and Princes as Grasiers are over their families and their flocks they were not sollicitous of the vanities so much lived in by the People of this Generation for in all things they pleased God by Faith the first forsock his Fathers house Kindred and Countrey A true Type or Figure of that Self-denial all must know that would have Abraham to their Father They must not think to live in those pleasures fashions and customs they are call'd to leave no but on the contrary part with all in hopes of the recompence of Reward and that better Countrey which is eternal in the Heavens The Prophets were generally poor Mechanicks one a Shepherd another a Herdsman c. they often cryed out upon the full-fed wanton Isruelites to repent to fear and dread the Living God to forsake the sins and vanities they liv'd in but never imitated them John Baptist the Messenger of the Lord who was sanctified in his Mothers womb Preach'd his Embassie to the World in a Coat of Camels hair a rough and homely garment nor can it be conceiv'd that Jesus Christ himself was much better Apparell'd who was a man of poor Friends and of great plainness insomuch that it was usual in a way of derision to say Is not this Jesus the Son of Joseph a Carpenter And this Jesus tells his followers That as for soft Raiment gorgious Apparel and Delicacies they were for Kings Courts implying That He and his followers were not to mind those things but seems plainly thereby to express the great difference that is betwixt the lovers of the fashions and customs of the world and those whom he hath chosen out of it And he not only came in that mean and despicable manner himself thereby to stain the pride of flesh but therein to become exemplary to his followers of what a self-denying life they must lead if they would be true Disciples Nay he further leaves it with them in a Parable that it might make the deeper impression to the end that they might see how inconsistent the pompous worldly-pleasing life is with the Kingdom he came to establish and call men to the possession of And that is the remarkable story of Dives who is represented 1 As a Rich man next a Voluptuous man in his rich Apparel his many Dishes and his Packs of Doggs And lastly An uncharitable man or one who was too much concern'd how to please the lust of the eye the lust of the flesh and the pride of Life and to fare sumptuously every day ever to take compassion of poor Lazarus at his Gate no his Dogs were more pitiful and kind than he But the doom of this Jolly man this great Dives we read to be everlasting torments and that of Lazarus eternal joy with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God In short Lazarus was a good man the other a great man the one poor and temperate the other rich and voluptuous too many of them are alive 'T were well if his doom might awaken them to Repentance Nor were the Apostles the immediate Messengers of the Lord Jesus Christ other then poor men one a Fisher-man another a Tent-maker and he that was of the greatest though not the honestest employment was a Customer perhaps some Waiter or the like therefore it s very unlikely that any of them were followers of the fashions of the world nay they were so far from it that as became the followers of Christ they liv'd poor afflicted self-denying lives bidding the Churches to walk as they had them for examples and to shut up this particular they give this pathetical account of the Holy Women in former times as an inducement for all to do the same namely That first they did abstain from Gold Silver breaded Hair fine Apparel or such like and next that their Adornment was a week and quiet Spirit and the hidden man of the heart which are of great price with the Lord Affirming That such as live in pleasure are dead whilst they live for that the Cares and Pleasures of this life choak and destroy the seed of the Kingdom and quite hinder all progress in the hidden and divine life So that we find the Holy men and Women of former times were not accustom'd to these pleasures and vain recreations but having their minds set on things above sought another Kingdom which consists in Righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit who having obtained a good report are enter'd into their eternal rest therefore their Works follow and praise them in the Gates Reas 4. Next That both such Apparel and Pleasures are not only with severity reprehended in Scriptures but are contrary to positive Injunctions and Precepts It was the ground of that lamentable Message by the Prophet Isaiah to the People of Israel Moreover the Lord said Because the Daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with stretehed-forth necks and wanton eyes walking and mincing as they go and making a tinckling with their feet therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the Daughters of Zion and the Lord will discover their secret parts in that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinckling Ornaments and their Cauls or Net-works in the Hebrew and their round Tyres like the Moon the Chains and the Bracelets and the spangled Ornaments the Bonnets and the ornaments of the Legs and the Head-bands and the Tablets and the Ear-Rings the Rings and Nose-Jewels the changeable suits of Apparel and the Mantles and the Whimples and the Crisping Pins the Glasses and the fine Linnen and the Hoods and the Vails And it shall come to pass that instead of sweet smells there shall be a stinck and instead of a Girdle a Rent and instead of well-set Hair Baldness and instead of a Stomacher a girding of Sack-cloth and Burning instead of Beauty Thy men shall fall by the Sword and thy mighty in the War And her Gates shall lament and mourn and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground Behold O vain and foolish Inhabitants of England your folly and your doom You Exchange-mongers who live by the like vanities is not the like your trade your profit your practice and your pleasure yet read the Prophet Ezekiel's vision of miserable Tyre what punishment her pride and pleasures brought upon her And amongst many other circumstances these are some These were thy Merchants in all sorts of things In blue Cloaths and broydered Work and in Chests of rich Apparel Emeraulds Purple fine Linnen Coral and Agate Spices with all precious Stones and Gold Horses Chariots c. for which hear part of her doom Thy Riches and thy Fairs thy Merchandise and all thy Company which is in the midst of thee shall fall into the midst of the Sea in the day of thy ruine and the Inhabitants of the Isles shall be astonished at thee and their Merchants shall hiss at thee
