The Life and Death of Mr. Badman

Wise. Mr. Badman has more fellows than Joseph, else there would not be so many Whores as there are: For though I doubt not but that that Sex is bad enough this way, yet I verily believe that many of them are made Whores at first by the flatteries of Badmans fellows. Alas!¹ there is many a woman plunged into this sin at first even by promises of Marriage. I say, by these promises they are flattered, yea, forced into a consenting to these Villainies, and so being in, and growing hardened in their hearts, they at last give themselves up, even as wicked men do, to act this kind of wickedness with greediness. But Joseph you see, was of another mind, for the Fear of God was in him. I will, before I leave this, tell you here two notable stories; and I ⟨p. 95⟩wish Mr. Badmans companions may hear of them. They are found in Clark's Looking-glass for Sinners; and are these. Mr. Cleaver (says Mr. Clark) reports of one whom he knew,² that had committed the act of Uncleanness, whereupon he fell into such horror of Conscience that he hanged himself; leaving it thus written in a paper. Indeed, (saith he) I acknowledge it to be utterly unlawful for a man to kill himself, but I am bound to act the Magistrates part, because the punishment of this sin is death. Clark doth also in the same page make mention of two more, who as they were committing Adultery in London, were immediately struck dead with fire from Heaven, in the very Act. Their bodies were so found, half burnt up, and sending out a most loathsome savour.

Wise. Mr. Badman has more fellows than Joseph, else there would not be so many Whores as there are: For though I doubt not but that that Sex is bad enough this way, yet I verily believe that many of them are made Whores at first by the flatteries of Badmans fellows. Alas!¹ there is many a woman plunged into this sin at first even by promises of Marriage. I say, by these promises they are flattered, yea, forced into a consenting to these Villanies, and so being in, and growing hardened in their hearts, they at last give themselves up, even as wicked men do, to act this kind of wickedness with greediness. But Joseph you see, was of another mind, for the Fear of God was in him. I will, before I leave this, tell you here two notable storyes; and I