CHAP. I. Of the occasion of this short Treatise.

THE LORD (as Hee te­stifieth by His Prophet) hath sett His Ser­vants, as watch­men vpon the head of the watch-tower, Ezek. 3 [...].7. to heare the word at His Mouth, and to warne His People [Page 2] from Him. And if they speake not, to warne the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquitie, but his blood will the Lord requyre at their hands. Therefore (said the Lord to IE­REMIE) Speake vnto this people all that I command thee, Ier. 15.10. and bee not dis­mayde at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. And to ISAI, Crye aloude, Isai 58.1. and spare not; lift vp thy voyce as a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Iacob their sinnes.

The like necessitie of obedience and straytnesse of injunction lying in lyke-manner vpon vs, who are the LORD'S Rememberancers in the Citie of ABERDENE, moveth vs (as we are commanded also) Not to holde our peace, Isai 62.6. not keepe silence: but as wee would avoyd that Woe which is denounced agayns [...] them who doethe worke of the LORD negligentlie, and eschew that dreadful punishment of vnfaithfull servants, a [...] we would not lykwyse betray the soules of men by our fraudful silence, and draw the guilt of their blood vpon our owne heads; knowing therefore the weight of [Page 3] our Charge, the terror of the LORD, and straytnesse of our account; and seeing men wilfullie agaynst cleare light, walke in a bolde way of wicked trans­gression, and an open prophanation of the LORD'S day, by Salmond-fishing thereon, in the time of divine Service; we are inforced, and by the conscience of our Calling,Ier. 20.8. constrained to crye out with IEREMIE, vpon violence & spoyle; even the violent spoyling of the Lord of the Day of His solemne & publicke wor­ship, altho the word of the Lord should bee vnto vs, as it was to him, a reproach, and in derision daylie.

For true it is, that tho wee haue pre­vailed with some who haue promised to forbeare this prophanation, yet of others hitherto wee haue had the lyke cause to crye our with ISAI, Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arme of the LORD revealed? And to re­grate that sundrie come vnto vs,Ezek. 33.31. (as in EZEKIELS time they did to him) and sit before vs, as GODS people, and heare our words, but they will not doe them, for their heart goeth after their [Page 4] covetousnesse. Ier. 44.16 It is true lykewyse, that others are so bolde, as to say plainlie in this with those rebellious IEWES which dwelt in AEGYPT and PATHROS, as they answered IEREMIE, saying, As for the word that thou hast spoken to vs in the Name of the LORD, wee will not hearken to thee: and lyke the people in AMOS time,Amos 5.10. that they hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhorre him that speaketh vprightlie. Yet this shalbe our comfort, that tho wee plow vpon the rocke, and the bellowes bee burnt, the lead consumed in the fire, and the founder haue melted in vaine; notwithstanding, Ezek. 2.5. our worke shall bee with our GOD. And they whether they will heare, or whether they will for­beare, yet shall they know, that there hath beene Prophets amongst them; and wee shall haue this for our joy, that wee may say with the Apostle, and take men and Angels to record,Act. 24.26. that we are free from the blood of all men.

And which thing the more amply also to witnes to the world, and for evidenc [...] to future posteritie, as by voyce we hau [...] [Page 5] frequentlie cryed out agaynst the hay­nousnesse of this bold iniquitie; so now by writ I haue intended to cleare the equitie of our Challenge, detect the greatnesse of this sinne, fore-warne faith­fullie of the danger, enforce obedience on the conscience, vse all meanes of reclay­ming, and approue our selues to the con­science of all men, but especiallie to our owne, and to Him who is greater than the conscience, that wee may haue joy in the day of our account.

CHAP. II. Of the state of the Question; and first, That the LORDS publick worship is Morall, oblieging all men; and, That a certayne day hath beene ob­served holy for the same in all Ages.

FIrst, then, for stating the Question aright, it is to bee observed, that wee vrge not vpon anie such a strict observation of the Lords Day, as the rigid tenets of some would exact, nor as [Page 6] was the observation formerlie of the Iewish Sabboth,Exod. 35.3.16.27. whereon they might not kindle fire throughout their Genera­tions,Luke 23.56. neyther bake nor seethe, nor burie or imbalme their dead: but onelie thus farre wee affirme, (according to the ge­nerall equitie of Gods Commandement, Apostolicall observetion, practise of the Church in all Ages, and the vnanimious consent of all judicious Divines) that all servile labour, intended meerlie for Gayne, whereby Gods People are hin­dered, and with-drawne from His pub­licke worship, & such religious exercises, which ought to bee performed by them vpon the Lords Day, for the spirituall edification and salvation of their soules, is altogether vnlawfull, and damnable. And whosoever inforceth & imployeth the irservantes so to transgresse, they de­spyse God, contemne His Church, rob Christ of His honour, poore soules of in­struction, the word of attendance, the Ministerie of reverence, giue scandall and offence, and make themselues guiltie of the greatest blood-guiltinesse that can bee, which is the blood of soules; so that as the Apostle speaketh of some, that their glorie, was their shame: so I [Page 7] may say justlie of these, that their Gayne, is their detriment.

