to swear it.
Wise. That’s true, but what evil is that that he will not doe, that is
left of God, as I believe Mr. Badman was?
Atten. And what was the other thing?
Wise. Why, that which I hinted before, he was for looking out for
a rich Wife: {70d} and now I am come to some more of his invented,
devised, designed, and abominable Roguery, such that will yet declare
him to be a most desperate sinner.
The thing was this: A Wife he wanted, or rather Money; for as for a
woman, he could have Whores enow at his whistle. But, as I said, he
wanted Money, and that must be got by a Wife, or no way; nor could he
so easily get a Wife neither, except he became an Artist at the way
of dissembling; nor would dissembling do among that people that could
dissemble as well as he. But there dwelt a Maid not far from him, that
was both godly, {70e} and one that had a good Portion, but how to get
her, there lay all the craft. {71a} Well, he calls a Council of some
of his most trusty and cunning Companions, {71b} and breaks his mind
to them; to wit, that he had a mind to marry: and he also told them to
whom; But, said he, how shall I accomplish my end, she is Religious,
and I am not? Then one of them made reply, saying, Since she is
Religious, you must pretend to be so likewise, and that for some time
before you go to her: Mark therefore whither she goes daily to hear,
and do you go thither also; but there you must be sure to behave your
self soberly, and make as if you liked the Word wonderful well; stand
also where she may see you, and when you come home, be sure that you
walk the street very soberly, and go within sight of her: This done
for a while, then go to her, and first talk of how sorry you are for
your sins, and shew great love to the Religion that she is of; still
speaking well of her Preachers and of her godly acquaintance, bewailing
your hard hap, that it was not your lot to be acquainted with her and
her fellow-Professors sooner; and this is the way to get her. Also you
must write down Sermons, talk of Scriptures, and protest that you came
a wooing to her, only because she is Godly, and because you should
count it your greatest happiness if you might but have such an one: As
for her Money, slight it, it will be never the further off, that’s the
way to come soonest at it, for she will be jealous at first that you
come for her Money; you know what she has, but make not a word about
it. Do this, and you shall see if you do not intangle the Lass.
Thus was the snare laid for this poor honest Maid, and she was quickly
catched in his pit.
Atten. Why, did he take this counsel?
Wise. Did he! yes, and after a while, went as boldly to her, {71c} and
that under a Vizzard of Religion, as if he had been for Honesty and
Godliness, one of the most sincere and upright-hearted in England. He
observed all his points, and followed the advice of his Counsellers,
and quickly obtained her too; for natural parts he had, he was tall,
and fair, and had plain, but very good Cloaths on his back; and his
Religion was the more easily attained; for he had seen something in the
house of his Father, and first Master, and so could the more readily
put himself into the Form and Shew thereof.
So he appointed his day, and went to her, as that he might easily
do, for she had neither father nor mother to oppose. Well, when he
was come, and had given her a civil Complement, {72a} to let her
understand why he was come, then he began and told her, That he had
found in his heart a great deal of love to her Person; and that, of
all the Damosels in the world he had pitched upon her, if she thought
fit, to make her his beloved wife. The reasons, as he told her, why he
had pitched upon her were, her Religious and personal Excellencies;
and therefore intreated her to take his condition into her tender and
loving consideration. As for the world, quoth he, I have a very good
trade, and can maintain my self and Family well, while my wife sits
still on her seat; I have got thus, and thus much already, and feel
money come in every day, but that is not the thing that I aim at, ’tis
an honest and godly Wife. Then he would present her with a good Book or
two, pretending how much good he had got by them himself. He would also
be often speaking well of godly Ministers, especially of those that he
perceived she liked, and loved most. Besides, he would be often telling
of her, what a godly Father he had, and what a new man he was also
become himself; and thus did this treacherous Dealer, deal with this
honest and good Girl, to her great grief and sorrow, as afterward you
shall hear.
Atten. But had the maid no friend to looke after her?
Wise. Her Father and Mother were dead, and that he knew well enough,
and so she was the more easily overcome by his naughty lying tongue.
