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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54178	No cross, no crown, or, Several sober reasons against hat-honour, titular-respects, you to a single person, with the apparel and recreations of the times being inconsistant with Scripture, reason, and practice, as well of the best heathens, as the holy men and women of all generations, and consequently fantastick, impertinent and sinfull : with sixty eight testimonies of the most famous persons of both former and latter ages for further confirmation : in defence of the poor despised Quakers, against the practice and objections of their adversaries / by W. Penn ...	Penn, William, 1644-1718.	1669 (1669)	Wing P1327; ESTC R15257	90,375	122

EVIL 2. Ignatius who lived within the first hundred years after Christ left this amongst other things behind him who was torn in pieces of wild Beasts at Rome for his true Faith in Jesus There is nothing better than the peace of a good Conscience Intimating there might be a peace to wicked Consciences that is past feeling any thing to be evil but swallowed up of the pleasures of the World And in his Epistle to the Churches at Ephesus Magnesia Trallis and Rome upon his Martyrdom saith Now do I begin to be a Disciple I weigh neither visible nor invisible things so that I gain Christ 3. Iraenius called a Father saith Such who make large Confessions and speak virtuous words and yet are not conformable to them in their life and conversation are nothing worth 4. Justin Martyr a Christian Philosopher plainly tells us in his relation of his conversion to the Christian Faith That the power of Godliness in a plain simple Christ had that influence and operation on his soul that he could not but betake himself to a serious and strict life and yet before a Cynick And this gave him joy at his Martyrdom having spent his dayes as a serious Teacher and a good Example And Eusebius relates that though he was a follower of Plato's doctrine yet when he saw the Christians piety and courage he concluded no people so temperate less voluptuous and more set on divine things which first induced him to be a Christian 5. Chrysostom another Father so call'd said To sacrifice the whole soul and body to the Lord is the highest service we can pay unto him God promiseth mercy to penitent sinners but he doth not promise them they shall have so much time as to morrow for their repentance 6. Charles the 5th Emperour of Germany King of Spain and Lord of the Nether-lands After twenty three Pitch'dfields six Triumphs four Kingdoms conquer'd and eight Principalities added to his Dominions a greater Instance than whom can scarce be given after all this Pomp Resigned all up to other hands betook himself to his retirement leaving this Testimony behind concerning the life spent in the honours and pleasures of the world and in that little time of his retreat from them all That the sincere study profession and practice of the Christian Religion had in it such joys and sweetness as COURTS were strangers to 7. Sir Philip Sidney a person whose parts courage and virtue were of such reputation aswel beyond the Seas as here at home that had Queen Elizabeth agreed upon the earnest sollicitation of the Polanders he had 't was said been ellected King of that vast Dominion of more than 2600 miles in circumference when he say upon his Death-bed and just departing the world he bad his friends behold in him the end of this worlds desires and enjoyments Reputing what was so much pursued by the Great Ones as poor abject and unworthy of their immortal souls and amongst other things his Arcadia than which though there have been many Newer Romances there is not one more modest and ingenious yet as an effect of his youthful Melancholy Amours that could be profitable unto none but rather impress the like fancies upon others and raise that which with all industry should timely be allay'd and totally extinguished in them he earnestly requested his great friend the Lord Brooks that it might be cast into the flames and never prove so injurious to his Memory which he desired to have continued and preserved on more serious subjects nor those who should spend their precious time in reading of it as to be published to the world although it is translated into most usual languages Such were the serious apprehensions of this dying man and his advice to them he left behind him who certainly then best knew the benefit or dis-service that would redound from the like conversation neither have I observed any Person left upon Record in all our English stories whom all Persons as well as the Historians agreed to merit so great an esteem but more especially for his great Modesty Yet after all we hear his Recantation of the many unnecessary things and his Recommendation of but the one thing necessary to his Friends as what would most rejoyce at last 8. Secretary Walsingham in Queen Elizabeth's time towards the conclusion of his dayes in a Letter to his once fellow Secretary then Chancellor of England called Lord Burliegh writes thus We have lived enough to our Countrey our Fortunes our Soveraign it is high time we begin to live to our selves and to our God Which giving occasion for some Court-humourist to