PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Life and Death of Mr. Badman
Bunyan, John, 1628-1688 · 77,779 words · 96 reading sections
Part 1
[Picture: Facsimile of the Frontispiece to the first edition of the Holy War, engraved by Robert White. The portrait of Bunyan drawn on vellum by the same artist, and preserved in the Cracherode Collection, furnished the basis of the full-length portrait, and also of the sleeping likeness prefixed to the third edition …
57 wordsSECTION 2_JOHN BUNYAN_
LIFE AND DEATH OF MR BADMAN _AND_ THE HOLY WAR {1a} * * * * *…
11 wordsSECTION 3THE TEXT EDITED BY JOHN BROWN, D.D.
[Picture: Decorative graphic] CAMBRIDGE: at the University Press 1905 * * * * *…
9 wordsSECTION 4C. F. CLAY, MANAGER.
London: FETTER LANE, E.C. Glasgow: 50, WELLINGTON STREET. [Picture: Decorative graphic] Leipzig: F. A. BROCKHAUS. New York: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. Bombay and Calcutta: MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD. * * * * * [_All Rights reserved_]…
31 wordsSECTION 5NOTE
_The Life and Death of Mr Badman_ was published by John Bunyan in 1680, two years after the First Edition of the First Part of _The Pilgrim’s Progress_. In the opening sentence of his preface he tells us it was intended by him as the counterpart or companion picture to the Allegory. But whatever his own intentions may …
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The text of this edition of Bunyan’s _Holy War_ {1a} is a careful reproduction of the First Edition of 1682. It is not certain that there was any further authentic reprint in Bunyan’s life-time. For though both in the Bodleian and the British Museum there is a copy purporting to be a second edition, and bearing date 16…
183 wordsSECTION 7J. B.
9 _October_, 1905. [Picture: Facsimile of title page of first (1680) edition of The Life and Death of Mr. Badman]…
20 wordsSECTION 8THE AUTHOR TO THE READER
Courteous Reader, As I was considering with my self, what I had written concerning the Progress of the Pilgrim from this World to Glory; and how it had been acceptable to many in this Nation: It came again into my mind to write, as then, of him that was going to Heaven, so now, of the Life and Death of the Ungodly, an…
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First, They are sometimes, when dead, presented to their Friends, by their compleatly wrought Images, as lively as by cunning mens hands they can be; that the remembrance of them may be renewed to their survivors, the remembrance of them and their deeds: And this I have endeavoured to answer in my discourse of Mr. Badm…
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For thy old love to thy Friend, his wayes, doings, &c. will stir up in thee enmity rather, in thy very heart, against me. I shall therefore incline to think of thee, that thou wilt rent, burn, or throw it away in contempt: yea and wish also, that for writing so notorious a truth, some mischief may befall me. I look als…
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3. Suppose again, that thou that livest and rollest in thy sin, and that as yet hast known nothing but the pleasure thereof, shouldst be by an angel conveyed to some place where with convenience, from thence thou mightest have a view of Heaven and Hell; of the Joyes of the one, and the torments of the other; I say, sup…
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Why I have handled the matter in this method, is best known to my self: and why I have concealed most of the Names of the persons whose sins or punishments I here and there in this Book make relation of, is, 1. For that neither the sins nor Judgments were all alike open; the sins of some, were committed, and the Judgm…
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The Prophecy of the last times is, that professing men (for so I understand the Text) s[h]all be, many of them, base; (2 Tim. 3.) but continue thou in the things that thou hast learned, not of wanton men, not of licentious times, but of the Word and Doctrine of God, that is according to Godliness; and thou shalt walk w…
594 wordsSECTION 14ERRATA.
