The Funeral pomp therefore of Mr. Badman , is to wear upon his Hearse the Badges of a dishonourable and wicked life ; since his bones are full of the sins of his Youth , which shall lye down , as Job sayes , in the dust with him : nor is it fit that any should be his Attendants , now at his death , but such as with him conspired against their own souls in their life ; persons whose transgressions have made them infamous to all 2that have or shall know what they have done .

Some notice therefore I have also here in this little discourse given the Reader , of them who were his Confederates in his life , and Attendants at his death ; with a hint , either of some high Villany committed by them , as also of those Judgments that have overtaken and fallen upon them from the just and revenging hand of God . All which are things either fully known by me , as being eye and car-witness thereto , or that I have received from such hands , whose relation as to this , I am bound to believe . And that the Reader may know them from other things and passages herein contained , I have pointed at them in the M●rgent , as with a finger thus : ☞

Thirdly , the Funerals of persons of Quality have been solemnized with some suitable Sermon at the time and place of their Burial ; but that I am not come to as yet , having got no further than to Mr. Badmans death : but for as much as he must be buried , after he hath stunk out his time before his beholders , I doubt not but some such that we read are appointed to be at the burial of Gog , will do this work in my stead ; such as shall leave him neither skin nor bone above ground , but shall set a sign by it till the b●riers have buried it in the Vall●y of Hamon-gog , Ezek. 39.

Fo●rthly , At Funerals there does use to be Mourning and lamentation , but h●re also Mr. Badman differs from others ; his Familiars cannot lament his departure , for they have not sence of his damnable state ; they rather ring him , and sing him to Hell in the sleep of death , in which he goes thither . Good men count him no loss to the world , his place can well be without him , his loss is only his own , and 't is too late for him to recover that dammage or loss by a Sea of bloody tears , could he shed them . Yea , God has said , he will laugh at his destruction , who then shall lament for him , saying , Ah! my brother . He was but a stinking Weed in his life ; nor was he better at all in his death : such may well be thrown over the wall without sorrow , when once God has plucked them up by the roots in his wrath .

Reader , If thou art of the race , linge , stook● or fraternity of Mr. Badman , I tell thee ●●fore thou readest this Book , thou wilt neither brook the Author nor it , because he hath writ . of Mr. Badman as he has . For he that condemneth the wicked that die so , passeth also the sentence upon the wicked that live . I therefore expect neither credit of , nor countenance from thee , for this Narration of thy kinsmans life .

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 also to be loaded by thee with disdain , scorn and contempt ; yea that thou shouldest railingly and vilifyingly say , I lye , and am a bespatterer of honest mens lives and deaths . For Mr. Badman , when himself was alive , could not abide to be counted a Knave ( though his actions told all that went by , that indeed he was such an one : ) How then should his brethren , that survive him , and that tread in his very steps , approve of the sentence that by this . Rook is pronounced against him ? Will they not rather imitate Corah , Dathan , and Abiram's friends , even rail at me for condemning him , as they did at Moses for doing execution ?

I know 't is ill pudling in the Cockatrices den , and that they run hazards that hunt the Wild-Boar . The man also that writeth Mr. Badmans life , had need be fenced with a Coat of Mail , and with the Staffe of a Spear , for that his surviving friends will know what he doth : but I have adventured to do it , and to play , at this time , at the hole of these Asps ; if they bite , they bite ; if they sting , they sting . Christ sends his Lambs in the midst of Wolves , not to do like them , but to suffer by them for bearing plain testimony against their bad deeds : But had one not need to walk with a Guard , and to have a Sentinel stand at ones door for 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 servicce 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 Angels 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 dwelt ; and that they had a grant also , that upon amendment of life , next time they dye , to change that place for Heaven and 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 .

2. 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 Pinoers 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 punishment thou wast sure to sustain , so soon as the pleasure was over . But Oh! the folly , the madness , the desperate madness that is in the hearts of Mr. Badmans friends , who in despite of the threatnings of an holy and sin revenging God , and of the outcries and warnings of all good men ; yea , that will in despite of the groans and torments of those that are now in Hell for sin , ( Luk. 16. 24. 28. ) go on in a sinfull course of life ; yea , though every sin is also a step of descent , down to that infernal Cave . O how true is that saying of Solomon , The heart of the sons of men is full of evil , and madness is in their heart while they live , and after that they go to the dead , Eccles. 9. 3. To the dead ! that is , to the dead in Hell , to the damned dead ; the place to which those that have dyed Bad men are gone , and that those that live Bad men are like to go to , when a little more sin , like stollen waters , hath been imbibed by their sinful souls .

That which has made me publish this Book is ,

1. For that wickedness like a flood is like to drown our English world : it begins already to be above the tops of mountains ; it has almost swallowed up all ; our Youth , our Middle age , Old age , and all , are almost carried away of this flood . O Debauchery , Debauchery , what hast thou done in England ! Thou hast corrupted our Young men , and hast made our Old men beasts ; thou hast deflowered our Virgins , and hast made Matrons Bawds . Thou hast made our earth to reel to and fro like a drunkard ; 't is in danger to be removed like a Cottage , yea , it is , because transgression is so heavy upon it , like to fall and rise no more , Isa. 24. 20.

O! that I could mourn for England , and for the sins that are committed therein , even while I see that without repentance , the men of Gods wrath are about to deal with us , each having his slaughtering weapon in his hand : ( Ezek 9. 1 , 2. ) Well , I have written , and by Gods assistance shall pray , that this flood may abate in England : and could I but see the tops of the Mountains above it , I should think that these waters were abating .

