for sports on Sundays and giving disdainful words toward Power the Apparitor and Officer of the Court. RESP. I said unto the Apparitor remember you to keep Holy the Sabbaoth day and added no more words I refused to read the Book mentioned not out of any contempt of any Authority but as being commanded by no Law for the Kings Majesty doth not in the Book command or appoint the Minister to read it nor it to be read but published neither came it with nor know I of any Seal to confirm it so that I dared not take notice of it to be the Kings Book for as I understand all his Majesties Writs Proclamations and Mandats use to come with a Seal and his Majesty intended as I conceive not to trouble any that refused to read it seeing there is no penalty threatned nor authority given that I know of to any to question them that refuse to read it my refusal to read it was upon sufficient grounds of Law and Conscience which for satisfaction to his High Court and to clear me from contempt I shall here by way of Answer briefly and fully express thus His Majesties express Pleasure is that the Laws of the Kingdom and Cannons of the Church be observed in all places of the Kingdom Book Pag. 8. and therefore in Kent and in Otham now this Book as I conceive is contrary to both 1. It is against the Law as the Statute Edward VI. Anno 5. Cap. 3. Christians on all Holy days and times appointed should apply themselves only and wholly unto holy works properly appertaining to true Religion and such times be dedicated onely to God and his true Worship and be separated from all prophane uses but say I no civil recreation is any part of Gods true Worship the Stature Caroli Anno 1. Cap. 1. the Holy keeping of the Lords day is a principal of the true service of God and it is now prophaned by a disorderly sort of people by interludes and other unlawful exercises and pastimes the 13. Cannon all manner of persons shall keep the Lords Day according to Gods Holy will and pleasure 2. Our Church is against it First In Homilyes which contain Godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times We keep now the first day of the week which is our Sunday and make that our Sabbaoth by the fourth Commandment God Commands one standing day in the Week and all Men and Women and Children and Servants be to keep it in a holy rest and use it Holily and give themselves wholely to Heavenly exercise of Gods true Religion and Service but I say Archery May-poles May-games Dancings Morrice-dancing and the like be not exercises of Gods true Religion and Service Secondly In the Liturgy a Minister in enjoyned to read the fourth Commandment Remember thou keep Holy the Sabbaoth Day and all are to intreat Gods Mercy to incline their hearts to keep this Law Ps. 118. 24. is appointed to be read on Easter day as proper to it it shews V. 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it so that the Lord instituted it Bishop Andrews on Easter-day 1611. Preaching on that Psalm 118. Psal. 22. c. Thirdly In the Exhortation fit for the time upon the Fast-days 1625. declaring the apparent cause of the Plague saith the Lords Day is not kept holy but polluted and the Ministry of the Word despised and in the end of that Book mention is made of Playes Pastimes Idleness Drunkenness the proper sins of our Nation which pulled Gods wrath upon us and I dare not by reading seem to allow what did bring the Plague of God on the Land that year 3. It is against Scriptures Exod. 20. 8. Remember the Sabbaoth-Day to keep it Holy where we are commanded to keep holy the Lords Day as I learn out of Authors Zanchy on the fourth Commandment we keep holy the Lords Day and Sanctifie it Iunius in Animadvers in Bellar. Controv. Lib. 7. Cap. 10. The Lords Day answereth to the Sabaoth and its proportionable to it and is commanded in Exod. 20. 8. again in Gen. 2. 82. This Law is established by the fourth Commandment of the Decologue to be observed of all Alexander Alensis Tom. 3. Q. 32. Memb. 4. Art 4. In the observation of the Sabboath is commanded the observation of the Lords Day chiefly according to intermination Isa. 58. 13. If thou turn thy foot from the Sabboath from doing thy pleasure on my Holy Day and call the Sabbaoth a delight the Holy of the Lord honorable and shalt honor him not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasures nor speaking thine own words and Cultetus in locum saith they took away the Sabbaoth by scandalous deeds that hinder Gods worship as drinking sports and idle wandring Isa. 56. 