Now, to proue the trueth of our for­mer Assertion, and to remoue all weake shifts that might bee pretended for help­lesse evasion, these ensuing Positions are to bee considered.

First, by the consent of all, this is a maxime in Religion, that the publick worship of GOD, is a thing Morall, & eternae veritatis, perpetuallie hitherto observed, and to bee observed to the worlds ende: so that whosoever would denye this, were to proclayme himselfe a prophane Athest, vnworthie of the name or societie of Christians; as also an over-thrower of the publick Ministrie & orders of the Church, which for the edi­fication of His bodie Christ hath ap­poynted, and an enemie to that solemne homage, which is the Lords due in the assemblie of His Saincts.

Next, this beeing granted, it will fol­low, then, that a certaine day, or set time, should be ordinarilie observed, whereon the exercises of the said publick worship ought to bee performed; and therefore the verie law of nature requyreth the sanctification of times no lesse than of [Page 8] persons and places. For which cause, as of the rest, so also of times the Lord hath ever exacted some part, by way of per­petuall homage: therefore also sayeth AQUINAS,Aquinas in [...]cunda se­ūdae quast. 21. art. 4. that as there is a naturall inclination in man to depute a time for everie necessarie thing, as meat and sleepe, or the lyke which concerneth his bodie; even so, seeing hee hath a soule also, naturall reason would dyte, that hee should also depute a time for the refreshment of his soule. And there­fore the deputing a time for attending divyne Worship, and holie exercises on­lie, falleth vnder the Precept of the Mo­rall Law.

In lyke manner, (sayth AUREOLUS) it is the law of nature, Aureolus, in 3. Dist. 37. artic. that sometyme wee should rest from servile worke, that we may serue GOD; and this is evident heereby, because I am as much ob­liedged to GOD, as to my selfe: but the law of nature and reason also dytes, that I should take a certaine time to procure my owne welfare, and those things that are necessarie for mee. Therefore I ought also take a time to attend GODS [Page 9] Worship, and to remember His bene­fites which Hee hath bestowed on mee.

Now, as for the proportion of this tyme which should bee so bestowed, none (I thinke) can doubt, but that proportion is fittest that can bee imagi­ned, which the Lord made choyse of for His owne people; to wit, the seaventh day. And nature informed by God, can not but acknowledge His goodnesse and wisedome in this His choyse and ap­poyntment, that Hee hath so tempered it, that neyther the long space betweene, should suffer vs to forget our duetie to Him, nor the too quicke returne thereof should hinder vs in our provyding the necessities of Nature for our selues. Therefore sayeth learned HOOKER, that wee are bound to to account the sanctification of one day in the seaven, Hooker. Ec­cles. Pol. P. 379. a duetie which GODS immutable law doeth exact for ever. And this wee see to haue beene practised, before the Law, vnder the Law, and vnder the Gospell.

First, before the Law was givē on Sinai, and before the seaventh day was indicted by way of the fourth Precept of the first Table, as the Lords Sabbath, in memorie [Page 10] of the Creation, wee find that the same day was observed, as a day of holie rest vnto the LORD (EXOD. 16.22.26.) while the people were in the Wildernesse of SIN, which is between ELIM and SI­NAI; & so consequently before they came to SINAI, where the Law was given, in that, they did gather vpon the sixt day, (by the LORDS command) twyse as much MANNA, as they did vpon anie former day; that so they might rest vpon the seaventh, as a Sabbtah consecrate to the LORD, who also did rest Himselfe from the worke of Creation that day; & so from the beginning did sanctifie and halow it. Therfore sayth Saynct CHRY­SOSTOME,Chrysost. in Gen. 2.3. vpon these wordes in GENE­SIS, GOD blessed the seaventh day, and halowed it. From the beginning God intimateth vnto vs this doctrine, (sayeth hee) instructing vs to separate and lay asyde one whole day to Him­selfe, in the compasse of everie weeke, and to destinate it for spirituall and holie exercises.

