and that by the Ministers themselves For was it not the judgement and confession of King Iames of famous memory and of the whole state and Kingdome in an exhortation published in that great plague beginning with his raigne 1603 where are these words The Lords Sabbath is not kept holy but polluted c. and therefore the cause is apparent why the plague is broken in amongst us And was not the same exhortation afterwards republished by our gracious King Charles whom God long preserve a religious and righteous Governour over us in the first yeare of his raigne with the approbation of the whole Parliament where the same is acknowledged of that other great Plague in the beginning of his Raigne 1625. namely that one principall speciall cause thereof was the not keeping holy but polluting the Lords day And if this were a principall cause of those great plagues then why not of this which now we suffer yea what Plague upon plagues may we not justly expect to breake forth upon us in these dayes wherein we have increased surpassed our fathers sins and that in such a height as they reach up to heaven to pull downe flames and flakes of vengeance upon our heads And so much the more sith upon the publishing of the said booke so manyfold mischiefes have attended and followed as never any age since Christ much lesse such a Christian state as we professe to be hath seene or ever heard the like For besides the open violation of Gods holy commandement the 4. Morall acknowledged in our Homily to be the ground of our Christian Sabbath day as it is there no lesse then 8. severall times distinctly stiled as also in another Homily twice which by the way makes me wonder at the audacious insolence arrogant ignorance of some new Masters in these dayes and in particular of D r. Poch in his Sunday no Sabbath who is not ashamed to avouch with open mouth that the name of Sabbath was never given to the Lords day untill it was brought in by Iohn Knox others of the Puritan faction in the yeare 1554. What saith he then to the Homilies of our Church which were set forth in K. Edw. 6. his Raigne and so I am sure before 1554. by 3. or 4. yeares now these to omitt innumerable testimonies more both out of ancient Fathers and the Prelates of this Land too large to be comprehended in a Parenthesis being now to furnish a pretty Treatise these our Homilies I say so frequently and clearly called the Lords day the Sabbath day before Iohn Knox called it so 1554. And the same Homilies being set forth a fresh by Queene Elizabeth 1562. will Dr. P. dare to charge the learned and pious compilers of them a pack of Puritans or as some other NOVELL SABBATARIANS But this by the way by which violation I say of the Sabbath or Lords day God is intolerably dishonoured and his Religion disgraced through outragious libertinisme What an invention of Antichristian tyranny hath broken in at the opening of this great sluice What havock is made in our Church by sundry of the Hierarchy in suspending godly Ministers depriving them of their liberty livelyhood and Freeholds against all Lawes of God and man so as they their wives and children are exposed to beggery and all misery and their flocks to be devoured of the wolves and to become a prey to that roaring Lion and all this because they dare not offer violence to their consciences in doing that which should dishonour God indanger their owne and their peoples soules abase before God and man the authority and dignity to their Ministry condemne the innocent people of God and call the wicked righteous teach inferiours rebellion to their Superiours and in a word hasten the pulling downe of vengeance from heaven upon the Land O ye heavens stand amazed at this sight Tell it not in Gath nor publish it in the Streets of Askelon least the daughters of the Philistims rejoyce least the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph What could the Pope have done more then some of our Prelates have done in this kind for the darkening of the glory of Christs Kingdome and for the setting up of Antichrists throne againe in this Land But our Lord sayth Ye shall know them by their fruits Besides what impudency and impiety hath broken out from sundry aëry and ambitious spirits who have dared in their late published bookes upon bookes to belch out their blasphemies against God and the power purity and profession of the Religion established amongst us for so many yeares Nor only is the floodgate of all profanenesse and impiety broken up in the violation of the 4. commandement but of the 5. also when as by occasion of the publishing of the sayd booke which inhibits Magistrates and superiours to restraine or punish youth for taking such liberty on the Lords day as the booke alloweth and which all other books writings monuments of Fathers Councells Kings Emperours Divines ancient and moderne Protestants and Papists have universally with one vote and voyce cryed downe till now but yesterday a new generation of Maleferiati hath