unless it be within ten Days after the Offence committed And if any Person shall travel upon the Lord's Day and be robbed the Inhabitants of the Hundred shall not answer for the Robbery but upon notice of such Robbery to them or some of them given or Hue and Cry for the same to be made they shall make or cause to be made fresh pursuit after the said Offenders with Horsemen and Footmen according to the Statute 27 Eliz. upon pain to forfeit as much Money to the King's Majesty as might have been recovered against them by the Party robbed And no Person or Persons whatsoever upon the Lord's Day shall serve or execute any Writ Process Warrant Order Judgment or Decree except in Cases of Treason Felony or Breach of the Peace but that the Service thereof shall be utterly void and the Person or Persons so serving or executing the same shall be as liable to the Suit of the Party grieved and to answer Damages to him for doing thereof as if he or they had done the same without any Writ Process Warrant Order Judgment or Decree at all Having shewed what Provision the Law makes for the Observation of the Lord's Day I shall proceed in the next Chapter to give an Account what some Texts of Holy Writ command in such Case to be observed Note that by the Statute 1 Jac. 1. Ch. 22. No Shoe-maker shall put his Wares to sale upon Sundays on pain of three Shillings and four Pence and also to forfeit the full value of the Wares sold CHAP. VIII Of the several Texts or Places of Scripture relating to the due Observation and Sanctifying of the Sabbath REmember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy Six Days shalt thou labour and do all thy work but the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of thy Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work Thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man Servant nor thy Maid Servant nor thy Cattel nor thy Stranger that is within thy Gates For in Six Days the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and 〈◊〉 that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it Exod. 20. 8 9 10 11. Six days thou shalt do thy work and on the seventh day thou shalt rest that thine Ox and thine Ass may rest and the Son of thy Handmaid and the Stranger may be refreshed Exod. 23. 12. Speak thou also unto the Children of Israel saying Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep for it is a sign between me and you throughout your Generations that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore for it is holy unto you Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death for whosoever doth any work therein that Soul shall be cut off from amongst the People Six days may work be done but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest holy to the Lord whosoever doth any work in the Sabbath day he shall surely be put to death Exod. 31. 13 14 15. Six days thou shalt work but on the seventh day thou shalt rest in Earing-time and in Harvest thou shalt rest Exod. 34. 21. Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my Sanctuary I am the Lord Levit. 19. 30. 26. 2. And while the Children of Israel were in the Wilderness they found a Man that gathered Sticks upon the sabbath-Sabbath-day and they that found him gathering Sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron and unto all the Congregation And they put him in Ward because it was not declared what should be done to him And the Lord said unto Moses the Man shall surely be put to death all the Congregation shall stone him with Stones and all the Congregation brought him without the Gamp and stoned him with Stones and he died as the Lord commanded Moses Num. 15. 32 33 34 35 36. Keep the sabbath-Sabbath-day to sanctify it as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee six days thou shalt labour and do all thy Work but the seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any Work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter nor thy Man servant nor thy Maid-servant nor thine Ox nor thine Ass nor any of thy Cattel nor thy Stranger that is within thy Gates that thy Man-servant and thy Maid-servant may rest as well as thou Deut. 5. 12 13 14. Six days shall Work be done but on the seventh day there shall be to you an Holy day a Sabbath of Rest to the Lord whosoever doth work therein shall be put to death Exod. 35. 2. Blessed is the Man that doth this and the Son of Man that layeth hold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and keepeth his hand from doing any Evil. Isa 56. 2. If thou turn away thy Foot from the Sabbath from doing thy Pleasure on my Holy day and call the Sabbath a Delight the Holy of the Lord Honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasures nor speaking thine own words Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the Earth and feed thee with the Heritage of Jacob thy Father for the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Isa 58. 13 14. And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy Convocation ye shall do no servile Work Num. 38. 25. Thus saith the Lord Take heed to your selves and hear no Burden on the Sabbath day nor bring it in by the Gates of Jerusalem Neither carry forth a Burden out of your Houses on the Sabbath-day neither do ye any work but hallow the Sabbath-day as I commanded your Fathers But if you will not hearken to me to hallow the Sabbath-day and not to bear a Burden even entring in at the Gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath-Sabbath-day Then will I kindle a Fire in the Gates thereof and it shall devour the Palaces of Jerusalem and it shall not be quenched Jer. 17. 21 22 and 27. Thou hast despised mine Holy things and hast profaned my Sabbaths Ezek. 22. 8. Moreover this they have done unto me they have defiled my Sanctuary in the same day and have profaned my Sabbaths Ezek. 23. 38. And the Lord said unto Moses How long refuse ye to keep my Commandments and my Laws See for that the Lord hath given you the Sabbath therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the Bread of two days abide ye every Man in his place let no Man go out of his place on the seventh day So the People rested on the seventh day Exod. 16. 28 29 30. Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths to be a sign between me and them that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them But the House of Israel rebelled against me in the Wilderness they walked not in my Statutes and they despised my Judgments which if a Man keep he shall even live
in them And my Sabbaths they greatly polluted then I said I would pour out my Fury upon them in the Wilderness to consume them Ezek. 20. 12 13. In those days I saw in Judah some treading Wine-presses on the Sabbath and bringing in Sheaves and lading Asses also Wine Grapes and Figs and all manner of Burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold Victuals There dwelt Men of Tyre also therein which brought Fish and all manner of Wares and sold on the Sabbath unto the Children of Judah and in Jerusalem Then I contended with the Nobles of Judah and said unto them what Evil thing is that ye do and profane the Sabbath day Did not your Fathers thus and did not God bring all this Evil upon us and upon this City Yet ye bring more Wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath Nehem. 13. 15 16 17 18. Several other Places of Scripture might be here inserted to this purpose but it being plain and obvious that many Persons are so emboldned by their customary and continued Practice in the Prophanation of the Lord's Day that to the great grief of every good Christian they contemn the Law neglect God's House and despise his Holy Ordinances ridicule all good Counsel and Advice and stop their Ears to all Godly Perswasions I shall therefore for the Terror of such obstinate Sinners in this next Chapter set down several Examples of God's Indignation and Wrath poured down upon the Heads of customary and presumptuous Profaners of the Lord's Day in hopes that thereby they may be brought to take notice of that Saying of the Poet Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum An happy Man is he that can beware Of others harms and of himself take care And so intitle themselves to that promise of God When the wicked man turneth away from his Wickedness that he hath committed and doth that which is lawful and right he shall save his Soul alive Ezek. 18. 27. And by turning to the Lord and forsaking their wicked Courses prevent the like Judgments from falling upon their own Heads For to the Lord our God belong Mercies and Forgivenesses tho we have rebelled against him Neither have we obeyed the Voice of the Lord our God to walk in his Laws which be set before us Dan. 9. 