The Life and Death of Mr. Badman

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

Atten. The more is the pity. But pray, now you have touched upon this subject, shew me how many wayes 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 Apprentice. 1.^† If he be not moderate in the use of his Apprentice; if he drives him beyond his strength; if he holds him to work at unseasonable hours; if he will not allow him convenient ⟨p. 57⟩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 has 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's a way 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 ⟨p. 58⟩the flesh and minds of Youth, to the corrupting of them. 4. If the Master have one Guise for abroad, and another for home; that is, if his Religion hangs by in his house as his Cloak does, and he be seldom in it, except he be abroad; this, young beginners will take notice of, and stumble at. We say, Hedges have eyes, and little Pitchers have ears; and indeed,