risen up out daring and defining the whole world and God himselfe inferiour persons exalt themselves in high contempt against their Superiours as the common vulgar against the Magistrate and Minister servants against their Masters children against their Parents and wanton wives against their husbands which hath caused such outcryes and complaints of masters for their servants unbridled and uncontrowled outrage on the Lords day which must also in-jure them with pride and presumption of spirit the whole weeke after and so their whole life while like untamed colts they have thus learned to take the bitt betweene their teeth and so to runne a gallop into all excesse of riot So as if the booke be not all the sooner called in and the authors of those late books against the sanctification of the Lords day condignly punished and a speedy reformation hereofset on foot how can we looke for a stay of the plague untill the Land be consumed Now the Lord make us wise to lay these things to heart least he teare in peeces and there be none to deliver For as never any Christian Church hath produced such monstrous impieties so never any Church hath bene the theater of such tragicall examples of divine wrath as our Land is like to be if we speedily repent not Vnlesse therefore we repent we shall all likewise perish as these examples have done before us Now for these so many so markable examples of Gods judgements inflicted upon the violaters and profaners of the Lords day and that in so short a time even since the booke for such sports was published we may thus argue and conclude That for which the Lord inflicteth and executed so many notorious and severe judgements must needs be a notorious and hainous sin and so a breach of his holy commandement But for the violation and
bringe thee unto judgement EXAMPLE 29. In the yeare of our Lord 1633. Octob. 26. after the booke for sports was known to be published in print David Price a Welshman servant to one Thomas Hill a knowne Grasier of that Country coming to Banbury with his drove on Satturday night declared his purpose of driving them the next day early in the morning being the Sabbath or Lords day his Host where he lodged disswaded him because it was the Sabbath day and told him that he would certainly be stopped and made to pay for it according to the Statute Hee answered that he would drive them and let me see saith hee who will hinder me So in the morning two other accompaning him he went to fetch the Cattell out of the ground one that knew him mett him at the Townes end not yet oUt of the Towne and admonished him saying What David today today he made no answere but went onward and though for any thing that appeared to any other or that himselfe complained of he was then in good health as ever he was yet within little more then a stones cast of the Towne he fell downe dead suddainly and was burried in Banbury Church-yard the next day after None could discerne any sensible or evident cause of so suddaine a surprizall and himselfe gave no signe of any paine weakenesse or illnesse till the instant time that he gave up the ghost EXAMPLE 5. On Ian. 25. 1634. being the Lords day in the time of the last great Frost 14. younge men presuming to play at football upon the yce on the river Trent neere to Ganisborrow comming alltogether in a scuffle the yce suddainly brake and they were all drowned EXAMPLE 30. At Wicks a Towne betwixt Colchester and Harwich in Essex upon Whitsunday last in the afternoone two fellowes meeting at the football the one killed the other EXAMPLE 31. At Oxford this last Sommer on the Sabbathday one Bally Hawkes a Butcher would needs goe into his feild with an hatchet and showell to mend his ditch his Wife disswaded him what shee could being the Sabbathday but he said he would goe and make an end of his worke which he did for suddainly he was struck dead in his ditch and so made an end of his worke and his life together EXAMPLE 32. Also at Oxford a carpenter undertaking to mend a Stage in S. Iohns Colleidge on the Satturday night for the finishing wherof he must of necessity spent some part of the Lords day morning that the Stage might be ready against the Munday following he that night fell backward from the Stage being not farre from the ground and brake his neck and so ended his life in a fearefull Tragedy EXAMPLE 33. At Iuye Hinckley a mile from Oxford about the time when May-poles are sett up on the Lords day after evening Prayer when most of the Towne were at the May-pole one Iohn Cooper servant to master Tinmore of the said Towne going along the street a Mayd out of a windowe in Iohn Nicols his house not farre from the May-pole called him to come in thither where also was another Mayd and a young man named Christopher younge servant to Master Willis of the sayd Towne Iohn Cooper at first refused to come to them but the mayd earnestly intreating him he yeilded to her and being come in sate downe by the other two where having sate a while