thou shalt be a terrour and shall be no more Thus hath God declar'd his displeasure against the Curiosity and vain Customs of this wanton World Yet further the Prophet Zephaniah goes for thus he speaks And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord's Sacrifice That I will punish the Princes and the King's Children and all such as are cloath'd with strange Apparel Of how evil Consequence was it in those times for the greatest men to give themselves the liberty of following the vain Customs of other Nations or offering to change the usual End of Cloaths or Apparel to gratifie foolish Curiosity who went to place a Satisfaction in that which did not deserve their Care and to make a meer Necessity matter of Pleasure that rather should put in mind of shame This did the Lord Jesus Christ expresly charge his Disciples not to be careful about intimating that such as were could not be his Disciples for sayes he Take no care what you should eat nor what you should drink neither wherewithal shall you be clothed for after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things but seek yee first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you Under which of Eating and Drinking and Apparel he comprehends all External matters whatsoever and so much appears as well because that they are opposed to the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness which are invisible and Heavenly things as that those very matters he injoyns them not to be careful about are the most necessary and the most innocent if then in such cases the minds of his Disciples are not to be solicitous much less in foolish superfluous idle inventions to gratifie the carnal appetites and minds of men so certain it is that those who live therein are none of his followers but the Gentiles and as he elsewhere sayes the Nations of the World who know not God If now then the distinguishing meant between the Disciples of Jesus and those of the World is That one minds the things of Heaven and God's Kingdom that stands in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost being not careful of External matters even the most Innocent and Necessary And that the others mind Eating Drinking Apparel and the Affairs of the World with the Lusts Pleasures Profits Honours and the like be you intreated for your Souls sake O Inhabitants of England to be serious to reflect a while upon your selves what care and cost are you at of time and money about foolish nay vicious things so far are you degenerated from the primitive Christian life What buying and selling what dealing and chaffering what writing and posting what toyl and labour what noise hurry bustle and confusion what study what little conspiracys and over-reachings what eating drinking vanity of Apparel most ridiculous Recreations in short what rising early going to bed late expence of precious time is there about things that perish View the Streets Shops Exchanges Playes Parks Taverns Ale-houses c. and is not the World this fading World writ upon every face Say not within your selves How otherwise should men live and the World subsist the common though impertinent objection there is enough for all let some content themselves with less a few things plain and decent serve to a Christian life 'T is Lust Pride Avarice that thrust men upon such folly had God's Kingdom the exercise of their minds these perishing entertainments should have but little of their time or thoughts This Self-denying Doctrine was confirm'd and enforc'd by the Apostles in their Example as we have already shewn and in their Precepts too as we shall yet evince in those two most remarkable passages of Paul and Peter where they not only tell us what should be done but also interpret what should be deny'd and avoided In like manner I will that Women Adorn themselves in modest Apparel what 's that with shamefastness and sobriety not with broidered Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Array then these are immodest but which becometh Women professing godliness with good works absolutely implying that those who Attire themselves with Gold Silver broidered Hair Pearls costly Array or the like cannot be the Women professing godliness making those very things to be contrary to modesty and what 's good and consequently that they are evil and unbecoming Women professing Godliness To which Peter joyns another Precept after the like sort viz. Whose Adorning let it not be that outward Adorning of plaiting the Hair and of wearing of Gold or of putting on Apparel what then but let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great price and as an inducement he adds For after this manner in the old time the Holy Women who so trusted in God Adorned themselves which doth not only intimate that both Holy Women were so Adorned and that it behoves such as would be Holy and trust in the Holy God to be so Adorned but also that they who used those forbidden Ornaments were the Women and People in all Ages that for all their talk were not Holy nor did trust in God They so far are such from trusting in God that the Apostle Paul expresly sayes That they who live in pleasures are dead to God whilst they live And sayes James They that live want only on Earth slay the Just They farther enjoyn'd That Christians should have their Conversation in Heaven and their minds fixed on things above walk honestly as in the day not in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambring and Wantonness not in Envy and Strife let not Fornication Uncleanness or Covetousness be once named amongst you neither Filthiness nor foolish talking or jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks And let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister Grace unto the Hearers But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the desire thereof And grieve not the Holy Spirit intimating such Conversation doth but be ye followers of God as dear Children walk circumspectly not as Fools but as Wise redeeming the time because the dayes are evil Measure your selves hereby O you Inhabitants of the Land who think your selves wrong'd if not accounted Christians see what proportion your Life and Spirit bear with these most Holy and Self-denying Precepts and Examples Well my Friends my Soul mourns for you I have been with you and among you your Life and Pastime are not strangers to my Observation and with Compassion yea unexpressible pity I bewail your folly O that you would be wise O that the just Principle in your selves were heard O that Eternity had time to
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
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
Christian life all things might be at a cheaper rate and men might live for little If the Landlords had less lust to satisfie the Tennants might have less Rent to pay and turn from poor to rich whereby they might be able to find more honest and domestique employments for their Children than turning shifters and living by their Wits which is but a better word for their sins And if the Report of the more intelligent Husbandry be credible Lands are generally improveable ten in twenty and were there more hands about more lawful and serviceable Manufactures they would be cheaper and greater vent might be made by which a benefit should redound to the World in general nay the burden lyes the heavier upon the laborious Countrey that so many hands and shoulders as the lust Caterers of the Cities should be wanting If men never think themselves rich enough they may never miss of trouble and employment but those who can take the primitive state and God's Creation for their Model may learn with a little to be contented as knowing that desires after Wealth do not only prevent or destroy the true Faith but that when got encrease trouble also It is no evil to repent of evil but that can never be in maintaining what they should repent of It is a bad Argument to avoid temperance or justifie the contrary because otherwise the Actors and Inventers of it would want a Livelihood since to feed them is to nurse the Cause instead of starving it let such of those Vanity-hucksters as have got sufficient be contented to retreat and spend it more honestly than they got it And such as really are poor be rather helpt by charity to better Callings which were more prudent nay Christian than to buy foolish toyes and fopperies Publick Work-houses would be effectual Remedies to all these lazy distempers with more Profit and a better Conscience therefore it is we cannot we dare not square our Conversation by the World's no but by our exceeding plainness to testifie against such extravagant vanity and by our grave and steady Life to manifest our dislike on God's behalf to such intemperance and wanton curiosity yea to deny our selves what otherwise perhaps we lawfully could use with true indifferency because of that great abuse amongst the generality I know that some are ready farther to object Object 4. Hath God given us these Enjoyments on purpose to damn us if we use them Answ But to such miserable poor silly souls who would rather charge the most High and Holy God with the invention and creation of their dirty Vanities then want a Plea to justifie their own practice not knowing how for shame or fear or love to throw them off I Answer That what God made was good and what the blessed Lord Jesus Christ enjoyn'd or gave us in his most Heavenly Example is to be observed believed and indispensably to be obeyed but in the whole Catalogue the Scriptures give of both I never found the Attires Recreations and way of Living so much in request with the called Christians of these times No certainly God created man an holy wise sober grave and reasonable Creature fit to Govern the World and himself to whom only a Divinity an Eternal God-head became the fit object both of his Reason and his Pleasure all External Enjoyments administring no farther satisfaction then as us'd for necessity and meer convenience with this proviso too That the Almighty was to be seen and sensibly enjoy'd and reverenc'd in every one but how very wide the Christians of these times are from this Primitive Institution is not difficult to determine although they make such loud pretentions to that most Holy Jesus who not only gave the World a certain Evidence of a happy Restoration in his own Example but promised assistance to all that would follow him and therefore hath so severely enjoyn'd no less on all as they would be everlastingly saved but whether the minds of men and women are not as profoundly involv'd in all excess and vanity as those who know him not any farther than by hear-say and whether they being thus banished the Presence of the Lord by their greedy seeking the things that are below and thereby having lost the taste of that divine Pleasure they have not feigned to themselves an imaginary pleasure to smother