Secondlie, vnder the Law, that the sea­venth day after the creation was appoin­ted to bee the Lord's Sabbath, none can [Page 11] deny,Deut. 5.14 who knoweth the ten Precepts of the morall Law,Levit. 23.3 which the LORD or­dayned straytlie to bee observed by all persons: First, Exod. 34.21. by a cessation from all ser­vile work whatsoever, tho in Seed-time and Harvest; to obviate thereby (as seemeth) a pretended necessitie at some­tymes, importing great prejudice, or dan­ger, if they laboured not vpon the Sab­bath, as in Harvest especiallie, because of an irrecoverable season. Secondlie, the Lord appoynted it to bee halowed,Aug. de temp. serm. 251. Athanas. in Math. 11.27. by a religious application of themselues to the works of His publicke worship: and for the more peremptorie observation whereof, Hee prefixed a Note of speciall rememberance, (beyonde all the rest) fore-seeing as it were, that some irreli­gious persons would eyther more care­leslie neglect, or audaciouslie breake this Commandement.

Neyther can any but most clearlie see, a no lesse necessarie duetie, incumbent vpon Christians, to obserue a seaventh day holie to the Lord, than was on the IEWES of olde, of whom the LORD re­quyreth, 1. No lesse proportion of ser­vice and thankfulnesse, for a farre greater benefite, than that of the Creation: 2. In [Page 12] respect of the Christian Church, which requyreth no lesse proportion of order and comelinesse: 3. In regard of our soules, which neede no lesse proportion of tyme, and meanes to bee instructed and sanctified: and 4, In respect of the bodies of servants and cattell, (which beeing inferiour in strength to those of former ages) neede no lesse proportion of rest and refreshment.

Therefore, vnder the Gospell, from the verie Apostles dayes hitherto (accor­ding to VINCENTIUS rule of CATHO­LICISME, semper, vbi (que) & ab omnibus) the whole Christian Church everie where, and ever hitherto, hath keeped, as a Ca­tholicke observation, a seaventh day ho­lie to the LORD; to wit, the day of the Lords Resurrection, which was the first day of the IEWISH weeke: that as the Sabbath vnder the Law, was a note of difference betweene the IEWES and the GENTILES; so the Lords day vnder the Gospell, should bee a note of difference betweene Christians, who belieue the Resurrection of Christ, and incredulou [...] IEWES, who denye the same. And tha [...] this observation of the Lords day, fo [...] the exercise of His publick worship, was [Page 13] Apostolicall, and Christianly Catholicke, without controversie, in all Ages, none (I hope) is so bold as once to denye. So that now (as AUGUSTINE sayeth) Hoc quin ita faciendum sit disputare, Aug. Epist. 118. ad Ia­nnar. insolentissimae insaniae est: that is, To dispute now whe­ther this were to bee observed or no, it were nothing else but most insolent madnesse.

CHAP. III. The manie reason's, first, taken from Christs honouring the LORDS day, why all true Christians haue ever, and still should honour the same.

THE first and mayne reason, then, why our morall duetie, com­manded in the fourth Precept, doeth now chiefelie appertayne to the LORDS Day, and consequentlie why all Christians haue ever, and still should, obserue the [Page 14] Lords Day, is, Because our Saviour, the Lord Iesus, rose from death to lyfe that day; and so, victoriouslie triumphed over His and our enemies: by vertue of which His Resurrection, wee are raised spiri­tuallie from sinne, to grace heere, and shall be raised corporally from the graue, to glorie heereafter. Therefore said IG­NATIUS, Bishop of ANTIOCH, who li­ved in Sainct IOHNS time,Ignat. ad Magnesian. epist. 3. Let every one who loveth CHRIST, keepe holie the LORD'S Day, renowned by His Re­surrection, which is the Queene of dayes wherein Death was over-come, and Lyfe sprang vp in Christ againe. And agayne (sayth AUGUSTINE) Domini resuscitatio promisit nobis aeternum diem, Aug. de verb. Aposto­li, serm. 15. & consecravit nobis Dominicum diem: that is, The LORDS rysing from dead, hath promised vnto vs an eternall Day of rest, and hath consecrated vnto vs the LORDS Day. Chrysost. in Psal. 118. & serm. 5. de resurr. See also Aug. l. 22. de civit. Dei cap. 30. Qui propterea quod Dominus in eo ad vitam a morte redierit, Do­minicus appellatur (sayth CHRYSOSTOME:) that is, Which for this cause is called the LORDS Day, because on it the LORD Himselfe returned from death [Page 15] to lyfe againe. So that as the Lords owne resting the seaventh day which the IEWES kept,Athanasius in Matth. 11.27. recommended their Sab­bath to bee kept by them; so the Lords owne rysing from death this seaventh day which Christians obserue,Iustin. Mar­tyr. Apol. 2. recom­mends justlie the Lords Day to bee kept by vs:Sozom. l. 1. cap. 8. and whosoever wilfullie propha­neth the same, (as our Salmond-fishers doe in tyme of Divyne Service) prefer­ring Gaine to Godlinesse, they show that they neyther loue Christ (as Ignatius sayeth) nor celebrate, as they ought, thankfullie the memorie of His blessed Resurrection.

