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

But I say, at this their survivors take heart to tread their steps, and to continue to live in the breach of the Law of God; yea they carry it statelily in their villanies; for so it follows in the Psalm. There is no bands in their death, but their strength is firm, &c. Therefore pride compasseth them (the survivors) about as a chain, violence covereth them as a garment. {176b} Therefore they take courage to do evil, therefore they pride themselves in their iniquity. Therefore, Wherefore? Why, because their fellows died, after they had lived long in a most profane and wicked life, as quietly and as like to Lambs, as if they had been innocent.

Yea, they are bold, by seeing this, to conclude, that God, either does not, or will not take notice of their sins. They speak wickedly, they speak loftily. They speak wickedly of sin, for that they make it better than by the Word it is pronounced to be. They speak wickedly concerning oppression, that they commend, and count it a prudent act. They also speak loftily: They set their mouth against the Heavens, &c. And they say, How doth God know, and is there knowledge in the most High? And all this, so far as I can see, ariseth in their hearts from the beholding of the quiet and lamb-like death of their companions. {177a}

Behold these are the ungodly that prosper in the world, {177b} (that is, by wicked ways) they increase in riches.

This therefore is a great Judgment of God, both upon that man that dyeth in his sins, and also upon his companion that beholdeth him so to dye. He sinneth, he dyeth in his sins, and yet dyeth quietly. What shall his companion say to this? What Judgment shall he make how God will deal with him, by beholding the lamb-like death of his companion? Be sure, he cannot, as from such a sight say, Wo be to me, for Judgment is before him: He cannot gather, that sin is a dreadful and a bitter thing, by the child-like death of Mr. Badman. But must rather, if he judgeth according to what he sees, or according to his corrupted reason, conclude with the wicked ones of old, That every one that doth evil, is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or where is the God of Judgment? {177c}

Yea, this is enough to puzzle the wisest man. David himself, was put to a stand, by beholding the quiet death of ungodly men. Verily, sayes he, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and have washed my hands in innocency. Psal. 73. 13. They, to appearance fare better by far than I: Their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart can wish; But all the day long have I been plagued, and chastned every morning. This, I say, made David wonder, yea, and Job and Jeremiah too: But he goeth into the Sanctuary, and then he understands their end, nor could he understand it before. I went into the Sanctuary of God: What place was that? why there where he might enquire of God, and by him be resolved of this matter: Then, says he, understood I their end. Then I saw, that thou hast set them in slippery places, and that thou castest them down to destruction. Castest them down, that is, suddenly, or as the next words say, As in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrors: which terrors did not cease them on their sick-bed, for they had no bands in their death. The terrors therefore ceased them there, where also they are holden in them for ever. This he found out, I say, but not without great painfulness, grief and pricking in his reins: so deep, so hard and so difficult did he find it, rightly to come to a determination in this matter.

And indeed, this is a deep Judgment of God towards ungodly sinners; it is enough to stagger a whole world, only the Godly that are in the world have a Sanctuary to go to, where the Oracle and Word of God is, by which his Judgements, and a reason of many of them are made known to, and understood by them.

Atten. Indeed this is a staggering dispensation. It is full of the wisdom and anger of God. And I believe, as you have said, that it is full of Judgment to the world. Who would have imagined, that had not known Mr. Badman, and yet had seen him die, but that he had been a man of an holy life and conversation, since he died so stilly, so quietly, so like a Lamb or Chrisom child? Would they not, I say, have concluded, that he was a righteous man? or that if they had known him and his life, yet to see him die so quietly, would they not have concluded that he had made his peace with God? Nay further, if some had known that he had died in his sins, and yet that he died so like a Lamb, would they not have concluded, that either God doth not know our sins, or that he likes them; or that he wants power, or will, or heart, or skill to punish them; since Mr. Badman himself went from a sinfull life so quietly, so peaceably, and so like a Lamb as he did?

Wise. Without controversie, this is an heavy judgment of God upon wicked men; (Job 21. 23) one goes to Hell in peace, another goes to Hell in trouble; one goes to Hell being sent thither by his own hands; another goes to Hell, being sent thither by the hand of his companion; one goes thither with his eyes shut, and another goes thither with his eyes open; one goes thither roaring, and another goes thither boasting of Heaven and Happiness all the way he goes: One goes thither like Mr. Badman himself, and others go thither as did his Brethren. But above all, Mr. Badmans death, as to the manner of dying, is the fullest of Snares and Traps to wicked men; therefore they that die as he, are the greatest stumble to the world: They goe, and goe, they go on peaceably from Youth to old Age, and thence to the Grave, and so to Hell, without noyse: They goe as an Ox to the slaughter, and as a fool to the correction of the Stocks; that is, both sencelesly and securely. O! but being come at the gates of Hell! O! but when they see those gates set open for them: O! but when they see that that is their home, and that they must go in thither, then their peace and quietness flies away for ever: Then they roar like Lions, yell like Dragons, howl like Dogs, and tremble at their Judgment, as do the Devils themselves. Oh! when they see they must shoot the Gulf and Throat of Hell! when they shall see that Hell hath shut her ghastly Jaws upon them! when they shall open their eyes, and find themselves within the belly and bowels of Hell! then they will mourn, and weep, and hack, and gnash their teeth for pain. But this must not be (or if it must, yet very rarely) till they are gone out of the sight and hearing of those mortals whom they do leave behind them alive in the world.

