Wise. So I will. Upon a time, she was on a Lords day for going to hear a Sermon, and Mr. Badman was unwilling {84c} she should: but she at that time, as it seems, did put on more courage than she was wont; and therefore, after she had spent upon him, a great many fair words and entreaties, if perhaps she might have prevailed by them, but all to no purpose at all: At last she said she would go, and rendred this reason for it; I have an Husband, but also a God; my God has commanded me, and that upon pain of damnation, to be a continual Worshipper of him, and that in the way of his own Appointments: I have an Husband, but also a Soul, and my Soul ought to be more unto me, than all the world besides. This soul of mine I will look after, care for, and (if I can) provide it an Heaven for its habitation. You are commanded to love me, as you love your own body, and so do I love you; {85a} but I tell you true, I preferr my Soul before all the world, and its Salvation I will seek. At this, first, {85b} he gave her an ugly wish, and then fell into a fearfull rage, and sware moreover that if she did go, he would make both her, and all her damnable Brotherhood (for so he was pleased to call them) to repent their coming thither. Atten. But what should he mean by that? Wise. You may easily guess what he meant: he meant, he would turn Informer, and so either weary out those that she loved, from meeting together to Worship God; or make them pay dearly for their so doing; the which if he did, he knew it would vex every vein of her tender heart. Atten. But do you think Mr. Badman would have been so base? Wise. Truly he had malice, and enmity enough in his heart to do it, onely he was a Tradesman; also he knew that he must live by his neighbours, and so he had that little wit in his anger, that he refrained himself, and did it not. But, as I said, he had malice and envy enough in his heart {85c} to have made him to do it, only he thought it would worst him in his trade: yet these three things he would be doing. 1. He would be putting of others on to molest and abuse her friends. 2. He would be glad when he heard that any mischief befell them. 3. And would laugh at her, when he saw her troubled for them. And now I have told you Mr. Badmans way as to this. Atten. But was he not afraid of the Judgments of God, that did fly about at that time? Wise. He regarded not the Judgment nor Mercy of God, for had he at all done that, he could not have done as he did. But what Judgments do you mean? Atten. Such Judgments, that if Mr Badman himself had taken but sober notice of, they might have made him a hung down his ears. Wise. Why, have you heard of any such persons that the Judgments of God have overtaken. Atten. Yes, and so, I believe, have you too, though you make so strange about it. Wise. I have so indeed, to my astonishment and wonder.