Conscience and pass their time without that anguish and trouble which are the consequences of sin that so they might be at ease and security let the truly sober yea their own Consciences declare Adam's temptation is represented by an Apple thereby intimating the great influence external objects as they exceed in beauty carry with them upon our senses so that unless the mind keep upon its constant watch so prevalent and in a manner inchanting are visible things as sometimes they are represented that hard 't will be for one to escape being ensnar'd and he shall need be only sometimes entrap'd to cast so thick a vail of darkness over the mind that not only it shall with pleasure continue in its fetters to lust and vanity but proudly censure such as refuse Conformity to the same and strongly plead for them as serviceable and convenient that strange passion do perishing objects raise in those minds where way is made and entertainments given to them But Christ Jesus is manifested in us and hath given unto us an understanding of him that is true and unto All such a proportion of his good Spirit as might suffice would they obey it to redeem their minds from that captivity they have been in to lusts and vanities and intirely ransom them from the dominion of all visible objects and whatsoever may gratifie the desire of the Eye the Flesh and the proud Life that they might be regenerated in their minds changed in their affections and have their whole hearts set on things that are above where moth nor rust can never pass nor enter to harm or destroy But 't is a manifest sign of what mould and make those persons are who practise and plead for such Egiptian shameful rags It s more to be feared they either never knew or have forgot the humble plain meek holy Self-denying and exemplary Life which the eternal Spirit sanctifies all obedient hearts unto yea it 's indubitable that either such alwayes have been ignorant or else that they have lost sight of that good Land that heavenly Country and blessed inheritance they once have had some glimmering prospect of O that they would but with-draw a while sit down weigh and consider with themselves where they are and whose work and will they are doing that they would once believe the Devil hath not a stratagem more pernitious to their immortal Souls than this of exercising their minds in the foolish fashions and wanton recreations of the times great and gross Impieties beget a detestation in the opinion of sober education common temperance and reputation and
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
no Merchants abroad to buy it no fondlings to Indulge and embrace it all respect to Persons for their Apparel and empty Titles would cease which is a notorious evil and contrary to the very express letter and command of the Scriptures though common Experience teacheth us what place they have with the generality to Cap to Sir to Worship to Honour to Madam and to Lady them in almost all places of the Land whereby a great step might be made towards primitive Innocency and that plain-hearted down-right and harmless Life might be restored of not much careing about what we should eat drink or put on which however Christ called the practice of them that knew not God is the very Spirit of this Age under all its babble about Religion But with such moderate care as might provide what should be necessary and convenient for themselves and families be intirely devoted to the concernments of a Coelestial Kingdom And diligently minding their daily growth and improvement in the Righteousness of it as what only makes this life truly sollidly comfortable and at their dying moments can fairly intitle them to that blessed Salutation of Well done my good and faithful Servants enter into the endless Joyes and Eternal heavenly Rewards of your Lord who is Jesus who is God over All blest and renown'd for ever Reas 12. This would be a ready means and good expedient towards the enrichment of the land for by how much the less there were of that great Superfluity in all these vanities by so much the more should the Commodities of our own Country be in repute the great vent of forreign Goods being that which indebts the Land to forreigners whereas otherwise they would become debtors to us for our Native Manufactures By this means such Persons who by their Excess have deeply engag'd their Estates may in a short space be enabled to clear them from those incumbrances which otherwise like Moths soon eat out very plentiful Revenues nor doth it less than greatly advantage Persons of mean subsistance especially Servants to improve their small stocks by their diligent attendance on their business And not expending their dear-earnings and hard got wages upon superfluous Apparel foolish May-games Play 's Dancing-shewes Taverns Alehouses and the like folly and intemperance of which this Land is more infested and by which it 's rendred more ridiculous than any Kingdom in the World Yea it hath been the very Refuge of almost all the cheating Mountebanks savage Morrice-dancers Pick-pocket and prophane Players and Stagers of Neighbouring Countrys to the ruine of Religion the shame of Government and the great idleness expence and debauchery of the People for which the Spirit of the Lord is grieved and the Judgments of the Almighty are at the door and the Sentence ready to be pronounc'd Let him that is injust be injust still Wherefore it is that we cannot but