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, th

en put out abroad; especially when they have fallen into a family where the governors thereof have made conscience of m

t 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

part can see but few that can parallel,

orldly concerns, and if apprentices do but answer their commands therein, soul and religion may go whither they will. Yea, I much fe

ve touched upon this subject, show me how many way

be put to be an apprentice with one that is reputed to be a godly man, yet that lad may be ruined many ways; tha

ork at unseasonable hours; if he will not allow him convenient time to read the Word, to pray, &c. This is the wa

course, 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 ho

or they that are bad and sordid servants will be often, and they have an opportunity too, to be distilling and fomenting of their pr

oad; 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

hed to be good, or if he seeks after unreasonable gain, or the like; his servant sees it, and it is enough to

. 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 wa

ng should take hold of his heart! What! not good books, nor good instructions, nor

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 dur

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

eligious and civil matters, these young Badman would laugh at, and would a

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 p

rown to a prodigious

soon as he was come to his master-he was as ready at all these things as if

n. Methinks it is as if he had said, I will not hear, I will not regard, I w

that man who, when I myself rebuked him or his wickedness, in this great hu

you ever hear

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'

y copy: I mean as to his desperateness, for had he not been a desperate one he would never have made

e, still leaving him in his sins; and so far as I could ever gather, as he lived, so h

inners! Do they think that

ried, and they would not hear; so they cried and I would not hear, saith the Lord

rt in wickedness so soon! Alas, he was but a

the children that mocked the prophet, the seeds of sin did put

icked a young man as com

l say so when

great all; but if there is mo

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 instru

s bad enough before, but these,

be sure of, for they taught him to be

hap that he ever came

ity 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

ny of vile men; for what are such but the devil's decoys, even those by whom he draws the simple into his

ying 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

liberty, and do count it their happiness; they are glad that their cord is loosed, and that the reins are on their neck; they

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 co

ee villains that were young Badman's companions;

I intimated so much before, when I said they m

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

h against nature, that I wonder that any that have but the appearance of m

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

that he had not so much government of himself as his horse had of himself; and, consequently, that his beast did liv

t 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 hat

n all is, it also prepares men for

st; 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,

tends to poverty, yet some make t

ot 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 whi

ould he get money to follow this practice; for drun

aster'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 ware

r by thus doing he did not only run himself under the wrath of

that will be a drunkard, must have money, either of his own or of some other ma

an honest man is undone

es 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

ch of this kind of pilfering among

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 h

like relation concerning herself, and the robbing

hat other villain add

third c

told you before, bu

ncleanness. Uncleannes

t is one of the most reig

ong those that one would think had

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

return again to Mr. Bad

s very vile in the com

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

en such beastly queens shall, with words and carriages that are openly tempt

d 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 f

t both by Moses, the prophets, Christ, and his apostles; an

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 da

me of them, that as oc

em to others

ng 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 grea

ernal damnation of his soul, but he will commit this sin, will for it run the hazard of destroying his body. If young Badman fear

ects follow, often upon the commission of it, that if men would con

er evil effects

nd disgrace, and that

so nauseous and stinking, so infectious to the whole body, and so entailed to this sin, that ha

that rotted away with it; and another that had his nos

eclares to all that behold such a man, that he is an odious, a beastly, unclean person. This is that str

you think, that the s

s of should be

hould 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, sp

follow upon the commiss

efiled bed. How common it is for the bastard-getter and bastard-bearer to consent together to m

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 fro

e, 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

e 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 t

them now, but if you please show me yet some

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 dea

and do show the dreadful state of

, 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 ab

t is a dreadful thing to live

onceivable 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

ness 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

ard in my life. But how far off are these men from t

ld on him and said, with her whore's forehead, Come, 'lie with me,' but he refused; he he

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

eph! I would thou

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

eaver, 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

ng adultery in London, were immediately struck dead with fire from heaven, in the very

are notable s

nd I suppose they ar

an's master knew him to be such a wretc

, 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

Why, he might, if he

ld 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

y, you say, but w