9 10. CHAP. IX An Account of several Instances of God's severe Justice and Punishments that have befaln presumptuous customary Profaners of the Lord's Day commonly called Sunday IT has been observed and still taken notice of that most of those Criminals that make their Ignominious Exit at the Gallows who come to a sight and sence of their Sins and make Confession of their Wickedness and beg pardon at God's Hands for their sinful course of Life do bewail their neglect of the due Observation of the Lord's Day and warn others by their Example to forsake such Wickedness and of the sad Consequences that attend those that make a practice of prophaning the Lord's Day This is the market-Market-day of the Soul wherein the Lord in a more special manner useth to meet his People to dispense his Blessings and Graces in and by his holy Ordinances to those that humbly and reverently attend upon him therein The careful Sanctification of it keeps up the Power of Godliness in our Hearts and Lives and the Prophaners thereof have often been punished with signal Judgments of God's severe Justice as may partly appear by the following Examples In Bedfordshire a Match at Foot-ball being made and appointed on the Sabbath-day in the Afternoon whilst two were in the Belfry toling of the Bell to call the Company together there was suddenly heard a Clap of Thunder and a Flash of Lightning was seen by some that sate in the Church-Porch coming through a dark Lane and flashing in their Faces which much terrified them and passing through the Porch into the Belfry it tripp'd up his Heels that was toling the Bell and struck him stark dead and the other that was with him was so sorely blasted therewith that shortly after he died also At a place called Tidworth on the Sabbath-day many being met together to play at Foot-ball in the Church-yard one of them had his Leg broken which presently gangreenizing he forthwith died thereof At Alecester in Warwickshire a lusty young Women went to a Green not far off where she said she would dance as long as she could stand but while she was dancing it being upon the Sabbath day God struck her with a violent Disease whereof within two days after she died Also in the same Place not long after a young Man presently after the Evening Service was ended brought a pair of Cudgels into the Street near to the Minister's House calling upon divers to play with him but they all refusing at length came one who took them up saying tho I never play'd in my Life yet I will play one Bout now but shortly after he was jesting with a young Maid he took up a Birding Piece which was charged saying Have at thee and the Piece going off shot her in the Face whereof she immediatly died for which Act he forfeited all his Goods and Chattels and underwent the Law At Wooton in the same County a Miller going forth on the Sabbath-day to a Wake when he came Home at Night found his House Mill and all he had burnt down to the Ground And at Woolston in the same County many loose Persons kept a Whitson-Ale and had a Maurice-dancing on the Sabbath-day in a Smith's Barn to the great Grief of the Godly Minister there who used his utmost endeavour to restrain them from such Profaneness but in vain so as it pleased God shortly after a Fire kindled in that Smith's Shop which burnt it down with his House and Barn and raging furiously going some-times with the Wind and sometimes against it it burnt down many others Houses most of which were those of the prime Actors in that Profanation of the Lord's Day Anno 1634 On a Lord's Day in the time of a great Frost Fourteen young Men while they were playing at Foot-ball upon the Ice on the River Trent near to Gainâ—borough meeting all together in a scuffle the Ice suddenly broke and they were all drowned In the Edg of Essex near Brinckly two Fellows working in a Chalk-Pit the one was boasting to his Companion how he had angred his Mistress with staying so late at their Sports the last Sunday Night but he said he would anger her worse the next Sunday Night but he had no sooner said this but suddenly the Earth fell down upon him and kill'd him outright with the Fall whereof his Fellow's Limbs was broken who had been also Partner with him in his Jollity on the Lord's Day In the County of Devon one Edward Ameridith a Gentleman being pained in his Feet a long time and being somewhat recovered one said to him he was glad to see
open particularly and pathetically This struck her to the Heart She falling presently into Frenzy and Despairing soon after died Which News came to the Gentleman before he reach'd Gravesend The Old Man afterwards inriched him with a great part of his Land which he enjoys saith my Author to this day Thomas Savage frequenting the House of Hannah Blan a noted Bawdy-House spending upon her such Money as he could get to satisfy his own Lust and her craving Appetite is tempted first to stealing and purloining from his Master and at length to the murthering of a Maid his Fellow-Servant for which he was afterwards brought to the Gallows and hang'd Mr. Robert Foulks of Stanton Lacy first an Adulterer and then a Murtherer of his Bastard Child ended his Days very Ignominiously at Tyburn tho Penitently John Allerion Bishop of Waterford in Ireland for unnatural Concupiscence came to a very disgraceful end being arraigned and executed at Dublin for the same Venery was the Destruction of Alexander the Great of Otho the Emperor call'd for his good parts otherwise Miraculum mundi of Pope Sixtus 4. who died of a Wicked Waste of Paul the 4th of whom it passed for a Proverb Enim per eandem partem animam profudisse per quam acceperat 'T is notoriously known how far this Sin prevailed in England amongst the lazy Monks and Nuns what Skulls of Infants were found near their Religious Houses before the dissolution of them in K. H. 8. days And much about the same time viz. at the beginning of the Reformation as I have read in a Letter writ by the Popes Notary to a Gentleman of Germany says my Author there was a Nunnery visited in the Outer Skirts of Italy and thirteen of the Nuns found with Child at the same time all by the Confessor for which cause by order of the Pope it was put down The Minister of Staunton Lacy Mr. Foulk aforementioned who was executed at Tyburn Jan. 31. 1678 for murdering his Bastard-Child being at the place of Execution he admonished the People to consider the Mischief of Uncleanness and what a Sin it was for a Member of Christ to make himself the Member of an Harlot that it was a Sin that seldom goes alone but is the Mother-Sin to a number more warning all to avoid the Snares of a Whorish Woman and to keep the Marriage-Bed undefiled and to remember his Ignominious Exit occasioned by his sinful defiling of the same Nathaniel Butler executed in Cheapside 1657 for killing his Fellow-Prentice being at the place of Execution he warned the People to beware of the Beginning of Sin saying When I was first enticed into Evil I was tender and fearful of it but not diligently hearkning to the Word of God nor the Voice and Checks of Conscience I went on so that by degrees I was emboldned in Sin and at last it became as familiar to me as my daily Food Therefore as you love your Souls take heed of the beginnings of Sin If I had so done I had escaped this Punishment and Shameful end O that I could prevail cry'd he with every young Person to cast away Sin betimes and check it in the first beginning and that I had taken the Counsel which I have now given c. Loathing my Beloved and Darling-Sin Vncleanness And admonishing all young People to watch and pray against it Hoping if he were to live as many Years as he had then but Moments to live he should through the Grace of God never commit it any more John Marketman executed in Essex for murdering his Wife April 17. 1680 confessed he had departed from his God in his Youth that he had neglected the Church and the publick Worship of God and choosing rather to spend his time in an Ale-house It brought me says he to Evil Company and so to Drunkenness which getting an habit made me a professed Enemy to God and to give my self over to Swearing and Cursing Lying Whoring and so from one Sin to another till I arrived at the height of all Impiety c. That formerly he loved to commit Sin but now hated the very thoughts of it and would not commit a Sin for a Kingdom exhorting the People to take heed of the beginnings of Sin telling them you will find if once you habituate your selves to the committing of Sin it will be very hard to root it out it must cost you many a Tear and much Bitterness in crucifying your Darling-Sins which Trouble and Expence might be sav'd if you would be careful to resist the first Temptation Bewailing his Drunkenness and Uncleanness Henry Parker Executed at Tyburn 1689 for Counterfeiting Guineas lamented much the mispending of his Time saying O the precious Time I have squandered away upon Trifles and Vanities upon my Lusts and Pleasures which I now want to make my Peace with God and purchase Eternal Life That it was not so easy to repent as he supposed It were endless to enumerate all the sad Examples of Divine Judgments that might be brought under this Head but I shall not multiply Examples but recommend these already set down to the perusal and serious Consideration of all profane lascivious incontinent debauched Persons and shall conclude and shut up all in St. Paul's Advise to them Rom. 13. 