Life and Death of Mr. Badman | Page 7

this?
Verily, the flesh would be glad of such help; yea, a spiritual man, could
he tell how to get it. Acts 23. But I am stript naked of these, and yet am
commanded to be faithful in my servi[c]e for Christ. Well then, I have
spoken what I have spoken, and now come on me what will, Job 13. 13.
True, the Text sayes, Rebuke a scorner, and he will hate thee; and that,
He that reproveth a wicked man, getteth himself a Blot and Shame; but
what then? Open rebuke is better than secret love; and he that receives
it, shall find it so afterwards.
So then, whether Mr. Badmans friends shall rage or laugh at what I
have writ, I know that the better end of the staffe is mine. My
endeavour is to stop an hellish Course of Life, and to save a soul from
death, (Jam. 5.) and if for so doing, I meet with envy from them, from
whom in reason I should have thanks, I must remember the man in the
dream, that cut his way through his armed enemies, and so got into the
beauteous Palace; I must, I say, remember him, and do my self
likewise.

Yet four things I will propound to the consideration of Mr. Badmans
friends, before I turn my back upon them.
1. Suppose that there be an Hell in very deed, not that I do question it,
any more than I do whether there be a Sun to shine; but I suppose it for
argument sake, with Mr. Badmans friends; I say, suppose there be an
Hell, and that too, such an one as the Scripture speaks of, one at the
remotest distance from God and Life eternall, one where the Worm of a
guilty Conscience never dyes, and where the fire of the Wrath of God is
not quenched.
Suppose, I say, that there is such an Hell, prepared of God (as there is
indeed) for the body and soul of the ungodly World after this life, to be
tormented in: I say, do but with thy self suppose it, and then tell me, Is
it not prepared for thee, thou being a wicked man? Let thy conscience
speak, I say, is it not prepared for thee, thou being an ungodly man?
And dost thou think, wast thou there now, that thou art able to wrestle
with the Judgment of God? Why then do the fallen Angers tremble
there? thy hands cannot be strong, nor can thy heart endure, in that day
when God shall deal with thee: Ezek. 22. 14.
2. Suppose that some one that is now a soul in Hell for sin, was
permitted to come hither again to dwell; and that they had a grant also,
that upon amendment of life, next time the dye, to change that place for
Heaven ant Glory; what sayest thou, O wicked man? would such an one
(thinkest thou) run again into the same course of life as before, and
venture the damnation that for sin he had already been in? Would he
choose again to lead that cursed life that afresh would kindle the flames
of Hell upon him, and that would bind him up under the heavy wrath of
God? O! he would not, he would not; the sixteenth of Luke insinuates it:
yea Reason it self, awake, would abhorr it, and tremble at such a
thought.
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, suppose that from thence thou

mightest have such a view thereof, as would convince thy reason, that
both Heaven and Hell, are such realities as by the Word they are
declared to be; wouldest thou (thinkest thou) when brought to thy home
again, chuse to thy self thy former life, to wit, to return to thy folly
again? No; if belief of what thou sawest, remained with thee, thou
wouldest eat Fire and Brimstone first.
4. I will propound again. Suppose that there was amongst us such a
Law, (and such a Magistrate to inflict the penalty,) That for every open
wickedness committed by thee, so much of thy flesh should with
burning Pincers be plucked from thy Bones: Wouldest thou then go on
in thy open way of Lying, Swearing, Drinking and Whoring, as thou
with delight doest now? Surely, surely, No: The fear of the punishment
would make thee forbear; yea, would make thee tremble, even then
when thy lusts were powerfull, to think what a