careful, else they may so 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 (1 Sam 2).
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 hindrances; 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 do.
ATTEN. It 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 master's house till they rotted from
him, he would not 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 ribaldry,
even such as immediately tended to set all fleshly lusts on fire.[24] 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 it was spoken.
Yea, I have heard some that knew him then say, that one might evidently discern by
the show 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 (Prov 15:12). He would hate them that rebuked
him, and count them his deadly enemies (Prov 9:8).
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 here 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 beautiful object that was in the place, and so
all sermon-while therewith to 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,
giggling, 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 apprenticeship 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.
WISE. You say true, and I know not to whom more fitly to compare him than to that
man who, when I myself rebuked him or 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, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways'
(Job 21:14). Again, 'They refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped
their ears. Yea, they make their hearts' hard 'as an adamant- stone, lest they should
hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent' (Zech 7:11,12). 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 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 cried and I would not hear, saith the Lord' (Zech
7:13). 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, nor eighteen either; but, as with Ishmael, and with the children that mocked
the prophet, the seeds of sin did put forth themselves betimes in him (Gen 21:9,10;
2 Kings 2:23,24).
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 acquainted with 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 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 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 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 until 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. Says
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 (Rom 1:28). And again, 'As
for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with
the workers of iniquity' (Psa 125:5). 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' (2 Thess 2:10). He chose his delusions and deluders for him,
even the company of base men, of fools, that he might be destroyed (Prov 12:20).
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 decoys,
even those by whom he draws the simple into his net? A whoremaster, a drunkard, a
thief, what are they but the devil's 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 God, rather than to be reconciled unto him; according to that saying
of the wise man, 'The fools hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord'
(Prov 1:29). 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 though, 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 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 control, and that they may choose 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 a fool to the correction of the stocks, till a dart
strike through his liver,' not knowing 'that it is for his life' (Prov 7:22,23).
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 the last, when
their flesh and their body are consumed' (Prov 5:11). These are those that Peter
speaks, 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' (2 Peter 2:12,13).
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,[25] a chief one in their ways.
First, he became a frequenter of taverns and tippling- houses, and would stay there
until 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. 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 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 rode into the water the 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; he 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 showed 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 tendeth to impoverish and beggar a man. 'The drunkard,' says Solomon,
'shall come to poverty' (Prov 23:21). 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 (Eccl 7:17). 3. Drunkenness is a sin that is oftentimes attended
with abundance of other evils. 'Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions?
Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They
that tarry long at the wine, they that go to seek mixed wine'; that is, the drunkard
(Prov 23:29,30). 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 (1 Cor 6:10).
WISE. Yea, and it so stupefies 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? 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 (Prov 23:34,35). 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 pleasures 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 said 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 men's 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, 'Woe to him that
coveteth an evil covetousness, that he may set his nest on high' (Hab 2:5,9-12,15).
Whether he makes drunkenness, or ought else, the engine and 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 was 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.
ATTEN. 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 villains to be a beastly drunkard, so he learned of them to 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 not only run himself under the wrath of God, but has endangered the undoing of
his master and his family.
WISE. Sins go not alone, but follow one the other as do the links of a chain; he
that will be 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.
ATTEN. I fear that many an honest man is undone 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 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 story. When I was in prison,
there came a woman to me that was under a great deal of trouble.[26] 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 cause of 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 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 went, 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 upon 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.[27]
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 that are great
and chief, spread sooner, and more universally, 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
(Jer 23:15).
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 this sin of uncleanness: this roguery was his masterpiece, 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 knew this young villain, would at first
discover themselves in all their whorish pranks to those that he brought with him.
ATTEN. 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 nigh
the door of her house' (Prov 5:8). 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 behold 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 twilight,
in the evening, in the black and dark night. And, behold, there met him a women with
the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart; she is loud and stubborn; her feet
abide not in her house; now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait
at every corner. So she caught him, and kissed him, and, with an impudent face, said
unto him, I have peace-offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows. Therefore
came I forth to meet thee diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have
decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill
of love until the morning; let us solace ourselves with loves' (Prov 7:6-18). Here
was a bold beast. And, indeed, the very eyes, hands, words, and ways of such, are
all snares and bands to youthful, lustful fellows. And with these was young Badman
greatly snared.
ATTEN. This sin of uncleanness is mightily cried out against both by Moses, the prophets,
Christ, and his apostles; and yet, as we see, for all that, how men run headlong
to it!