But if she had never so many friends, she might have been beguiled by
him. It is too much the custom of young people now, to think themselves
wise enough to make their own Choyce, and that they need not ask
counsel of those that are older and also wiser then they: {72b} but
this is a great fault in them, and many of them have paid dear for it.
Well, to be short, in little time Mr. Badman obtains his desire, {73a}
gets this honest Girl and her money, is married to her, brings her
home, makes a Feast, entertains her royally, but her Portion must pay
for all.
Atten. This was wonderfull deceitfull doings, a man shall seldom hear
of the like.
Wise. By this his doing, he shewed how little he feared God, {73b} and
what little dread he had of his Judgments. For all this carriage, and
all these words were by him premeditated evil, he knew he lyed, he knew
he dissembled; yea, he knew that he made use of the name of God, of
Religion, good Men, and good Books, but as a stalking-Horse, thereby
the better to catch his game. In all this his glorious pretense of
Religion, he was but a glorious painted Hypocrite, and hypocrisie is
the highest sin that a poor carnal wretch can attain unto; it is also a
sin that most dareth God, and that also bringeth the greater damnation.
Now was he a whited Wall, now was he a painted Sepulchre; {73c} now
was he a grave that appeared not; for this poor honest, godly Damosel,
little thought that both her peace, and comfort, and estate, and
liberty, and person, and all, were going to her burial, {73d} when she
was going to be married to Mr. Badman; And yet so it was, she enjoyed
her self but little afterwards; she was as if she was dead and buried,
to what she enjoyed before.
Atten. Certainly some wonderfull Judgment of God must attend and
overtake such wicked men as these.
Wise. You may be sure that they shall have Judgment to the full, for
all these things, when the day of Judgment is come. But as for Judgment
upon them in this life, it doth not alwayes come, no not upon those
that are worthy thereof. They that tempt God are delivered, and they
that work wickedness are set up: {73e} But they are reserved to the day
of wrath, and then for their wickedness, God will repay them to their
faces. {73f} The wicked is reserved to the day of destruction, they
shall be brought forth to the day of wrath; who shall declare his way
to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? yet shall he be
brought to the grave, and remain in the tomb. {73g} That is, ordinarily
they escape God’s hand in this life, save only a few Examples are made,
that others may be cautioned, and take warning thereby: But at the day
of Judgment they must be rebuked for their evil with the lashes of
devouring fire.
Atten. Can you give me no examples of Gods wrath upon men that have
acted this tragical wicked deed Mr. Badman.
Wise. Yes; {74a} Hamor and Shechem, and all the men of their City, for
attempting to make God and Religion the stalking-Horse to get Jacobs
daughters to wife, were together slain with the edge of the sword. A
Judgment of God upon them, no doubt, for their dissembling in that
matter. All manner of lying and dissembling is dreadfull, but to make
God and Religion a Disguise, therewith to blind thy Dissimulation from
others eyes, is highly provoking to the Divine Majesty.
[Picture: Take note symbol] I knew one that dwelt not far off from our
Town, that got him a wife as Mr. Badman got his; but he did not enjoy
her long: for one night as he was riding home (from his companions,
where he had been at a neighbouring Town) his horse threw him to the
ground, where he was found dead at break of day; frightfully and
lamentably mangled with his fall, and besmeared with his own blood.
Atten. Well, but pray return again to Mr. Badman, how did he carry it
to his wife, after he was married to her?
Wise. Nay, let us take things along as we go. He had not been married
but a little while, but his Creditors came upon him {74c} for their
money: He deferred them a little while, but at last things were come to
that point, that pay he must, or must do worse; so he appointed them a
time, and they came for their money, and he payed them down with her
money before her eyes, for those goods that he had profusely spent
among his Whores long before, (besides the portion that his Father gave
him) to the value of two hundred pounds.
Atten. This beginning was bad; but what shall I say? ’twas like Mr.
Badman himself. Poor woman, this was but a bad beginning for her, I
fear it filled her with trouble enough, as I think such a beginning
would have done, one, perhaps much stronger than she.
Wise. Trouble, ay, you may be sure of it, but now ’twas too late to
repent, {75a} she should have looked better to herself, when being wary
would have done her good; her harms may be an advantage to others, that
will learn to take heed thereby; but for her self, she must take what
follows, even such a life now as Mr. Badman her Husband will lead her,
and that will be bad enough.