Atten. Well, my good Neighbour Wiseman, I perceive that the Sun grows low, and that you have come to a conclusion with Mr. Badmans Life and Death; and therefore I will take my leave of you. Only first, let me tell you, I am glad that I have met with you to day, and that our hap was to fall in with Mr. Badmans state. I also thank you for your freedom with me, in granting of me your reply to all my questions: I would only beg your Prayers; that God will give me much grace, that I may neither live nor die as did Mr. Badman.

Wise. My good Neighbour Attentive, I wish your welfare in Soul and Body; and if ought that I have said of Mr. Badmans Life and-Death, may be of Benefit unto you, I shall be heartily glad; only I desire you to thank God for it, and to pray heartily for me, that I with you may be kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation.

Atten. Amen. Farewell.

Wise. I wish you heartily Farewell.

MARGIN NOTES

(General note. When Mr. Badman was printed much of the text was annotated with notes in the margins. These are unlike our modern footnotes in that they may apply to a range of text rather than at a single point. However, in this Project Gutenberg eText it has not been possible to reproduce the margin notes as such and hence they have been turned into footnotes. The footnote numbering isn’t strictly consecutive but rather is the page the margin note appears on followed by a single letter.—DP)

{1a} In this Project Gutenberg eText italics have been dropped as they are excessive but otherwise the text, complete with capitalisation, punctuation, spelling etc., is as in the edition transcribed.—DP

{1b} Not included in this Project Gutenberg eText as we have already released “The Holy War.”—DP

{1c} John Brown, D.D.

{2a} The symbol used in the original book (a hand pointing) cannot be reproduced. In this Project Gutenberg eText it will therefore be rended as a footnote: NOTE.—DP

{20a} Original sin is the root of Actual transgressions.

{20b} Mark 7.

{21a} Job 11. 12. Ezek. 16. Exod. 13. 13. Chap. 34. 20.

{21b} Rom. 5.

{21c} Badman addicted to Lying from a child.

{21d} A Lie knowingly told demonstrates that the heart is desperately hard.

{22a} The Lyers portion. Rev. 21. 8. 27. Chap. 22. 15.

{22b} Prov. 22. 15. Chap. 23. 13, 14.

{22c} Joh. 8. 44.

{22d} The Devils Brat.

{22e} Acts 5. 3, 4.

{22f} The Father and Mother of a Lie.

{23a} Mark.

{23b} Some will tell a Lie for a Peny profit.

{23c} An Example for Lyers. Acts 5.

{24a} A Spirit of Lying accompanyed with other sins.

{24b} Badman given to pilfer.

{24c} Badman would rob his Father.

{24d} Exod. 20. 15.

{25a} Zech. 5. 3.

{25b} Jer. 2. 26. How Badman did use to carry it when his Father used to chide him for his sins.

{25c} Badman more firmly knit to his Companions than either to Father or Mother.

{25d} Badman would rejoyce to think that his Parents death were at hand.

{26a} 1 Sam. 2. 25.

{26b} Badman counted his thieving no great matter.

{26c} NOTE.

{26d} The Story of old Tod.

{26e} Young Thieves takes notice.

{27a} NOTE.

{27b} Old Tod began his way to the Gallows by robbing of Orchards and the like.

{28a} Badman could not abide the Lords Day.

{28b} Why Badman could not abide the Lords Day.

{29a} God proves the heart what it is, by instituting of the Lords day, and setting it apart to his service.

{29b} Gen. 2. 2. Exod. 31. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Mar. 16. 1. Acts 20. 7. 1 Cor. 16. 1, 2. Mar. 2. 27, 28. Revel. 1. 10.

{29c} Isa. 5. 8, 13.—Could not see where this fits in the text.— DP

{29d} Chap. 56. 2.

{29e} Amos 8. 5.

{30a} Heb. 4. 9.

{30b} How Badman did use to spend the Lords Day.

{30c} Ephes. 5. 6.

{31a} Badman given to Swearing and Cursing.

{31b} Rom. 6. 13.

{31c} Swearing and Cursing a badge of Mr. Badmans honour.

{31d} Difference betwixt Swearing and Cursing.

{31e} What Swearing is.

{32a} Exod. 20. 7.

{32b} A