2. The man is blest that keepeth the Sabbaoth from polluting it Vers. 4. God rewards such abundantly Vers. 67. Such a one shall be made joyful in Gods House which is true in the day of the Gospel when Gods House is a House for Prayers for all people 4. It is against Councels Concil Toletan 4. cited by Zanchy on the fourth Commandment Let there be no dancing on Holy Festivals nor filthy Songs but let all be at leisure for Godly duties and Divine Worship Concil Laodice Cannon 59. In the Church there ought not to be sung any common Service nor Books be Read besides the Connonical Scripture but only the Sacred Volums of the Old and New Testament 5. It is against Divines Ancient Augustine on the Ps. 32. concio It s better to Delve then to Dance on the Sabbaoth and on Iohn 1. Tract 3. It s better to Spin then to Dance on the Sabbaoth Chrysost. on Gen. Hom. 10. God intimateth from the beginning that in the circle of the Week one whole entire day should be seperated and set by for Spiritual works Ireneus Lib. 4. Cap. 30. The Sabbaoth requires and Teaches the continuance of the whole day in the service of God Ignatius in Epistol ad magnes Let every one keep the Sabbaoth Spiritually rejoycing in the Meditation of the Law not in the recreation of body let every one that loveth Christ now keep holy the Lords Day 2. Modern and late Divines Rabington Bishop of Worcester on the fourth Commandment saith to keep Holy the Sabbaoth day is to separate and consecrate it to all Godly exercise wherein our Faith and Obedience to God is shewen Zanchy on the fourth Commandment All the day is to be consecrated to the Worship of God by day understanding the true natural day the true observing of the Sabbaoth is that we do not what we please but what Gods will is the rest on Holy days is not to be set a part for our lusts and pleasure plays and sins but for Gods worship onely They do not keep holy a day which instead of Gods worship give themselves to pleasure Iunius on Numbers 15. He who
And hastening on us dark-some nights All this I see and can't prevent And is 't unlawful to lament What Marble is not wet with Tears When such a doleful change appears The great Assembly once renown'd Whost fame in Forraign parts did sound Displac'd on Earth in hast remove Their Session to their House above Seraphick Twisse went first 't is true As Prolocutor it was his due Then Borroughs Marshal Whitaker Hill Gouge Gataker Ash Vines White still Sharp Swords scon'st cut their Sheaths Pern Strong Spurstow Tuckey Calamy they throng The Gate of Bliss as if they fear That Heaven would fill e're they got there But why such wast Death hast no measure Dost think 't no Theft to rob the Treasure Of th' Church or art become so wise To seize first on the richest Prize Or are thy Laws so strict they can't The Benefit of th'Clergy grant Or is 't thine aim to cast the stone Where thou mayst kill many in one Thou needst not shake the Pulpit Glass Look with what hast the Sand doth pass Their work though great is quickly done And too soon out of sight they 'r gone They can't themselves who others save Nor though great Clarks decline a Grave Scarce have I fully dried my eyes For one but straight another dies Now Wilson's gone that gallant mind That lofty soul that thither inclind Whilst here and always did aspire To joyn with the Caelestial Quire Whos 's head a Living Library Whose heart the Ark wherein did lye The Law whose Prayers could Heaven storm Whose Preaching Sodoms did reform Oft did he break the stony heart Then bind it up with Heavenly art His Life the Gospel did expound And 's Comment in the Text was sound Had I as many Mouths to fill With 's Prayse as he in Tongues had skill All were unable to set forth His great his large his matchless worth Had I his Grace his guifts I 'd vie With a whole Kingdoms Ministry He 's with the rest the praise to Sing Of our most loving Lord and King These no dissenting Brethren be But all as one in one agree One mouth one mind one heart one way No strife which side shall bear the sway All doubts resolv'd all knots unty'd All Truth i' th God of Truth espy'd With hottest love they there embrace Each other full of perfect grace Their glory 's great their wealth is vast But oh the pleasure that they tast I' th Tree of Life and in the sight Of that blest face that 's all delight What Tongue can tell what mind can think What joy 't is of this Spring to drink Go fawning World tempt me no more With thy skin deep fading store Thy best thy whole is but a Toy To that these happy souls enjoy My God invites to Angels fare To which thy Trash cannot compare On Swinish Huskes why should I feed When I may eat what 's Meat indeed Lord why should I contented be Whilst I am thus absent from thee Can there be day without the Sun Or bodies live when Souls are gone Thou art my Sun my Soul