13 14. Let us walk honestly as in the day not in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof FINIS THE CONTENTS OF THE SEVERAL CHAPTERS Â Page CHAP. I. A Summary Account of the Laws made against profuse idle customary and expensive Tipling and against sinful customary and profane Drunkenness and against keeping Places or Houses of unlawful Games 9 CHAP. II. An Account of some Texts of Scripture shewing the sad Consequences and Effects that attend the customary sinful and profane practise of profuse Quaffing and Drunkenness 22 CHAP. III. Of several exemplary Judgments both Ancient and Modern Foreign and Domestick of God's severe Justice inflicted upon customary presumptuous and profane sinful Drunkards 28 CHAP. IV. A Compendium of the Laws made against profane idle customary Swearing and Cursing 44 CHAP. V. Some Texts of Scripture shewing the Odiousness and Danger of profane customary Swearing and Cursing 50 CHAP. VI. Of several signal fearful and amasing Judgments of God's severe Justice inflicted upon customary profane and presumptuous Swearers and Cursers 55 CHAP. VII An Abstract of the Laws made against the Profanation of the Lord's Day commonly called Sunday about the Sacrament disturbing Ministers absenting from the Church c. 76 CHAP. VIII Of the several Places or Texts of Scripture relating to the due Observation and Sanctifying of the Sabbath 86 CHAP. IX An Account of several Instances of God's severe Justice and Punishments that have befaln presumptuous customary Profaners of the Lord's Day commonly called Sunday 91 CHAP. X. A brief Account of the
will not be altogether improper before I proceed to give an account of the Laws made for the observation of the Lords day to set down an Abstract here of the Statute of E. 6. about the Sacrament and of that of Q. M. about disturbing Ministers likewise the Statute Jac. 1. about profane speaking or jesting with the Name of God c. and then to proceed to the other Laws By the Statute 1 E. 6. Ch. 1. it is Enacted That none shall speak or do any thing in contempt of the most Holy Sacrament in pain of Imprisonment and to make Fine and Ransom at the King 's Will. Three Justices of the Peace Quor unus have power to take Information by the Oaths of two lawful Persons at least concerning the Offence aforesaid and to bind over by Recognizances every Accuser and Witness in five Pound apiece to appear at the next Sessions to give Evidence against the Offendors who are there to be enquired of before three Justices or more by the Oaths of twelve men and also indicted if the matter alledged against them be found true the Offence to be prosecuted within three Months By the Statute 1 M. Sess 2. Ch. 3. it is Enacted That if any shall disturb a Preacher lawfully Licensed in his open Sermon or Collation he shall be by the Constables or Church-wardens of the Parish brought before a Justice of the Peace who upon due Accusation shall commit him to safe Custody and within six days after together with another Justice shall diligently examine the Fact who if they find cause shall commit him to the common Goal there to remain for three Months and from thence to the next Quarter-Sessions at Which upon the parties Reconciliation and entring into Bond for good Behaviour for one whole Year at discretion of the Justices in Sessions he shall be released but if he persist still in his Obstinacy he shall remain in Prison without Bail until he shall reconcile and be penitent for his Offence He that rescues an Offendor in this kind shall suffer like Imprisonment as aforesaid and besides shall forfeit five Pounds to the King The Inhabitants of a Town that suffer such an Offendor to escape shall forfeit five Pounds being presented before the Justices of Peace in Sessions within the County or Corporation where the escape was made Justices of Peace Assize and Oyer and Terminer and Mayors and head Officers of Corporations have power to hear and determin these Offences and to impose the Fines aforesaid This Act shall not restrain the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Laws howbeit none shall be punished here for one Offence By the Statute 3 Jac. 1. Ch. 21. None shall in any Stage-play Shew May game or Pageant profanely use the Name of God Christ Jesus the Holy Ghost or Trinity on pain of ten Pounds to be divided between the King and Prosecutor It 's said that Constantine the Great made Laws for the strict observation of the Lord's Day commanding that through all the Roman Empire all servile Employments should cease on those days he prescribed also a form for the Legions of Soldiers to be used both on the Sabbath-days and other days and himself used to shew much Reverence and Attention to the Word of God so that many times he would stand up all the Sermon time and when some of his Courtiers told him that it would tend to his disparagement he answered that it was in the Service of the great God who was no respecter of Persons By the Statute 1 Eliz. Ch. 2. Every Person is to resort to their Parish Church or upon let thereof to some other every Sunday and Holy-day upon pain to be punished by Censures of the Church and also to forfeit twelve pence for every Default to be levied by the Church-wardens there for the use of the Poor upon the Offendor's Goods by way of Distress and for want of Distress to be committed to some Prison until the same be paid And by the Statute 23 El. Ch. 1. Every Person not repairing to Church according to the Statute aforesaid shall forfeit twenty Pounds for every Month they so make Default and if the Offendor is not able to pay and do not pay within three Months after Judgment then to be committed to Prison and there to remain until he have satisfied the same or shall conform himself and go to the Church By the Statute 3 Jac. 1. Ch. 4. The King may refuse the twenty Pounds a Month for absenting from the Church and take in lieu thereof two third parts of the absenters Lands and Leases but here he shall not include the Recusants Mansion-house nor demise the two third parts to a Recusant or to any other for a Recusants use The Church-wardens and Constables of every Parish or one of them or if there be none such then the High-Constable of the Hundred there shall present once every year at the general Sessions of the Peace the monthly absence from Church of every Popish Recusant and then Children being above the Age of nine years and their Servants together with the Age of their Children as near as they can know them on pain to forfeit respectively for every such default twenty Shillings which Presentment the Clerk of the Peace or Town-Clerk shall record without Fee on pain of forty Shillings If upon such Presentment being the first the Recusant be convicted the Officer that presents him shall have forty Shillings reward to be levied by Warrant upon the Recusants Goods and Estate as the more part of the Justices of Peace shall think fit But Note that his Majesties Protestant Subjects Dissenting from the Church of England and qualified according to the late Statute of Indulgence are exempted from the Penalties of these Statutes The command of the Sabbath hath a special memento prefixed to it which may not only note to us that we are by this Memento Remember thou keep Holy the sabbath-Sabbath-day to observe the Lord's zeal for the observance thereof but we are thereby put in mind timely to lay aside our worldly Business and get our Hearts into readiness for the entertainment of God into the same And altho nothing is more acceptable to God than the true and sincere Worship and Service of him according to his Holy Will and that the Holy keeping of the Lord's-day is a principal part of the true Worship and Service of God Yet the People of this Kingdom having enjoyed a long continued series of Peace Plenty and Prosperity instead of rendring thanks to Almighty God for this great Blessing and of serving him in Holiness and Righteousness of Life and Conversation they on the contrary like the idolatrous Jews upon the making of their Golden-Calf they sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play Exod. 32. 6. 1 Cor. 10. 7. Nay the people of this Realm were so entirely devoted to Games and Pastimes that they could not or would not forbear them upon the Lord's Day but spent that