to Glory is enclos'd and smooth'd with such variety of carnal Pleasures no alas Conviction a wounded Spirit a broken Heart a regenerated Mind in a word Immortality would then prove as meer fictions as some make them and others therefore think them if the like practises are not for ever to be extinguish'd and expell'd all Christian society for I affirm That to one who internally knows God and hath a sense of his blessed Presence all such Recreations are death yea more dangerously evil and more apt to steal away the mind from its Heavenly exercise than grosser Impieties for they are so big they are plainly seen so dirty they are easily detested which Education and common Temperance as well as Constitution in many teach them to abhor and if they should be committed they carry with them a proportionable conviction but these pretended Innocents these supposed harmeless Satisfactions are more surprising more fatal more destructive for as they easily gain and admission of their senses so the more they pretend to Innocency the more do they secure the minds of People in the common use of them till they become so insensible of their evil Consequences that with a mighty confidence they can plead for them But as this is plainly not to deny themselves but on the contrary to employ these vain Inventions of carnal Men and Women to gratifie the desire of the Eye the desire of the Flesh and the pride of Life all which exercise the mind below the divine and only true Pleasure or else tell me what do So Be it known to such That the Heavenly Life and Christian Joyes are of another kind as hath already been express'd nay that the true Disciples of the Lord Christ must be hereunto crucified as to Objects and Enjoyments that attract downwards and that their affections should be so rais'd to a more sublime and spiritual Conversation as to use this World even in its most innocent enjoyments as if they us'd it not but if they take pleasure in any thing below it shall be in some of those good Offices before-mention'd whereby a benefit may redound in some respect in which God is honour'd over all visible things the Nition reliev'd the Government better'd themselves rendred exemplary of good and thereby justly intituled to present Happiness a sweet Memorial with Posterity and to a seat at his Right hand where there are Joyes and Pleasures for ever than which there can be nothing more honourable nothing more certain world without end Reas 7. There should be no vanity of Apparel nor Recreations common amongst those who would be Christians indeed because both that which invented them delights to have them and pleads so strongly for them is inconsistent with the true Spirit of Christianity nor doth the very nature of the Christian Religion admit of these things For therefore was it that Immortality and Eternal Life was thereby brought to light that Mortality and all the pleasures of it in which the world lives might be forgone and relinquished and for that reason it is that nothing less than immense Rewards and eternal Mansions are promised but that Men and Women might therefore be encourag'd willingly to forsake the vanity and fleshly satisfactions of the World and encounter with boldness the shame and sufferings they must expect to receive at the hand of it may be their nearest and otherwise dearest Intimates and Relations For if the Christian Religion had admitted the Possession of this World in any other sense than the simple and naked use of those Creatures really given of God for the necessity and convenience of the whole Creation for instance Did it allow all that Pride Vanity Curiosity Pomp Exchange of Apparel Honours Preferments Fashions and the Customary Recreations with what ever may delight and gratifie their senses Then what need of a daily Cross a self-denying Life working out Salvation with fear and trembling seeking the things that are above having the Treasure and heart in Heaven No idle talking no vain jesting but fearing and meditating all the day long undergoing all reproach scorn hard usage bitter mockings and cruel deaths What need these things and why should they be expected in order to that glorious Immortality and eternal Crown if the Vanity Pride Expence Idleness Concupiscence Envy Malice and whole manner of living among the called Christians were allow'd No certainly but as the Lord Jesus Christ well knew in what foolish trifles and vain pleasures as well as grosser impieties the minds of Men and Women were fixed and how much they were degenerated from the Heavenly principle of Life into a coverous seeking after the enjoyments of this perishing World nay inventing daily new ones to gratifie their Lusts so did he not less foresee the difficulty that all would have to relinquish and forsake them at his call and with what great unwillingness they would take their leave and be weaned from them wherefore as inducements thereunto he did not speak unto them in the Language of the Law as that they should have an Earthly Canaan great Dignities a numerous Issue a long Life and the like no rather the contrary at least to take these things as they should fall but he speaks to them in a higher strain namely That he assures them of a Kingdom and a Crown that are Immortal that neither Time Cruelty Death Grave nor Hell with all its instruments shall ever be able to disappoint or take away from those who should believe and obey him further That they should be taken into that neer Aliance of loving Friends yea the intimate divine Relation of dear Brethren and Co-heirs with him of all Coelestial Happiness and glorious Immortality wherefore if it be recorded That those who heard not Moses were to die much more they who refuse to hear and obey the Precepts of this great and Eternal Rewarder of All that diligently seek and follow him And therefore it was that he was pleased to give us in his own Example a tast of what his Disciples must expect to drink more deeply of namely The Cup of Self-denyal cruel Tryals and most bitter Afflictions He came not to Consecrate a way to the Eternal Rest through Gold and Silver Ribbons Laces Points Perfumes costly Cloaths curious Trim's exact Dresses rich Jewels pleasant Recreations Play 's Parks Treats Balls Masques Revels Romances Love-songs flattering Sonnets and the like Pastime of the World No no alas but by forsaking all such kind of entertainments yea and sometimes more lawful enjoyments too and chearfully undergoing the loss of all on the one hand and the Reproach Ignominy and the most hateful Persecutions from ungodly men on the other alas he needed never to have wanted such variety of worldly Pleasures had they been sutable to the work he came to do for he was tempted as are his followers with no less bait than all the Gloryes of the World however Satan ly'd in saying
or entertain any Persons of a wicked conversation or that give any scandal or ill example amongst you but let charity and fidelity reign amongst you and all good example doing to one another as every one desires should be done unto him for otherwise it is impossible that any should be saved or can have the grace of God or good-men in this world or glory in another And therefore if you hope and desire to possess eternal Life to live in good esteem and credit and to prosper in this world in your goods temporal and spiritual purge your selves from all disorderly wayes to the end that God may be alwayes with you who forsakes not those that trust in him But know this for certain that God heareth not nor dwelleth with sinners nor in the soul that is given unto wickedness nor in the man that is subject to sin And therefore let every one cleanse the wayes of his heart and fly the danger if he would not perish therein I have no other thing to write at this present but that you would put in practice these things and the God of peace be with you all and go along with us and be present among us in our sincere humble and fervent prayers that he will be pleas'd to save all those his faithful that trust in Christ Jesus Intirely yours ready to do you service in all things possible according unto the Will of God Bartholmew Tertian Behold the Life and Doctrine Instruction and Practice of these ancient Waldenses how harmless how plain how laborious how exceeding serious and heavenly were they in their Conversation These are the Men Women and Children who for above these five hundred years have valiantly maintained a cruel