loudly call upon the generality of the times and testifie both by our Life and Doctrine against the like vanities and abuses if possibly any may be weaned from their folly and chuse the good-old-way of Temperance Wisdom Gravity and Heavenly Conversation the only way to inherit the blessings of Peace and Plenty here and Eternal Happiness hereafter Reas 13. Lastly Supposing we had none of these foregoing and important Reasons to justifie our selves and justly to reprove the practice of the Land in these particulars however let it be sufficient for us to say That when People have first learned to fear and obey their Creator to pay their numerous Debts to redeem their Mortgages to clear their Estates of all Incumbrances to alleviate and abate their oppressed Tennants but above all outward regard when the pale faces are more commiserated the grip'd bellies reliev'd and naked backs cloath'd when the famish'd Poor the distressed Widdow and helpless Orphant God's Works and your fellow Creatures are provided for then I say if then it will be early enough for you to plead the Indifferency of your pleasures But that the sweat and tedious labour of the Husband-man be it early or late cold or hot wet or dry should be converted into the pleasure ease and pastime of a small number of men that the Cart the Plow the Thrash should be in that continual severity laid upon nineteen parts of the Land to feed the inordinate lusts and delicious appetites of the twentieth is so far from the appointment of the Great Governor of the World and God of the Spirits of all men that to imagine such horrible injustice as the effect of his determinations and not the intemperance of men were wretched and blasphemous As on the other side it would be to deserve no pity no help no relief from God Almighty to continue that expence in vanity and pleasure whilst the other objects great necessities go unanswer'd especially since God hath made the sons of men but stewards to each others exigency's and relief yea so strict is it enjoyn'd that on the omission of these things we find that dreadful sentence partly to be grounded of Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire c. As on the contrary to visit the sick see the imprisoned relieve the needy c. are such excellent properties in Christ's account that thereupon it is he will pronounce such blessed saying Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for ye c. So that the Great are not with the Leviathan in the deep to prey upon the small much less to make a sport of the lives and labours of the lesser ones to gratifie their inordinate senses Wherefore this we offer and address to the serious Consideration as well of Magistrates as others That if the Money which is expended in every Parish there being near ten thousand in the Land in those unnecessary vain nay sinful fashions and entertainments as Laces Jewels Embroydery's Ribbonds Presents Play 's Treats Balls Taverns unnecessary Provisions and Attendants of Servants Horses Coaches gaudy Furnitures with much more fruitless and excessive matters were collected into a publick Stock which would indubitably amount to several hundred thousand pounds a year There might be reparations to the broaken Tennant Work-houses erected where the able might at easie labour procure a plentiful subsistance and the unable and aged might have such an Annuity as would free the Land from Beggars the cry of the Widdow and her Orphants would cease and charitable reliefs might easily be afforded towards the redemption of poor Slaves or the refreshment of such distressed Protestants as labour under the miseries of Persecution in other Countries Nay the Exchequer 's needs on just emergency's might be supplied All which would be a most pleasant Sacrifice to the just and merciful God a noble Example of Gravity and Temperance to forreign States and of an unspeakable benefit to ourselves at home Alas Why should men need perswasions to what their own felicity
which attend this and the other Life for such universal Benefits and virtuous Examples The second conclusion is That my Reason can be displeasing nor the banishing these vanities from their doting minds ungrateful to none but such as know not what it is to walk with God to prepare for an eternal Mansion to have the mind exercised on Heavenly and good things to follow the examples of the Holy Men and Women of former happy Ages that know not Christ's Doctrine Life Death Resurrection but only have their minds fastned to the flesh and by the objects of it are allured deceived and miserably ruined and that lastly despise Heaven and the Joyes that are not seen though Eternal for a few perishing trifles that they do see though they are determin'd to pass away How these are baptized with Christ into his Holy Life cruel Sufferings shameful Death and raised with him to Immortal Desires Heavenly Meditations a Divine new Life that should be daily not babling formal words but growing in the knowledge of Heavenly Mysteries and all Holiness even unto the measure of the stature of Jesus Christ the great Example of all How I say these resemble such most necessary Christian qualifications and what share they have therein let the just Principle in their own Consciences if not quite smothered declare Reas 6. Next Such Attires and Pastimes do not only shew the exceeding worldliness of Peoples inclinations and their very great ignorance of the Divine Joyes but by imitating