bring forth a Child with a Head like a Dog that seeing he preserred his Dogs before the Service of God he might have one of his own getting to make much of At Kimstat a Town in France in the Year 1559 there lived a certain covetous Women that was so greedy of Gain that she would neither frequent the Church her self to hear the Word of God not suffer any of her Family to go but continually stay'd labouring and toyling about drying and pilling Flax and doing other domestick Businesses and could not be reclaimed by her Neighbours and one Sabbath day Fire seemed to run among the Flax without doing any harm the next Sabbath day it took Fire indeed but was quickly extinct all this would give her no warning but she continued obstinate in her Profaneness the third Sabbath day the Flax again taking Fire could not be quenched till it burnt her and two of her Children to death for tho they were taken out alive yet the next day they all three died and that which was most to be wondered at says the Reporter a young Infant in the Cradle was taken out of the mid'st of the Flames without any hurt thus God uses to exercise his Judgments upon the Contemners of his Commandments In the Year 1583 at London at the Bear-Garden a great number of People being gathered together on a Sabbath day to see the Sport the Lord that he might chasten them in some sort and show his dislike of the profaning the Sabbath caused the Scaffolds suddenly to break the Beholders to tumble down headlong so that eight Persons Men and Women were slain besides many others were sore hurt and bruifed to the shorthing of their Lives The like Judgment happened at a Town in Bedfordshire called Risley in the Year 1607 where the Floor of a Chamber wherein a great number were gathered together to see a Play on the Sabbath day fell down and many by the Fall thereof sore hurt and some killed In May 1629 one John Bow of Ely Coachman to one Mr. Batnum of Beenham a Fellow very vitious and exceeding in these two Evils of Profane Swearing and Drunkenness on the Sabbath day in the Sermon time drank himself drunk so that when he was to sit in the Coach-box to drive the Coach he fell from it under the Horses Feet and was trodden to death or so hurt at least that he died shortly after In November 1621 one Richard Burn Servant to Jasper Burch Gardiner of Ely accustomed to travel on the Lord's Day and making no reckoning of the Sabbath seldom or never coming to the Church on that day but went onwards to St. Ives Market and so spent the day and being drunk was at length overtaken by the just Judgment of God for going up the Stream in his Boat which he had loaden with Marketable Wares he fell into the River and was drowned Mr. Hugh Clark preaching about Oundle in Northamptonshire where the People were generally very ignorant and much addicted to the Profanation of the Lord's Day by Whitson-Ales Maurice-Dances c. which he much set himself against endeavouring to evince their and to draw them from the Evil and Danger oâ— the Sin denouncing God's Judgments in case of their obstinate Perseverance but they being train'd up in those Courses and hardned by custom persisted still in their Wickedness At last on a Lord's Day the Leader of the Dance a Lusty young Man in the mid'st of their Profane Pastimes fell down suddenly and died but they soon shaking off their Fear returned to their Vomit again the Lord's Day following Mr. Clark took occasion from this sad dispensation to quote that Text Jer. 17. 27. If thou wilt not hearken to me to hallow the Sabbath day c. then will I kindle a Fire in the Gates thereof c. The People still kick'd against these Admonitions and the Eve following returned to their Sports again among whom was a Smith that was a chief Ring-leader but it pleased God the very next day two Husbandmen coming to sharpen their Plow-shares at his Shop a spark from the red hot Iron as he was beating it upon the Anvil flew into the Thatch which both the Smith and the Neighbours saw but had no power to move towards it which presently burnt down the Shop House and all the Smith had This Mr. Clark pressed upon their Consciences but nothing would prevail till at last upon a Sabbath day at Night when they were return'd to their several Homes there was heard a great noise and ratling of Chains up and down the Town which was accompanied with such a smell and stink of Fire and Brimstone that many of their guilty Consciences suggested to them that the Devil was come to fetch them away quick into Hell and now and not till now they began to think in good earnest of a Reformation Edmond Kirke Vintner executed July 11. 1684 for murthering his Wife in his Confession acknowledged himself frequently guilty of profaning the Lord's Day upon which Holy Day saith he I committed the heinous Sin of murthering my Wife Thus Sin was punished with Sin a less with a greater and the greater with the Gallows and that greater committed near the same Gallows and himself confessed that he had to his Wife asking whilst she passed by what place that was told her it was Tyburn where John Gower was lately hang'd for killing his Wife O Lord how dear to me thy Counsels are but how just and terrible thy Judgments Mr. Smythies Curate of St. Giles's Cripple-gate in the Confession and Discovery of a condemned Prisoner executed for Theft May 25 1687 saith as Mr. Burton reports that it was his earnest desire that all young Men should take care not to mispend the Lord's Day And I do not know says Mr. Smythies that ever I observed any Repentance in a condemned Malefactor who did not bitterly lament his neglect of his duty to God on that day In a Convocation of the Clergy at Perth in Scotland Anno 1188 for the better Sanctification of the Sabbath day it was ordained as Arch-Bishop Spotswood tells us that every Saturday from twelve of the Clock should be set apart for preparation thereunto and that all People at the sound of the Bell should address themselves to hear Prayers and abstain from worldly Labours till Monday Morning If nothing that is here shewed can prevail or any ways induce the presumptuous obstinate Prosaners of the Lord's Day to forsake their sinful and provoking Wickedness then let him that is young observe what Solomon says Rejoice O young Man in thy Youth and let thy Heart chear thee in the days of thy Youth and walk in the ways of thy Heart and in the sight of thine Eyes But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into Judgment Eccles 11. 9. And he that is old let him know that death is at his Heels ready to trip them up and gives no warning of his coming
them that are mighty to drink Wine and Men of strength to mingle strong Drink Isa 5. 22. Wo to the Crown of Pride to the Drunkards of Ephraim whose glorious Beauty is a fading Flower which are on the Head of the fat Vallies of them that are overcome with Wine Behold the Lord hath a mighty and strong One which as a Tempest of Hail and a destroying Storm as a flood of mighty Waters overflowing shall cast down to the Earth with the Hand The Crown of Pride the Drunkards of Ephraim shall be troden under feet Isa 28. 1 2 3. Come ye say they I will fetch Wine and we will fill our selves with strong Drink and to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundant Isa 56. 12. Then said the Lord unto me Go yet love a Woman beloved of her friend yet an Adulteress according to the Love of the Lord toward the Children of Israel who look to other Gods and love Flagons of Wine Hosea 3. 1. Whoredom and Wine and new Wine take away the Heart Hosea 4. 11. Awake ye Drunkards and weep and howl all ye drinkers of Wine because of the new Wine for it is cut off from your Mouth Joel 1. 5. Wo to them that are at ease in Zion that chaunt to the sound of the Viol and invent to themselves Instruments of Musick like David That drink Wine in Bowls and anoint themselves with the chief Ointments but they are not grieved for the Affliction of Joseph Amos 6. 1 5 6. For while they be folden together as Thorns and while they are drunken as Drunkards they shall be devoured as Stubble fully dry Nahum 1. 10. Wo unto him that giveth his Neighbour Drink and puttest thy Bottle to him and makest him drunken also that thou mayst look on their Nakedness Habakkuk 2. 15. How exceeding strong is Wine it causeth all Men to err that drink it And when they are in their Cups they forget their Love both to Friends and Brethren and a little after draw out Swords 1 Esâ—r 3. 18 22. Do that to no Man which thou hatest Drink not Wine to make thee drunken neither let Drunkenness go with thee in thy Journey Tob. 4. 15. A drunken Woman and a gadder abroad causeth great Anger and she will not cover her own shame Ecclus. 26. 8. Shew not thy Valiantness in Wine for Wine hath destroy'd many Wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of Mind with brawling and quarrelling Drunkenness increaseth the Rage of a Fool till he offend it diminisheth Strength and maketh Wounds Ecclus. 31. 25 29 30. Therefore thou shalt say unto them Thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel Drink ye and be drunken and spue and fall and rise no more because of the Sword which I will send among you Jer. 25. 27. But and if that evil Servant shall say in his Heart My Lord delayeth his coming and shall begin to smite his fellow-Servants and to eat and drink with the drunken The Lord of that Servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him and in an hour that he is not aware of And shall cut him asunder and appoint him his Portion with the Hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Mat. 24. 48 49 50 51. Luke 12. 