Next, as it is renowned by the Lords Resurrection, so it is honoured by His Name, which as an honourable stampe and impression, the Spirit of GOD and Pen of the beloved Apostle hath fixed and set thereon,Revel. 1.10. calling it THE LORDS DAY. So that as the Iewish Sabbath vn­der the Law, and which was consecrated to the Lords worship then, was called by the Prophet, HIS HOLIE DAY. Isai 18.1 [...]. So just­lie may the Lords Day vnder the Gos­pell, which is now consecrated to His worship, bee called, CHRISTS HOLIE DAY. Wherefore sayeth AUGUSTINE, Qui [Page 16] vocatur Dominicus, Aug. Serm. 15. de ver­bis Apostoli. ipse videtur propriè ad Do­minum pertinere, quia in eo Dominus resurre­xit: that is, That day which is called the LORD'S DAY, appeareth properlie to belong to the LORD Himselfe, be­cause on it the LORD did aryse. And agayne sayeth PROCOPIVS,Procopius in Genes. 1. Ab ipso DO­MINO cognomen desumpturus erat, ut dice­retur dies Dominicus, tanquam soli DOMI­NO consecratus: that is, It was to take the denomination from the LORD Himselfe, to bee called the LORD'S Day, because it is consecrated onlie vn­to the LORD. And therefore, whoso­ever prophaneth the same, neglecting His worship thereon, and onelie giue themselues to their filthie Lucre, where­as they should giue vnto GOD, that which is GOD'S, on the contrarie they are sacrilegious robbers of GOD, (which is the worst sort of Athiest.) And if they say with the Iewes in MALACHIE, Whereof haue wee robbed Him? Malac. 3.8 He [...] will tell them in the day of their dread­full account, Of My Day, dedicated to My holie Worship, and of the solemne honour and worship due to Mee there­on; [Page 17] and so of that which is most sacred [...]n the highest degree, as all things are, which are so stamped with His Name and Superscription.

Thirdlie; Hee honoured that Day also by His first apparition thereon, (after His victorious Resurrection) vnto His Disciples, being assembled together;Iohn 20.19. at what tyme also He blessed them, & by breathing vpon them, Hee gaue them the holie Ghost. And in lyke manner, vpon the same day, (being the Pente­cost) after His glorious Ascention into Heaven,Act. 8.4. when His Apostles were all assembled together in one place, Hee sent downe the holie Ghost, in shape of [...]eloven fyrie Tongues, plentifullie vpon them, whereby they were enabled mi­raculouslie to speake to everie nation, according to their language: And vp­on which day also they first began the publicke exercise of their holie Mini­strie, which was crowned that daye with the conversion of three thousand soules. Who-so-ever, then, will pro­phane wilfullie that day, and spend the same onelie and whollie in persuing their vnlawfull gayne thereon, it is evi­dent, [Page 18] that they are not led by that Spi­rit, which came downe on the Apo­stles that day.Rom. 8.14 And whosoever are not led by the Spirit of GOD, they are not the sonnes of GOD, as testifieth the Apostle.

Fourthlie; Our Saviour graced that day of His Resurrection, in lyke man­ner, by revealing thereon vnto His be­loved Disciple saynct IOHN, those high and heavenlie Mysteries, which make vp the propheticall part of the New Testament, and are contayned in that transcendant Booke of the APOCA­LYPSE, and Clausule of the whole Scripture.