the foresaid Christopher younge spied a Gun over the chimney which he supposing not to be charged fondly tooke downe and fell a tampearing with it and first levelled at the mayds and after held it up against Iohn Cooper as he sate and unwittingly lifting up the Cocke it strucke fire and the peece discharged and shot the said Iohn Cooper through the shoulder so that he dyed presently being heard only to say O Lord. EXAMPLE 6. At Dover the very same Lords day that the booke was read one in S. Iames Parish that played on a kitt went and played and thereby calld together a sort of wenches and young men But he was thereupon that very day struck by divine hand so as within two dayes he dyed EXAMPLE 34. A young man neere Bow going to swimme in the river on Essex side on the Lords day in the afternoone was drowned EXAMPLE 35. Two boyes of S. Albons going to Verolanes Ponds a mile off to swimme on the Lords day Iuly 19. one of them was drowned and the other hardly escaped EXAMPLE 36. At Ramsey in Suffolke a tall man on the Lords day going with others to swimme and being advertized and warned of a hole in the water he sware that there was no place there could drowne him but by and by on a suddaine he was missing being now under water and so drowned EXAMPLE 37. On September 13. 1635. being the Lords day two young men of the Parish of S. Dunstans in the West London going to swimme were both drowned EXAMPLE 7. At Thurlow in Suffolke one making a Feast to his freinds on the Sabbath day for joy of the publishing of the Booke for sports was the next day pressed to death by the suddaine fall of a faggot stack EXAMPLE 38. At Twiford in Buckinghamshire a fellow playing at cudgels on the Lords day or as some say upon a revell day receaved a hurt in the face whereof he dyed the next weeke EXAMPLE 39. At Lemster one Master Powel Ian. 1634. on the Lords day serving a writt of sub poena and that of purpose on that day as is credibly reported upon one Master Shuit a Gentleman this he did in the Church-yard so soone as they were come out of the Church Master Shuit thereupon told him I thought you had beene an honester man then so to doe this upon this day he replyed I hope I am never a whit the more dishonest or lesse holy for that having spoken this he suddainly fell downe dead and spoke not a word more his wife seeing this was suddainly struck with sicknesse EXAMPLE 40. A fellow in Sommersetshire being to make a tente upon the Lords day for a faire that was to be kept upon the Munday following sayd to one on the Satturday that they would reare it to morrow so the next day which was the Lords day being drunk he dyed the same day roaring EXAMPLE 43. At Glassenbury in Sommersetshire at the setting up of a May-pole it miscarrying fell upon a child slew it and it is reported that it was the Churchwardens child who was the cheefe stickler in the businesse Also when the May-pole in the same Towne was againe the second time a setting up a fire tooke in the Towne so as all the people about the May-pole were forced to leave it and to runne to the quenching of the fire EXAMPLE 44. A May-Lord of misrule not farre from thence became madd upon it EXAMPLE 45. Also at Battersey neere London the last yeare a notable example of Gods judgement befell a fidler the youth of the town of both
and died Remarkable it is that where the Father drew ale upon the Lordsday and so profaned it In the same place his Sonne the next day drew his last breath for that the punishment inflicted was stamped with the resemblance of the sinne convicted EXAMPLE 21. At Baunton in Dorcetshire some being at bowles on the Lords day one flinging his bowle at his fellowbowler hit him on the eare so as the bloud issued forth at the other eare whereof he shortly died The Murtherer fledd EXAMPLE 22. One good man Paul neere Stoke in Dorcetshire rejoycinge much at the erection of a summer-pole at a Parish cald Simsbury in Dorcetshire saying before one his Neighbours he would goe see it though he went naked through a quickset hedge which is a coÌ„mon proverb they use Going with wood in his armes to cast into the bonfire where he lived and using these words Heaven and earth are full of thy glory O Lord he was presently smitten by the Stroke of God and within 2. or 3. dayes dyed and his wife with him These two last examples are testifieth by a Minister in his letter to a brother Minister EXAMPLE 3. A Mayd at Enfield neere London hearing of the liberty which was given by the booke which was published for sports would needs goe daunce with others on the Lords day saying shee would goe daunce so long as shee could stand on her leggs shee daunced so long that thereof within 2. or 3. dayes shee dyed EXAMPLE 23. In the edge of Essex neere Brinkley two fellowes working in a chalke pitt the one was boasting to his fellow how he had angred his Mistrisse with staying so late at their sports the last sunday night but he sayd he would anger her worse the next Sunday He had no sooner