too! What play the Thief so soon! He could not but know, though
he was but a Child, that what he took from others, was none of his
own. Besides, if his Father was a good man, as you say, it could
not be, but he must also hear from him, that to steal was to
transgress the Law of God, and so to run the hazard of eternal
Damnation.

Wise. His Father was not wanting to use the means to reclaim him,
often urging, as I have been told, that saying in the Law of Moses,
{24d} Thou shalt not steal: And also that, This is the Curse that
goeth forth over the face of the whole earth, for every one that
stealeth shall be cut off, &c. {25a} The light of Nature also,
though he was little, must needs shew him that what he took from
others, was not his own, and that he would not willingly have been
served so himself. But all was to no purpose, let Father and
Conscience say what they would to him, he would go on, he was
resolved to go on in his wickedness.

Atten. But his Father would, as you intimate, sometimes rebuke him
for his wickedness; pray how would he carry it then?

Wise. How! why, like to a Thief that is found. He would stand
{25b} gloating, and hanging down his head in a sullen, pouching
manner, (a body might read, as we use to say, the picture of Ill-
luck in his face,) and when his Father did demand his answer to
such questions concerning his Villany, he would grumble and mutter
at him, and that should be all he could get.

Atten. But you said that he would also rob his Father, methinks
that was an unnatural thing.