War at the expence of their most innocent blood against the unheard of Tyranny's and more than Paganish inhumanities of proud blood-thirsting Popes Princes Cardinals Legats Nuncio's Archbishops and Bishops but above all of the Monkish Inquisitors whose most barborous invented cruelties are the only demonstrations of their wit with whom it s held to be a greater sin to conceal a Heretick than to be perjur'd to obey an heretical Prince than to murder him to marry a lawful Wife than to keep a Whore In short to dissent though never so conscientiously than to murder lye steal and commit all the inormities prohibited both in the first and second Table yea so dark so blind so cruel have most generations been that there could be no so silly a dotage no so ridiculous a superstition no so detestable an idolatry but did or might have found not only an acceptance but the favour of being impos'd on most severe penalties who having lost the sense of the true God became so darkened as to believe whilst they were most zealous in fulfilling the will of Beelzebab they were performing the most acceptable sacrifice to God with whom the filthiest villain and sordidst wretch was more acceptable than the most patient sober heavenly-minded man Nay let him be never so virtuous to say that the flesh blood and bones of Jesus once nail'd upon the Cross were not in a Wafer held by the nasty fist of a fornicating Priest nay God not in that Wafer though nibl'd by a Mouse or the like vermin just before were enough to Rack Hang or Burn without any farther Appeal or Examination 'T was against the like Adversary's these poor Waldenses fought by sufferings throughout the Nations by Prisons Confiscations Banishments Wandrings from Hill to Valley from Den to Cave being mock'd whipt rack'd thrown from Rocks Towers driven on Mountains and in one night hundreds perishing by excessive Frosts Snows and the like colds smother'd in Caves Starv'd Prison'd Rip'd Hang'd Dismember'd Rifl'd Plunder'd Strangl'd Burn'd and whatsoever could be invented to ruin men women and children These you pretend to be your Ancestors from them you say you have your Religion often are you in building their praises by your panigerical discourses but Oh! look back I beseech you how unlike are you to these afflicted Pilgrims what resemblance is there of their life in yours Did they purchase you a Liberty and Religion can you think at the loss of all that was dear to them that you might pass away your dayes and years in pride wantonness and vanity What proportion bears your excess with their temperance your gaudiness with their plainness your luxury and flesh-pleasing conversation with their simplicity and self-denyal but are you not got into that Spirit they condemned into that carnality worldly mindedness they reprov'd in their Persecuters nay into a strain of Persecution too whilst you seem to hide all under a cloak of Reformation What have you besides their good words that 's like them And do you think that words shall fend off the blows of Eternal vengeance That a little by-rote babble though of never so good expressions in themselves shall serve your turn No From God I tell you That whilst you live in the wantonness pride and luxury of the world pleasing and fulfilling the lust of the Eye the lust of the Flesh and the pride of Life God detests you all and laughs you and your worship to scorn Ne're tell me I am too rash it 's the Devil that sayes so he has got two Scriptures at his fingers end in these dayes one That there 's none that doth good to the end he may perswade all it's impossible to overcome which is the reason so many are overcome although glory is promised to none but conquerers The second That we must not judge lest we be judged but away with the Devil and his hypocrisie too I know what I say and from whom I speak once more I tell you all That unless you forsake your pride luxury avarice and whole variety of vanities and mind the eternal Light in your hearts to obey it Wrath shall be your portion for ever whether you hear or forbear Trust not your Souls on misapply'd Scriptures He that is a Child of God must be holy for God is holy and none are his Sons and Daughters but those who are adopted by the Eternal Spirit and led thereby 'T was a holy plain humble divine Life these poor suffering Christians both profess'd and practic'd refusing to converse with any that liv'd in the superfluities and excess of the world for which if you will believe their very Adversaries they were persecuted For sayes Rainerius They use to teach first what the Disciples of Christ ought to be and that none are his Disciples but they that imitate his Life And that the Popes Cardinals c. because they live in luxury pride avarice c. are not the Successors of Christ but themselves only in that they walk up to his commandments thus sayes he they win upon the People But if so that none are Christians but those who imitate Christ what will become of those who call themselves Christians and yet live at ease
Person That its contrary to the ground of all Speech Meer nonsence Condemned of all Languages Brought in by some proud Popes and Kings Contrary to their Prayers Testimonies from Learned Authors of ancient and modern times CHAP. III. THirteen Reasons against the Vanity of Apparel and common Recreations Pleasures and Conversation of these times That they are destrustive of their Institution Sin brought cloathing and loss of true Divine Pleasure false pleasure That they are contrary to the Example of the holy Generations That they are positively forbid That they are inconsistant with the Nature of Christ's Gospel and Religion The Effects of Pride and Wontonness destructive of Labour Industry Health Body and Soul they ensnare the affections divert the Soul from Heavenly and Eternal Delights they are the more pernitious because they seem more innocent then grosser evils they occasion Debts Poverty Worldly-mindedness and all Folly that if such Vanity and Expence were hindered Debts could be paid the Poor and Fatherless provided for and the Nation enriched otherwise nothing but Wrath and Vengeance come from God on such doings Objections answered The true Christian Life vindicated from such wanton Inventions and lustfull Vanities Several weighty Testimonies of the most famous Persons for Piety Power and Learning as well living as dying both Heathens and Christians of Ancient and Modern times as an intire confirmation of this Discourse to the Conviction if possible of others as well as Vindication of the Innocent Quakers With a Call to whomsoever it shall come Several Testimonies Of Hat Honour 1 Luther 2 Calvin 3 Marlorat 4 Jerome 5 Paulinus 6 Sulpicius 7 Causabon Of You to a single Person 8 Luther 9 Erasmus 10 Spanish Customs 11 Lipsius 12 Howel Of Apparel 13 Solon 14 Hippias 15 Gymnosophistae 16 Bamburacii 17 Gynaecosmi Gynaeconomi 18 Cornelia 19 Ancient Heathens 20 Gregory 21 Jerome 22 Memorancy Of Recreations 23 Chilon 24 Bias Stilpo 25 Anaxagoras 26 Themistocles 27 Socrates 28 Plato 29 Antisthenes 30 Aristotle 31 Clitomachus Epaminondas 32 Phocion 33 Mandanius 34 Hipparchia 35 Quintillian 36 Tertullian Chrysostom Theophilact Gregory Naz. 37 Ambrose 38 Augustine 39 Polybius Cicero Livius Tacitus 40 Machiavel 41 Cardon 42 Bellonius 43 Ouzelius 44 Clemens Romans 45 Council of Carthage 46 Gracian 47 Waldenses 48 Paulinus 49 Acacius Aged and dying Testimonies 50 Solomon 51 Ignatius 52 Iraenius 53 Justin Martyr 54 Chrysostom 55 Charles the fifth 56 Sir Phil. Sidney 57 Secr. Walsingham 