sayd this but suddainly the earth fel downe upon him and slew him out right with the fall whereof his fellowes limbe was broken who had been also partner with him in his jollity on the Lords day escaping with his life that he might tell the truth that God might be glorified and that by this warning he might repent of his sin and reforme such his profanesse and remaine as a pillar of salt to season others with feare by his example EXAMPLE 24. The last Spring a Miller hard by Wootton in Worcestershire went on the Lordsday to a wake whence returning home againe the same day at night found his Mill and house all on a fier this was testified by a Minister in a Reply to another Minister who was an eye witnes EXAMPLE 25. At Woolston in the same Country where the sayd Ministers father had beene Minister 40. yeares and by Gods blessing upon his labours had reformed things very well yet upon the publication of this booke in printe many of the inhabitants the springe following were imboldned to set up Maypoles Morrice daunce and a Whitson ale continuing their rude revelling a weeke together with many affronts to their ancient and reverent Pastor but it pleased God that not long after a sparke from a smithes shop caught in that roome where the ale was brewed and though meanes were ready at hand yet it could not be quenched but set the house on fire and presently flew to the barne in which their disorder was and burnt the same with 13. dwelling houses more most of whose inhabitants were actors or abetters in the same This is testifieth by many EXAMPLE 12. At Topudle in Dorceshiere one Iohn Hooper alià s Cole upon the promulgation of the sayd Booke was let downe into a Well to cleanse it for to brew beere for a Whitson ale by Francis Laurence alià s Smith and Stephen Pâ—pe Churchwardens which Well was in the backe side of Richard Laurence alià s Smith Which Iohn Hooperfelâ— from the rope into the Well where he dyed EXAMPLE 26. Richard Iones son of Widdow Iones Iul. 1634. not farre from Dorchester being severely admonished by his Mother when shee understood he had a purpose on satturday night to goe on the Lords day with other companions to Stoake to play at a sport called fiues but persisting in his resolution and going the next day accordingly being the Lords day at Stoake where he played at the said sport at night returning home with his companions W m. Burges W m. Hill Iohn Edwards after they had there wel drunke they fall first a justling one another in the way then to boxes and in the end Edwards stabbing Iones under the left side he dyed thereof the monday night following about seaven of the Clocke Behold here a terrible example of disobedience to Gods holy commandements not only the fourth but the fifth also EXAMPLE 27. At Ovendeane in Sussex about 9. or 10. miles from Alfriston alià s Ason one Iohn Arcold of the age of one or two and twenty yeares eldest sonne to Iohn Arcold a blacksmith dwelling in Ason with other younkars would needs fall a ringing of the bells on a Sabbath day presuming the Booke for Sports gave them full liberty so to doe One of the Churchwardens Robert Kenward hindred them from their jangling whereupon the said Arcold and his companions fell in some contestation with him telling him that though he hindred them now yet they would ring the next Sunday whether he would or no. But the said Iohn Arcold the ringleader before the next Sunday came was strucke with a sicknesse in which he continued a fortnight or 3. weekes till he died in which time Robbert Kenward the Churchwarden repairing to him and putting him in minde of his bold affronting of him he seemed to be sorry for it and promised if God would be pleased to restore him againe to his health he would never doe the like God make his surviving companions and all others wise by his example EXAMPLE 28. At Walton upon Thames in Surrey not farre from Oatlands in the last great frost 3 youngmen on the Lords day after they had beene at the Church in the forenoone where the Minister pressing the words of his text out of 2. Cor. 5. 10. that we must all appeare before the judgement seat of Christ c. they the while whispering one to another as they sate In the afternoone they went together over the Thames upon the Ice unto a house of disorder and gameing where they spent the rest of the Lords day and part of the night also in revelling one of them in a Tauerne merrily discoursing the next day of his Sabbath-acts and voyage over the Ice but on the Tewsday next after these three returning home wards and attempting to passe again over the yce they all sanke downe to the bottome as stones whereof one only of them was miraculously preserved but the other two were drowned Rejoyce O younge man in thy youth and let thy hart cheare thee in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thy hart and in the sight of thine eyes But know thou that for all these things God will