45 46. And take heed to your selves left at any time your Hearts be over-charged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness and Cares of this Life and so that day come upon you unawares Luke 21. 34. Let us walk honestly as in the day not in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Rom. 13. 13 14. But now I have written unto you not to keep company if any Man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous or an Idolater or a Railer or a Drunkard or an Extortioner with such an one no not to eat 1 Cor. 5. 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with Mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. Now the Works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Vncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Emulation Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5. 19 20 21. And be not drunken with Wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit Ephes 5. 18. Therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober For they that sleep sleep in the night and they that be drunken are drunken in the night 1 Thess 5. 6 7. It seems in the times of the Apostles that Drunkards were possessed with some kind of Dread and Fear that attended the Guilt of their profligate and vicious Lives or else they were asham'd that their sinful Debaucheries should be publickly known or apparently seen For St. Paul tells the Thessalonians They that be drunken are drunken in the Night But it appears otherwise now in our days and time For Tempora mutantur nos mutamur in illis Both Times and Men are chang'd and alter'd quite Drunkards are drunk by Day as well as Night For these Champions of Bacchus are neither possess'd with Fear nor are they asham'd even at Noon-day to expose themselves publickly and openly to the view of all People in their debauched profane loathsom abominable sinful Disguises Lest therefore neither Law nor Gospel can stop such habituated and desperate Drunkards in the career of their profuse and sinful drunken Caresses I shall in the next Chapter acquaint them with several signal and exemplary Judgments of God's severe Justice inflicted upon obstinate desperate presumptuous daring customary profane sinful Drunkards in hopes that their serious Perusal and Consideration thereof may have some influence upon them and prove a means to season them with some considerable measures of Religion and Piety And I hope they will take notice of that excellent saying of the Orator Lege historiam says he ne sias historia That they will read the following Histories with such deliberation and apply them so effectually that they may thereby avert the displeasure of the Almighty and prevent the like Judgments from falling upon their Heads lest they become a History to after Ages themselves CHAP. III. Of several exemplary Judgments both Antient and Modern Foreign and Domestick of God's severe Justice inflicted upon customary presumptuous and profane sinful Drunkards DRunkenness is a Vice not fit to be named says a learned Divine much less to be practised amongst Christians nay we are forbid not so much as
Drink and slain by Carts I says my Author forbear to mention because such Examples are so common and ordinary A Yeoman's Son in Northamtonshire being drunk at Wellingborough on a Market day would needs ride his Horse in bravery over the Ploughed Lands so fell from his Horse and broke his Neck A Knight notoriously given to drink carrying some Pales of Drink into the open Fields to make People drunk withal being upon a time drinking with Company a Woman comes in delivering him a Ring with this Posy in it Drink and Die saying to him this is for you which he took and wore and within a Week after came to his end by drinking One of Aylesham in Norfolk a notorious Drunkard was drowned in a shallow Brook of Water with his Horse And one to my own knowledg in Yorkshire being drunk as he was going home fell down upon his Face into a very small running Water and was drowned there though the back side of his Head was all dry and not covered with the Water Two examples says Mr. Ward have I known of Children that murdered their own Mothers in drink and one notorious Drunkard that attempted to kill his Father of which being prevented he fired his Barn and was afterwards executed A young Fellow of North-Allerton in Yorkshire being Drunk and having some reproof given him by his Mother he murdered her in her own House upon a Good-Friday she having received the Sacrament that day and being but come from the Church a little before At a Tavern in Breadstreet in London certain Gentlemen drinking Healths to their Lords on whom they had Dependance one desperate Wretch steps to the Tables end lays hold of a Pottle Pot of Canary Sack swears a deep Oath What! will none drink a Health to my noble Lord and Master and so setting the Pottle Pot to his head drank it off to the Bottom but was not able to rise up or to speak when he had done but fell into a deep snoaring Sleep and being removed laid aside and covered by one of the Servants in the House attending the time of his waking was within the space of two hours irrecoverably dead A man in Suffolk overtaken with Wine tho never in all his Life before as he himself said a little before his Death and others that knew him said the same vet going down a pair of Stairs against the perswasion of a Woman sitting by him in his Chamber he fell and was so dangerously hurt that he died soon after not being able to speak from the time of his Fall to his Death I forbear says my Author to name the parties thus punished for their Kindreds sakes yet living says he In Dengy Hundred near Maldon there fell out an extraordinary Judgment upon five or six that plotted a solemn Drinking at one of their Houses laid in Beer for the purpose drunk Healths in a strange manner and all died thereof within a few Weeks after some sooner and some later In August 1618 one Thomas Alred of Godmanchester in Huntingdonshire Butcher an accustomed Drunkard being entreated by a Neighbour to unpitch a load of Hay and being at that very time in drink leting his Pitchfork slip out of his hand and stooping to take it up again slipped from the Cart with his head downwards his Fork standing upright with the Tines he fell directly upon them which at once run him into the Breast and struck his Heart so that he died suddenly And in July 1628. one John Vintner of Godmanchester Gardiner a known Drunkard and one that would profanely especially in his drink scoff at Religion and abuse good men fell from the top of a Pear-Tree and brake his Neck and so died Manlius in his common Places gives a Relation of three abominable Drunkards who drank so long till one of them fell down stark dead and yet the other two nothing terrified with such a dreadful example of divine Vengeance proceeded on still in their vain presumptuous drinking and poured the dead mans part into him as he lay by them So that the Text in the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 5. ver 12. might well be applied to them They regard not the work of the Lord neither consider the operation of his Hands St. Ambrose tells of one Theotimus that being told by his Physicians that much Quaffing would make him blind Vale Lumen Amicum said he Farewel dear Eyes if ye can bear no Wine Then ye no Eyes shall henceforth be of mine So that he would rather lose his Sight than his Sin his Soul than his Lust And St. Austin brings in a Drunkard saying Malle se vitam quam vinum eripi he had rather lose his Life than his Wine We are told by a credible Author That about eight Persons that were Citizens and Citizens Sons in the Country of Swaben meeting together at a Tavern on a Sabbath-day morning proceeded to that height that they drank themselves drunk and then began to blaspheme God and scoff at the Vintner who advised them to leave drinking and go to Church and hear the Word of God preached at which advice they did not only continue to mock but continued on their drinking but on a sudden the Devil coming in among them in a Gentlemans Habit and drinking to them set their Mouths in such a Fire that these Drunkards not only became amazed thereat but also after a miserable manner were all strangled to death A Soldier in Salisbury in the midst of his Health-drinking and Carousing in a Tavern drank a Health to the Devil saying that if the Devil would not come and pledg him he would not believe that there was either God or Devil whereupon his Companions being strucken with Horror hasted out of the Room and presently after hearing an hideous noise and smelling a stinking Savour the Vintner went up into the Chamber and coming in he missed his Guest and found the Window broken the Iron Bar in it bowed and all Blood but the man was never heard of afterwards A Vintner that accustomed himself to Swearing and Drunkenness as he was upon a Lords-day standing at his Door with a Pot in his Hand to invite in Guests there carne suddenly such a violent Whirlwind as carried him up into the Air after which he was never more seen Zeno the Emperor was such a Drunkard that he would often lie as one dead for many hours so that he grew not only odious to all People but even to his own Wife who upon a time finding him in that case caused him to be laid in a Tomb with a great Stone upon the top of it whereby he was miserably pined to death Maginus reports of Fliolmus King of Goths that he was by his drunken Servants thrown headlong into a Vessel of Ale and therein was drowned In Glocestershire an horrid Patricide was committed by an ungracious Son being drunk upon his Father whom he desperately slew The like unnatural Villany was committed by one Purchas an
