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

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