Atten. Certainly some wonderfull Judgment of God must attend and overtake such wicked men as these.
Wise. You may be sure that they shall have Judgment to the full, for all these things, when the day of Judgment is come. But as for Judgment upon them in this life, it doth not alwayes come, no not upon those that are worthy thereof. They that tempt God are delivered, and they that work wickedness are set up: [73e] But they are reserved to the day of wrath, and then for their wickedness, God will repay them to their faces. [73f] The wicked is reserved to the day of destruction, they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath; who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? yet shall he be brought to the grave, and remain in the tomb. [73g] That is, ordinarily they escape God’s hand in this life, save only a few Examples are made, that others may be cautioned, and take warning thereby: But at the day of Judgment they must be rebuked for their evil with the lashes of devouring fire.
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. A Judgment of God upon them, no doubt, for their dissembling in that matter. All manner of lying and dissembling is dreadfull, but to make God and Religion a Disguise, therewith to blind thy Dissimulation from others eyes, is highly provoking to the Divine Majesty.
Atten. Well, but pray return again to Mr. Badman, how did he carry it to his wife, after he was married to her?
Wise. Nay, let us take things along as we go. He had not been married but a little while, but his Creditors came upon him [74c] for their money: He deferred them a little while, but at last things were come to that point, that pay he must, or must do worse; so he appointed them a time, and they came for their money, and he payed them down with her money before her eyes, for those goods that he had profusely spent among his Whores long before, (besides the portion that his Father gave him) to the value of two hundred pounds.
Atten. This beginning was bad; but what shall I say? ’twas like Mr. Badman himself. Poor woman, this was but a bad beginning for her, I fear it filled her with trouble enough, as I think such a beginning would have done, one, perhaps much stronger than she.
Wise. Trouble, ay, you may be sure of it, but now ’twas too late to repent, [75a] she should have looked better to herself, when being wary would have done her good; her harms may be an advantage to others, that will learn to take heed thereby; but for her self, she must take what follows, even such a life now as Mr. Badman her Husband will lead her, and that will be bad enough.
Atten. This beginning was bad, and yet I fear it was but the beginning of bad.