and a Kinswoman into a Garden he had and the Ministers coming to admonish him and exhort him to Repentance he was so far from being touched in Conscience or any ways moved with their godly Admonitions that he strove rather to harden himself more and more in his Wickedness And being one day swearing and denying God and giving himself to the Devil and calling for him with vehemency the Devil came and snatched him up presently and heaved him up into the Air his Wife and Kinswoman looking on and seeing him fly over their Heads he was never afterwards seen any more A Popish Priest on a time thundring out bitter Curses in the Pulpit against Luther wished if Luther's Doctrine was true that a Thunder-bolt might strike him to death three days after a mighty tempest of Thunder and Lightning arising the Priest ran to the Altar into the Church and fell to his Prayers but the Vengeance of God found him out and his Hypocrisy so that he was strucken in a manner dead with the Lightning but coming to Life again as they led him homewards through the Church-yard another flash so scorch'd him that he was burnt from the crown of his Head to the sole of the Foot as black as a Shoo so that he died with the manifest mark of God's Vengeance upon him Beza reports that he knew a man in France of good parts well instructed in Religion and a Master of a Family who in his anger Cursing and bidding the Devil take one of his Children had presently his wish for the Child was possessed immediately with a Spirit from which tho by the frequent and continual Prayers of the Church he was at length released yet before he came to his perfect Health he died The like hapned to a Woman whom her Husband in anger devoted to the Devil with bitter Curses whereupon Satan assaulted her presently and deprived her of her Wits so that she could never be recovered Another example saith the same Author hapned to a Perjurer that wittingly and wilfully forswore himself to the end to prejudice and deceive another but he had no sooner made an end of his false and wicked Oath but a grievous Apoplex seized him so that without speaking any one word afterwards he died within a few days A decrepit Romish Priest being by the help of others heaved and lift up into the Pulpit and choosing the Text out of 1 Cor. 11. concerning the Lord's Supper and taking occasion to defend the Papistical errors of the Mass he used these or the like blasphemous Speeches O. Paul Paul if this Doctrine touching the receiving the Sacrament in both kinds be true and if it be a wicked thing to receive it otherwise then I wish the Devil would come to take me and then turning himself to the People if the Pope's Doctrine concerning this point be not true then I am the Devil's bond-slave neither do I fear to pawn my Soul upon it These and many other blasphemous words he used till the Devil came indeed in the likeness of a tall man black and terrible sending before him such a fearful noise and such a wind that the People fearing the Church falling on their Heads were greatly amazed but he not able to hurt the rest took away the old lame Priest being his devoted Bond-slave and carried him so far that he was never after heard of In the year 1556. at St. Gallus in Helvetia a certain man that earned his living by making clean rough foul Linen against the Sun entring a Tavern tasted so plentifully of the juice of the Grape that he vomited out terrible Curses against himself and others amongst the rest he wished if ever he went into the Fields to his old Occupation that then the Devil might come and break his Neck yet notwithstanding his late words and this his profane and wicked Execration after sleep had conquer'd his drink and sobriety restored his Senses he went again to his Trade remembring his late words but little regarding them but however the Devil attended him at his appointed hour in the likeness of a big swarthy man and asked him if he remembred his promise the Vow which he made the day before and if it were not lawful for him to break his Neck and so struck the poor trembling man over the Shoulders that his Feet and his Hands presently dried up and there he lay not able to stir till by help of men he was carried home the Lord not giving the Devil so much power as he wished himself but yet permitting him to plague him on this sort for his Amendment and our Example Henry Earl of Schwartburgh through a corrupt custom used commonly to wish that he might be drowned in a Privy and as he wished so it hapned unto him for he was so served and murdered at St. Peter's Monastery in Erford in the year of our Lord 1148. The like befel a young Courtier at Mansfield whose custom was in any earnest Asseveration to say the Devil take me if it be not so so the Devil took him indeed whilst he slept and threw him out at a high Window where tho by the goodness of God he caught no great harm yet he learnt by experience to bridle his Tongue from all such cursed Speeches this being but a taste of God's Wrath that is to fall upon such wretches A Woman giving her self to the Devil both Body and Soul did use most horrible Cursing and Oaths both to her self and others usually at all times and in a more effectual manner at a certain Wedding and the People exhotting her to leave off her sinful course of Life yet she not regarding their advice continued in her profane wicked progress till all the People were set at Dinner and very merry and then the Devil came in Person and transported her into the Air before them all with most horrible outcries and roarings and in that manner carried her round about the Town so that the Inhabitants were very terribly afraid and then he tore her in four pieces leaving in several Highways a quarter that all that came by might be witnesses of the Punishment and then returning to the Marriage threw her Bowels on the Table before the Mayor of the Town with these words Behold these dishes of Meat belong to thee whom the like destruction awaiteth if thou dost not amend thy wicked Life There is mention made in Luther's Conferences that divers Noble-men being striving together at an Horse-race in their Course cried The Devil take the last and the last being a Horse that broke loose the Devil hoisted him up into the Air and took him clean away We read of a certain man that provided a sumptuous Supper and none of his invited Guests coming to it he in a great Passion and Heat said If none of them will come then let all the Devils in Hell come and presently came a number of those hellish Fiends whom he not discerning from men coming to welcom and
day in the service of Satan which Almighty God hath hallowed and commanded to be set apart for the Service and Worship of himself For this Day in many Places of the Realm being prophaned and neglected by a disorderly sort of People in exercising and frequenting Bear-baiting Bull-baiting Enterludes Common Plays and other unlawful Exercises and Pastimes thereon And for that many Quarrels Bloodsheds and other great Inconveniencies did grow by the Resort and Concourse of People going out of their own Parishes to such disorderly and unlawful Exercises and Pastimes neglecting Divine Service both in their own Parishes and elsewhere Therefore by the Statute 1 Car. 1. Ch. 1. it is enacted That there shall be no Meetings Assemblies or Concourse of People out of their own Parishes on the Lord's Day within this Realm of England or any the Dominions thereof for any Sports or Pastimes whatsoever nor any Bear-baiting Bull-baiting Enterludes Common Plays or other unlawful Exercises or Pastimes used by any Person or Persons within their own Parishes and that every Person and Persons offending in any the Premisses shall forfeit for every Offence three Shillings and four Pence to the use of the Poor of the Parish where the Offence shall be committed And if any one Justice of the Peace of the County or the Chief Officer or Officers of any City Borough or Town-corporate where such Offence shall be committed upon his or their view or Confession of the Party or Proof of any one or more Witness by Oath which such Magistrate hath power to administer shall find any Person offending in the Premisses the said Magistrate shall give Warrant under his or their Hand and Seals to the Constable or Church-wardens of the Parish or Parishes where such Offence shall be committed to levy the said Penalties