WISE. You have said the truth, and I will add, that God, to hold men back from so
filthy a sin, has set such a stamp of his indignation upon it, and commanded such
evil effects to follow it, that, were not they that use it bereft of all fear of
God, and love to their own health, they could not but stop and be afraid to commit
it. For besides the eternal damnation that doth attend such in the next world, for
these have no 'inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God' (Eph 5:5), the evil
effects thereof in this world are dreadful.
ATTEN. Pray show me some of them, that as occasion offereth itself, I may show them
to others for their good.
WISE. So I will. 1. It bringeth a man, as was said of the sin before, to want and
poverty; 'For by means of a whorish woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread'
(Prov 6:26). The reason is, for that a whore will not yield without hire; and men,
when the devil and lust is in them, and God and his fear far away from them, will
not stick, so they may accomplish their desire, to lay their signet, their bracelets,
and their staff to pledge, rather than miss of the fulfilling of their lusts (Gen
38:18). 2. Again, by this sin men diminish their strength, and bring upon themselves,
even upon the body a multitude of diseases. This King Lemuels' mother warned him
of. 'What, my son?' said she, 'and what the son of my womb? And what the son of my
vows? Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings'
(Prov 31:2,3). This sin is destructive to the body. Give me leave to tell you another
story. I have heard of a great man that was a very unclean person, and he had lived
so long 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.[28]
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 of his soul, but he
will commit this sin, 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, now called by us the pox.
A disease so nauseous and stinking, so infectious to the whole body, and so entailed
to this sin, that hardly are any common with unclean women, but they have more or
less a touch of it to their shame.
ATTEN. 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 is a disease, that where it is it commonly declares that the cause thereof
is uncleanness. It declares to all that behold 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 (Job 31:1-3).
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 then should I think upon a maid? For what
portion of God is there,' for that sin, 'from above, and what inheritance of the
Almighty from on high?' 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 that 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 wiped away' (Prov 6:33). 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 wiped away,' from them that are common in it.
ATTEN. What other things follow upon the commission of this beastly sin?
WISE. Why, oftentimes 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 great 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 rid far, but the gentleman lit of his horse, and, taking the old
midwife in his arms from the horse, turned round with her several times, and then
set her up again, then he got up and away they went till they came at 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 gentleman 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 the 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 up 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 often 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
of one, I think a doctor of physic, and his whore, who had three or four bastards
betwixt them and had murdered them all, but at last themselves were hanged for it,
in or near to 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 has 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 bed, cry out thus,
I am a whore, and all my children are bastards, and I must go to hell for my sin,
and look, there stands the devil at my bed's feet to receive my soul when I die.
ATTEN. These are sad stories, tell no more of them now, but if you please show 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 enchanting and bewitching pleasures of it. This is
manifest by these and such like texts—'The adulteress will hunt for the precious
life' (Prov 6:26). 'Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding.
He that doeth it destroyeth his own soul' (Prov 6:32). 'A whore is a deep ditch,
and a strange woman is a narrow pit' (Prov 23:27). 'Her house inclineth unto death,
and her paths unto the dead. None that go under her return again, neither take they
hold of the paths of life' (Prov 2:18,19). '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' (Prov 7:26,27).
ATTEN. These are dreadful sayings, and do show 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 flattering lips, 'of strange women is a deep pit, he that is abhorred
of the Lord shall fall therein' (Prov 22:14). Therefore it saith again of such, that
they have none 'inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God' (Eph 5:5).
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 the things, the punishments that God hath threatened to inflict upon the committers
of them, that at last they arrive 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 soul. And I myself heard
another say, when he was tempting of a maid to commit uncleanness with him—it was
in Oliver's days—that if she did prove with child he would tell her how she might
escape punishment—and that was then somewhat severe— Say, saith he, when you come
before the judge, that 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, so I let it alone,
but it troubled me very much.
ATTEN. It 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 (Gen 39:10).
WISE. Right; when Joseph's mistress tempted him, yea, tempted him daily, yea, she
laid hold on him and said, with her 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 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'll 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 got 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
a 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 promises of marriage. I say by these promises they are flattered, yea, forced
into a consenting to these villainies, 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.[29] 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 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 do 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, 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 bodies were so found, half burned 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. Young Badman's ways were
odious to his master, and his master's ways were such as young Badman could not endure.
Thus, in these two, were 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' (Prov 29:27). The good man's ways, Mr. Badman could not abide, nor
could the good man abide the bad ways of his base apprentice. Yet would his master,
if he could, have kept him, and also have learned 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
one's own case, one should have let him go. For what should a man do that had either
regard to his own peace, his children's good, or the preservation of the rest of
his servant's 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. A 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?
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