Atten. This beginning was bad, and yet I fear it was but the beginning
of bad.
Wise. You may he sure, that it was but the beginning of badness, for
other evils came on apace; as for instance: it was but a little while
after he was married, {75b} but he hangs his Religion upon the hedge,
or rather dealt with it as men deal with their old Cloaths, who cast
them off, or leave them to others to wear, for his part he would be
Religious no longer.
Now therefore he had pulled off his Vizzard, and began to shew himself
in his old shape, a base, wicked, debauched fellow, (and now the poor
woman saw that she was betrayed indeed;) now also his old Companions
begin to flock about him, and to haunt his house and Shop as formerly:
And who with them but Mr. Badman? and who with him again but they?
Now those good people that used to company with his Wife, began to be
ama[t]ed and discouraged; {75c} also he would frown and gloat upon
them, as it he abhorred the appearance of them: so that in little
time he drove all good company from her, and made her sit solitary by
herself. He also began now to go out a nights to those Drabs {75d}
who were his Familiars before, with whom he would stay somtimes till
midnight, and sometimes till almost morning, and then would come home
as drunk as a Swine; and this was the course of Mr. Badman.
Now, when he came home in this case, if his wife did but speak a word
to him, about where he had been, and why he had so abused himself,
though her words were spoken in never so much meekness and love, then
she was Whore, {76a} and Bitch, and Jade; and ’twas well if she miss’d
his fingers and heels. Sometimes also he would bring his Puncks home to
his house, and wo be to his wife when they were gone, if she did not
entertain them with all varieties possible, and also carry it lovingly
to them.
Thus this good woman was made by Badman her Husband, to possess nothing
but disappointments as to all that he had promised her, or that she
hoped to have at his hands.
But that that added pressing weight to all her sorrow, was, that, as
he had cast away all Religion himself, so he attempted, if possible,
to make her do so too. {76b} He would not suffer her to go out to the
Preaching of the Word of Christ, nor to the rest of his Appointments,
for the health and salvation of her Soul: he would now taunt at, and
reflectingly speak of her Preachers; {76c} and would receive, yea raise
scandals of them, to her very great grief and affliction.
Now she scarce durst go to an honest Neighbours house, or have a good
Book in her hand; specially when he had his companions in his house, or
had got a little drink in his head. He would also, when he perceived
that she was dejected, speak tauntingly, {76d} and mockingly to her in
the presence of his Companions, calling of her his Religious Wife, his
demure Dame, and the like; also he would make a sport of her among his
wanton ones abroad.
If she did ask him (as sometimes she would) to let her go out to a
Sermon, he would in a currish manner reply, Keep at home, keep at home,
and look to your business, we cannot live by hearing of Sermons. {76e}
If she still urged that he would let her goe, then he would say to
her, Goe if you dare. He would also charge her with giving of what he
had to her Ministers, when, vile wretch, he had spent it on his vain
Companions before.
This was the life that Mr. Badmans good wife lived, within few months
after he had married her.
Atten. This was a disappointment indeed.
Wise. A disappointment indeed, as ever, I think, poor woman had. One
would think that the Knave might a little let her have had her will,
since it was nothing but to be honest, and since she brought him so
sweet, so lumping a Portion, for she brought hundreds into his house: I
say, one would think he should have let her had her own will a little,
since she desired it only in the Service and Worship of God: but could
she win him to grant her that? no, not a bit if it would have saved
her life. True, sometimes she would steal out when he was from home,
on a Journey, or among his drunken companions, but with all privacy
imaginable; {77a} and, poor woman, this advantage she had, she carried
it so to all her Neighbours, that, though many of them were but carnal,
yet they would not betray her, or tell of her going out to the Word,
if they saw it, but would rather endeavour to hide it from Mr. Badman
himself.
Atten. This carriage of his to her, was enough to break her heart.
Wise. It was enough to do it indeed, yea it did effectually do it.
