neighbour's house, or have a good book in her hand; especially when he had his companions in his house, or had got a little drink in his head. He would also, when he perceived that she was dejected, speak tauntingly and mockingly to her in the presence of his companions, calling of her his religious wife, his demure dame, and the like; also he would make a sport of her among his wanton ones abroad.

If she did ask him (as sometimes she would) to let her go out to a sermon, he would in a churlish manner reply, Keep at home, keep at home, and look to your business, we cannot live by hearing of sermons. If she still urged that he would let her go, then he would say to her, Go, if you dare. He would also charge her with giving of what he had to her minister's, when, vile wretch, he had spent it on his vain companions before.

This was the life that Mr Badman's good wife lived, within few months after he had married her.

Atten. This was a disappointment indeed.

Wise. A disappointment indeed, as ever, I think, poor woman had. One would think that the knave might a little let her have had her will, since it was nothing but to be honest, and since she brought him so sweet, so lumping a portion; for she brought hundreds into his house; I say, one would think he should have let her have her own will a little, since she desired it only in the service and worship

of God: But could she win him to grant her that? no, not a bit, if it would have saved her life. True, sometimes she would steal out when he was from home, or on a journey, or among his drunken companions, but with all privacy imaginable; and, poor woman, this advantage she had, she carried it so to all her neighbours, that though many of them were but carnal, yet they would not betray her, or rell of her going out to the world, if they saw it, but would rather endeavour to hide it from Mr Badman himself.

Atten. This carriage of his to her was enough to break her heart.

Her repen tance and com

plaint.

Wise. It was enough to do it; indeed it did effectually do it. It killed her in time, yea, it was all the time a-killing of her. She would oftentimes, when she sat by herself, thus mournfully_bewail her condition. "Wo is me that I sojourn in Meshech, and that I dwell in the tents of Kedar: My soul hath long time dwelt with him that hateth peace. O what shall be given unto thee, thou deceitful tongue! or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue! I am a woman grieved in spirit, my husband has bought me and sold me for his lusts: It was not me, but my money that he wanted: O that he had it, so I had had my liberty !”

This she said not of contempt of his person, but of his conditions; and because she saw, that by his hypocritical tongue, he had

brought her, not only almost to beggary, but robbed her of the word of God.

The evil of being unequally yoked together.

Atten. It is a deadly thing, I see, to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. If this woman had had a good husband, how happily might they have lived together! Such an one would have ed for her, taught her, and also would have encouraged her in the faith and ways of God: but now, poor creature, instead of this, there is nothing but the quite contrary.

pray

Wise. It is a deadly thing indeed ; and therefore, by the word of God, his people are forbid to be joined in marriage with them, "Be not (saith it) unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? There can be no agreement where such matches are made; even God himself hath declared the contrary, from the beginning of the world. "I (says he) will put enmity betwixt thee and the woman, betwixt thy seed and her seed." Therefore he saith in another place, "They can mix no better than iron and clay." I say, they cannot agree, they cannot be one, and therefore they should be aware at first, and not lightly receive such into their affections.

God has often made such matches bitter, e specially to his own. Such matches are, as God said of Eli's sons that were spared, "to consume the eyes, and to grieve the heart." Oh! the wailing and lamentation that they have made that have been thus yoked, especially if they were such as would be so yoked, against their light, and good counsel to the contrary,

Atten. Alas he deluded her with his tongue, and feigned reformation.

Wise. Well, well; she should have gone more warily to work: What Counsel to those if she had acquainted some of godly maids that her best, most knowing and are to marry. godly friends

therewith?

What if she had engaged a godly minister or two to have talked with Mr Badman? Also, what if she had laid wait round about him, to espy if he was not otherwise behind her back than he was before her face? And besides, I verily think (since in the multitude of counsellors there is safety) that if she had acquainted the congregation with it, and desired them to spend some time in prayer to God about it, and if she must have had him, to have received him as to his godliness, upon the judgment of others, rather than her own, (she knowing them to be godly and judicious, and unbiassed men,) she had had more peace all her life after; than to trust to her own poor, raw, womanish judgment, as she did. Love is blind, and will see nothing

amiss, where others may see an hundred faults. Therefore, I say, she should not have trusted to her own thoughts in the matter of his goodness.

A caution to young maidens.

As to his person, there she was fittest to judge; because she was to be the person pleased; but as to his godliness, there the word was the fittest judge, and they that could best understand it, because God was therein to be pleased. I wish that all young maidens will take heed of being beguiled with flattering words, with feigning and lying speeches, and take the best way to preserve themselves from being bought and sold by wicked men, as she was; lest they repent with her, when (as to this) repentance will do them no good, but for their unadvisedness go sorrowing to their graves.

Atten. Well, things are past with this poor woman, and cannot be called back; let others beware, by her misfortunes, lest they also fall into her distress.

Wise. That is the thing that I say; let them take heed, lest for their unadvisedness they smart, as this poor woman has done. And, ah! methinks, that they that yet are single persons, and that are tempted to marry such as Mr Badman, would, to inform and warn themselves in this matter, before they intangle themselves, but go to some that already are in the snare, and ask them how it is with them, as to the suitable or unsuitableness of their