and I Absent from that do daily die What do I here when all 's above That is deserving of my Love My God my Christ my Friends are there My heart my hopes what do I here O let my Heaven born soul expire It self in sallies and desire Only to rest and make its stay Where thou art all in all for ay O come thou down with speed to me Or take me quickly up to thee G. S. Epitaphium Thomae Wilsoni aliquando Madi Pastoris Wilsoni hic teanem Lectores cernitis rumbram Longe hac clava magis stella micausque fuit Sic fust in vitae Wilsonus sicque recessu Sic nobis detue vivere sleque mori Englished Lo here of Wilson but a shadow slight He was a Star of more illustrious light Such Wilson was in Life such in his Death God grant we may so live so yield our breath I Obitam Reverendi nec non Eruditi Theologi Thomae Wilsoni olim Madi in Cantio Pastoris Fidelissimi Epicedium Quo fugis eximiae virtutis magne Sacerdos Doctrinae Princeps quo fugis O quid agis Hostibus infestis pugnare relinquis agis Palma quibus celebris te Duce certa suit Dic quibus in terris habeant certamine duro Quae Natura tibi dona stupenda dedit Dic ubi cor largum cerebrumque est mentis acumen Ac tua lingua fluens quove reperta loco Te coluere Patres te quaeque Scientia norit Incaluere Artes servido a more tui Tullius alter eras nec non facundus Apollos Doctrinae Decus ac Religionis honos AEtatis Phaenix O terque quaterque beate Ingenio literis sed Pierare magis Exemplum clarum probitatis voce docebas Et vitâ omnimode sacra statuta Dei. Sol velut innumeros radios jaculatus ubique Spargebas Tenebras luce micante ingras Te semel extincto quam densa caligo secuta est Quantum nostra statim pectora noctis habent Napeo eras Terris summo sulgore coruscans Jam Caelis nobis quám cito stella cadens Curribus igniferis rapide super aethera vectus Sedibus aeternis est tibi plena quies Non tua maesta satis praesenti funera versu Plangam te lachrymis secla futura gemenr Te bene perpetuam famae meruisse columnam Quis negat at quinam marmora digna sciat Solvo Parentales vitus mihi chare Valeto Dum tibi me miserum hinc ultima sata vocant Sic slerit G. S. REader Lo here a soul rais'd up so high As if extracted all by Chymistry Nothing I see but what I dare to call And without pardon Quint essential His memory a Miracle to hold The Testaments at large both New and Old His intellect so radiant which can Cope with the Sun when i' th' Meridian So big with learning that in him we see Not Student but an Vniversitie His Graces when rais'd up and shew the bead Ours like Stars hasten for shame to best What Mortal ever own'd so blest a state Thus here on Earth Heaven to anticipate FINIS Anno Domini 1635. Towards the close of the Book
neglected the Sabbaoth in the least observation was guilty of casting off the whole worship of God Alsted Catech. on the fourth Commandment after Sermon the Sabbaoth is profaned by being spent in given to Plays Dancing Idleness c. 6. It s against Schoolmen Alexander Alensis Tom. 3. Q. 32. Memb. 4. Art 4. morrally in the fourth Commandment is forbid any work that hinders ones leisure to wait upon God Thomas Aquinas Sum. Theol. 22. Quest. 122. Art 1. in observing the Sabbaoth the end is that a man may be at leisure for Heavenly things 7. Reasons be against it I. Reason If any civil work be forbid on the Lords Day then civil recreations for honest pleasure calls a man away from things Spiritual Zanchy on the fourth Commandment as well as honest labour recreation breaks the rest as much as civil work II. Reason If recreations civil be not fit for consecrated places then not fit for consecrated times fo 〈…〉 me that is holy is the measure of holy Actions for divers be called holy not from the formal cause but final as ordained to holy things Zanchy on the fourth Commandment A day applyed to civil works is no more holy but common and a thing consecrated is profaned by a civil use and is not the Lords Day profaned by sports though civil now Recreations Archery May-games Dancing Morris-dancing may not be in consecrated places Cannon 88. no Plays and to play and dance is all one as Exod. 32. 6 19. And therefore not sit for consecrated times as the Lords Day is for greater is he that Sanctified the Day then he that Sanctified the place whether it were by the Lord or the Apostle or the Church Now I know not why they may not be fittest in consecrated places if they be most sit for consecrated times and I cannot in conscience read that which I take to be against mans Law and our Church the Scriptures Councils Divines Ancient and Modern Schoolmen and Reasons but think my self bound for conscience towards God to maintain the Truth and Holiness of the two Testaments and to keep the Commands of God and the Faith of Jesus Christ as a Preacher of Christs everlasting Gospel least people should think Preaching to be yea and nay VII ARTICLE 1633. When Commission came for reparation of St. Pauls in work to build sumptuous Temples is to justifie Anti-christ Writings Hos. 8. 