these fashions and frequenting these places and diversions not only much good is omitted but a certain door is opened for much evil to be committed as first Precious time that were worth a world in a dying bed is lost Money that might be employ'd for some general good vainly expended Pleasure is taken in meer shame Lusts are gratify'd the Minds of People alienated from Heavenly things and exercis'd about meer folly Pride taken in cloaths first given to cover nakedness whereby the Creature is neglected and the Noble Creation of God disregarded and men become acceptable by their Trims and the A-la-mode-ness of their Dress and Apparel from whence respect to Persons so naturally does arise that to deny it is to affirm the Sun shines not at noon day nothing being more notorious than the Cringing Scraping Sirring and Madoming of Persons according to the gaudiness of their Attire which is most detestable to God and so absolutely forbidden in the Scriptures that to do it is to incur the breach of the whole Law and consequently the punishment thereof Next What great holes do the like practices make in men's Estates how are their vocations neglected young Women deluded the Marriage-bed invaded Contentions and Family Animosities begotten parting 's of Man and Wife dis-inheriting of Children dismissing of Servants On the other hand Servants made slaves Children disregarded Wives despised and shamefully abused through the intemperance of their Husbands which either puts them upon the same extravigance or laying such cruel injustice to heart pine away all their dayes in grief and misery But above all those wretched Inventions the Play-houses like so many hellish Seminaries are the most perniciously conducing to these sad and miserable ends where little beside frothy wanton if not directly obscene and profane humours are represented which are of notorious ill consequence in the minds of most especially the youth that frequent them Next idle deboyst and impiously unclean Stagers are encourag'd and maintain'd then which scarcely a greater abomination can be thought on of that rank of Impieties as will anon particularly be shown and that nothing but the great pleasure People take therein could blind their eyes from seeing And lastly the grand indisposition of mind to solid serious and heavenly employments by the almost continual as well as seemingly pleasant rumination of those various adventures they had lately been entertain'd with which in the more youthful can never hit amiss to enflame and animate their boyling and aiery Constitutions and in the rest of the common Recreations of Balls Masques Treats Cards Dice Check c. there are the like opportunities to promote the like evils And yet farther too how many disorders quarrels Animosities nay Murder it self as well as expence of Estates and precious time have been the immediate consequences of the like Recreations and Practices In short These were the wayes of the Gentiles that knew not God but never the practice of them that feared him nay the more Noble amongst the Heathens themselves namely Anaxagoras Socrates Plato Antisthines Aristides Cato Tully Epictetus Seneca c. have left their disgust to the like vanities upon Record as odious and destructive not only of the honour of the Immortal God but of all good Order and Government as leading into looseness idleness ignorance and effeminacy the grand Cankers and bane of all States and Empires But such is the Latudinarian impudence of this Age that they Canonize themselves for Saints if not guilty of every Newgatefilth and kennel-impiety and so the pretended innocency of these things steals away their minds into the use of them and their great delight in them nay it gives them confidence to plead for them and by no means will they think the contrary but why because it is a liberty that feeds the flesh and gratifies the lustful eye and pallate of poor Mortality wherefore they think it a laudable condition to be in equality to the Beast that eats and drinks but what his nature doth require although the number 's very small of such so very exorbitant are men and women in this present Age for either they do believe their Actions depend upon their own will so as that they may do what they please without accounting for it or else at best that not to be stain'd with the vilest wickedness is matter of great boasting and indeed it is so in a time when nothing is too wicked to be done But certainly it is a sign of great and universal Impiety in a Land when not to be guilty of sins the very Heathen loath is to be virtuous yes and Christian too that to no small degree of Reputation Nay but is it not to be greatly blinded that those we call Infidels should detest those practices as infamous which People that call themselves Christians cannot or will not see to be such but guild them over with the fair Titles of Ornament Decency Recreation and the like Well my Friends if there were no God no Heaven no Hell no holy Examples no Jesus Christ in Cross Doct ine Death and Resurrection to be conform'd unto yet would Charity to the Poor Help to the Needy Peace amongst Neighbours Visits to the Sick Care of the Widdow and Fatherless with the rest of those Temporal good Offices already repeated be a nobler Employment and much more necessary as well as worthy of your diligence and pains Nor indeed is it to be conceived that the way
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