sexes being assembled solemnly to set up a garland upon their may-pole and having gott a Taber and Pipe for the purpose he with the pipe in his mouth fell down dead and never spake word EXAMPLE 41. At Corsham in Wiltshire in the Whitsunweeke at a whitson-ale one Marke Hulbert a lusty young man undertaking to act the fooles part was so extreamly drunke and hurt with falls taken in the time of his drunkenesse that shortly he tooke his bed where he lay very loathsomly in most grieuous paine until the sixth day of Iune being the Lordsday on which he dyed at 4. of the clocke in the afternoone the usuall time for youth to take their liberty and was burried the same day before 9. of the clocke yet he burst before he was layd into his grave See Iob. 31. 3. EXAMPLE 46. On May 31. 1635. being the Lords day one Richard Clerke an apprentise unto Timothy Denorell shoomaker of Sherston in the Country of Wiltshire within 3. miles of Tedbury being drunke at the Church-house in the same Parish told Henry Larrum of the same Parish that was then in the same place drunke likewise with the Church-house ale that he the said Richard would either hange himselfe or drowne himselfe demanding of the sayd Henry which of the two was best unto whom he replyed that he hoped he would do neither on the day following being munday in the morning the said Richard Clerke was seene to goe through the streat without a bande as if he had beene going about his masters businesse and putting on his band without the Towne he gott up into the middle of a tree and there did hang himselfe A miserable effect of carnall liberty and profane meetings on the Lords day EXAMPLE 47. The 31. May 1635. the booke of recreation was read in the Parish Church of Alvelye in Comit. Salop in the afternoone after all divine exercises publicke ended there fell out a bloody fight betwixt 3. of Alvelye above said and one of Envield of the Country of Stafford neere Adjacent in so much that the man of Envield was sore wounded and had his jaw-bone broken so that he could not eate his meat for the sustaining of nature In his extremity he layd his death to the charge of the other 3. The Churchwardens of the Parish of Alvelye above said presented these 4. for profaning of the Sabbath to my Lord his grace of Canterbury to use the words of the relation being the time of his metropoliticall visitation since which time two of the parties fledd the third was committed to prison in Shewsbury and was the next assises to come to his answere EXAMPLE 48. In March betwixt 1634. and 1635. at Billericay in Essex one Theophilus Pease the Ministers sonne of that towne went to ring the bells on the Sabbath day whom the Churchwardens for that time hindered But against the next Sabbath he gathered a company together saying he would ringe in dispite of the Churchwardens While he was a ringing he was taken with a giddinesse like one drunke and so sickned and about three dayes after dyed EXAMPLE 49. Anno 1635. Ianuarie or there about in Chichester Diocesse one Thomas Perkin a willfull and usuall profaner of Gods Sabbath in Hailing South being ringing on a Sabbath day the rope tooke him up and flinging him about 8. foot high he fell downe on his head and was taken up dead and so remained long but life at last was gotten into him yet the bruise in his head is so great and dangerous as death is expected and little hope of life remaineth EXAMPLE 50. At Craies two miles from Billerikey a servant of Master Holdsworth Minister there ringing on the Sabbath his Master sent to forbid him but he would ring still and before he had done ringing he was strucke sicke and a while after dyed This was a little after the booke for sports was publikely read in the Church EXAMPLE 51. In Iune 1635. on the Lords day the Tapster and Chamberlaine of the Queenes head in Southwarke ridd into Kent to be merry and having drunke liberally riding homewards the one of them fell from his horse and broke his necke EXAMPLE 52. Also in Iune 1635. and as some report the very same Lords day in Southwarke at the red lion neere S. Georges Church in the afternoone a man with another sate drinking so longe that the other about sixe of the clocke departing fell a sleepe so that he never awaked againe EXAMPLE 8. At Hellingsby 5. or 6. miles from Ason in Sussex the booke being read on the Lords day in the Church by the Minister on the next day being Munday an honest man one Tomkins being on his way a neighbour overtakes him and scoffingly askes him if he would goe daunce with him the next Sunday to whom the man aswered take heed that thou be not dauncing in hell before that day come or before it be longe By the next weeke Gods hand fell on this Scoffer that himselfe and two more of his family dyed EXAMPLE 53. In the moneth of Iuly 1634. one Master Quince the Chirurgiō of the Tower of London having an horse to sell meeting with a chapman went to Coleman-street where the horse was kept to see and contract for him on the Lords day in the afternoone the horse being sadled M. Quince gets upon