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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78019	A divine tragedie lately acted, or, A collection of sundrie memorable examples of Gods judgements upon Sabbath-breakers, and other like libertines, in their unlawfull sports, hapning within the realme of England, in the compasse onely of few yeers last past, since the book was published, worthy to be known and considered of all men, especially such, who are guilty of the sin or archpatrons thereof. / By that worthy divine Mr. Henry Burton.	Burton, Henry, 1578-1648.; Prynne, William, 1600-1669, attributed name.	1642 (1642)	Wing B6161; Thomason E176_1; ESTC R18494	27,899	47

de Litania masori records may prove life to many and the judgements on some become remedies to cure all who are sick of the self same si●ne Amen Examples of Gods Iudgements VPON SABBATH-BREAKERS THese Examples of Gods judgements hereunder set down have fallen out within the space of these few yeers even since the Declaration for Sports tolerated on the Lords day was published and read by many Ministers in their congregations for hereupon ill disposed people being as dry fewell to which fire being put quickly flameth forth or as waters pent up and restrained being let loose break forth more furiously were so incouraged if not imaged as taking liberty dispensed thereby so provoked God that his wrath in sundry places hath broken out to the destruction of many would to God to the instruction of any And the judgements are so much the more remarkable that so many in number as here are observed besides many more no doubt which have not come to our ears should fall within so narrow a compasse of time so thick and that in so many places as we read not of such a number of judgements in this kinde for this one sin throughout the whole history of time from the Apostles hitherto So many there are of them as it were too heathenish to impute them to chance too mûch stupidity and envy of Gods glory not to acknowledge the speciall hand of God in them upon such transgressors of his own sacred day And it were to be wished that all the examples in this kinde within this compasse of time were diligently collected and compiled into one Narration for the further illustration of Gods glory and for admonition to all Sabbath-breakers who if they repent not nor surcease from such their prophanenesse it may justly be feared that the number of such examples will be daily increased till they make a heap for all the world to stand amazed at In the mean time who so is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord Psal 107 43. As for the truth of them I have good testimony under the hands of men of sufficient credit for the most of them and the rest hath come to our eares by credible report If it shall so fall out that one or two or so should prove otherwise either for the substance or circumstance let not the Reader blame me who have used my best diligence to enquire out the certain truth of them all and I am sure the most of the examples are confirmed by witnesses without all exception and none of them is to me of any suspected credit So as here are no fained miracles nor fabulous stories nor old Wives tales for prophane Scoffers to jeare at and play upon thereby to disgrace and discredit all truths in this kinde as some of late have done History of the Sabbath part 2. chap. 7. pag. 223. but these examples are such as will abide the triall and search of this present age wherein are yet living so many both eare and eye witnesses of them Example 1. A woman about Northampton the same day that she heard the book for sports read went immediately and having 3. pence in her purse hired a fellow to go to the next Town to fetch a Minstrel who coming she with others fell a dancing which continued within night at which time she was got with childe which at the birth she murthering was detected and apprehended and being convented before the Justice she confessed it and withall told the occasion of it saying it was her falling to sport on the Sabbath upon reading of the book so as for this treble sinfull act her presumptuous prophaning of the Sabbath which brought her adultery and that murther She was according to the Law both of God and man put to death much sin and misery followeth upon Sabbath-breaking Example 2. Also at Northampton in the last Easter Assises there was a young man who formerly by seeing the example of good people in the due sanctification of the Lords day or Sabbath had begun to reform his former loose kinde of life and to frame his conversation according to Gods Word and that in the well keeping of the Sabbath abstaining therein from sports and pastimes and spending the whole day in the publike and private duties of it but when once he heard of the publishing of the book for sports and pastimes he fell back again to his former wallowing and being taken as he was picking a pocket when the Judges were in the Church upon examination confessed what he had formerly been and how he had been reformed and that upon the publishing of the said book he was incouraged to run riot a fresh by which means he fell into this impiety and iniquity for the which he suffered death Example 3. A