visit and divert him Ah! said he while we laugh all things are serious round about us God is serious when he preserveth us and hath patience towards us Christ is setious when he dieth for us the Holy Ghost is serious when he striveth with us the whole Creation is serious in serving God and us they are serious in Hell and Heaven and shall a man that hath one foot in his grave jest and laugh None can be serious too soon because none can be good too soon away then with all foolish talking and jesting and mind more profitable things 9. One they call Sir John Mason who had been Privy Counsellor to four Princes and spent much time in the preferments and pleasures of the world retired with these regretful sayings After so many years experience Seriousness is the greatest wisdom Temperance the best Physick a good Conscience is the best estate and were I to live again I would change the COURT for a Cloyster my Privy Counsellors bussles for an Hermits retirement and the whole life I lived in the Palace for one hours enjoyment of God in the Chappel ALL THINGS ELSE FORSAKE ME BESIDES MY GOD MY DUTY AND MY PRAYERS 10. One call'd Sir Henry Wotton thought it to be the greatest happiness in this life to be at leisure to be to do good As in his latter end he was wont to say when he reflected on past times though a man esteem'd sober and learned HOW MUCH TIME HAVE I TO REPENT OF AND HOW LITTLE TO DO IT IN 11. The Lord Bacon sometime before his death confessed That to be Religious was to live strictly and severely for if the opinion of another World be false yet the sweetest life in this World is Piety Virtue and Honesty if it be true there be none so wretched and miserable as loose carnal and prophane Persons 12. One Dr. Donne and a great Poet taking his farewel of his Friends on his dying bed left this saying behind him for them to measure their fancies and their actions by I repent of All my life but that part of it I spent in communion with God and doing good 13. Selden the greatest Scholler and Antiquary of these Kingdoms one who had taken a diligent survey of what knowledge was considerable amongst the Jews Heathens and those call'd Christians at last professeth

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

so necessarily depends upon Had these Vitioso's of the times a sence of Heathen-Cato's generosity they rather would deny their carnal appetites than leave such noble enterprises unattempted But that they should eat drink play game and sport away their health estates and above all their irrevocable precious time which should be given to the Lord as an necessary Introduction to a vast Eternity and then which did they but know it no outward sollace can come in competition I say that they should be continually employ'd about these things is to have the Heathens Memorial and their Ashes judge them as well as Christian Precepts and Examples to condemn them And their final doom will prove the more astonishing in that this Vanity and Excess were acted under a dream of being Christians all the while whilst short of Heathens in reality That which remains to the accomplishment of this Discourse is some of those very many Testimonies that might be brought for farther Confirmation of what hath hitherto been said to these particulars The Testimonies of several Great and Pious Personages both Heathens and Christians against the common Attire of the Age. Solon call'd one of the seven Sages a noble Philosopher and Law-giver to the Athenians being ask'd by Croesus King of Lydia Who was the most happy man in the World expecting he should have said he was because none so famous for excessive Riches Answered Tellus who though a poor man yet an honest and good man and content with what he had And after having served the Commonwealth faithfully and seen his Children and their Children virtuously educated died in a good old Age. This much displeased Croesus but he dissembled it Some few dayes after the King being most richly cloathed and magnificently Adorned and seated in his Throne demanded of Solon If he had ever seen any thing more glorious to whom he answered Cocks Peacocks and Pheasants who are much more beautiful in their natural dress These undervaluing expressions of wise Solon displeas'd the luxurious wanton mind of Croesus upon which they parted the one desirous of toyes and vanities the other an instructer and example of true Nobility and Virtue which utterly contemn'd the King's effeminacy's But notwithstanding the Wealth and Pleasure of Croesus gave him but little time to think upon the importance of such remarkable sayings till robb'd of both yet at last he was of another mind for being taken Prisoner by Cyrus the first Great Emperour of the Persian Monarchy and by his Command put on a Pile to be burnt after some pause sighed deeply and cry'd Solon Solon Solon the Emperour hearing bid the Interpreters ask on whom he cal'd On one said he that I wish above all the Wealth and Pleasure of the World might have spoken with all Tyrants Upon which the Emperour being curious to know further of the business he told him of the serious grave religious life and discourses of this Athenian Law-giver which so affected Cyrus that he commanded Croesus to be releas'd and us'd him the remainder