58 Sir J. Mason 59 Sir H. Wotton 60 Lord Bacon 61 Dr. Donne 62 Selden 63 Grotius 64 Salmatius 65 Mazarene 66 Prince Henry Conclusion 67 Philo Judaeus 68 Eusebius Pamphili Of the Christian Life and that the being contented with few things and using this World as if we used it not is the true Christian State and Life and that the Exercise Vanity Curiosity and whole Conversation of this Age are inconsistant with the Spirit and Nature of true Christianity Many Errors and Improprieties have escaped the Press which are not to he charged upon the Author the readiest present Collection followeth Page Line Errors Corrected 5 6 counts count'st 7 22 requiring required 8 4 sustantial substantiall 11 31 Pompius Pompeius 12 33 for in so doing in so doing 14 14 about above 17 8 Parts Parks 18 7 discussed disus'd  25 men of ordinary trades every man of an ordinary trade 19 19 tified fortified 20 33 we it is we say it is 20 29 which what 24 14 said saith 26 7 meant mark 27 25 they so far are such such are so far from 30 17 heart hearts  18 was is 32 9 in on  26 the marriage bed marriage beds 33 32 Latudinarian Latitudinarian 34 2 to the with the  12 Heathen Heathens 38 16 be a right Christian be right Christians 39 12 be a true Christian or Disciple be true Christians or Disciples  35 Pleasures Pleasure 40 15 which with 42 33 are not is not 46 38 Aleman Alcman 56 16 to security to the security 57 38 innumerably innumerable 60 32 deare earnings deer earnings 65 17 overcome overcame 70 23 without thy self with thy self 81 17 Pagon Pagan 82 29 those these 84 37 which  91 last to murder an Heretical To obey an Heretical Prince   Prince then to obey him then to murther him 95 19 or and 97 4 shall should 98 16 is are 102 19 And this Nations more peculierly And more peculierly fit for  20 fit for this Nations 103 28 Pamphilius Pamphili  32 Country life Contrary life 104 24 conversations conversation  15 off and 109 7 rgain again 110 19 frowns frown NO Cross no Crown Or a few sober REASONS Proposed against those frequent Ceremonies of CAP-HONOUR c. CHAP. I. To the unredeemed of all Ranks and Qualities from the vain Customs of a wicked World READER whether thou art a Night-walking Nicodomus or a scoffing Scribe one that would visit the Messiah but in the dark Customs of the World that thou might'st pass as undiscern'd for fear of bearing his reproachfull Cross or else a Favourite to Hamans pride and counts these Testimonies but a foolish singularity to Thee hath Divine Love enjoyn'd me to be a Messenger of his Truth and a faithfull Witness against the Pride and Flatteries of this degenerated World in which the spirit of Vanity Luâ—â— and all sorts of impiety hath got to so great an head and lived so long uncontrolled that it hath impudence enough to tearm its Darkness Light and call its accursed Off-spring by the Names due to an other Nature the more easily to deceive And truly so very blind and insensible are most of what spirit they are and ignorant of the meek and Self-denying Life of holy Jesus whose Name they prefess that to call each other Rabbi or Master to bow to greet with flattering Titles and do their Fellow-Creatures Homage to spend time and estate to gratifie their wanton minds the Customs of the Gentiles that knew not God with them signifie no more then Civility good Breeding Decency Recreation Accomplishments c. O that men would consider since there are but two Spirits good or evil that acts them to all things which really of them it is that doth encline the World to these men-pleasing Customs And whether it be Nicodemus or Mordecai in thee that doth befriend the despised Quakers which makes thee ashamed to own that openly in conversation with the World which the true Light hath made vanity and sin to thee in secret Or if thou art a Dispiser tell me I prethee which do'st thou think thy mockery anger and contempt doth most resemble proud Haman or Mordecai My Friend know that none hath been more prodigal and expensive in those vanities call'd Civilities then my self and could I have covered my Conscience under the fashions of the World truly I had found a shelter from those showers of Reproach that have fallen so heavily upon me but had I with Joseph
common persons for usually his Edict which runs We Will and Require is in conjunction with his Council but it s not customary nor proper for private Persons to write We Will and Require and therefore You to such is an abuse of the word but as Pride first gave it birth so hath she only promoted it for Monsieur Sir and Madam were originally names only used to the King his Brother and their Wives both in France and England yet now the Plowman in France is called a Monsieur and his wise a Madam and men of ordinary Trades in Cities of England a Sir and his wife a Dame or Mistress so prevalent hath Pride and Flattery been in all Ages as Howell relates in his Discourse of France Reason IX Nor can Custom usually brought to justifie these be of any force for though it may have power in some common matters in the way of Commerce amongst men get can it never make that sence which in it self is not so any more then to make a Horse a Cow or one Man a Thousand Reason X. Because Custom precedes that Authority which gives life to any immitation as coming from Custom but this preceeded Custom therefore not warrantable to be altered by any Authority so inferiour to its own Reason XI If Thou be improper or uncivil it s to indite and accuse God himself all the holy Fathers and Prophets Christ Jesus his Apostles the Primitive Saints and all Languages throughout the World which were most impudent Reason XII It should not therefore be urged upon us because it is a most extravagant piece of pride impudence in a mortal man to require or expect from his Fellow-Creature more civil expressions or gratefull terms then he is wont to give the Immortal God and Great Creator in all his worship to him nay but doth it not teach them to use it to one since the contrary implies plurality of Gods why not then a plurallity of men but were we not so well tified with Arguments in our Defence certain we are that the Spirit of God seeks not these Respects nor Titles much less pleads for them or would be wroth with any that conscientiously refuse to give them but that this vain Generation is guilty in all these respects is but too palpable What Capping what Cringing what Scraping what vain Words most hyperbolical Expressions gross Flatteries and plain Lyes do men and women spend their precious time in Ah my Friends whence fetch you these Examples what Chapter and what Verse of all the Writings of the holy men of God warrants these things Is Christ your example herein whose Name you pretend to bear or those Saints of old that had forsaken the respect of Persons and relinquished the Customs Fashions Honour and Glory of the World which fade and pass away whose qualifications lay not in external Gestures Complements c. but in a meek and quiet Spirit adorned with temperance vertue modesty gravity patience which were tokens of true honour and onely badges of respect and nobility in those Christian times O no but is it not to expose our selves both to your contempt and fury that we immitate them therein And are not Romances Plays Lampoons Poets Montebanks Fidlers and such like Ruffanly conversation that which most delights you for had you the Spirit of Christianity indeed how could you consume your time in so many unnecessary Visits Plays and Pastimes in Complements Courtships fain'd Stories Flatteries and