Maid at Enfield neer London 1634. hearing of the libertie which was given by the book which was published for sports would needs go daunce with others on the Lords day saying she would go daunce so long as she could stand on her legs she daunced so long that thereof within two or three dayes she died Example 4. Vpon May day last 1634. being the Lords day a Maid of the Minister of the Parish Cripplegate London was married to a Widower having three children the youngest being at Nurce in the countrey upon this day they kept their feast in the Church-house joyning to the Church where they spent all the afternoon in dauncing but within one week after the Plague began in that Parish in the new married mans house where within a moneth it took 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 yeer To this we will adde another example because it fell within the same moneth in the same Citie A Minister Rector of a Church in London on the Saturday would go 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 countrey spent the forenoon idly in the afternoon they go to visit another Minister who had another benefice there in the Countrey he puts his brother to preach which done invites him with his companions to a bottle of Sack They drank so long that the two neighbours tongues began to fail them Home to their lodging within a few miles they betake them That night their Minister could not sleep and rising early to walk abroad he returned with such a coldnesse upon him that he looked and felt like cold pale death the two neighbours much dismaid and with much a do get him home to London where in that case continuing he dieth before the next Sabbath day Example 5. On Jan. 25. 1634. being the Lords day in the time of the last great Frost 14. young men presuming to play at football

having sate awhile the foresaid Christopher Young spied a Gun over the chimney which he supposing not to be charged fondly took down and fell a tampering with it and first levelled at the Maids and after held it up against John Cooper as he sate and unwittingly lifting up the cock it struck fire and the peece discharged and shot the said John Cooper thorow the shoulder so that he died presently being heard onely to say O Lord. Example 34. A young man neer Bowe going to swim in the river on Essex side on the Lords day in the afternoon was drowned Example 35. Two boyes of S. Albons going to Verolanes Ponds a mile off to swim on the Lords day July 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 swim and being advertised 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 sudden 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 swim were both drowned Example 38. At Twiford in Buckinghamshire a fellow playing at cudgels on the Lords day or as some say upon a revell day received a hurt in the face whereof he died the next week Example 39. At Lemster one Master Powel Januar. 1634. on the Lords day serving a Writ of sub poena and that of purpose on that day as is credibly reported upon one Mr. Shuit a Gentleman this he did in the Church yard so soon as they were come out of the Church Mr. Shuit thereupon told him I thought you had been an honester man then so to do 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 suddenly fell down dead and spake not a word more his wife seeing this was suddenly struck with sicknesse Example 40. A fellow in Sommersetshire being to make a Tent upon the Lords day for a Faire that was to be kept upon the Munday following said to one on the Saturday that they would reare it to morrow so the next day which was the Lords day being drunk he died the same day roaring Example 41. At Corsham in Wiltshire in the Whitsun week at a Whitsun-ale one Mark Hulbert a lusty young man undertaking to act the fools part was so extreamly drunk and hurt with falls taken in the time of his drunkennesse that shortly he took his bed where he lay very loathsomely in most grievous pain untill the sixt day of June being the Lords day on which he died at 4. of the clock in the afternoon the usuall time for youth to take their liberty and was buried the same day before 9. of the clock and yet he burst before he was laid into his grave See Joh 31. 3. Example 42. At Topudle in Dorcetshire one John Hooper alias Cole upon the promulgation of the said Book was let down into a Well to cleanse it for to brew beer for a Whitson-ale by Francis Laurence alias Smith and Stephen Pope Churchwardens which Well was in the back-side of Richard Laurence alias Smith Which John Hooper fell from the rope into the Well where he died Example 43. At Glassenbury in Sommersetshire at the setting up of a May-pole it miscarrying fell upon a child and slew it it is reported that it was the Churchwardens child who was the chief stickler in the businesse Also when the May pole in the same Town was again the second time a setting up a fire took in the Town so as all the people about the May-pole were forced to leave it and to run to the quenching of the fire Example 44. A May-lord of misrule not far from thence became mad upon it Example 45. Also at Battersey neer London the last yeer a notable example of Gods judgement befell a fidler the youth of the town of both sexes being assembled solemnly to set up a garland upon their May-pole and having got a tabor and pipe for the purpose he with the pipe in his mouth fell down dead and never spake word Example 46. On May 31. 