2. It is the duty of those that can , to cry out against this deadly plague , yea , to lift up their voice as with a Trumpet against it ; that men may be awakened about it , slye from it , as from that which is the greatest of evils . Sin pull'd Angels out of Heaven , pulls men down to Hell , and overthroweth Kingdoms . Who , that sees an house on fire , will not give the Allarum to them that dwell therein ? who that sees the Land invaded , will not set the Beacons on a flame ? Who , that sees the Devils , as roaring Lyons continually devouring souls , will not make an Out-cry ? But above all , when we see sin , sinful sin , a swallowing up a Nation , sinking of a Nation , and bringing its Inhabitants to temporal , spiritual , and eternal ruine , shall we not cry out , and cry , They are drunk , but not with Wine ; they stagger , but not with strong drink ; they are intoxicated with the deadly poyson of sin , which will , if its malignity be not by wholsom means allayed , bring Soul and Body , and Estate , and Countrey , and all , to ruin and destruction ?

3. In and by this my Out-cry , I shall deliver my self from the ruins of them that perish : for a man can do no more in this matter , I mean a man in my capacity , than to detect and condemn the wickedness , warn the evil doer of the Judgment , and fly therefrom my self . But Oh! that I might not only deliver my self ! Oh that many would hear , and turn at this my cry , from sin ! that they may be secured from the death and Judgment that attend it .

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 Judgments executed for them only in a corner . Not to say that I could not learn some of their names ; for could I , I should not have made them publick , for this reason .

2. Because I would not provoke those of their Relations that survive them ; I would not justly provoke them , and yet , as I think , I should , should I have intailed their punishment to their sins , and both to their names , and so have turned ●hem into the world .

3. Nor would I lay them under disgrace and ●ontempt , which would , as I think , unavoidably ●ave happened unto them had I withall insert●d their Names .

As for those whose Names I mention , their ●rimes or Judgments were manifest ; publick almost as any thing of that nature that happeneth to mortal men . Such therefore have published their own-shame by their sin , and God , his anger , by taking of open vengeance .

As Job sayes , God has strook them as wicked men in the open sight of others , Job 34 26. So that I cannot conceive , since their si● and Judgment was so conspicuous , that my admonishing the world thereof , should turn to their detriment : For the publishing of these things are , so far as Relation is concerned , intende● for remembrancers : That they may also be think themselves , repent and turn to God , 〈◊〉 the Judgments for their sins should prove here ditary . For the God of Heaven hath threatne● to visit the iniquity of the fathers upon th● children , if they hate him , to the third an● fourth generation , Exod. 20. 5.

Nebuchadnezzars punishment for his pri● being open , ( for he was for his sin , driven fro● his Kingly dignity , and from among men too , 〈◊〉 eat grass like an Ox , and to company with th● beasts , ) Daniel did not stick to tell Belshazz●● his son to his face thereof ; nor to publish 〈◊〉 that it might be read and remembred by the g●nerations to come . The same may be said 〈◊〉 Judas and Ananias , &c. for their sin and p●nishment were known to all the dwellers at Je●salem , Acts 1. Chap. 5.

Nor is it a sign but of desperate impe●tence and hardness of heart , when the offspring or relations of those who have fallen by open , fearfull and prodigious Judgments , for their sin , shall overlook , forget , pass by , or take no notice of such high outgoings of God against them and their house . Thus Daniel aggravates Belshazzars crime , for that he hardened his heart in pride , though he knew that for that very sin and transgression , his father was brought down from his height , and made to be a companion for Asses . And thou his son , O Belshazzar , sayes he , hast not humbled thy heart , though thou knewest all this . Dan. 5. A home reproof indeed , but home is most fit for an open and a continued-in transgression .

Let those then that are the Offspring or relations of such , who by their own sin , and the dreadfull Judgments of God , are made to become a sign , ( Deut. 16. 9 , 10. ) having been swept , as dung , from off the face of the earth , beware , lest when Judgment knocks at their door , for their sins , as it did before at the door of their Pregenitors , it falls also with as heavy a stroak as on them that went before them : Lest , I say , they in that day , instead of finding mercy , find for their high , daring , and Judgment-affrontingsins , Judgment without mercy .

To conclude , let those that would not dye Mr. Badmans death , take heed of Mr. Badmans wayes : for his wayes bring to his end ; Wickedness will not deliver him that is given to it though they should cloak all with a Profession o● Religion .

If it was a transgression of Old , for a ma● to wear a Womans Apparel , surely it is a trans●gression now for a sinner to wear a Christia● Profession for a Cloak . Wolves in Sheeps Cloathing swarm in England this day : Wolves bot● as to Doctrine , and as to Practice too . Som● men make a Profession , I doubt , on purpose that they may twist themselves into a Trade ; and thence into an Estate ; yea , and if need be , into an Estate Kuavishly , by the ruins of their Neighbour : let such take heed , for those that d● such things have the greater damnation .

Christian , make thy Profession shine by a Conversation according to the Gospel : Or else thou wilt damnifie Religion , bring scandal to thy Brethren , and give offence to the Enemies ; and 't would be better that a Millstone was hanged about thy neck , and that thou , as so adorned , wast cast into the bottom of the Sea , than so to do .

Christian , a Profession according to the Gospel , is , in these dayes , a rare thing ; seek then after it , put it on , and keep it without spot ; and ( as becomes thee ) white , and clean , and thou shalt be a rare Christian.

The Prophecy of the last times is , that professing men ( for so I understand the Text ) shall 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 with Christ in white .

Now God Almighty give his people Grace , not to hate or malign Sinners , nor yet to choose any of their wayes , but to keep themselves pure from the blood of all men , by speaking and doing according to that Name and those Rules that they profess to know , and love ; for Jesus Christs sake .