his back to shew his chapman how well he would pace which done as he was a lighting of his backe his foote which lighted on the ground slipped the other foote hung in the stirrup so as he fell to the ground and with the fall brake his thighbone short off so that he was carried from the place to an house neere adjoyning where he lay in great paine and agonye for 8 weekes space or more allmost despairing of his life and never stirring out of his bedde at last it pleased God by degrees to recover and restore him to the use of his legge againe he having little use of it that with great paine for halfe a yeares space and more His sonne had disswaded him from riding because it was the Lords day and himself hath since acknowledged it a just judgement of God upon him for profaning that sacred time which hath made him more carefully to frequent the Church and to avoyd the profanation of the Lords day ever since This the party himselfe and most of the Tower can testify EXAMPLE 9. On February 9. 1634. being the Lords day an Apothecaries man in Limestreat London rid to Barnet with another companion to make merry who returning home drunke neere highe gate met a Tinker and offring him some abuse the Tinker strikes one of their horses whereat the one bid the other run him through who drawing his rapier ran the Tinker through the breast that he fell downe dead therupon being by and by apprehended and confessing the fact they were both sent to Newgate EXAMPLE 10. At Thorneton neere Westchester the people there upon the first publishing
some enemies had landed to sacke them the Pole being thus brought home and set up they began to drinke healthes about it and to it till they could not stand so steady as the pole did whereupon the Major and Iustice bound the ringleaders over to the Sessions whereupon these complaining to the Archbishops Vicar Generall then in his visitation he prohibited the justices to proceed against them in regard of the Kings booke But the justices acquainted him they did it for their disorder in transgressing the bounds of the booke hereupon these libertines scorning at Authority one of them fell suddainly into a Consumption whereof he shortly after dyed now allthough this revelling was not on the Lords day yet being upon any other day and especially May-day the May-pole set up thereon giving occasion to the profanation of the Lords day the whole yeare after it was sufficient to provoke God to send plagues and judgements among them EXAMPLE 17. In the same yeare 1634. and in the same Shire one Edward Amerideth a Gentleman having bene pained in his feet and being upon his recovery whereupon one sayd unto him he was glad to see him so nimble Amerideth replyed that he doubted not but to daunce about the May-pole the next Lords day But behold the hand of the Lord for before he moved out of that place he was smitten with such a feeblenesse of hart and dizsines in his head that desiring helpe to carry him to an house he dyed before the Lords day came so fearefull it is to fall into the hands of the living God EXAMPLE 54. Many more examples might here be added not only such as have fallen out within these two yeares last past since the sayd booke was published by the Ministers in their Churches but also since the booke was first of all printed and published the very bruite whereof without being read by Ministers was enough and to much to imbolden youth to take their liberty in profaning the Lords day but for the present I will add but one more At Chidlington upon the edge of Hertfordshire not farre from Hitchin a company of fellowes upon a holy day being to play a match at foot ball one of them was tolling the bell to assemble the rest some being come into the Church the randevoze of their meeting suddainly it thundering was seene a blacke ball come tumbling downe a hill neere by which tooke its course directly into the Church there it flew into the bell free and first slew him that tolled the bell then it flustered about the Church and hurted divers of them and at last bursting left a filthy stinke like to that of brimstone and so left a terror to all such spend thrifts of precious time and especially such as is dedicated to sacred uses who so is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. Psal. 107. 