of his life for one of his Privy Council And as it was in his time that Tragical Play 's were first invented so was he most severe against them foreseeing the inconveniency's that would attend finding the People affected with that Novelty of Recreations It is reported of him That he went himself to the Play and after it was ended went to Thespis the great Actor and ask'd him If he were not asham'd to tell so many Lyes in the face of so great an Auditory Thespis answered as it is now usual There is no harm nor shame to Act such things in jest Solon striking his Staff hard on the ground reply'd But in a short time we who approve of this kind of jest shall use it in earnest in our common affairs and contracts In fine he absolutely forbad him to teach or act Play 's conceiving them deceitful and unprofitable diverting youth and Tradesmen from more necessary and virtuous employments He affirmed that Family the best who got not unjustly kept not unfaithfully spent not with repentance and that happiness consists in a vertuous and honest Life in being content with a competency of outward things and in using them temperately And to conclude he earnestly enjoyn'd all to fly corporal pleasure for sayes he it certainly brings sorrow but observe an honest life more strictly than an oath meditate on serious things Hippias a Philosopher It is recorded of him That he would have every one provide necessaries for himself and to have been his own Tradesman he was singular in all such Arts and employments that he made the very Buskins he wore The Gymnosophistae were a sect of Philosophers in Epypt that so dispis'd gaudy Apparel and the rest of the Worlds intemperance that they went almost naked living poorly and with great meanness by which they were enabled against all cold and overcome that Lust by innocence which people that are called Christians though covered are overcome withal The Bamburacii were a certain great people that inhabited about the river Tygris in Asia who observing the great influence Gold Silver and precious Jewels had upon their minds agreed to bury all in the Earth to prevent the corruption of their manners they us'd inferior Metals and liv'd with mean and very ordinary accommodation wearing mostly but one very grave and plain Robe to cover nakedness It were well if Christians would mortifie their insatiable appetites after wealth and vanity as did these Heathens Gynaecosmi and Gynaeconomi were two distinct numbers of Persons among the Athenians appointed by the Magistrates to over-look the actions of the Inhabitants the first was to see that they Appareled and behaved themselves gravely especially that Women were of modest behaviour and the other was to be present at their Treats and Festivals to see that there was no excess nor disorderly carriage and in case any were found Criminal they had full power to punish them When alas when shall this temperance be seen amongst the called Christians of the times Cornelia a Noble Romane Matron and Sister to Scipio was esteem'd the most famous and honourable Personage of her time not more for the greatness of her birth than her exceeding temperance And History particularly mentions this as one great instance of her virtue for which she was so much admir'd to wit That she never was accustom'd to wear rich Attire but such Apparel as was very plain and grave rather making her Children whom her Instructions and Example had made virtuous her greatest Ornaments A good pattern for the wanton Dames of the Age. The ancient Heathens had gaudy Apparel change of Fashions and curiosity of Dress in such detestation that they made them a mark of an effeminate mind and wanton disposition and seldom us'd but by Comedians and Curtezans Gregory by some cal'd the Great and esteemed a Father of the Church speaks thus There be some

are of opinion that the wearing of precious sumptuous Apparel is no sin which if it were no fault the Divine Word would never have so punctually express'd nor Historically related how the Rich man that was tormented in Hell was cloathed in Purple and Silk whence we may note that touching the matter or subject of Attire humane curiosity availeth highly The first substance of our Garments was very mean to wit Skins with Wooll whence it is we read God made Adam and his Wife Coats of Skins that is of Skins of dead Beasts Afterwards to see the growing pride and vanity of Men and Women they came to pure Wooll because lighter after that to Flax then to Dung and Ordure of Worms to wit Silk Lastly to Gold and Silver and precious Stones which excess of Apparel highly displeaseth God for instance whereof which the very Pagans themselves observed We reade that the very first among the Romans who ever wore Purple were struck with a Thunder-bolt and so died suddenly for a terror to all succeeding times that none should attempt to live proudly in precious Attire this was the sense of Gregory Naziancen that ancient Christian Writer who wore commonly a poor Coat like to a Frock so did Justin Martyr Jerom Austin c. as their best Robe But above all others Jerom a famous man whom we have had occasion to mention once before wrote thus to a Noble Virgin call'd Demetrias exhorting her that having ended her Devotion she should take