so to be assessed by way of Distress and Sale of the Goods of every such Offender rendring the said Offenders the overplus and in Default of such Distress that the Party offending be set publickly in the Stocks by the space of three Hours And if any Man be sued or impeached for the Execution of this Law he may plead the general Issue and give the matter of Justification in evidence and no Man to be impeached by this Act except he be called in question within one Month next after the Offence committed The Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction not to beabridged by this Act but that the Ecclesiastical Court may punish the same Offence as if this Act had not been made This Statute 1 Car. 1. Ch. 1. only prohibiting unlawful Sports Games and Pastimes on the Lord's Day Carriers Waggoners Wayr-men Carmen and Drovers being out of the Statute having no Veneration for the Lord's Day kindness for themselves nor pity for their Beasts did make a Common practise of Travelling upon this Day and Butchers did usually kill and fell Victuals on the Lord's Day So in the 3 Car. 1. An Act was made prohibiting Carriers Drovers c. to travel on this Day on pain of twenty Shillings every Offence and Butchers for killing and selling Victuals thereon on pain of six Shillings and eight Pence for every Offence But this Statute standing but upon contiunance and expiring after the end of the first Session of Parliament then next following Several of these Persons returned again like the Dog to his Vomit to their former accustomed Prophaness And tho this Statute 3 Car. 1. Ch. 2. was by the Statute 17 Car. 1. Ch. 4. continued and made perpetual yet the unnatural uncivil Civil War between the King and Parliament breaking out shortly after this Statute was much neglected and seldom put in Execution two Witnesses being required for the conviction of the Offender which was troublesome So by the Statute 29 Car. 2. Ch. 7. it is enacted That all Persons whatsoever shall on the Lord's Day apply themselves to the observation of the same by exercising themselves thereon in the Duties of Piety and true Religion publickly and privately And no Tradesman Artificer Workman Labourer or other Person whatsoever shall do or exercise any worldly Labours Business or Work of their ordinary Callings upon the Lord's Day Works of Necessity and Charity only excepted And every Person being of the Age of Fourteen Years or upwards offending in the Premisses shall for every such Offence forfeit the Sum of five Shillings and no Person or Persons whatsoever shall publickly cry shew forth or expose to Sale any Wares Merchandizes Fruit Herbs Goods or Chattels whatsoever upon the Lord's Day or any part thereof upon pain of forfeiting the same Goods so cryed or shewed forth or exposed to Sale And no Drover Horse-courser Waggoner Butcher or Higler their or any of their Servants shall travel or come into his or their Inn or Lodging upon the Lord's Day or any part thereof upon pain of twenty Shillings for every such Offence and none shall use imploy or travel upon the Lord's Day with any Boat Wherry Lighter or Barge except it be upon extraordinary occasion to be allowed by a Justice of the Pâ—ace of the County or Head Officer or Justice of the Peace of the City Borough or Town-Corporate where the Fact shall be committed on pain of five Shillings for every such Offence and if any Person so offending in any of the Premisses shall be thereof convicted before any Justice of the Peace of the County or chief Officer or Justice of the Peace of the City c. where the Offence shall be committed upon his or their view or confession of the Party or proof of any one or more Witnesses which Oath the said Magistrates are impowered to administer then the said Justice or chief Officer or Officers shall give Warrant under his or their Hand to the Constable or Church-wardens of the Parish or Parishes where the Offence shall be committed to seize the said Goods so shewed forth or put to sale as aforesaid and to fell the same And to levy the said other Forfeitures or Penalties by way of Distress and Sale of the Goods of every such Offender distrained rendring them the overplus of the Money raised thereby and in Default of such Distress or in case of Insufficiency or Inability to pay the Party offending to be set publickly in the Stocks by the space of two Hours And all Forfeitures to be imployed to the use of the Poor of the Parish where the said Offence shall be committed Save that any such Justice Mayor c. may out of the said Forfeitures reward the informer according to their Discretions so as such Reward exceed not a third part of the Forefeitures But this Act is not to extend to the prohibiting of dressing of Meat in Families or dressing or selling of Meat in Inns Cooks-shops or Victualling-houses for such as otherwise cannot be provided nor to the crying or selling of Milk before nine of the Clock in the Morning and after-four in the Afternoon No Person to be impeached prosecuted or molested for any Offence before mentioned
him so nimble Mr. Ameridith replied he doubted not but to dance about the May-Pole the next Lord's Day but before he moved out of that place he was smitten with such a Feebleness of Heart and Dissiness in his Head that desiring help to carry him to a House he died before the next Lord's Day came At Walton in Surrey upon the Thames there in a great Frost Anno 1634 Three young Men on the Lord's Day after they had been at the Church in the Forenoon where the Minister pressing the words of his Text out of 2 Cor. 5. 10. That we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ c. They the while whispered as they sate And in the Afternoon they went together over the Thames upon the Ice unto a disorderly House of Gameing c. where they spent the remainder of the Lord's Day and part of the Night also in Revelling one of them in a Tavern merrily discoursing the next Day of his Sabbath Deeds and of his Voyage over the Ice but on the Tusday after these three returning homewards and attempting to pass over the Ice again they all sunk down to the bottom like Stones whereof one only was miraculously preserved but the other two were drowned Anno 1598 the Town of Teverton in Devoâ—shire was often warned and advised and told by the Godly Pastor thereof that God would bring some heavy Judgment upon the Inhabitants of that place for their horrible Profanation of the Lord's Day occasioned chiefly by reason of their Market-day being on the Monday and accordingly not long after their Minister's death in the said Year God sent a terrible Fire which in less then half an Hour consumed the whole Town except the Church the Court-house Almes-houses and a few poor People's Dwellings and above 50 Persons were consumed and perished in the Flames Also Anno 1612 it was again wholly burnt down except a few poor Houses they not being warned by the former Judgment but continuing in the same Sin In the Year 1635 A Profane Company of young Men went as Mr. Faucnor relates on the Lord's Day early in the Morning to Clarendon-Park to cut down a May-Pole and having loaden the Cart with it at Milnâ—rs-Barn entring into Salisbury one of the Cart Wheels falling into a Rutt made the young Tree in the Cart which they had stoln for a Pole to give a great shugg on one side which struck one of the Company such a blow on the Head that it beat out his Brains so that he presently died in the place and there lay a fearful Spectacle of God's Wrath both against that idle Sport and wilful prosaning of the Sabbath whilst he makes the very thing they had chosen for their Sport and Pastime to be the Instrument of executing his Fury And Dr. Teate gives a second Example of this Nature in the Year 1626. We read that Mr. Abberley a Godly Minister in Burton upon Trent did often take occasion to reprove and threaten Sabbath-breakers especially such as sold and bought Meat upon the Sabbath-day Mornings a Practice too common it seems in that place nevertheless there was a Taylor in the Town a very nimble active Fellow dwelling at the upper end of the Town who would go through the long Street as it were in Bravado to the other end of the Town and fetch home Meat on the Lord's Day before Morning-Prayer But as he came back with both his Hands full in the midst of the Street he fell down stark dead which as it pleased God says the Doctor did work some Reformation both amongst the Butchers and others When I was in Cheshire says my Author there was one Sir T. S. a Papist and at that time in favour at the Court who coming into his Country was much feasted and followed by the Gentry and upon a Sabbath day was entertained and feasted at a Knight's House where many others were present towards Evening they went to Dancing and in the midst of their Sports there was one Sir J. D. that had a great Blow given him on his Leg by an invisible Hand which made him lame for a long time after Thomas Savage a young Man who was Executed at Ratcliff Octob. 28. 