It killed her in time, yea it was all the time a killing of her. She
would often-times when she sate by her self, thus mournfully bewail
her condition: {77b} Wo is me that I sojourn in Meshech, and that I
dwell in the tents of Kedar; my soul hath long time dwelt with him that
hateth peace. {77c} O what shall be given unto thee, thou deceitful
tongue? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? I am a
Woman grieved in spirit, my Husband has bought me and sold me for his
lusts: ’Twas not me, but my Money that he wanted: O that he had had it,
so I had had my liberty!
This she said, not of contempt of his Person, but of his Conditions,
and because she saw that by his hypocritical tongue, he had brought her
not only almost to beggery, but robbed her of the Word of God.
Atten. It is a deadly thing, I see, to be unequally yoaked with
Unbelievers. If this woman had had a good Husband, how happily might
they have lived together! Such an one would have prayed for her, taught
her, and also would have encourages her in the Faith, and ways of God:
But now, poor creature, instead of this, there is nothing but the quite
contrary.
Wise. It is a deadly thing indeed, and therefore, by the Word of
God his people are forbid to be joyned in marriage with them. {77d}
Be not, saith it, unequally yoaked together with unbelievers; for
what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness? And what Concord hath Christ with
Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel? And what
agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? {78a} There can be no
agreement where such Matches are made, even God himself hath declared
the contrary, from the beginning of the world. I (says he) will put
enmity betwixt thee and the woman, betwixt thy seed and her seed. {78b}
Therefore he saith in another place, they can mix no better than Iron
and Clay. I say, they cannot agree, they cannot be one, and therefore
they should be aware at first, and not lightly receive such into their
affections. God has often made such Matches bitter, especially to his
own. Such matches are, as God said of Elie’s Sons that were spared,
to consume the eyes, and to grieve the heart. Oh the wailing, and
lamentation that they have made that have been thus yoaked, especially
if they were such as would be so yoaked, against their light, and good
counsel to the contrary.
Atten. Alas! he deluded her with his tongue, and feigned reformation.
Wise. Well, well; she should have gone more warily to work: {78d}
what if she had acquainted some of her best, most knowing, and godly
friends therewith? what if she had engaged a Godly Minister or two to
have talked with Mr. Badman? Also, what if she had laid wait round
about him, to espie if he was not otherwise behind her back than
he was before her face? And besides, I verily think (since in the
multitude of Counsellors there is safety) that if she had acquainted
the Congregation with it, and desired them to spend some time in prayer
to God about it, and if she must have had him, to have received him
as to his godliness, upon the Judgment of others, rather than her
own, (she knowing them to be Godly and Judicious, and unbiassed men)
she had had more peace all her life after; than to trust to her own
poor, raw, womanish Judgment, as she did. Love is blind, and will see
nothing amiss, where others may see an hundred faults. Therefore I say,
she should not have trusted to her own thoughts in the matter of his
Goodness.
As to his Person, there she was fittest to judge, because she was to
be the person pleased, but as to his Godliness, there the Word was
the fittest Judge, and they that could best understand it, because
God was therein to be pleased. I wish {79a} that all young Maidens
will take heed of being beguiled with flattering words, with feigning
and lying speeches, and take the best way to preserve themselves from
being bought and sold by wicked men, as she was; lest they repent with
her, when (as to this) repentance will do them no good, but for their
unadvisedness goe sorrowing to their graves.
Atten. Well, things are past with this poor woman, and cannot be called
back, let others {79b} beware, by her misfortunes, lest they also fall
into her distress.
Wise. That is the thing that I say, let them take heed, lest for
their unadvisedness the smart, as this poor woman has done. And ah!
methinks, that they that yet are single persons, and that are tempted
to marry to such as Mr. Badman; would, to inform, and warn themselves
in this matter, before they intangle themselves, but goe to some that
already are in the snare, and ask them how it is with them, as to the
suitable, or unsuitableness of their marriage, and desire their advice.
Surely they would ring such a peal in their ears about the unequality,
unsuitableness, disadvantages, and disquietments, and sins that attend
such marriages, that would make them beware as long as they live. But
the bird in the air, knows not the notes of the bird in the snare,
untill she comes thither herself: Besides, to make up such marriages,
Satan, and carnal Reason, and Lust, or at least Inconsiderateness, has
the chiefest hand; and where these things bear sway, designs, though
never so destructive, will goe headlong on: and therefore I fear, that
but little warning will be taken by young Girls, at Mr. Badmans wives
affliction.