1635. being the Lords day one Richard Clerk an apprentise unto Timothy Denorell shoomaker of Sherston in the countrey of Wiltshire within three miles of Tedbury being drunk at the Church-house in the same Parish told Henry Larrum of the same Parish that was then in the same place drunk likewise with the Church-house ale that he the said Richard would either hang himself or drown himself demanding of the said Henry which of the two was best unto whom he replied that he hoped he would do neither on the day following being Munday in the morning the said Richard Clerk was seen to go through the street without a band as if he had been going about his masters businesse and putting on his band without the Town he got up into the middle of a tree and there did hang himself A miserable effect of carnall liberty and prophane meetings on the Lords day Example 47. The 31. May 1635. the book of recreation was read in the Parish Church of Alvelye in Comit. Salop. in the afternoon after all divine exercises publike ended there fell out a bloody fight betwixt 3. of Alvelye above said and one of Envield of the countrey of Stafford neer adjacent in so much that the man of Envield was sore wounded and had his jaw-bone broken so that he could not eat his meat for the sustaining of nature In his extremity he laid his death to the charge of the other 3. The Churchwardens of the parish of Alvelie abovesaid presented these 4. for prophaning 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 fled the third was committed to prison in Shrewsbury and was the next Assises to come to his answer Example 48. In March betwixt 1634. and 1635. at Billericay in Essex one Theophilus Pease the Ministers son of that Town went to ring the bels on the Sabbath day whom the Church wardens for that time hindred But against the next Sabbath he gathered a company together faying he would ring in despite of the Church wardens While he was a ringing he was taken with a giddinesse like one drunk and so sickned and about three daies after died Example 49. Anno 1635. Januarie or thereabout in Chichester Diocesse one Thomas Perkin a wilfull and usuall prophaner of Gods Sabbath in Hailing South being ringing on a Sabbath day the rope took him up and flinging him about eight foot high he fell down 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

g The Praier after the 4. 10 Commandment Common Prayer Book h Canon 13. 163. Canons i Article 35. of Ireland 56. Articles and k Queen Eliz. In un●r 20. Injunctions which conclude the same I say have adjudged such a presumptuous transgression as will draw down Gods vengeance on mens heads Our late Soveraign King James of happy memory and our present gracious Soveraign Lord K. Charles with all the Prelates Clergy and people of the Realm in the first yeers of both their Reigns in the severall Books of Common Prayer and order for the publike fasts set out by their royal authorities and the Bishops advice with the consent and hearty desire of the whole Realm for the abating aversion and ceasing of those dreadfull Plagues which then swallowed up many thousands of people every week will inform them That among other sins The prophaning of the Sabbath so King James his Book styles the Sunday and not keeping holy the Lords day was one chief cause why those two great terrible Plagues and why not also this great Plague which is now begun and spread much abroad brake in upon us to the destruction not of some few particular persons but of many thousands and the punishment of the whole Realme and Nation in generall And because some of these men plead most falsly that the chiefest writers of the reformed Churches are of their opinion l Homil. 162. in Matth. fol. 308. Hom. 28. in Mar. f. 35. Hom. 56. in Lu. f. 141. Hom. 36. in Joan. f. 77. Hom. 88. in Act. Mr. Kodolphus Gualter and m Comment in Matth. 12. 14. p. 376. 423. in Joa 7. f. 293. Wolfgangus Musculus men of principall note and learning among them will both assure them that the Lords day is not onely wholly onely and intirely to be spent in religious publike and private duties of Gods worship and that dancing sports and pastimes on it are sinfull and execrable the constant judgement of all forraigne Protestant Divines whatsoever as I am able to prove what ever n History of the Sabbath ●● 1. 2. ● 6. 〈◊〉 9 10. Dr. Helyn or o D. Pooklinton Sunday no Sabbath p. 8. others have rashly averred to the contrary But likewise further inform them That God may justly revenge the great contempt of his Deity in prophaning his Sacred day with dances and such like Revels and disorders With horrible punishments neither is it to be doubted saith Mr. Gualther that the prophanation of the Lords day is not the least cause of the evils and calamities of our age Yea their own most illustrious Cardinall Robert Bellarmine whom they almost deifie when they do but name him is so far a Puritan in this particular that he not onely spends P Concio 6. 9 19 20. 