Life and Death of Mr. Badman by John Bunyan (most life changing books TXT) 📕

Atten. That is a foul disease indeed: I knew {55b} a man once that rotted away with it; and another that had his Nose eaten off, and his Mouth almost quite sewed up thereby.

Wise. It is a Disease, that where it is, it commonly declares, that the cause thereof is Uncleanness. It declares to all that behold such a man, that he is an odious, a beastly, unclean person. This is that strange punishment that Job speaks of, that is appointed to seize on these workers of Iniquity. {55c}

Atten. Then it seems you think that the strange punishment that Job there speaks of, should be the foul disease.

Wise. I have thought so indeed, and that for this reason: We see that this Disease is entailed as I may say, to this most beastly sin, nor is there any disease so entailed to any other sin, as this to this. That this is the sin to which the strange Punishment is entailed, you will easily perceive when you read the Text. I made a covenant with mine eyes, said Job, why should I think upon a Maid? For what portion 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, (speaking of this unclean and beastly creature) A wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be turned away. {56a} A Punishment Job calls it, a Wound and Dishonour, Solomon calls it; and they both do set it as a Remark upon this sin; Job calling it a strange punishment, and Solomon a reproach that shall not be turned away from them that are common in it.

Atten. What other things follow upon the commission of this beastly sin?

Wise. Why, often-times it is attended with Murder, with the murder of the Babe begotten on the defiled bed. How common it is for the Bastard-getter and Bastard-bearer, to consent together to murder their Children, will be better known at the day of Judgement; yet something is manifest now.

I will tell you another story. {56b} An ancient man, one of mine acquaintance, a man of good credit in our Countrey, had a Mother that was a Midwife: who was mostly imployed in laying great persons. To this womans house, upon a time, comes a brave young Gallant on horseback, to fetch her to lay a young Lady. So she addresses herself to go with him; wherefore, he takes her up behind him, and away they ride in the night. Now they had not rid far, but the Gentleman litt off his horse, and taking the old Midwife in his arms from the horse, turned round with her several times, and 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 from the stock, cast the Child in, and covered it up, and there was an end of that. So when the Midwife had done her work, he paid her well for her pains, but shut her up in a dark room all day, and when night came, took her up behind him again, and carried her away, till she came almost at home; then he turned her round, and round, as he did before, and had her to her house, set her down, bid her Farewell, and away he went: And she could never tell who it was.

This Story the Midwifes son, who was a Minister, told me; and also protested that his mother told it him for a truth.

Atten. Murder doth often follow indeed, as that which is the fruit of this sin: but sometimes God brings even these Adulterers, and Adulteresses to shameful ends. I heard {57a} of one, (I think, a Doctor of Physick) and his Whore, who had 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 abort it, that she could not be quiet untill she had made it known: Thus God many times makes the actors of wickedness their own accusers, and brings them by their own tongues to condigne punishment for their own sins.

Wise. There has been many such instances, but we will let that pass. I was once in the presence of a Woman, a married woman, that lay sick of the sickness whereof she died; and being smitten in her conscience for the sin of Uncleanness, which she had often committed with other men, I heard {57b} her (as she lay upon her Bed) cry out thus: I am a Whore, and all my Children are Bastards: And I must go to Hell for my sin; and look, there stands the Devil at my beds feet to receive my Soul when I die.

Atten. These are sad storyes, tell no more of them now, but if you please shew me yet some other of the evil effects of this beastly sin.

Wise. This sin is such a snare to the Soul, that unless a miracle of Grace prevents, it unavoidably perishes in the enchanting and bewitching pleasures of it. This is manifest by these, and such like Texts.

The Adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Whoso committeth adultery with a woman, lacketh understanding, and he that doth it destroys his own soul. {57c} An Whore is a deep ditch, and a strange woman is a narrow pit. Her house inclines to death, and her pathes unto the dead. None that go in unto her return again, neither take they hold of the path of life. She hath cast down many wounded; yea many strong men have been slain by her, her house is the way to Hell, going down to the Chambers of Death. {58a}

Atten. These are dreadful sayings, and do shew the dreadful state of those that are guilty of this sin.

Wise. Verily so they doe. But yet that which makes the whole more dreadful, is, That men are given up to this sin, because they are abhorred of God, and because abhorred, therefore they shall fall into the commission of it; and shall live there. The mouth (that is, the flattering Lips) of a strange woman is a deep pit, the abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein. {58b} Therefore it saith again of such, that they have none Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. {58c}

Atten. Put all together, and it is a dreadful thing to live and die in this transgression.

Wise. True. But suppose, that instead of all these Judgments, this sin had attending of it all the felicities of this life, and no bitterness, shame, or disgrace mixed with it, yet one hour in Hell will spoil all. O! this Hell, Hell-fire, Damnation in Hell, it is such an inconceivable punishment, that were it but throughly 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 hath threatned to inflict upon the committers of them, that at last they arrive to, almost, an absolute and firm belief that there is no Judgment to come hereafter: Else they would not, they could not, no not attempt to commit this sin, by such abominable language as some do.

I heard {58d} of one that should say to his Miss, when he tempted her to the committing of this sin, If thou wilt venture thy Body, I will venture my Soul. {58e} And I my self heard another say, when he was tempting of a Maid to commit uncleanness with him, (it was in Olivers dayes) 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 the Holy Ghost. I heard {59a} him say thus, and it greatly afflicted me; I had a mind to have accused him for it before some Magistrate; but he was a great man, and I was poor, and young: so I let it alone, but it troubled me very much.

Atten. ‘Twas the most horrible thing that ever I heard in my life. But how far off are these men from that Spirit and Grace that dwelt in Joseph!

Wise. Right; when Joseph’s Mistress tempted him, yea tempted him daily; {59b} yea, she laid hold on him, and said with her Whores forehead, Come lie with me, but he refused: He hearkned not to lie with her, or to be with her. Mr. Badman would have taken the opportunity.

And a little to comment upon this of Joseph. {59c}

1. Here is a Miss, a great Miss, the Wife of the Captain of the Guard, some beautiful Dame, I’le warrant you.

2. Here is a Miss won, and in her whorish Affections come over to Joseph, without his speaking of a word.

3. Here is her unclean Desire made known; Come lie with me, said she.

4. Here was a fit opportunity. 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 caught him by the Garment, saying, Lie with me, he left his Garment in her hand, and gat him out. Ay, and although contempt, treachery, slander, accusation, imprisonment, and danger of death followed, (for an Whore careth not what mischief she does, when she cannot have her end) yet Joseph will not defile himself, sin against God, and hazard his own eternal salvation.

Atten. Blessed Joseph! I would thou hadst more fellows!

Wise. Mr. Badman has more fellows than Joseph, else there would not be so many Whores as there are: For though I doubt not but that that Sex is bad enough this way, yet I verify believe that many of them are made Whores at first by the flatteries of Badmans fellows. Alas! there is many a woman plunged into this sin at first even by promises of Marriage. {60a} I say, by these promises they are flattered, yea, forced into a consenting to these Villanies, and so being in, and growing hardened in their hearts, they at last give themselves up, even as wicked men do, to act this kind of wickedness with greediness. But Joseph you see, was of another mind, for the Fear of God was in him.

I will, before I leave this, tell you here two notable storyes; and I wish Mr. Badmans companions may hear of