what not which never was the Christian way of Living but the pastimes of the Heathens that knew not God Oh were your minds transformed and had you known what it were to have been born again to take up the Cross and live therein these things which so much please the wanton sensual nature should find no place This is not seeking the things that are above to have the heart set thus on things that are below This is not working out Salvation with fear and trembling This is not crying with Elibu I know not to give flattering titles to men in so doing my Maker would soon take me away This is not to deny that selfish part that would delight it self in worldly pleasures invented by men to gratifie the lust of people nor to forsake the fashions of the world which pass away laying up for a more enduring Substance and Eternal Inheritance in the Heavens which shall never pass away Well my Friends what ever you think your Plea of Custom will finde no Plea at the Dreadfull Tribunal and this Spirit against which we testifie shall then appear to be what we it is The Testimonies of several Writers LUther the grand Reformer whose Sayings were Oracles with the Age he lived in and of no less Reputation now with many was so far from condemning our plain Speech that in his Ludus be sports himself with a You to a Single Person as a most ridiculons and impertinent Custom viz. Magister vos es iratus which is just as good sence as to say My Masters thou art angry or what else you will that can be ridiculously absurd Erasmus a Learned man and then whom I know not any we may so properly defer the matter too not only mocks so impertinent a Speech but bestows a whole Discourse upon its Refutation plainly manifesting that its impossible to preserve Numbers if You the only mark for two be us'd to express one as that the original of it was Flattery and paticularly In Spain who knows not how contumelous it is among the manly People to speak in the plural number to a single person whose gravity and constancy do's not a little condemn the foolish fantastick and inconstant humor of our pretended Reformed Country And Lipsius maugre all contradiction proves that the ancient Romans alwayes Thou'd and Thee'd their Senators and Emperors and further affirmed that there was no such thing as Cap-Honour or Titular-Respects amongst them And to conclude Howel in his History of France gives us an ingenious Account of its original where he not only assures us that anciently the Peasant Thou'd the King but that Pride and Flattery first put inferiours upon paying a plural Respect to the single person of every Superiour and Superiours upon receiving and at the last requiring it and though we had not the practice of God and men to so undeniably justifie our plain Expressions yet since we are perswaded that its original was from a partial Respect and meer Flattery we cannot in Conscience gratifie them nor use it and however we may be sensur'd as singular by those loose airy minds that through the continual enjoyment of earthly pleasures have lost the weighty solid and heavenly sence of things yet not to us whom God Almighty has convinced by his Eternal Spirit of the folly and evil of such courses and brought into a spiritual discerning of the nature and ground of such things with their defences they appear to
plead a little with you Why should your Beds your Glasses your Cloaths your Loves your Playes your Parks your Treats your Recreations poor perishing toyes have all your Souls your Time your Care your Purss and Consideration Be ye admonished I beseech you in the Name of the Living God by one that some of you know hath had his share and consequently time to know how little the like vanities conduce to true and sollid happiness No my Friends God Almighty knows and would God you would believe and follow me they end in shame and sorrow Faithful is that most Holy One who hath determin'd That every Man and Woman shall reap what they sow and will not trouble anguish and disappointment be a sad and dreadful Harvest for you to reap for all your mispent time about superfluities and vain recreations Retire then grieve not the Holy Spirit in your selves Redeem precious abused time frequent such Conversation as manifest the same So shall you follow the Examples and keep the Precepts of Jesus Christ and all his followers For hitherto we have plainly demonstrated that no such way of Living as is in request amongst you of the Land ever was or can be truly Christian Reas 5. Because the best of Recreations is to do good and all Christian customs should be to act with temperance and for some good and beneficial end which more or less may be in every Action at least no such evill Consequences to attend as for instance If Men and Women would be diligent to follow their respective Callings frequent the Assemblies of Religious People visit sober Neighbors to be edified and wicked ones to reform them to be careful in the Tuition of their Children exemplary to their Servants relieve the Necessitous see the Sick administer to their distempers and indispositions endeavour Peace amongst their Neighbours Also to study moderately such commendable and profitable Arts as Navigation Arithmetick Geometry Husbandry Medicine to read the best reputed Histories of ancient times to Spin Sow Knit Weave Garden or the like House-wife and honest Employments the practice of the greatest and noblest Matrons and Youth among the very Heathens helping others who for want are unable to keep Servants to ease them in their necessary affairs often and private retirements from all Worldly Enjoyments secret and steady Meditations on the Divine Life and Heavenly Inheritance which to leave undone and prosecute other things under the notion of Pleasures is accursed Lust and damnable Impiety Besides it is most vain in any to object That they can't do these alwayes and therefore why mayn't they use these common diversions For I ask What would such be at what would they do and what would they have They that have Trades have not time enough to do the half of what hath been recommended And as for those who have nothing to do and indeed do nothing which is worse but sin which is worst of all here is variety of pleasant of profitable nay of very honourable Employments and Diversions for them Such can with great delight sit at a Play a Ball a Masque at Cards Dice Check Drinking Revelling Feasting and the like an entire day yes turn night into day and invert the very Order of the Creation to their Lusts were it not for Eating and Sleeping it would be past a doubt whether they would ever find a time to cease from those vain and sinful pastimes till the hasty Calls of Death should summon their Appearance in another World yet do they think it intollerable and not possible for any to sit so long at a profitable or Heavenly Exercise But how do these think to pass their vast Eternity away For as the Tree falls so it lyes Let none deceive themselves nor mock their immortal Souls with a pleasant but most false and pernitious dream that they shall be chang'd by an irresistable and gain-saying Power just when their Souls take farewel of their Bodies No no my Friends What you have Sowen that shall you Reap if Vanity Folly visible Delights fading Pleasures no better shall you ever reap than Corruptions Sorrow and the woful Anguish of Eternal Disappointments But alas what 's the reason that the Cry is so common must we alwayes dote on these things Why most certainly it is this because they know not what is the Joy and Peace