Page 127. line 8. for amated read amazed, p. 149. l. 15. for herbaps r. perhaps, p. 162. l. 3, & 4. for diababolical r. diabolical, p. 287. l. 9. for, for r. so, p. 304. for reputation r. repentance.…
39 wordsSECTION 15THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MR. BADMAN
Presented to the World in a Familiar DIALOGUE Betwixt Mr. _WISEMAN_, And, Mr. _ATTENTIVE_. _Wiseman_. Good morrow my good Neighbour, Mr. Attentive; whither are you walking so early this morning? methinks you look as if you were concerned about something more than ordinary. Have you lost any of your Cattel, or what is…
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Wise. There is no man, I think, that is sensible of the worth of one Soul, but must, when he hears of the death of unconverted men, be stricken with sorrow and grief: because, as you said well, that mans state is such, that he has a sensible being for ever. For ’tis sense that makes punishment heavy. But yet sense is n…
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Wise. I am glad to hear that you are of this opinion, and to confirm what you have said by a few hints from the Word. Man in his birth is compared to an Ass, (an unclean Beast) and to a wretched Infant in its blood: besides, all the first-born of old that were offered unto the Lord, were to be redeemed at the age of a …
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Atten. It seems a marvellous thing in mine eyes, that since a lye is the Offspring of the devill, and since a lye brings the soul to the very den of Devils, to wit, the dark dungeon of hell; that men should be so desperately wicked as to accustom themselves to so horrible a thing. Wise. It seems also marvellous to me,…
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Wise. Natural or unnatural, all is one to a Thief. Beside, you must think that he had likewise Companions to whom he was, for the wickedness that he saw in them, more {25c} firmly knit, than either to Father or Mother. Yea, and what had he cared if Father and Mother had died for grief for him. Their death would have be…
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Wise. So they were, and yet Mr. Badman came not to his end like old Tod; Though I fear, to as bad, nay, worse than was that death of the Gallows, though less discerned by spectators; but more of that by and by. But you talk of these two sins as if these were all that Mr. Badman was addicted to in his Youth: Alas, alas,…
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Atten. There may be something in what you say, for he that cannot abide to keep one day holy to God, to be sure he hath given a sufficient proof that he is an unsanctified man; and as such, what should he do in Heaven? that being the place where a perpetual Sabath is to be kept to God; {30a} I say, to be kept for ever …
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Atten. Then it seems, though as to the matter of fact, a man swears truely, yet if he sweareth lightly and groundlesly, his Oath is evil, and he by it, under sin. Wise. Yes; a man may say, {32b} The Lord liveth, and that is true, and yet in so saying, swear falsly; because he sweareth vainly, needlesly, and without a …
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This David calls a grievous Curse. And behold, saith he to Solomon his Son, thou hast with thee Shimei a Benjamite, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. {34d} But what was this Curse? Why, First, It was a wrong sentence past upon David; Shimei called him Bloody man, man of Belial, …
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Wise. The question is not what men do believe concerning their sin, but what Gods Word says of it: If Gods Word says that Swearing and Cursing are sins, though men should count them for Vertues, their reward will be a reward for sin, to wit, the damnation of the soul. To {37a} curse another, and to swear vainly and fa…
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Well, when these brave fellows did come at their times to this Tippling-house (as they call it) to fuddle and make merry, then must Ned be called out; and because his Father was best acquainted with Ned, and best knew how to provoke him, therefore He would usually ask him such questions, or command him such business, a…
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Atten. But methinks, since this Young Badman would not be ruled at home, his Father should have tryed what good could have been done of him abroad, by putting him out to some man of his acquaintance, that he knew to be able to command him, and to keep him pretty hard to some employ: So should he, at least, have been pr…
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But these things by the by, only they may serve for a hint to Masters to take heed that they take not Apprentices to destroy their Souls. But young Badman had none of these hinderances; {43c} His father took care, and provided well for him, as to this: He had a good Master, he wanted not good Books, nor good Instructio…
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Atten. Ha, poor obstinate sinners! doe they think that God cannot be even with them? Wise. I do not know, what they think, but I know that God hath said, That as He cried, and they would not hear, so they shall crie, and I will not hear, saith the Lord. {45d} Doubtless there is a time a coming, when Mr. Badman will cr…
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Wise. Their Judgement is therefore so much the greater, because thereto is added blindness of Mind, and hardness of Heart in a wicked way. They are turned up to the way of Death, but must not see to what place they are going: They must go as the Ox to the slaughter, and as the Fool to the Correction of the Stocks, {48a…
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Wise. Yea, and it so stupifies and besotts the soul, that a man that is far gone in Drunkenness, is hardly ever recovered to God. 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…
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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 damned. I asked her the cause of th…
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Wise. You have said the truth, and I will adde, that God, 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 God, and love to their own health, they could not but stop and be afraid to…
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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 stor…
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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 throu…
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Wise. They liked one another even as {60c} fire and water doe. Young Badmans wayes were odious to his Master, and his Masters wayes were such as young Badman could not endure. Thus in these two, was fulfilled that saying of the Holy Ghost: An unjust man is an abomination to the just, and he that is upright in the way i…
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Wise. It doth concern them indeed; and it doth also concern them {63b} that take Children into their Families, to take heed what Children they receive. For a man may soon by a Bad boy, be dammaged both in his Name, Estate, and Family, and also hindred in his Peace and peaceable pursuit after God and godliness; I say, b…