43. EXAMPLE 4. Vpon May day last being the Lords day a mayd of the Minister of the Parish Cripplegate London was married to a Widower having 3. children the youngest being at Nurce in the Country upon this day they kept their feast in the Church-house joyning to the Church where they spent all the afternoone in dauncing but within one weeke after the Plague began in that Parish in the new married mans house where within a moneth it tooke away the man and his wife and his two children that were in the house And thus was the Plague brought first into that Parish this yeare To this we will adde another example because it fell within the same moneth in the same city A Minister Rector of a Church in London on the saturday would goe with two of his neighbours boon companions to be joviall the next day being the Lords day they conditioning that he should bestow a Sermon upon them They on the Lords day being now in the country spent the forenoone idly in the afternoone they goe to visit another London Minister who had another benefice there in the Country he puts his brother to preach which done invites him with his companions to a bottle of Sacke They drank so long that the two neighbours tongues began to faile them Home to their lodging within a few miles they betake them That night their Minister could not sleepe and raising early to walke abroad he returned with such a coldnesse upon him that he looked and felt like cold pale death the two neighbours much dismayd and with much adoe get him home to London where in that case continuing he dyeth before the next Sabbath day EXAMPLE 55. Vpon May-Eve Thomas Troe of Glocester Carpenter in the Parish of S. Michaell some comming unto him and asking him whether he would goe with them to fetch the May-pole he swore by the Lords woundes that he would though he never went more Now while he was working on the May-pole on May day morning before he had finished his worke the Lord smote him with such a lamenesse and swelling in all his limbes that he could neither goe nor lift his hands to his mouth to feed himselfe but kept his bed for halfe a yeare together and still goes lame to this day May 4. 1636. EXAMPLE 56. About a yeare since 1635. in Ashton under the Hill in the Parish of Beckford in the Country of Glocester the Minister there Master Blackwell having occasion in his Sermon in the afternoone on the Lords-day to reproove the profaning of that day by sports c. as soone as the Sermon was done a youngman of that place used these words Now Master Blackwell hath done we 'le begin and so taking the Cudgells playes with them and at the second or third bout he received a thrust in one of his eyes that thrust it quite out so as it hanged by and could never recover it againe THese Examples of divine justice so notorious so remarkableboth for number and variety having fallen out in so narrow a compasse of time and so dispersed over the whole Land as every particular place and country might take speciall notice thereof if they will not take and make impression in our stony hearts to moove us to speedy repentance as for many other enormities and crying sins so in speciall for this our ring-leading sinne of the heathenish profanation of the Sabbath or Lords day what plea can we make for our selves why the Lord of the Sabbath should not send some universall epidemicall sweeping calamity uponthe land sparing neither small nor great And now that the plague and pestilence begins to breake forth and spreeds itselfe much amongst us the Lord shooting these his terrible venemous arrowes from which not even Princes nor Prelates palaces can secure themselves from becoming his butts and marks What can we more impute it unto as the cause thereof then to this grand sinne of the profanation of the Sabbath or Lords day occasioned so much the more by the publishing of the late booke for sports
Gospell behold so many sad spectacles of his wrath and indignation against the offendors of this commandement in this kind to teach these blind Seers and seducing guides as Bp. Latimer long since named them that God is now as jealous for the sanctification of his day and as much offended with the profanesse of it and infringers of the fourth Commandement by unnecessary labours travell or idle pastimes as he had bene in any age if not rather much more in regard of the great light of the Gospell that hath for these many yeares so clearly shined amongst us which if they will not yet beleeve I shall at once close up their mouthes with the resolution of our Homilies ratified by Act of Parliament and the 35. Article of our Church to which these Novellers have subscribed and whose Patronage they pretend against all novell Sabbatarians But alas saith the Homily all these notwithstanding and I pray God I may not still say notwithstanding all these fresh examples it is lamentable to see the wicked boldnesse of those that will be counted Gods people who passe nothing at all of keeping and hallowing the Sunday And these people are of two sorts the one sort if they have businesse to doe though there be no extreame need they must not spare for the Sunday they must ride journeyes on the Sunday they must drive and carry on the Sunday they must come and ferry on the Sunday they must buy and sell on the Sunday they must keepe markets and faires on the Sunday finally they use all dayes alike worke dayes and holy dayes are all one The other sort is WORSE so the Homily against these new masters who make labour in mens callings on the Lords day WORSE and more unlawfull then dauncing Pastimes contrary to the judgement of S. Augustine Gregory the great Alensis and all writers since who unavoce resolve