of alwayes speaking and acting as in the presence of the most Holy God they pass such vain understandings darkned with the glories and pleasures of the Godd of this World whose Religion is so many mumbled or ignorantly-devout-said Words as they teach Parrats for if they were of those whose heart are set on things above and whose treasure was in Heaven there would their minds inhabit and their pleasure constantly be and such who call that a burden and seek to be refreshed by other visible Delights a Play a Morrice-dance a Punchanello a Ball a Masque Cards Dice or the like I boldly affirm not only never knew the Divine Excellency of God and Truth but therein declare themselves most unfit for them in another World for how possibly can they be delighted to an Eternity of years and Ages with that Satisfaction which is so tedious and irksome for so trifling a time as thirty or forty years as that for a supply of Recreation to their minds the little toyes and fopperies of this perishing World must be brought into practice and request Surely those who are to reckon for every idle word must not use Sports to pass away that time which they are commanded diligently to Redeem considering no less work is to be done then making their Calling and Election sure nor study Recreations to their vain minds and spend the greatest part of Dayes and Months and Years therein not allowing a quarter of that time towards the great concernment of their Lives and Souls for which that time was given them there 's but little need to drive away that by foolish divertisements which flyes away so swiftly of its self and when once gone is never to be recalled Playes Parks Balls Treats Romances Love Sonnets and the like will be a very invallid Plea for any other purpose than their Condemnation who are taken and delighted with them at the Revelation of the Righteous Judgment O my Friends These never were invented nor employ'd but by that mind which had first lost the Joy and ravishing Delights of God's Holy Presence so that we conclude First That of those many excelent employments already mentioned as worthy to dispossess such minds as are inclin'd to the vanities of their other recreations there is store enough of time not only to take up their spare hours but double so much and that with great delight diversion and profit both to themselves and others were they but once weaned from vain and fruitless fopperies and did they but consider how great the Satisfaction and how certain the Rewards are
gum to pouder and otherwise to attire and adorn themselves whilst their Afternoons as commonly are bespoke for Visits and for Play 's where their usual Entertainment is some stories fetch'd from the more approved Romances Some strange Adventures some passionate Amours unkind Refuses grand Impediments tedious Addresses miserable Disappointments wonderful Surprizes unexpected Rencounters and meeting of supposed dead Lovers bloody Duels languishing Voices Ecchoing from sollitary Groves over-heard mournful Complaints deep fetch'd Sighs sent from wilde Desarts Intrigues manag'd with unheard-of Subtility and whilst all things seem at the greatest distance then are dead People alive enemies Friends dispair turn'd to Enjoyment and all their Impossibilities reconcil'd things that never were are not nor ever shall or can be comes to pass And as if Men Women were too slow to answer the loose suggestions of corrupt nature or were too intent on more divine speculations and heavenly Affairs they have all that it 's possible for the most extravagant Wits to invent of not only express Lyes but grand improbabilities if not impossibilities to very nature on purpose to excite their minds to those respective passions and so intoxicate their giddy fancies with swelling nothing but aiery fictions as not only consume Time effeminate their Natures debase their Reason and set them on work to reduce these things to practice and make each adventure theirs by imitation but if disappointed as who can otherwise expect from such vanishing fantasms the present remedy is latitude to the greatest vice and yet these are some of their most innocent Recreations which are no better then that subtil Devil ensnaring People by such stratagems as may be most agreeable to their weakness and in a more insensible manner mastering their Affections by Entertainments most taking to their Senses In such occasions 't is their hearts breed vanity and their Eyes turn interpreters to their Thoughts and that their Looks do whisper the secret inflamations of their intemperate minds wandring so long abroad till their lascivious actings bring night home and load their Minds and Reputations with lust and infamy here is the end of all their fashions and recreations to gratifie the lust of the Eye the lust of the Flesh and the pride of Life Cloaths that were given to cover shame now want a covering being shameful and that which was an effect of sin and should remember men of lost innocency they pride and glory in it 's made the pleasure of these times but 't was the enforc'd necessity of those and that very conversation the hundreth part of which cost them the loss of Paradice is now the agreeable Recreation and best Accomplishment of the times for as 't was Adam's fault to seek a satisfaction to himself other than what he was created in which did consist of continual Obedience to and Communion with his Maker so it is the exercise pleasure and perfection of the Age to have their minds roving abroad and diverting themselves in spending the greatest portion of their time in the variety of invented vanities which is so far from the end of their creation namely a Divine Life that 't is to have the greatest curiosity and care about visible toyes for which they never were created Were the pleasures of the Age true and sollid Adam and Eve were miserable in their Innocency who knew them not but as 't was once their happiness not to know them in any degree so is it theirs that know Christ indeed to be by his eternal Power and quickning Spirit redeem'd and raised to Innocency again which state of Immortality is yet a mystery to those who live and have pleasure in their curious Trim's rich and changeable Apparel nicity of Dress invention and imitation of Fashions costly Attirements mincing Gates wanton Looks Romances Plays Treats Balls Feasts and the whole series of that practice and conversation in request for as these had never been if man had staid at home with his Creator and given the intire exercise of his mind to the noble ends of his creation so certain it is that the use of these vanities are not only a sign that Men and Women are yet ignorant of their true Rest and Pleasure but it greatly obstructs and hinders the retirement of their minds and serious enquiry after those things that are Eternal O that there should be so much noise clutter invention traffique curiosity diligence pains and vast expence of time and estate to please and gratifie poor perishing Mortality and that the Soul the very Image of Divinity it self to whose authority and service the Body but as a Case with all the whole Creation was given to be regulated by it should have so little of their Consideration What! O what more pregnant Instances and evident Tokens can be given That 't is the Body the Senses the Case a little flesh and bone covered with skin the toyes fopperies and very vanities of this mortal Life and perishing world that please that take that gain them on which they dote and never have too much time love nor money