A30164:71
The Life and Death of Mr. Badman
The life and death of Mr. Badman presented to the world in a familiar dialogue between Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Attentive / by John Bunyan ...
London: printed by J. A. for Nath. Ponder, 1680
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Attentive. Good Sir, Good morrow to you, I have not as yet lost ought, but yet you give a right guess of me, for I am, as you say, concerned in my heart, but 'tis because of the badness of the times. And Sir, you, as all our ⟨p. 2⟩Neighbours know, are a very observing man, pray therefore what do you think of them?
Attentive. Good Sir, Good morrow to you, I have not as yet lost ought, but yet you give a right ghess of me, for I am, as you say, concerned in my heart, but 'tis because of the badness of the times. And Sir, you, as all our ⟨p. 2⟩Neighbours know, are a very observing man, pray therefore what do you think of them?
Wise. Why? I think, as you say, to wit, that they are bad times, and bad they will be, until men are better: for they are bad men that make bad times; if men therefore would mend, so would the times. 'Tis a folly to look for good days, so long as sin is so high, and those that study its nourishment so many. God bring it down, and those that nourish it to Repentance, and then my good Neighbour, you will be concerned, not as you are now: Now you are concerned because times are so bad; but then you will be so, cause times are so good: Now you are concerned so as to be perplexed, but then you will be concerned so as to lift up your voice with shouting; for I dare say, could you see such days they would make you shout.
Wise. Why? I think, as you say, to wit, that they are bad times, and bad they will be, untill men are better: for they are bad men that make bad times; if men therefore would mend, so would the times. 'Tis a folly to look for good dayes, so long as sin is so high, and those that study its nourishment so many. God bring it down, and those that nourish it to Repentance, and then my good Neighbour, you will be concerned, not as you are now: Now you are concerned because times are so bad; but then you will be so, cause times are so good: Now you are concerned so as to be perplexed, but then you will be concerned so as to lift up your voice with shouting; for I dare say, could you see such dayes they would make you shout.