From all which severall sortes of our Saviour's honouring His owne Daye, therefore did the ancient Fathers giue it such honourable Titles,Ignat. ad Magnes. Chrysost. Hom. 5. de Resurr. Gregor. Na­zianz. ora­tio 43. August. de Temp. serm. 251. as Ignatius calleth it the Queene of Dayes; Saynct Chrysostome, the Royall Daye; Gregorie Nazianzene, Higher than the highest; and, with admiration, won­derfull amongst dayes, (even as the Virgine MARIE was blessed amongst Women) And Augustine applyeth [Page 19] these wordes of the Psalme vnto it, This is the Day which the LORD hath made: Psal. 118.24. let vs bee glad and re­joyce in it. So that as the Palmist sayde of HIERUSALEM, Glo­rious thinges are spoken of thee, O Citie of GOD: So, in some sort, wee may say the lyke of this Daye; Glorious thinges are spoken of thee, O thou Day of the LORD.

CHAP. IV. The Apostles their observation of the LORD'S Day in lyke manner; and the lyke practise of all Chri­stian Churches, both in their tyme, and after.

AS wee haue seene, howe the LORD IESVS did honour this Day of His Re­surrection, so lyke­wyse wee may see, [Page 20] how religiouslie the holie Apostles did obserue the same: First, By the fore­named practise of Saynct Peter, Act. 2.41. the Apostle of the Iewes, who vpon that day, immediatelie after the descending of the holie Ghost, began the publicke exercise of the holie Ministerie; which was crowned with so happie and a plentifull successe.

Lykewyse, By the practise of saynct Paull, the Apostle of the Gentiles, as may bee clearlie seene in that Storie of the Acts, Act. 20, 6.7. where it is sayde, that having stayed seaven dayes at Troas, hee is re­ported to haue assembled the Disci­ples & Faythfull together, on the sea­venth day onelie, which was the first day of the weeke, (and the LORD'S Day) for hearing the Word, and parti­cipating the Sacrament.

In lyke manner, By Apostolicall di­rection vnto all Churches, (1. COR. 16.) wee may see, that the Apostle ordayned, everie first day of the weeke, That there bee a Collection for the Saynctes. The reason whereof that hee appoynted this Collection to bee on the LORD'S Day, saynct Chryso­stome [Page 21] giveth; to wit, That the memo­rie of the benefits which on that day they obtayned by CHRIST'S Resur­rection, Chrysost. in 1. Cor. 16. might make them the more liberallie to contribute to the necessi­ties of their Brethren. To which Sedulius joyneth this,Sedul. in 1. Cor. 16. Quia non est opus servile (sayeth hee) elemosynam congrega­re: that is, It is not a servile worke to collect Almes on that day. And which also implyeth, That no servile worke for gayne is to bee vsed there­on.

That this Collection was vsuall also to be ever amongst all Christians there­after vpon the LORDS day, when His religious worship, and publicke mee­tinges were, Iustine Martyr (who lived shortlie after the Apostles) showeth, saying, That vpon Sundaye, Iustin. Mar­tyr. Apol. 2. pro Christi­anis, in sine. when Christians, both in the Town & Coun­try, do assemble together, after the rea­ding of the word, publicke exhortation by the Pastor, & after Prayer, and ce­lebration of the Sacrament of Christ's Bodie and Blood; then those who are [Page 22] able, pro sua quisque voluntate conferunt, (sayeth hee) & collecta deponuntur apud praepositum, isque subvenit pupillis, viduis & propter morbum aliamve necessitatem egenti­bus: that is, Then everie one, as he plea­seth, contributeth: and what is colle­cted, is layd down beside him who hath the charge thereof, who helpeth the Orphanes, and Widowes, and others, who by sicknesse, or anie other necessi­tie, are poore and indigent. And hee subjoyneth, saying, Conventus autem bos die Solis facimus, quoniam hac die primum DEVS depulsis tenebris, formataque materia mundum creavit, IESVS CHRISTVS quoque noster Servator, eadem die resurrexit à mortuis: that is, These Assemblies we make them on Sunday, because on that day the Lord driving away dark­nesse, & having formed a matter, He created the world; as also our Saviour IESVS CHRIST on that same daye arose from the dead. So that wee see our Christian, or Lord's Day, abroga­teth not the memorie of the Creation▪ but beeing the first of the Creation, and [Page 23] the day of CHRIST'S Resurrection, it putteth vs in mynde, both of the making of the Worlde, and the re­deeming of the same;Iustin. Mar­tyr. Apol. 2. Aug. de tem­por. serm. 251. or of a visible olde creation, and an invisible newe one; as witnesseth both Iustine Martyr, as also holie Augustine.

