Life and Death of Mr. Badman. John Bunyan

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There may be something in what you say, for he that cannot abide to keep one day holy to God, to be sure he hath given a sufficient proof that he is an unsanctified man; and as such, what should he do in Heaven? that being the place where a perpetual Sabath is to be kept to God; 38 I say, to be kept for ever and ever.  And for ought I know, one reason why one day in seven, hath been by our Lord set apart unto holy Duties for men, may be to give them conviction that there is enmity in the hearts of sinners to the God of Heaven, for he that hateth Holiness, hateth God himself.  They pretend to love God, and yet love not a holy day, and yet love not to spend that day in one continued act of holiness to the Lord: They had as good say nothing as to call him Lord, Lord, and yet not doe the things that he says.  And this Mr. Badman was such an one: he could not abide this day, nor any of the Duties of it.  Indeed, when he could get from his Friends, and so 39 spend it in all manner of idleness and profaneness, then he would be pleased well enough: but what was this but a turning the day into night, or other than taking an opportunity at Gods forbidding, to follow our Callings, to solace and satisfie our lusts and delights of the flesh.  I take the liberty to speak thus of Mr. Badman, upon a confidence of what you, Sir, have said of him, is true.

      Wise.  You needed not to have made that Apology for your censuring of Mr. Badman, for all that knew him, will confirm what you said of him to be true.  He could not abide either that day, or any thing else that had the stamp or image of God upon it.  Sin, sin, and to do the thing that was naught, was that which he delighted in, and that from a little Child.

      Atten.  I must say again, I am sorry to hear it, and that for his own sake, and also for the sake of his Relations, who must needs be broken to pieces with such doings as these: For, for these things sake comes the wrath of God upon the Children of disobedience: 40 and doubtless he must be gone to Hell, if he died without Repentance; and to beget a Child for Hell, is sad for Parents to think on.

      Wise.  Of his Dying, as I told you, I will give you a Relation anon, but now we are upon his Life, and upon the Manner of his Life in his Childhood, even of the sins that attended him then, some of which I have mentioned already; and indeed I have mentioned but some, for yet there are more to follow, and those not at all inferiour to what you have already heard.

      Atten.  Pray what were they?

      Wise.  Why he was greatly given, and that while a Lad, to grievous 41 Swearing and Cursing: yea, he then made no more of Swearing and Cursing, than I do of telling my fingers.  Yea, he would do it without provocation thereto.  He counted it a glory to Swear and Curse, and it was as natural to him, as to eat and drink and sleep.

      Atten.  Oh! what a young Villain was this! here is, as the Apostle says, a yielding of Members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, 42 indeed!  This is proceeding from evil to evil with a witness; This argueth that he was a black-mouthed young Wretch indeed.

      Wise.  He was so; and yet, as I told you, he counted, above all, this kind of sinning, to be 43 a Badge of his Honour: He reckoned himself a mans Fellow when he had learnt to Swear and Curse boldly.

      Atten.  I am perswaded that many do think, as you have said, that to Swear, is a thing that does bravely become them, and that it is the best way for a man, when he would put authority, or terrour into his words, to stuff them full of the sin of Swearing.

      Wise.  You say right, else, as I am perswaded, men would not so usually belch out their blasphemous Oaths, as they do: they take a pride in it; they think that to swear is Gentleman-like; and having once accustomed themselves unto it, they hardly leave it all the days of their lives.

      Atten.  Well, but now we are upon it, pray shew me 44 the difference between Swearing and Cursing; for there is a difference, is there not?

      Wise.  Yes: There is a difference between Swearing and Cursing, Swearing, vain swearing, such as young Badman accustomed himself unto.  Now vain and sinful swearing, 45 Is a light and wicked calling of God, &c. to witness to our vain and foolish attesting of things, and those things are of two sorts.

      1.  Things that we swear, are, or shall be done.

      2.  Things so sworn to, true or false.

      1.  Things that we swear, are, or shall be done.  Thou swearest thou hast done such a thing, that such a thing is so, or shall be so; for it is no matter which of these it is that men swear about, if it be done lightly and wickedly, and groundlesly, it is vain, because it is a sin against the Third Commandement, which says, Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain. 46  For this is a vain using of that Holy and Sacred Name, and so a sin for which, without sound Repentance, there is not, nor can be rightly expected, forgiveness.

      Atten.  Then it seems, though as to the matter of fact, a man swears truely, yet if he sweareth lightly and groundlesly, his Oath is evil, and he by it, under sin.

      Wise.  Yes; a man may say, 47 The Lord liveth, and that is true, and yet in so saying, swear falsly; because he sweareth vainly, needlesly, and without a ground.  To swear groundedly and necessarily, (which then a man does, when he swears as being called thereto of God,) that is tolerated of the Word: but this was none of Mr. Badmans swearing, and therefore that which now we are not concerned about.

      Atten.  I perceive, by the Prophet, that a man may sin in swearing to a Truth: They therefore must needs most horribly sin, that swear to confirm their Jests and Lies; and as they think, the better to beautifie their foolish talking.

      Wise.  They sin with an high hand; for they presume to imagine, 48 that God is as wicked as themselves, to wit, that he is an Avoucher of Lies to be true.  For, as I said before, to swear, is to call God to witness; and to swear to a Lie, is to call God himself, to witness that that Lie is true.  This therefore must needs offend; for it puts the highest affront upon the Holiness and Righteousness of God, therefore his wrath must sweep them away.  This kind of Swearing is put in with lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing Adultery; and therefore must not go unpunished: 49 For if God will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain, which a man may doe when he swears to a truth, (as I have shewed before,) how can it be imagined, that he should hold such guiltless, who, by Swearing, will appeal to God, if Lies be not true, or that swear out of their frantick and Bedlam madness.  It would grieve and provoke a sober man to wrath, if one should swear to a notorious lye, and avouch that that man would attest it for a truth; and yet thus do men deal with the holy God: They tell their Jestings, Tales and Lies, and then swear by God that they are true.  Now this kind of Swearing was as common with young Badman, as it was to eat when he was an hungred, or to go to bed when it was night.

      Atten.  I have often mused in my mind, what it should be that should make men so common in the use of the sin of Swearing, since those that be wise, will believe them never the sooner for that.

      Wise.  It cannot be any thing that is good, you may be sure; because the thing it self is abominable: 50 1.  Therefore it must be from the promptings of the spirit of the Devil within them.  2.  Also it flows sometimes from hellish Rage, when the tongue hath set on fire of Hell even the whole course of nature. 51 3.  But commonly Swearing flows from that daring Boldness that biddeth defiance to the Law

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