The Life and Death of Mr. Badman

Wise. I will endeavour to answer your desires, and first, I will tell you, that from a Child he was very bad: his very beginning was ⟨p. 10⟩ominous, and presaged that no good end, was, in likelihood, to follow thereupon. There were several sins that he was given to, when but a little one, that manifested him to be notoriously infected with Original corruption; for I dare say he learned none of them of his Father or Mother; nor was he admitted to go much abroad among other Children, that were vile, to learn to sin of them: Nay, contrariwise, if at any time he did get abroad amongst others, he would be as the Inventer of bad words, and an example in bad actions. To them all he used to be, as we say, the Ringleader, and Master-sinner from a Child.

Wise. I will endeavour to answer your desires, and first, I will tell you, that from a Child he was very bad: his very beginning was ⟨p. 10⟩ominous, and presaged that no good end, was, in likelyhood, to follow thereupon. There were several sins that he was given to, when but a little one, that manifested him to be notoriously infected with Orginal corruption; for I dare say he learned none of them of his Father or Mother; nor was he admitted to go much abroad among other Children, that were vile, to learn to sin of them: Nay, contrariwise, if at any time he did get abroad amongst others, he would be as the Inventer of bad words, and an example in bad actions. To them all he used to be, as we say, the Ringleader, and Master-sinner from a Childe.

Atten. This was a bad Beginning indeed, and did demonstrate that he was, as you say, polluted, very much polluted with Original Corruption. For to speak my mind freely, I do confess, that it is mine opinion, that Children come polluted with sin into the World, and that oft-times the sins of their youth,¹ especially while they are very young, are rather by virtue of Indwelling sin, than by examples