that it is better and more lawfull to plough and spin on the Sabbath-day then to daunce for allthough they will not travell and labour on the Sunday as they doe on the worke day yet they will not rest in holinesse as God commandeth but they rest in ungodlinesse and filthinesse prauncing in their pride pranking and pricking pointing and painting themselves to be gorgeous and gay they rest in excesse and superfluity in gluttony and drunkennesse as they doe at wakes Ales and May-poles like ratts and swine they rest in brawling and rayling in quarrelling and fighting they rest in wantonnes and what else is dauncing moris-dauncing maygaming c. into-ish talking in filthy fleshlines so that it doth too evidently appeare that God is more dishonoured and the devill better served on Sunday then upon all the dayes of the weeke besides And I assure you that the beasts that are commanded to rest on the Sunday honour God better then this kind of people for they offend not God they breake not their holy dayes Wherefore O ye people of God lay your hands upon your hearts repent and amend this grievous and dangerous wickednesse stand in awe of the commandement of God gladly followe the example of God himselfe be not disobedient to the godly order of Christs Church used and kept from the Apostles times untill this day feare the displeasure and just plagues of Allmighty God if ye be negligent and forbeare not labouring and travailing on the SABBATH DAY and doe not resort together to celebrate and magnifie Gods blessed name in quiet holinesse and godly reverence I shall conclude all with the words of the Councell of Paris under Lewis and Lotharius Anno 829. li. 1. c. 50. li. 3. c. 5. 19. Multa alia terribilia judicia c. Many other terrible judgments have bene and hetherto are whereby is declared how much God is offended with the dishonour of this day Wherefore the Imperiall highnesse is specially to be implored of the Preists that this power ordained of God for the honour and reverence of so great a day may put a feare into all men least none of what condiō soever presume on this holy and venerable day to use these and the likesports dauncings and leapings hereafter because while they doe these things they both darken the glory of Christianity and give occasion to the blasphemers of Christs name the more to dishonour him We require also and earnestly intreat that in the observation of the Lords day as we have a longe time beseeched you you use due care that unlesse great necessity constraine you free your selves on that day as much as may be from worldly cares and sollicitousnesse And that which becometh the honour of so great a day that both you your selves doe it and by your example doe teach and compell yours to doe it We wholsomly admonish all faithfull people that they give due honour and reverence to the Lords day because the dishonour of this day doth both much swarue and abhorre from Christian religion and doth without doubt procure the perill of soules to the violaters thereof And with that of the Councell of Burges an 1582. apud Bachellum Decreta Ecclesiae Gall. l. 4. Tit. 7. c. 21. Allthough Lords dayes and holy dayes are instituted only for this purpose that faithfull Christians abstaining from externall and gainfull works might more freely and with greater piety give themselves to divine worship and to the meditation of the infinite benefits of Gods goodnesse towards mankinde and so being WHOLLY taken up with the wholsome duties of religion should diligently beware as Ignatius admonisheth the Philippians that they should not abuse holy dayes with any disgrace or injuries yet notwithstanding in our times it preposterously and usually comes to passe that both solemne and religious dayes are not only spent in transacting unlawfull and secular businesse but likewise in luxury lasciviousnesse prohibited sports and pastimes Revells and the exercising of other wickednesses whereupon it is not to be doubted that for the greatest part so many calamities wherewith we are so long since consumed are justly inflicted on us by God who is incensed against us by so great wickednes To appease whose present anger and likewise to avert his greater indignation hanging over our heads we command all Parish Priests of our Province that they frequently and seriously admonish the people that on Lords dayes they not only keepe themselves from all prohibited works but likewise that they be ex animo cordially and religiously present at all sacred misteries of the Church and at the preaching of Gods word and that they pretermit not the works of piety in releiving the poore comforting the afflicted and in doing other pious things wherein Christian profession and charity do most of all shine forth And we exhort all Magistrates according to their and our duety as farre as possibly we may that they would take care that those holy and solemne dayes should be holily and piously celebrated this being principally in their power and