Life and Death of Mr. Badman. John Bunyan

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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 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, 81 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, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways; Again, They refuse to hearken, and pull away their shoulder, and stop their ears; yea, they make their hearts hard as an Adamant-stone, lest they should hear the Law, and the words that the Lord of Host[s] hath sent. 82  What are all these but such as Badman, and such as the young man but now mentioned?  That young man was my Play-fellow when I was solacing my self in my sins: I may make mention of him to my shame; but he has a great many fellows.

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

      Wise.  A while after 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! 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.  83 Doubtless there is a time a coming, when Mr. Badman will crie for this.

      Atten.  But I wonder that he should be so expert in wickedness, so soon! alas, he was but a Stripling, I suppose, he was, as yet, not Twenty.

      Wise.  No, nor Eighteen neither: but (as with Ishmael, and with the Children that mocked the Prophet) the seeds of sin did put forth themselves betimes in him. 84

      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 85 acquainted with three young Villains (who here shall be nameless,) that taught him to adde to his sin, much of like kind; and he as aptly received their Instructions.  One of them was chiefly given to Uncleanness, another to Drunkenness; and the third to Purloining, or stealing from his Master.

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

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

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

      Wise.  You must rather word it thus.  It 86 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; 87 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. 88  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. 89 90

      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 91  Decoyes, even those by whom he drawes the simple into the 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 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 fooles hated knowledge, and did not choose the Fear of the Lord: 92 and what Judgement more dreadfull can a fool be given up to, than to be delivered into the hands of such men, that have skill to do nothing, but to ripen sin, and hasten its 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. 93

      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, 94 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.

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