he was possessed, I saw him in one of his fits, and saw his flesh, (as it was thought) by the devil, gathered up on an heap, about the bigness of half an egg, to the unutterable torment and affliction of the old man. There was also one Freeman (who was more than an ordinary doctor) sent for, to cast out this devil: and I was there when he attempted to do it; the manner thereof was this: They had the possessed into an outer-room, and laid him on his belly upon a form, with his head hanging over the form's-end: then they bound him down thereto; which done, they set a pan of coals under his mouth, and put something therein which made a great smoak; by this means (as it was said) to fetch out the devil. There therefore they kept the man till he was almost smothered in the smoak, but no devil came out of him; at which Freeman was somewhat abashed, the man greatly afflicted, and I made to go away wondering and fearing. in a little time, therefore, that which possessed the man, carried him out of the world, according to the cursed wishes of his son. And this was the end of this hellish mirth.

Wise. These were all sad judgments.

Atten. These were dreadful judgments indeed.

Wise. Aye, and they look like the threatning of that text, (though chiefly it concerned Judas): As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him; as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him: as he cloathed himself

with cursing as with a garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and as oil, into his bones."

Atten. It is a fearful thing for youth to be trained up in a way of cursing and swearing, Wise. Trained up in them! that I cannot say Mr. Badman was, for his father hath ofttimes, in my hearing, bewailed the badness of his children, and of this naughty boy in particu lar. I believe that the wickedness of his children made him (in the thoughts of it) go many a night with heavy heart to bed, and with as heavy a one to rise in the morning. But all was one to his graceless son, neither wholesome counsel, nor fatherly sorrow, would make him mend his manners,

A grievous thing to bring up children wickedly.

There are some indeed that do train up their children to swear, curse, lie, and steal, and great is the misery of such poor children whose hard hap it is to be ushered into the world by, and to be under the tuition too of such ungodly parents, it had been better for such parents had they not begat them, and better for such children had they not been born. O! methinks for a father or mother to train up a child in that very way that leadeth to hell and damnation, what thing so horrible! But Mr Badman was not by his parents so brought up,

Atten. But methinks, since this young Badman would not be ruled at home, his father should have tried 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 prevented of time to do those wickednesses that could not be done without time to do them in.

Badman put to be an apprentice..

So,

Wise. Alas! his father did

he put him out betimes to one of his own acquaintance, and intreated him of all love, that he would take care of his son, and keep him from extravagant ways. His trade also was honest and commodious; he had besides a full employ therein, so that this young Badman had no vacant seasons, nor idle hours yielded him by his calling, therein to take opportunities to do badly but all was one to him, as he had begun to be vile in his fathsr's house, even so he continued to be when he was in the house of his master.

Atten. I have known some children, who, though they have been very bad at home, yet have altered much when they have been put out abroad; especially when they have fallen into a family, where the governors thereof have made conscience of maintaining the worship and service of God therein; but perhaps that might be wanting in Mr Bad man's master's house.

Wise. Indeed some children do greatly mend, when put under other men's roofs; but, as I said, this naughty boy did not so;

nor did his

badness continue,

because he wanted a master that both could and did correct it; for his master was a very

His master's qualifications.

good man, a very devout person; one that frequented the best soul-means, that set up the worship of God in his family, and also that walked himself thereafter. He was also a man very meek and merciful, one that did never overdrive young Badman in business, nor that kept him at it at unseasonable hours.

A bad master a bad thing

Atten. Say you so! This is rare; I for my part can see but few that can parallel, in these things, with Mr Badman's master. Wise. Nor I- neither, (yet Mr Badman had such a one); for, for the most part, masters are now a-days such as mind nothing but their worldly concerns; and if apprentices do but answer their commands therein, soul and religion may go whither they will. Yea, I much fear, that there have been many towardly lads put out by their parents to such masters, that have quite undone them as to the next world.

Atten. The more is the pity. But pray, now you have touched upon this subject, shew me how many ways a master may be the ruin of his poor apprentice.

Wise. Nay, I cannot tell you of all the ways, yet some of them I will mention.

Suppose then that a towardly lad be put to be an apprentice with one that is reputed

to be a godly man, yet that lad may be ruined many ways; that is, if his master be not circumspect in all things that respect both God and man, and that before his ap prentice.

1. If he be not moderate in the use of his apprentice; if he drives him beyond his strength; if he holds him to his work at unseasonable hours; if he will not allow him convenient time to read the word, to pray, &c. this is the way to destroy him, that is, in those tender beginnings of good thoughts, and good beginnings about spiritual things.

2. If he suffers his house to be scattered with profane and wicked books, such as stir up to lust, to wantonness, such as teach idle, wanton, lascivious discourse, and such as have a tendency to provoke to profane drollery and jesting; and, lastly, such as tend to corrupt, and pervert the doctrine of faith and holiness. All these things will eat as doth a canker, and will quickly spoil in youth, &c. those good beginnings that may be putting forth themselves in them.

3. If there be a mixture of servants, that is, if some very bad be in the same place, that is away also to undo such tender lads; for they that are bad and sordid servants, will be often (and they have an opportunity too to be) distilling and fomenting of their profane and wicked words and tricks before them, and these will easily stick in the flesh and minds of youth, to the corrupting of them,