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Wise. There is a great deal of difference indeed. This last Master of Mr. Badmans, would tell Mr. Badman of his sins in Mr. Badmans own dialect; he would swear, and curse, and damn, when he told him of his sins, and this he could bear better, {65b} than to be told of them after a godly sort. Besides, that last Master w…
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Atten. Nay I think I should not a been forward to have given advice in the cause; but truly you have given me such an account of his vilianies, that the hearing thereof has made me angry with him. Wise. In an angry mood we may soon out-shoot our selves, but poor wretch, as he is, he is gone to his place. But, as I sai…
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Wise. Ay, and that too, A companion of riotous persons shameth his father; {69f} For he, poor man, had both grief and shame, to see how his son (now at his own hand) behaved himself in the enjoyment of those good things, in and under the lawfull use of which he might have lived to Gods glory, his own comfort, and credi…
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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 …
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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. …
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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, callin…
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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 behi…
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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…
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Atten. Poor woman, she could not but have much perplexity. Wise. Yea, and poor Children, that ever they were sent into the world as the fruit of the loyns, and under the government of such a father as Mr. Badman. Atten. You say right, for such children, lye, almost under all manner of disadvantages: but we must say n…
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Wise. You may easily guess what he meant: he meant, he would turn Informer, and so either weary out those that she loved, from meeting together to Worship God; or make them pay dearly for their so doing; the which if he did, he knew it would vex every vein of her tender heart. Atten. But do you think Mr. Badman would …
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I will tell you of another. [Picture: Take note symbol] About four miles from St. Neots, there was a Gentleman had a man, and he would needs be an Informer, and a lusty young man he was. Well, an Informer he was, and did much distress some people, and had perfected his Informations so effectually against some, that the…
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Again, when he did light among those that were bad, then he would be as they, but yet more close and cautiously, except he were sure of his company: Then he would carry it openly, be as they; say, Damn’em and Sink’em, as they. If they railed on Good men, so could he; {89} if they railed on Religion, so could he: if the…
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Wise. True, but yet I say, such men shall at the day of Judgment, be judged, not only for what they are, but also for what they would be. For if the thought of foolishness is sin, {91a} doubtless the desire of foolishness is more sin: and if the desire be more, the endeavour after it must needs be more and more. {91b} …
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Wise. No, no, I speak plainly. Or, if you will have it in plainer language, ’tis this: When Mr. Badman had swaggered and whored away most of his wifes portion, he began to feel that he could not much longer stand upon his legs in this course of life, and keep up his Trade and Repute (such as he had) in the world; but b…
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Wise. It was a cheat indeed. This way of breaking, it is else but a more neat way of Thieving, of picking of pockets, of breaking open of shops, and of taking from men what one has nothing to do with. But though it seem easie, it is hard to learn, no man that has conscience to God or man, can ever be his Crafts Master …
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Answ. First of all. If this be his case, and he knows it, let him not run one penny further in his Creditors debt. For that cannot be done with good conscience. He that knowes he cannot pay, and yet will run into debt; does knowingly wrong and defraud his neighbour, and falls under that sentence of the Word of God, The…
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Thirdly, This thus done, let that man again consider thus with himself: Perhaps God is now changing of my Condition and state in the world; he has let me live in fashion, in fulness, and abundance of worldly glory, and I did not to his glory improve, as I should, that his good dispensation to me. {100a} But when I live…
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But he that doth otherwise, abides in his sin, refuses to be disposed of by the Providence of God, chuseth an high Estate, though not attained in Gods way; when Gods Will is, that he should descend into a low one: yea, he desperately saith in his heart and actions, I will be mine own chooser, and that in mine own way, …
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The ground and rules of Religion allow not any such thing: Receive us, says the Apostle, we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. {104b} Intimating, that those that are guilty of wronging, corrupting or defrauding of any, should not be admitted to the fellowship of Saints, no nor into…
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Moreover, he had the art to misreckon men in their Accounts whether by weight, or measure, or money, and would often do it to his worldly advantage, and their loss: What say you to Mr. Badman now? And if a question was made of his faithfull dealing, he had his servants ready, that to his purpose he had brought up, tha…
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Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small; {107f} that is one to buy by, and another to sell by, as Mr. Badman had. Thou shalt not have in thy house divers measures, a great and a small, (and these had Mr. Badman also) but thou shalt have a perfect and a just weight; a perfect and a just measur…
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4. God abominates the thoughts of calling of those that use false weights and measures, by any other term than, that they be Impure ones {110a} or the like: Shall I count them pure (saith he) with the bag of deceitful weights? {110b} no by no means, they are impure ones, their hands are defiled, deceitful gain is in th…
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Wise. Yes. He had many ways to blind, but he was never clever at it, by making a shew of Religion, (though he cheated his wife therewith:) for he was, especially by those that dwelt near him, too well known to do that, though he would bungle at it as well as he could. But there are some that are arch villains this way;…
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This, I say, is his getting; so that as David says, we may be bold to say too: I beheld the wicked in great prosperity, and presently I cursed his habitation: for it cannot prosper with him. Fluster and huff, and make a doe for a while he may, but God hath determined that both he and it shall melt like grease, and any …
866 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.