in hand Wooll and Weaving after the commendable example of Dorcas that by such changing and variety of works the day might seem less tedious and the attempts of Satan less grievous concluding his Religious Exhortation with this positive sentence sayes he I speak generally No Raiment or Habit whatsoever shall seem precious in Christ's sight but that which thou makest thy self either for thy own particular use or example of other Virgins or to give unto thy Grandmother or Mother No though otherwise thou didst distribute thy Goods to the poor Let but this strictness be observ'd and compared with the Apparel Conversation of the Age. For however Pharisee-like they otherwise Saint him or call him an Holy Father Sure it is they reject his counsel The great Duke of Momerancy Colleague to the Duke of Orleance Brother to the French King Lewis the 13th in the War by them agitated against the Ministry of Cardinal Richlieu then grand Minister of State being taken and convicted at Lyons a little before his beheading looking upon himself who was very richly attired Ah sayes he this becomes not a Servant of the Crucified Jesus What do I with these vanities about me He was poor dispised and naked when he went to the Cross to die for my sins And immediately stript himself of all his finery and put a more grave and modest garment on him A serious reflection at a time when he best knew what was best And for the great intemperance of the Age in Recreations and Pleasures most falsly so called hear what more particularly both Heathens and Christians have left recorded although they were before touch'd upon nor can they well be separated from the other Both being the most natural production of the same Womb of Lust Pride and Vanity unworthy of the Nobility of rational and immortal Souls Chilon another of the wise men of Greece left these Three serious Apothegmes or Pathetical Sayings behind him 1 Whosoever thou art learn to know thy self 2 Be not earnest in thy desires after any visible thing 3 Misery will be the end of medling with many matters Intimating the trouble that attends much Traffique and those debates and suites that necessarily follow such a course of living Bias and Stillpo two great Philosophers the first esteemed one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece and Prince of his Citizens who when his City was taken and every one going Bag and Baggage carried nothing with him and being ask'd Why he helped not to secure something with him Answered That he carried all he had about him Meaning a good Conscience and a virtuous Mind which none could rob him of The latter was of the City Megara who when his Country Wise and Children were all destroy'd by fire being ask'd by Demetrius what loss he had sustained answered Nothing for I only count that to be my own which no body can take from me which is the peace of a good mind Anaxagoras a Noble man but a true Philosopher He had a great Estate and large Patrimony which he surrendred to his Friends and being reproved for his carelessness answered It 's enough for you to care One asked him Why he had no more love for his Country I have said he pointing his finger towards the Heavens When he returned from his Travels and saw his great Possessions he uttered this expression Non ego essem salvus nisi istae periissent If I had not dis-regarded them I had perished meaning That if he had let his mind gadd after such fading objects and been exercised with those perishing concerns he had never known the sweetness of a divine life but had been ignorant of that for which his life was given him and consequently had dy'd as miserable as the dispisers of a Heavenly life and lovers of this worlds pleasures are wont to do Themistoeles a great Athenian General being told by Symachus That he would teach him the Art of Memory Gravely answered He had rather learn the Art of Forgetfulness adding He could remember enough but many things he could not forget which were necessary to be forgotten as the Honours Glory's Pleasures and Conquests he had spent his dayes in too apt to transport to vain glory Socrates the most divine and learned Philosopher of his time and whom 't is feign'd that Apollo cal'd the Godd of Wisdom gave this Character That he was the wisest man on Earth was a man of severe life and instructed People gratis in just grave and virtuous manners for which being envied by the vain Comical wit of the Age Aristophanes as spoyling their Trade of Playes and exercising the generality of the People with more noble and virtuous things was represented in a Play by Aristophanes in which he rendred Socrates so ridiculous that the Vulgar would rather part with Socrates in earnest than Socrates in jest which made way for their impeaching him as an enemy to their Godds for which they put him to death But in a short space his 80 Judges the whole People so deeply resented his absence that they slew many of his Accusers some hang'd themselves none would trade with them nor answer them a question They erected several Statues to his praise they forbid his Name to be mentioned that they might forget their injustice They call'd home his banished Friends and Schollers And by the most wise and learned men of that Age it is observed That famous City was