2● foure or five whole Sermons against dancing mummeries masks and such like Bacchanals which he simply condemnes at all times but especially on sacred festivals and Lords dayes as most detestable prophanations of them but likewise professeth that the practise of them upon sacred times was the occasion of all the publike calamities and judgements which they suffered But by these Dances Mummeries Bacchanels and disorders saith he we pollute the holy dayes of the Lord and yet neverthelesse we do inquire the reasons why God doth punish us why we are slain in our very houses do not the Scriptures cry aloud Sin maketh a people miserable And there is no evill in the Citie which the Lord hath not done Therefore these our sins of prophaning the holy dayes of the Lord with dances revels and bacchanals have procured us famine and pover y and pestilence and sedition and all plagues and scourges And verily saith he in another Sermon I vehemently fear that if we proceed to celebrate the Bacchanals with mummeries and masks and dances as we do at other times and to provoke God to wrath with so many wicked pastimes our sin will be grown to the full at last and the anger of the Lord be so far incensed that he will utterly destroy us as we see he hath destroyed many nations for what I pray hath destroyed Grecia but even that very thing which we do They were men exceedingly given to drunkennesse feasting and dancing and that upon sacred times as may be known by the Orations of Basil and Chrysostome But what hath God done because they were addicted to these things and especially to Dancing he hath imposed such a severe tyrant to wit the Turke upon their necks that they now groane under the yoke and are pressed with so heavy a burthen that they have neither Time nor Will to Dance or Caper Thus Bellarmine to his great admirers shame and refutation If then this sin of prophaning the Lords day by dancing Maygames Ales Pastimes or unnecessary travell and labour draw down Gods Plagues and vengeance upon whole Kingdomes and Churches as these authors together with Mr. John Field in his declaration of the judgement of God at Paris Garden and Humphrey Robarts in his complaint for the Reformation of divers vain and wicked abused exercises practised on the Sabbath day which tend to the hindrance of the Gospel and increase of many abominable vices printed by Richard Jones London 1580. together with Mr. Philip Stubs in his Anatomie of abuses and M. John Northrook in his Treatise where in Dicing Dancing vain playes and Enter ludes with other idle Pastimes and exercises commonly used on the Sabbath day are by the Word of God and ancient Writers reproved printed for George Bishop London 1579. most punctually testifie and the Practice of Piety dedicated to his Majestie and 39. times printed by publike authority resolves no wonder if it hath lately caused God to unsheath his sword of exemplarie justice upon these particular persons that I speak not of the whole kingdome in generall now scourged with a fresh plague and lately a draught whose tragicall examples I here present unto your view to deterre all others from this sin It is a true saying of Cyprian Praebentur cunctis Exempla cum fuerint quibusdam irrogata Supplicia The Divine punishments of a few are warnings to all God grant that these may be so to us He faith the same Father is over audacious who strives to passe over there where he hath seen another to have fallen he is patragiously head strong who is not struck with fear when he beholds another perish in that course which he is running he onely is a lover of his own safety who takes warning by the Deaths of othes and he alone is a prudent man who is made wife by the Ruins of other men God of his mercie vouchsafe that the exemplarie deaths of these few here specified and of thousands more in this time of mortality occasioned by this sinne of Sabbath-breaking were as the former pests Together with a Plague in Pope Pelagius the second his time An. Dom. 591. as Petrus Blessensis in his 20. Sermon

upon the ice on the river Trent neer to Ganisborow coming all together in a scuffle the ice suddenly brake and they were all drowned Example 6. At Dover the very same Lords day 1635. that the book was read one in S. James Parish that played on a kitt went and plaied and thereby called together a sort of wenches and young men But he was thereupon that very day struck by divine hand so as within two daies he died Example 7. At Thurlow in Suffolke one making a Feast to his friends on the Sabbath day for joy of the publishing of the Book for sports was the next day pressed to death by the sudden fall or a faggot stack Example 8. At Hellings by five or six miles from Af●● in Sussex the book 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 asks him if he would go daunce with him the next Sunday to whom the man answered Take heed that thou be not dauncing in hell before that day come or before it be long By the next week Gods hand fell on this Scoffer that himself and two more of his family died Example 9. On February 9. 