The same observation of the day of the Lord's Resurrection, wee may see also to haue beene the constant and ca­tholicke practise of all Christian Chur­ches, after the Apostolicke tymes, by the witnessing of other ancient Fathers: Therefore sayeth Clemens Romanus, Clem. Rom. Co [...]stit. Ap. l. 2. c. 63. Wee Christians assemble our selues toge­ther, with great diligence, vpon the LORD'S Day, to prayse Him, &c. And Tertullian; Tertull. apol. c. 39. & 16. &c. 14. de Idolo [...]atr [...]a. Vpon that day (sayeth hee) wee who are Christians, meete together, carefullie, in the holie As­semblies. And agayne, in his Apologe­ticke, hee showeth, That the honouring of this day, (beeing called after the Heathnish denomination, Dies Solis) and assembling together for publicke wor­ship thereon, was the occasion why the Paganes gaue it out, That Christians [Page 24] did worship the Sunne. So lykewyse sayeth Basil and Isichius, Basil. de Sp. Sancto. c. 27 Et Isichius, in Levit. cap. 9. See Aug. de tempore, serm. 151. That following the doctrine and direction of the Apostles, the Christians everie, where did sequester the LORD'S Day, for their holie Assemblies.

Those, therefore, who contrarie to Apostolicall observation, and dire­ction, and contrarie also to the con­stant practise of the whole Christian Church, ever there-after, will so bold­lie & irreligiouslie contemne such Au­thoritie, and holie examples, and pro­phane the Lord's day, for their filthie lucre; as they depart heerein from so holie a practise heere, so they may just­lie feare (except they repent, and amende) a dreadfull departure from Him who is Lord of that day, and a se­paration from the societie of those Saynctes heere-after.

CHAP. V. The holie speaches, and religious ex­hortations, of the ancient Fathers, both Greeke and Latine; or, of the Easterne & Westerne Church, for the due keeping holie of the LORD'S Day.

FIrst, then, to begin with the Grecian Fa­thers; and intending, for brevities cause, to bring but a few: Ig­natius Martyr, who lived in the Apostles owne tyme, adjureth everie one,Ignatius, [...] Magnes. by the loue of CHRIST, to ha­low that day, saying; Let everie one who loveth CHRIST, keepe holie the LORD'S Day, renowned by His Re­surrection, which is the Queene of dayes. So that the prophanation of this daye, and the loue of CHRIST, [Page 26] can not consist together, and are al­wayes incompatible.

Next, Saynct Chrysostome, a most fa­mous and holie Bishop,Chrysost. hom. 10. in Genes. 2. showeth, That from the verie beginning the LORD hath requyred, that one day in everie weeke, constantlie and whollie, should bee set a-part, by His Church, to bee entierlie appropriated & applyed for Spirituall exercyses, tending to the good of the soules; as the rest of the dayes of the weeke are applyed by vs, for corporall and servile labour, ten­ding to the good of the bodie, and mayntaynance of the naturall lyfe.

Saynct AUGUSTINE also, that great Light of the Westerne Church,Aug. serm. 215. vrgeth the religious and entiere observation of the Christian Sabbath, by comparing the same with the observation of the Jewish Sabbath, saying; If the vnhap­pie Iewes doe with so great devotion celebrate their Sabbath, so that vpon the same they will doe no earthlie worke; how much more should Chri­stians vpon the LORD'S Daye much [Page 27] more attende His Worship, and for the salvation of their soules, assemble themselues together in the Church of GOD?

GREGORIE the Great also, wryting to the Citizens of ROME,Greg. l. 11. epist. 3. showeth both where-from wee should rest, and howe wee should whollie employ our selues on the Lord's day, laying; Vpon the LORD'S Day a cessation should bee altogether from earthlie labour, and men should whollie giue themselues to insist in Prayer; that what by negli­gence the sixe dayes of the weeke hath beene committed, by Prayer vpon the LORD'S Day the same may hee ex­piated.

Seeing, therefore, this day so manie wayes hath beene honoured by Christ, stamped with His Name, celebrated by His Apostles, observed by the Church, and recommended vnto vs by the Fathers, whosoever with an high hand of rebellion agaynst God, and His Church, will wilfullie prophane the same, hee sinneth grievouslie agaynst [Page 28] his own soule, and the soules of others: and, as learned Hooker sayeth, The vo­luntarie scandalous contempt of re­sting from labour on that Day where­on the LORD is publicklie served, can not bee too severelie brydled and corrected.

