Part 6 (1/2)

Instances not a few might be given of this, but this is so manifest, a man need say nothing.

Atten. But {50a} {50b} that which is worse than all is, it also prepares men for everlasting burnings.

Wise. Yea, and it so stupifies and besotts the soul, that a man that is far gone in Drunkenness, is hardly ever recovered to G.o.d. 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 {50c} Mast, let his dangers be never so great and Death and d.a.m.nation never so near, he will not be awaked out of his sleep. 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 imbraced, do them good.

Atten. You said that drunkenness tends to poverty, yet some make themselves rich by drunken bargains.

Wise. I {50d} said so, because the Word says so. And as to some mens getting thereby, that is indeed but rare, and base: yea, and base will be the end of such gettings. The Word of G.o.d is against such wayes, and the curse of G.o.d 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; Wo to him that coveteth an evil covetousness, that he may set his nest on high. {50e} 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 d.a.m.nation of his Soul; for that which he getteth by working of iniquity, is but a getting by the devices of h.e.l.l; 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 of 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 {51a} 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 Masters Goods, but keep the Money, that is when he could; also sometimes he would beguile his Master by taking out of his Cashbox: and when he could do neither of these, he would convey away of his Masters 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 fellowes.

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 G.o.d, but has endangered the undoing of his Master and his Familie.

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 mans; either of his Fathers, Mothers, Masters, or at the high-way, 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 {51b} 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 Masters 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 dayes of ours.

Wise. Now, while it is in my mind, I will tell you a story. [Picture: Take note symbol] When I was in prison, there came a woman to me that was under a great deal of trouble. 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 d.a.m.ned. I asked her the cause of those fears. She told me that she had sometime since lived with a Shop-keeper 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 Masters 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 Masters 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 G.o.d makes them sometimes like old Tod, of whom mention was made before, (through the terrors that he layes upon them) to betray themselves.

[Picture: Take note symbol] I could tell you of another, that came to me with a like relation concerning her self, 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 Badmans third companion?

Wise. Uncleanness. {52b} 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.

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, {52c} spread sooner, and more universally, then 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 Master-piece, for he was a Ringleader to them all in the beastly sin of Wh.o.r.edom. 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 queans, 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 mans counsel is the best: Come not near the door of her house; {53a} for they are (as you say) very tempting, as is seen by her in the Proverbs. I looked (says the Wise man) through my cas.e.m.e.nt, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned a young man void of understanding, pa.s.sing through the streets 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 Woman, with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart; ({53c} she is loud and stubborn, her feet abide not in her house. Now she is without, now she is in the street, and lieth in wait at every corner.) So she caught him, and kiss'd him, and with an impudent face said unto him: I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed 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 Linnen of aegypt: I have perfumed my bed with Myrrhe, Aloes, and Cinnamon; come let us take our fill of love untill the Morning, let us solace our selves with loves. {53b} Here was a bold Beast: And indeed, the very eyes, hands, words and ways of such, are all snares and bands to youthful, l.u.s.tful fellows: And with these was young Badman greatly snared.

Atten. This sin of Uncleanness {54a} 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 head-long to it!

Wise. You have said the truth, and I will adde, that G.o.d, 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 G.o.d, and love to their own health, they could not but stop and be afraid to commit it. For, besides the eternal d.a.m.nation that doth attend such in the next world, (for these have no Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of G.o.d, Ephes. 5.) the evil effects thereof in this world are dreadfull.