1634. being the Lords day an Apothecaries man in Limestreet London rid to Barnet with another companion to make merry who returning home drunk neer High-gate met a Tinker and offering him some abuse the Tinker strikes one of their horses whereat the one bid the other run him thorow who drawing his Rapier ran the Tinker thorow the breast that he fell down dead thereupon being by and by apprehended and confessing the fact they were both sent to Newgate Example 10. At Thornton neer Westchester 1634. the people there upon the first publishing of the book prepared for a solemn summer-ale The bringing in of their Lady flora should have been guarded with a Marshall troop the lustiest wench and stoutest young man in the town were chosen to be the purveyors for cakes and for ribbons for favours the solemnity was to be on the Munday but the preparation on the Lords day this lusty tall maid on the Saturday before went to the mill to fetch home the meal for cakes on her head she being strong and able for the purpose but in the way passing by a hedge she was suddenly struck by a divine stroke and fell into the ditch where she was found dead she was suffered to lie abroad in that pickle all the Lords day till Munday morning when the Coroner being sent for she was thence carried to her grave immediately where all her solemnity was buried with her and all her vain thoughts in that verie day wherein the great solemnity should have been And see what a good effect this wrought in the whole town First all their mirth was turned into mourning no summer ale kept and besides that they being moved by the dreadfull stroke of God took their May-pole down which they had before set up and never after would presume to set it up again or to have any more summer-ales or may-games God grant they continue in their sober mindes and that all other would learn to be wise by their example Example 11. In Yorkshire at a Wake in the Parish of Otley at Baildon 1634. on the Lords day two of them sitting at drink late in the night fell out and being parted the one a little after finding his fellow sitting by the fire with his back towards him comes behinde him and with a hatchet chines him down the back so as his bowels fell out the murtherer flying immediately and being hotly pursued lept into a river and so drowned himself O fearfull fruits of carnall liberty Example 12. One at Ham neer Kingston being a scoffer of all goodnesse 1635. and a common prophaner of the Sabbath going abroad to see his grounds on the Lords day and finding some neighbours cattell to have broken in he runs to drive them out and that with such eagernesse that he fell down dead instantly upon the place Example 13. One Wright at Kingston being a scoffer of Religion and rejoycing much at the suspending of his Minister and others for not reading the book of Sports in their Churches saying he hoped to see them all so served shortly was within a day or two after struck with a dead Palsey all over the one side and with blindnesse and dumbnesse that he could neither go nor see nor speak and so lay in a miserable manner for a fort-night and then died Example 14. In Moorefields neer London 1635. sundry youths playing at Cat on the Lords day two of them fell out and the one hitting the other under the eare with his Cat he therewith fell down for dead in the place the other was sent to prison but the dead for the time by Gods mercy recovering the prisoner was released which may be a warning both to them and all other youth to take heed how they so prophane the Lords day Example 15. April 18. 1635. being Saturday one travelling with three others from London to Maydenhead he the rest spending the Sabbath there would travell on his way the next day being the Lords day contrary both to Gods commandment and also of the Lady whom he served who had given him strict charge to observe the Sabbath and not to travell on it He rode in the morning to Henley and there heard the Sermon after that he fell to travell in the afternoon but as he went in the way leading his horse in his hand gently down a plain descent and even way his horse suddenly fell and broke both his fore legs the man fore agast at this not more sudden then strange disaster which he could not but attribute to the immediate hand of God and being past all hope of recovery was forced himself to knock his horse on the head and so to leave him and being the next day overtaken at Abington by his company whom he had left the day before and they asking him how it fell out he was no further on his way he smote his breast and told them how it had befallen him in the way saying that he had heard many a good Sermon yet none of them or any thing else did so work upon his conscience as this thing did and that this example should be a warning unto him for ever travelling on the Sabbath day again This is testified under the hands of those three which had travelled with him and overtook him Example 16. At Dartmouth 1634. upon the coming forth and publishing of the book for sports a company of younkers on May-day morning before day went into the countrey to fetch home a May pole with Drumme and Trumpet whereat the neighbouring Inhabitants were affrighted supposing some enemies had landed to sack them the Pole being thus brought home and set up they began to drink healths about it