CHAP. VI. The Decrees of Councels, as also of Godlie Emperours and Princes, for the due observation of the Lord's Daye.

FIrst, then, wee will set downe those Ca­nons of ancient and famous Councels, which declare what is forbidden on the Lord's daye; and next, those which showe what is com­manded.

Synod. 6. c [...]p. 8The sixt Generall Councell, then, [Page 29] forbiddeth all bodilie worke, except that which is for the refreshment of na­ture that day.

Thus also sayeth the Councell of Rhemes (holden in the 8 [...]3 yeare of CHRIST,Concil. Rhe­mens. can. 35. and tyme of LEO the third) Vpon the LORD'S Daye, secundùm DOMINI Praeceptum? that is, accor­ding to the LORD'S owne comman­dement, let no man doe anie servile worke.

Next, the Councell of Cabilon (hol­den in the 653 yeare of CHRIST, and tyme of Eugenius) more particularlie speaketh of such works, as having but a short season, and are subject to sundrie dangers both of wnde & rayne, and are for the sustentation of the whole Coun­trey: & yet say the Fathers of this Coun­cell,Concil. Ca­bilen. can. [...] Wee ordayne vpon the LORD'S Day, that landward or countreye la­bour, such as plowing, or reaping of Cornes, or whatsoever belongeth vnto Husbandrie, no man presume to doe.

The reason whereof the Councell of Paris (holden in the 550 yeare of CHRIST,Consit. Pa­ris. can. 50▪ and tyme of Pelagius the [Page 30] first) giveth thus, saying, that those who doe any servile labour on this day, decus Christianitatis obfuscant. &c. that is, they obscure the honour of Christiani­tie, & furnish to those who blaspheme the Name of CHRIST, more matter of blaspheming the same: Wherefore it becommeth (say they) a Christian vpon that day, to bee exercised in di­vine prayse, and not in servile workes.

Yea, such a cessation should bee, sayeth the Councell of Arles, (holden in the 805 yeare of CHRIST,Council. Ar [...] ­lat. cap. 1. and tyme of LEO the first) His solummodo peractis quae ad DEI cultum, & fervitium pertinere noscuntur: that is, That those thinges onelie bee performed, which are knowne to belong to GOD'S wor­ship and service.

The reason whereof, vvhy wee should onelie applye our selues on that day to the LORD'S service allanerlie,Concil. Ma­tisc [...]n. 2. can. 1. cele­bratum an­no 590. the Councell of MATISCON giveth, saying. Wee ought to keepe holie the Lord's daye, whereon wee were be­gotten [Page 31] of anew, & delivered from our sinnes; and wherein wee were made to bee, what wee were not before. For wee were (say they) the servantes of sinne; but are made by it the sonnes of Righteousnesse: Therefore let our eyes, and handes, all that whole day, bee lif­ted vp to GOD.

Concerning the religious observa­tion lykewyse of the Lord's day,Novel. 4. Leon. c. 54. thus sayeth the Imperiall Constitution, se­conding those holie Councels; Wee or­dayne, (as it hath also pleased the ho­lie Ghost, and them who are appoyn­ted by Him) that all men vpon that holie day, whereon our integritie and libertie was restored, rest from labours and neyther Husbandman, nor anie others, enterpryse vpon that daye anie worke, the same beeing vnlawfull: For if they who did obserue the shadow and figure, so much reverenced this Sabbath, that thereon they abstayned from all worke whatsoever; what equi­tie is it, that they who professe the [Page 32] trueth of those figures, and the light of grace, See Aug. serm. de tem­pore 251. & serm. 154 should not reverence that day, which was so greatlie honoured by the LORD Himselfe, and dely­vered vs from shamefull destruction.

Sozom. l. 1. cap. 8. Sozomen also maketh mention of a law that Constantin made for the observation of the LORDS day, rendering this rea­son; Because the LORD IESVS did ryse thereon, and raysed vs from our fall in Adam, (sayeth hee.)

Pipinus Rex. in Con­cil. For [...]ju­liensi, c. 13Lykewyse sayeth Pipinus; Wee com­mand, That on that Day all abstinence bee from sinfull workes, and all workes of the flesh, and from all earthlie la­bour; and, that men attende nothing else, but Prayer, and to assemble themselues in the Churches with great devotion of mynde, and with charitie and loue, that they blesse the LORD.

CHAP. VII. The Ancient and Moderne Constitu­tions, both of our owne Church and Kingdome of Scotland, for due observation of the LORD'S DAY.