Atten. But are there no disswasive arguments to lay before such, to
prevent their future misery.
Wise. Yes: There is the Law of God, that forbiddeth marriage with
unbelievers. These kind of marriages also are condemned even by
irrational creatures. 1. It is forbidden by the Law of God both in
the Old Testament and in the New. 1. In the Old. Thou shalt not make
Marriages with them; Thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor
his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son, Deut. 7. 4, 5. {80a} 2. In
the New Testament it is forbidden. Be ye not unequally yoaked together
with unbelievers; Let them marry to whom they will, only in the Lord.
{80b}
Here now is a prohibition, {80c} plainly forbidding the Believer to
marry with the Unbeliever, therefore they should not do it. Again,
these unwarrantable Marriages, are, as I may so say, condemned by
irrational creatures, who will not couple but with their own sort: Will
the Sheep couple with a Dog, the Partridge with a Crow, or the Feasant
with an Owl? No, they will strictly tye up themselves to those of their
own sort only: Yea, it sets all the world a wondring, when they see or
hear the contrary. Man only is most subject to wink at, and allow of
these unlawful mixtures of men and women; Because man only is a sinful
Beast, a sinful Bird, therefore he, above all, will take upon him by
rebellious actions to answer, or rather to oppose and violate the Law
of his God and Creator; nor shall these, or other Interogatories, [What
fellowship? what concord? what agreement? what communion can there
be in such Marriages?] be counted of weight, or thought worth the
answering by him.
But further. The dangers {80d} that such do commonly run themselves
into, should be to others a disswasive argument to stop them from doing
the like: for besides the distresses of Mr. Badmans wife, many that
have had very hopefull beginnings for heaven, have by vertue of the
mischiefs that have attended these unlawfull marriages, miserably and
fearfully miscarried. Soon after such marriages, Conviction (the first
step toward heaven) hath ceased; Prayer (the next step toward Heaven)
hath ceased; Hungrings and thirstings after salvation (another step
towards the Kingdom of Heaven) have ceased. In a word, such marriages
have estranged them from the Word, from their godly and faithful
Friends, and have brought them again into carnal company, among carnal
Friends, and also into carnal Delights, where, and with whom they have
in conclusion both sinfully abode, and miserably perished.
And this is one reason why God hath forbidden this kind of unequal
marriages. For they, saith he, meaning the ungodly, will turn away thy
son from following me, that they may serve other Gods, so will the
anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy you suddenly.
{81a} Now mark, there were some in Israel, that would, notwithstanding
this prohibition, venture to marry to the Heathens and Unbelievers:
But what followed? They served their Idols, they sacrificed their Sons
and their Daughters unto Devils. Thus were they defiled with their own
works, and went a whoring with their own Inventions. Therefore was the
wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred
his own Inheritance. {81b}
Atten. But let’s return again to Mr. Badman; had he any Children by his
wife?
Wise. Yes, seven.
Atten. I doubt they were but badly brought up.
Wise. One of them loved its Mother dearly, and would constantly harken
to her voice. Now that Child {81c} she had the opportunity to instruct
in the Principles of Christian Religion, and it became a very gracious
child. But that child Mr. Badman could not abide, he would seldom
afford it a pleasant word, but would scowl and frown upon it, speak
churlishly and doggedly to it, and though as to Nature it was the most
feeble of the seven, yet it oftenest felt the weight of its Fathers
fingers. Three of his Children did directly follow his steps, and began
to be as vile as (in his youth) he was himself. The other that remained
became a kind of mungrel Professors, not so bad as their Father, nor
so good as their Mother, but were betwixt them both. They had their
Mothers Notions, and their Fathers Actions, and were much like those
that you read of in the Book of Nehemiah; These children spake half in
the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews Language, but
according to the language of each people. {81d}
Atten. What you say in this matter, is observable, and if I take not my
mark amiss, it often happeneth after this manner where such unlawful
Marriages are contracted.