to bestow upon them Thus are their minds employ'd and become so vain in their imaginations and dark in their understandings that they not only believe them innocent but perswade themselves they are good Christians all this while and to rebuke them is worse than Heresie thus are they strangers to the hidden Life thus are they diverted from all serious examination of themselves and a little by rote babble with a forc'd zeal of an half hours task of other mens words they have nothing to do with is made sufficient and are no more their states or at least their intention as their works shew than 't was the young man 's in the Gospel that said he would go and did not But alas Why Oh! there are other guests what are they Pharamond Cleopatra Cassandra Clelia a Play a Ball an idle flattering Visit the Park the Gallant the Exchange the Treat in a word the World these Stay these Call these are Importunate these they Attend these are their most familiar Associates thus are their hearts captivated from the Divine and Heavenly Exercise nay from such external Affairs as immediately concern some benefit to themselves or needy Neighbours pleasing themselves with the received Idaea's of those toyes and fopperies into their loose and aiery minds and if not in all things to imitate them through poverty yet as much as may be in some respects and at last to dote upon them be taken with them and willingly suffer their Thoughts to be hurried away by them All which greatly indispose the minds and distract the Souls of People from the Divine Life and Principle of the Holy Jesus but as it hath been often said more especially the younger sort to whom the like divertisments of gaudy Cloaths Romances and Amourous Playes where their Inclinations being presented with what is so very sutable to them they
but that which the mind puts an over-estimate or value upon None can benefit themselves so much by an indifferent thing as not rather to prevent an injury to others by not using that liberty If those things were convenient in themselves which is a step nearer necessity than meer indifference yet when by circumstances they become prejudicial such conveniency it self ought to be put up much more what 's but indifferent should be deny'd People are not to weigh their private satisfactions more than a publick good nor please themselves in too free a use of indifferent things at the cost of being so really prejudicial to the publick as they certainly are whose use of all these vanities becomes exemplary to others and begets an impatiency in their minds to have the like wherefore it is both reasonable and incumbent on all to make only such things necessary as tend to life and godliness and to employ their freedom with most advantage to their Neighbors So that here is a twofold obligation on them the one not to be exemplary in the use of such things which though they may use them yet not without giving too much countenance to the abuse and excessive vanity of their Neighbors The other obligation is That they ought so far to condescend to such Religious People who are offended at these fashions and that kind of conversation as for ever to reject them Now those who notwithstanding what I have urg'd will yet proceed what is it but that they have so involv'd themselves and their affections in them as that it is not less difficult to reform them whom all this while we have determin'd in the greatest excess And that for all their many Protestations against their fondness to such fopperies they in sincerity are no better than People that have lost the measure both of common Prudence and Conscience that neither know what is indifferent nor what not how far they are to respect the good of others how far not and how should they who do so little respect their own For after a serious consideration What vanity pride idleness expence of time and estates have been and yet are How many Persons debauch'd from their first sobriety and Women from their natural sweetness and innocent dispositions to loose aiery wanton and many times more enormous practices How many plentiful estates have been surpriz'd by numerous debts Chastity ensnar'd by accursed lustful Intregues youthful Health overtaken by the hasty seisure of unnatural distempers and their remaining dayes spent upon a Rack of their vices procuring and so made slaves to the sad and unmerciful effects of their own inordinate pleasures in which agony they vow the greatest temperance but no sooner out of it then in their vice again That these things are the case and almost innumerably more I am perswaded no ingenious person of any experience will deny how then upon this serious reflection any that pretend Conscience or the least fear of God Almighty can longer continue in the Garb Livery and Conversation of those whose whole life tends to little else then what I have repeated much less joyn with them in their abominable excess I leave it to the truly Conscientions and the just Principle in themselves to judge No surely This is not to obey the Voice of God who in all Ages did loudly cry to all Come out from whence from the wayes fashions converse and spirit of Babylon who 's that the Mother or that Womb which hath been so fruitful in all these vain foolish wanton superfluous earthly wicked births against whom the Scriptures denounce more dreadful Judgments than any ascribing all the Intemperance of Men and Women to the Cup that spirit of wickedness hath given them to drink whose are the things indifferent if they must be so And for witness hear what the Revelations say in her description How much she hath glorify'd her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her And the Kings of the Earth who have lived deliciously with her shall bewail and lament her And the Merchants of the Earth shall weep over her for no man buyeth their Merchandize any more The Merchandize of Gold and Silver and precious Stones and of Pearls and fine Linnen and Purple and Silk and Scarlet and all manner of Vessels of Ivory and all manner of Vessels of most precious Wood And Cinamon and Odours and Oyntments and Frankincense and Wine and Oyl and fine Flour and Beasts and Slaves and Souls of Men which though I know to have a farther signification then what is litteral yet there is enough to shew the Pomp Plenty Fulness Idleness Ease Wantonness Vanity Lust and Excess of Her and all her Favourites But at the terrible day who will go to her Exchange any more who to her Play 's who shall Traffique about her delicious Inventions Not one for she shall be judg'd no Plea shall excuse or rescue her from the wrath of the Judge for strong is the Lord who will perform it If yet these reasonable Plea's will not prevail though I have something farther to adjoyn however I shall Caution such in the repetition of part of Babylon's miserable doom Mind my Friends more Heavenly things hasten to obey that righteous Principle which would exercise and delight you in that which is Eternal or else with Babylon the Mother of lust and vanity the fruits that your Souls lust after shall depart from you and all things which are dainty and goodly shall depart from you you shall find them no more Lay your treasures therfore up in Heaven where nothing can break through to harm them but where Time shall shortly be swallowed up of incomprehensible Eternity And for your farther perswasion if yet any can remain unsatisfy'd I further argue Reas 11. Next Because the contrary is very much conducing to good namely plain and decent Apparel with a meek shamefac'd and quiet Spirit and that Conversation which doth only express the same in all godly honesty As the Apostle saith Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may administer grace to the Hearers neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting but rather giving of thanks for let no man deceive you with vain words because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the Children of disobedience Wherefore if Men and Women were but thus adorn'd and did they but once demean themselves after this truly Christian manner impudence would soon receive a check lust pride vanity and wantonness a rebuke For with what countenance could they attempt such universal Chastity or encounter such godly Austerity No there would scarcely be left a passage for vanity and pride to look out at all their large windows would be barr'd and almost every cranny stop'd And however impious any persons might be in private for certain they would find