1668 for Murthering his Fellow-Servant whilst he was in Newgate cryed out thus to some that came to see him O Wretch said he that I was 〈◊〉 studied how I might spend the Lord's Day in the Devil's Work I thought I could never dishonour God enough and that time I should have served God in I did most for Satan in it on the Sabbaths I used to play my Prancks I sometimes went into the Church indeed but I may speak it to my Shame and deep Sorrow I never heard one whole Sermon all the while I was with my Master and indeed I laughed at those that spent the Sabbath in Hearing and Praying and looked upon them as the veriest Fools in the World I was glad when the Sabbath came that I might have time to run to my Vile Comrades I rejoiced that then I could go to satisfy my cursed Lusts with Wherish Women O tell young Men from me that the breaking of the Sabbath is a dangerous and costly Sin Also while he was in Newgate one Sabbath day his Fellow-Prisoners being at Cards asked him to join with them O said he you and I have something else to do with our Time than to play at Cards is it now a time for us to be sporting away the Sabbath when we have but one poor Sand left us to work for Eternity A Minister on a time preaching and pressing the Sanctification of the Sabbath had occasion in his Sermon to make mention of that Man that by the special Command of God was stoned to death for gathering Sticks upon the Sabbath day Whereupon one in the Congregation stood up and laughed and made all the haste that he could out of the Church and went to gathering of Sticks the he had no need of them but when the People came out from Sermon they found this Man stark dead with the bundle of Sticks in his Arms lying in the Church-Porch Gregory Tomonensis reports that an Husbandman who upon the Lord's Day went to plow his Field as he cleansed his Plow-share with an Iron the Iron stuck so fast into his Hand that for two Years he could not be delivered from it but carried it about continually to his exceeding great Pain and Shame Another Profane Fellow without any regard to God or his Service made no Conscience to lead his Corn out of the Field on the Lord's Day in Sermon time but he was well rewarded for his ungodly Covetousness for that Corn which with so much care he gathered together was consumed with Fire from Heaven with the Barn and all the Grain that was in it And a certain Noble-man every Lord's Day using to go a Hunting in the Sermon time the Lord punished his Impiety with this Judgment he caused his Lady to
but the Tempest tearing up a Tree it fell upon him and crusht him to pieces One who for twelve or sixteen years together used to swear by God's Arms in the end his own Arm being hurt with a Knife could not be healed by any means but rankled and festered from day to day at length so rotted that it fell away piece-meal and he himself through the anguish and pain thereof died I my self faith a godly Divine that wrote lately knew two most notorious Swearers that brake their Necks the one with a fall down a pair of Stairs and the other from his Horse At a Village called Benevides in Spain two young men being together in the Fields there suddenly arose a terrible Tempest and withal so violent a Whirlwind that it amazed the beholders the two young men seeing the fury of it coming towards them run as fast as possible they might but yet it overtook them and they fearing to be hoisted up into the Air by it fell down flat upon the Earth where the Whirlwind whisked round about them for a pretty while and then passed forwards and the one of them rose in such an Agony that he was scarce able to stand and the other lying still and not stirring some other that stood under a Hedg a far off went to see how he did and found him stark dead with his Bones so crush'd that the joints of his Arms and Legs turned every way as tho his Body had bin made of Moss his Tongue also was pull'd out of his Mouth by the Roots and could never be found which was the more remarkable because he was noted to be an outragious swearer and blasphemer of God's Name At Tubing in Germany as the History tells us a Boy used to invent such new Oaths as were not common but the Lord sent a Canker or some worse Disease that did eat out his Tongue the instrument wherewith he blasphemed God A certain man says Mr. Bolton who in his Life-time was given exceedingly to the fearful sin of Swearing had his Heart on his death-bed so exceedingly filled with enraged greediness after it that he desperately desired the standers by to help him with Oaths and to swear for him tho himself in the mean time swore as fast and furiously as he could Anno 1649. about the end of June there was a Soldier at Ware going with some others to wash themselves in the River and this Soldier finding the Water shallow he asked if there were no deeper a place for him to swim in and some told him that there was not far off a deep pit but that it was very dangerous and therefore advised him to take heed how he went into it to whom he answered God damn me if it be as deep as Hell I will go into it which accordingly he did but immediately sunk to the Bottom never rising again but was there drowned November 1626. a Serving-man being at a Tavern in Essex threatned to swear the Constable out of the Town if he came there but in a drunken fit as he was running after one to make him pledg him a pint of Sack at a draught he fell down the Stairs and died immediately A Fisher-man whom I knew says Mr. Beadle in his Diary bringing Mackarel to a Port-town in Suffolk where the People because they were the first that came that year pressing eagerly to buy them some against his Will being entred into the Boat he took up a Stone and swore by the Name of God he would make them stand farther off whereupon he sunk down instantly and soon after died I of my own certain knowledg knew a Man in Yorkshire a customary profane desperate Swearer who going out on a time with some Neighbours on foot a Hunting it happened that he espied an Hare upon her Seat in his Range so he swore a great Oath or two she 's here and putting up the Hare he ran over two or three Lands and fell down the rest of the Company following their Game being got three or four Closes from him and having lost the Hare and not seeing this man coming they went back to see what was the cause of his not coming and finding him in the same place where he fell they turned him up and he was stark dead There is no surer sign of a wicked Person than common and customary Swearing such should be served as Lewis the 9th of France served a Citizen of Paris that seared his Lips for swearing with an hot Iron and when some said that it was too great Cruelty he answered I would to God that with fearing mine own Lips with an hot Iron I could banish out of my Realm all abuse of Oaths Rashness is a fault in any human Action but in no Cases more dangerous than in the imprecation of Divine Judgments men had need to deliberate and be well advised before they appeal to Heaven for Vengeance for ofttimes the prayers of these rash People are heard by God and answered beyond their expectation to their great Terror and Amazement as plainly appears by several of the before mentioned Examples And infinite more Examples might be produced demonstrating the displeasure of Almighty God against the provoking sin of profane Swearing and Cursing and the severity of his Justice in the signal punishments inflicted by him upon the presumptuous customary practisers thereof But I hope the perusal and serious Consideration of these already set down may be sufficient motives not only to bring all rational Persons guilty of such wickedness to a sight of their profaneness but also to a sense of the great danger they are in and be thereby moved and incited to a firm purpose and stedfast resolution of Amendment and a total forsaking of this their accustomed abominable Sin But if neither Law Scripture nor Example will prevail with them then may that of the holy Psalmist be fitly applied to them Ye imagine mischief in your heart upon the Earth and your hands deal with wickedness The Vngodly are froward even from their Mothers Womb. They are as venomâ—â—â— as the poison of a Serpents even like the deaf Adder that stoppeth her Ears Which refuseth to hear the voice of the Charmer charm he never so wisely Psal 58. 2 3 4 5. However let such profligate presumptuous profane provoking Sinners assuredly know That the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain Exod. 20. 7. He that dwelleth in Heaven shall laugh them to scorn the Lord shall have them in derision Then shall he speak unto them in his Wrath and vex them in his sore Displeasure Psal 2. 4 5. For tho God sometimes have leaden Feet yet the wicked find that he hath iron Hands For God shall wound the head of his Enemies and the hairy Scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his Wickedness Psal 68. 21. CHAP. VII An Abstract of the Laws made against the profanation of the lord's-Lord's-day commonly called Sunday I Conceive it