Wise. Yes, that I did; and this young Badman was as like him, as an Egg is like an Egg. Alas! the Scripture makes mention of many that by their actions speak the same. They say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways; Again, They refuse to hearken, and pull away their shoulder, and stop their ears; yea, they make their hearts hard as an Adamant-stone, lest they should hear the Law, and the words that the Lord of Host[s] hath sent. {45c} What are all these but such as Badman, and such as the young man but now mentioned? That young man was my Play-fellow when I was solacing my self in my sins: I may make mention of him to my shame; but he has a great many fellows. Atten. Young Badman was like him indeed, and he trod his steps, as if his wickedness had been his very Copy; I mean, as to his desperateness: for had he not been a desperate one, he would never have made you such a reply, when you was rebuking of him for his sin. But when did you give him such a rebuke? Wise. A while after God had parted him and I, by Calling of me (as I hope) by his Grace, still leaving him in his sins; and so far as I could ever gather, as he lived, so he died, even as Mr. Badman did: but we will leave him, and return again to our discourse. Atten. Ha, poor obstinate sinners! doe they think that God cannot be even with them? Wise. I do not know, what they think, but I know that God hath said, That as He cried, and they would not hear, so they shall crie, and I will not hear, saith the Lord. {45d} Doubtless there is a time a coming, when Mr. Badman will crie for this. Atten. But I wonder that he should be so expert in wickedness, so soon! alas, he was but a Stripling, I suppose, he was, as yet, not Twenty. Wise. No, nor Eighteen neither: but (as with Ishmael, and with the Children that mocked the Prophet) the seeds of sin did put forth themselves betimes in him. {46a} Atten. Well, he was as wicked a young man as commonly one shall hear of. Wise. You will say so, when you know all. Atten. All, I think here is a great All; but if there is more behind, pray let us hear it. Wise. Why, then I will tell you, that he had not been with his Master much above a year and a half, but he came {46b} acquainted with three young Villains (who here shall be nameless,) that taught him to adde to his sin, much of like kind; and he as aptly received their Instructions. One of them was chiefly given to Uncleanness, another to Drunkenness; and the third to Purloining, or stealing from his Master. Atten. Alas poor Wretch, he was bad enough before, but these, I suppose, made him much worse. Wise. That they made him worse you may be sure of, for they taught him to be an Arch, a chief one in all their wayes. Atten. It was an ill hap that he ever came acqu[a]inted with them.