dangerous as death is expected and little hope of life remaineth Example 50. At Craies two miles from Billerikey a servant of M. 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 struck sick and a while after died This was a little after the book for sports was publikely read in the Church Example 51. In June 1635. on the Lords day the Tapster and Chamberlain of the Queens head in South warke rid into Kent to be merry and having drunk liberally riding homewards the one of them fell from his horse and broke his neck Example 52. Also in June 1635. and as some report the very same Lords day in Southwarke at the red Lion neer S. Georges Church in the afternoon a man with another sate drinking so long that the other about six of the clock departing fell a sleep so that he never awaked again Example 53. In the moneth of July 1634. one Mr. Quince the Chirurgion of the Tower of London having an horse to sel and 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 afternoon the horse being sadled Mr. Quince gets upon his back to shew his chapman how well he would pace which done as he was a lighting off his back his foot which lighted on the ground slipped the other foot hung in the stirrup so as he fell to the ground and with the fall brake his thigh-bone short off so that he was carried from the place to an house neer adjoyning where he lay in great pain and agonie for eight weeks space or more almost despairing of his life and never stirring out of his bed at last it pleased God by degrees to recover and restore him to the use of his leg again he having little use of it and that with great pain for half a yeers space and more His son 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 prophaning that sacred time which hath made him more carefully to frequent the Church and to avoid the prophanation of the Lords day ever since This the party himself and most of the Tower can testifie Example 54. Many more examples might here be added not onely such as have fallen out within these few yeers last past since the said book was published by the Ministers in their Churches but also since the book was first of all printed and published the very bruit whereof without being read by Ministers was enough and too much to imbolden youth to take their liberty in prophaning the Lords day but for the present I will adde but one more At Chidlington upon the edge of Hertfordshire not far from Hitchin a company of fellows 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 suddenly it thundring was seen a black ball come tumbling down a hill neer by which took 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 leving kindnesse of the Lord. Psal 107. 43. Example 55. Vpon May Eve Thomas Tree of Glocester Carpenter in the Parish of S. Michael some coming unto him and asking him whether he would go with them to fetch the May-pole he swore by the Lords wounds that he would though he never went more Now whiles he was working on the May-pole on May day morning before he had finished his work the Lord smote him with such a lamenesse and swelling in all his limbs that he could neither go nor lift his hands to his mouth to feed himself but kept his bed for half a yeer together and stil goes lame to this day May 4. 1636. Example 56. About a yeer since 1635. in Ashton under the Hill in the Parish of Beckford in the countrey of Glocester the Minister there Mr. Blackwell having occasion in his Sermon in the afternoon on the Lords day to reprove the prophaning of that day by sports c. as soon as the Sermon was done a young man of that place used these words Now Mr. Blackwell hath done we 'le begin and so taking the cudgels 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 again THese Examples of divine justice so notorious so remarkable both for humber and variety having fallen out in so narrow a compasse of time and so dispersed over the whole land as every particular place and countrey might take speciall notice thereof if they will not take and make impression in our stony hearts to move us to speedy repentance as for many other enormities and crying sins so in speciall for this our ring leading sin of the heathenish prophanation 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 upon the land sparing neither small nor great And now that the plague and pestilence begins to break forth and spreads it self much amongst us the Lord shooting these his terrible venemous arrows from which not even Princes nor Prelates palaces can secure themselves from becoming his buts and marks What can we more impute it unto as the cause thereof then to this grand sin of the prophanation of the Sabbath or Lords day occasioned so much the more by the publishing of the late book for sports and that by the Ministers themselves For was it not the judgement and confession of King James of famous memory and of the whole State and Kingdome in an exhortation published in that great plague beginning with his reign 1603. where are these words The Lords Sabbath is not kept holy but polluted c. and therefore the cause is apparant 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 Governor over us in the first yeer of his reign with the approbation of the whole Parliament where the same is acknowledged of that other great plague in the beginning of his Reigne 1625. namely that one principall and 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