this towards the end of his dayes That notwithstanding he had been so laborious gather'd so many curiosities of Learning in Books and Manuscripts comprehending almost all subjects in the world yet could he rest his Soul on none save the Scriptures and above all that passage lay as most remarkable upon his spirit Titus 2. 11 12 13 14 15. For the grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and glorious Appearing of the great God our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from All iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good works These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority 14. Hugo Grotius than whom these latter Ages think they have not had a man of more profound Policy and universal Learning as well in his Commentaries on the Bible as various other Labours left this remarkable saying behind him which should abate the edge of other mens inordinate desires after what they falsely call Learning namely I WOULD GIVE ALL MY LEARNING AND HONOUR FOR THE PLAIN INTEGRITY AND HARMLESS INNOCENCY OF JEAN URICK who was a Religious poor man that spent eight hours of his time in Prayer eight in Labour and but eight in Meals Sleep and other necessary's And to one that admired his great Industry he returned this by way of complaint Ah! I have consumed my life in laboriously doing nothing And to a third that inquired of his Wisdom and Learning what course to take he solemnly answered BE SERIOUS Such was the sense he had how much a serious life out of that vain-glory of the worlds fruitless learning was of force towards a dying hour and answering yea excelling all other Considerations 15. To whom I joyn Salmusius that famous French Protestant Scholler and the others Contemporary who after his many Volumns of Learning by which he had acquired so much esteem as scarcely to be nam'd without venerable Titles confessed so far to have mistaken true Learning and that in which sollid happiness consists that he exclaim'd thus against himself Oh! I have lost a world of TIME TIME that most precious thing in the world whereof had I but one year more it should be spent in David's Psalms and Paul's Epistles Oh Sirs said he to those about him Mind the World less and God more The fear of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from evil that is Understanding 16. Cardinal Mazarine the great Statesman of his time whose aim was to obtain the Glory and Greatness of the World and to which end all other considerations he made submit was of another mind a little before his death being awakened by the smart lashes of Conscience which represented his Souls condition in so dismal a manner and caus'd such astonishment of mind that with weeping he cry'd out O MY POOR SOUL WHAT WILL BECOME OF THEE WHITHER WILT THOU GO And spoke one day thus to the Queen-Mother of France Madam YOUR FAVOURS HAVE UNDONE ME WERE I TO LIVE AGAIN I WOULD BE A CAPUCHIN RATHER THAN A COURTIER 17. And to conclude these serious Instances I shall make one more which though in order should have come in before yet because one of the most importent and this Nations more peculiarly fit for consideration I shall place it here and namely The dying words of HENRY Prince of Wales eldest Son to King JAMES of whom others say many generous things hear what account he gives of himself at last A Person whom he more then ordinarily esteem'd and that had been his companion at Tennis asking him How he did was answered thus amongst many other sober expressions AH TOM I IN VAIN WISH FOR THAT TIME I LOST WITH THEE AND OTHERS IN VAIN RECREATION So vain was Recreation and so precious was Time upon a dying bed And why wish'd he with others for more time but that it might be otherwise employ'd Thus hath the just Principle and holy Spirit of God throughout all Generations convinced men of their vanity and folly upon their dying beds who before were too much taken up therewith to mind either a dying bed or vast Eternity but when their dayes were almost numbred when mortality hasten'd on them when the revelation of the righteous Judgement was at the door and that all their worldly Recreations and Enjoyments must be parted with and that Eye for ever shut and Flesh turn'd to worms-meat that took delight therein then O then it was the holy Witness had time to plead with Conscience then nothing but a holy strict and severe life was valuable then All the world for a little time who before had given all their time for a little of a vain world But if so short a representation of the inconsistency of the vanities of the world with the Christian life could make so deep an impression Oh! to what a noble stature and large proportion had they been grown in all Pious and Heavenly knowledge and how much greater had their Rewards been if they contentedly had foregone those perishing Entertainments of the World betimes and given the exercise of their minds to the tuition and guidance of that universal Grace and Holy Spirit of God which had so long shined in darkness uncomprehended of it and was at last but just perceiv'd to give a sight of what they had been doing all their dayes I shall wind up the whole with this short Description of the Christans within the first hundred years after Christ as what may further justifie not only my Reasons but the Dying Expressions of these several Persons viz. That as a severe life is the Christian life so that it is incomparably sweeter than all the vain Inventions Fashions and Pleasures of the World 18. The description was originally given by Philo-Judaeus and cited by Eusebius Pamphilius thus That those Christians renounced their substance and sever'd themselves from all the cares of this life and forsaking the Cities they lived solitarily in Fields and Gardens They accounted their company who followed the Country-life of cares and bussle as unprofitable and hurtful unto them as it was likely who then lived thus to the end that with earnest and fervent desire they might imitate them which lead this prophetical and heavenly life In many places this people liveth for it behoveth as well the Grecians as the Barbarians to be partakers of this absolute goodness But in Egypt in every Province they abound and especially about Alexandria From all parts the better sort withdrew themselves into the soil and place of these Worshippers as they were called as a most commodious place adjoyning to the Lake of Mary in a low Vale very fit both for its security and the temperance of the Air. They are further reported to have Meeting-houses where the most part of the day was employed