14. RESP. I know not the time of the Commission for St. Pauls reparation I deny such words for I handled that Text Luke 7. 35. Wisdom is justified of all her Children Shewing that all the Children of God justifie Christ which doth reprove them that justifie Antichrist in erecting Altars to sin and in building Temples for Idols alledging for this Hos. 8. 11. 14. Ephraim hath made many Altars to sin Israel hath forgotten his Maker and Buildeth Temples according to the mind of the Prophet as I learned out of Authors Learned Zanchy Pareus Ribera who all understand it of Temples wherein they placed honoured and adorned Idols by forgetting God and out of contempt of God brought in a different worship VIII ART About the end of April 1634. he bid take heed of dealing with High Priests servants in great scorn and derision REPS. I deny both time and words but in May handling 2 Tim. 2. 12. If we deny him he will deny us perswading people not to deny Christ I admonished them to avoid as pernitious unnecessary company with the enemies of Christ producing Peters example who being brought into the High Priest Hall amongst the Servants denyed his Master affirming it was dangerous company naming the very words of the Text as is usually done by Writers Preachers Iohn 18. 16. Peter is brought in standing with the Servants and Officers is questioned by one of the High Priest Servants Vers. 26. denyed Christ upon it Vers. 27. which I spake in the fear and sight of God IX ART At Boxley-Inn 29. 1632. no man can have a broken heart that hath two Steeples moaning two Benifices alledging Acts 20 20. RESP. I never spake such words but at the funeral of a grave ancient and learned Minister I did not exhort but intreat Ministers to prepare to give an account of their Life and Livings shewing the vanity of Men that plead for pluralities saying That were a mans heart broken it would not bear the weight of three Churches and I followed in this no private opinions but the general Tenet of Divines 1. Ancients Chrysostom Tom. 5. Pag 104. Edit Paris 1536. When that the Pastor is away great danger is at hand seeing there is none which can defend and keep the Flock Damasus cited by Dr. Willet saith men that put people over to others seem like Strumpets which put their Infants as soon as they be born to other Nurses to be brought up that they may sooner fill themselves with filth 2. Moderne Bishops Bishop Iewel on 1 Thes. 2. 17 18. and on Iohn 6. Non residents and plurality men that hunt after many livings serve their Belly seek to be rich destroy the souls of many bring confusion and shame into Gods House be blind Guides and the darkness of this World be the remnant of the wicked Inhabitants of Iericho and the overthrow of Ierusalem resist the passage of Gods people towards the Land of Promise the curse of God will fall on them the blood of Gods People shall be required at their hands they bring the Abomination of desolation in the Holy place they suffer the flock of Christ to perish for lack of knowledge Pilkington Bp. of Durham 1585. saith there is remaining among us a sort not Popish as they pretend but earnest builders of Gods cause in their own opinion where indeed they be overthrowers of it which are in effect as ill Pharisees as the Papists be They will take a Benefice and Cure of souls promising solemnly to feed the Flock but when they have turned their back they have a Dispensation in a Box to lye from it and flock and flout whosoever would have them continue there and do their duty contending by Law they may do it and stand on their defence Domine nos exempri sumus God in mercy grant such unprofitable Caterpillers some remorse of conscience that they may become Pillers to uphold Gods Church and not poulers of his people the great God will take a strict account of them at the last day when their dispensation may not be pleaded nor will be allowed nor the dispensor can justly excuse himself nor them but both like Wolves and Hirelings shall be changed Vae Pastor Idolum Zach. 11. Wo to the Idol Shephard that leaveth the Flock Vers. 17. and Ezek. 3. Their blood will I require at thine hand on Nehem. 3. Pag. 45. 46. Bishop Downam on the fourth Commandment calleth non residenss alin against the fourth Commandment and on the fifth Commandment saith it ariseth of coveteousness Bishop Carleton in vita Gilpini a most