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2. Let him proffer them all, and the whole all that ever he has in the world; let him hide nothing, let him strip himself to his raiment for them; let him not keep a ring, a spoon, or any thing from them.

3. If none of these two will satisfy them, let him proffer them his body, to be at their dispose, to wit, either to abide imprisonment at their pleasure, or to be at their service, till by labour and travel he hath made them such amends as they in reason think fit, only reserving something for the succour of his poor and distressed family out of his labour, which in reason, and conscience, and nature, he is bound also, to take care of. Thus shall he make them what amends he is able, for the wrong that he hath done them in wasting and spending their estates.

By thus doing, he submits himself to God's rod, commits himself to the dispose of his providence; yea, by thus doing, he casteth the lot of his present and future condition into the lap of his creditors, and leaves the whole dispose thereof to the Lord, even as he shall order and incline their hearts to do with them. And let that be either to forgive him, or to take that which he hath for satisfaction; ; or to lay his body under affliction, this way or that, according to law; can he, I say, thus leave the whole to God, let the issue be what it will, that man shall have peace in his mind afterwards. And the comforts of that state (which will be the comforts

that attend equity, justice, and, duty) will be more unto him, because more according to godliness, than can be the comforts that are the fruits of injustice, fraudulency, and deceit. Besides, this is the way to engage God to favour him by the sentence of his creditors, (for he can entreat them to use him kindly) and he will do it when his ways are pleasing in his sight: "When a man's ways please the Lord, his enemies shall be at peace with him" And surely, for a man to seek to make restitution for wrongs done to the utmost of his power, by what he is, has, and enjoys in this world, is the best way, in that capacity, and with reference to that thing, that a man can at this time be found active in.

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 God's way; when God's will is, that he should descend into a low one; yea, he desperately saith in his heart and actions, I will be mine own chuser, and that in mine own way, whatever happens or follows thereupon.

Atten.. You have said well in my mind. But suppose, now, that Mr Badman was here, could he not object as to what you have said, saying, Go and teach your brethren, that are professors, this lesson, for they, as I am, are guilty of breaking; yea, I am apt to think, of that which you call my knavish

way of breaking, to wit, of breaking before they have need to break. But if not so, yet they are guilty of neglect in their calling, of living higher, both in fare and apparel, than their trade and income will maintain. Besides, that they do break, all the world very well knows; and that they have the art to plead for a composition, is very well known to men; and that it is usual with them to hide their linen, their plate, their jewels, (and it is to be thought, sometimes money and goods besides) is as common as four eggs a-penny. And thus they beguile men, debauch their consciences, sin against their profession, and make, it is to be feared, their lusts in all this, and the fulfilling of them, their end. I say, if Mr Badman was here to object thus unto you, what would be your reply?

Wise. What? why, I would say, I hope no good man, no man of good conscience, no man that either feareth God, regardeth the credit of religion, the peace of God's people, or the salvation of his own soul, will do thus.

Professors, such perhaps there may be, and who upon earth can help it? Jades there be of all colours. If men will profess, and make their profession a stalking-horse to beguile their neighbours of their estates, as Mr Badman himself did, when he beguiled her that now is with sorrow his wife, who can help it? The churches of old were pestered with such, and therefore no marvel if these peri

lous difficult times be so. But mark how the apostle words it: "Nay, you do wrong and defraud, and that your brethren: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

None of these shall be saved in this state; nor shall profession deliver them from the censure of the godly, when they shall be manifest such to be. But their profession we cannot help How can we help it, if men should ascribe to themselves the title of holy ones, godly ones, zealous ones, self-denying ones, or any other such glorious titles? and while they thus call themselves, they should be the veriest rogues for all evil, sin, villainy imaginable, who could help it? True, they are a scandal to religion, a grief to the honest-hearted, an offence to the world, and a stumbling-stone to the weak; and these of fences have come, do come, and will come, do what all the world can: but wo be to them through whom they come." Let such professors, therefore, be disowned by all true Christians, and let them be reckoned among those base men of the world, which by such actions they most resemble. They are Mr Badman's kindred.

For they are a shame to religion; I say,

these slithy, rob-shop, pick-pocket men, they are a shame to religion, and religious men should be ashamed of them. God puts such an one among the fools of the world; therefore let not Christians put them among those that are wise for heaven: "As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not, so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool." And the man under consideration is one of these, and therefore must look to fall by this judgment.

A professor and practise such villainies as these! such an one is not worthy to bear that name any longer. We may say to such, as the prophet spake to their like, to wit, to the rebellious that were in the house of Israel, "Go ye, serve every man his idols:"If ye will not hearken to the law and testament of God, to lead your lives hereafter: "but pollute God's holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols."

Go, professors, go; leave off profession, unless you will lead your lives according to your profession. Better never profess, than to make profession a stalking-horse to sin, deceit, to the devil, and hell.

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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" Intimating, that those that are guilty of wronging, corrupting, or defrauding of

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