NExt, from beyond Sea, to come nearer home:

In SCOTLAND we find an ancient Coū ­cell to haue beene holden in the yeare 1203, and tyme of Pope Innocent the third; wherein the manner of the reli­gious observation of the LORD'S Day was at length set downe; as wee haue the same in the third Tome of the Generall Councels, set foorth by Binius, the second part, fol. 668: to wit, That the same shall bee by cessation from servile workes, and from selling or [Page 34] buying; and, That men devotelie should continue in Prayers, and doing of charitable deedes: one Eustachius an Abbot there, giving this as a reason thereof; Quia CHRISTVS nativitate (sayeth hee) & resurrectione sua, & adven­tusao, & missione Spiritus Sancti in Discipulos suos, sibi hunc diem quem Dominicum vocamus illustravit, & celeberrimum dedicavit: that is, Because CHRIST, by His Birth and Resurrection, also by His com­ming, and sending the holie Ghost vp­on His Disciples, hath honoured this Day, which wee call THE LORD'S DAY, and dedicated the same vnto Himselfe, as a most excellent and ho­lie Day.

As also in the late Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall, of the Church of SCOTLAND, it is set downe, That The publick meetings on the LORDS Daye, Constit. & Can. Ec­cles. cap. 9. and other tymes appoynted by the Church, beeing a speciall exter­nall meane to entertayne the commu­nion of the Saynctes, it is therefore ordayned, that the same shall be care­fullie [Page 35] observed by all persons, of what condition soever; both in haunting to Divine worship, and vsing all due reverence in tyme thereof, and gi­ving all quiet and diligent attendance thervnto.

Lykewyse for Civill Constitutions, wee find it a Statute of King ALEXAN­DER the second; as wee haue in the Booke of Majestie, concerning Sal­mond-Fishing in particular; That the water should bee free:Regiam Ma­jest. Tit. Lex aqua­rum, c. 16. So that no man (sayeth the Statute) should take fishes therin, from Saturnday at night, till Moonday at Sunne-rysing.

And in the most happie Reygne of our late dread Sovereygne, king IAMES, of ever-blessed memorie,Iam. 6. par­liam. 6. c. 70 it is statuted in Parliament, That no handie-labour nor working bee vpon the LORD'S Day, nor anie wilfull remayning from divine Worship thereon. In both which our Salmond-Fishers notorious­lie transgresse: and so are rebellious both to Divine and Humane Authori­tie; [Page 36] and to the Lawes both Ancient and Moderne; of Church, and Common­wealth.

CHAP. VIII. The Ancient and Moderne Constitu­tions, both of the Church and Kingdome of ENGLAND, for due observation of the LORD'S DAY.

NExt, if wee view the Ancient Constitutions of that Famous and Neyghbour-Church, and Kingdome, of ENGLAND, wee shall finde, that in a Canon of a Councell holden by Egbert, Arch-bishop of Yorke, (anno 784) That the Gospell is ordayned to be preached to the people everie Lord's day: and, That they duelie convene, of all sorts, to the hearing thereof. The verie [Page 37] same beeing enacted a few yeares be­fore, by Cutbbert, Arch-bishop of Doro­bermia, (anno 747) ordayding,Concil. Clo­veshoniae, c. 14. That this day bee, Cultui divino tantummodo di­catus: that is, That the same may bee dedicated onlie vnto God's worship.

As also in another Councell holden by the commandement of King Ethel­red, Aelfeagus beeing Arch-bishop of Dorobermia, C [...]il. Aema­nense Pam­brebritanni­cum, c. 15. and Vulstane Arch-bishop of Yorke, it was decreed, (anno 1009) That the Lord's daye, and solemnitie thereof, should bee with great honour celebrated: Nec quicquam in eadem ope­ris agatur servilis: that is, And that no servile labour bee done therevpon. Constit. Ec­cles. c. 15. Canutus le­ge 14. Which was also decreed in the Church Constitutions of ENGLAND, and in the reygne of Canutus the Dane, (anno 1026) by a Statute.

Next, from Ancient Ecclesiasticall Canons, to come to such as are later,Constit. & Can. Eccl. cap. 13. wee shall finde, that in those which are now in vse in the Church of ENG­LAND, all manner of persons are orday­ned to keepe holie the Lord's daye, commonlie called SVNDAY, accor­ding [Page 38] to God's Will, and Orders of the Church: that is, In hearing the Word of God read and taught, in private and publicke Prayers, in receaving the communion of the Bodie and Blood of CHRIST, visiting the Poore, and Sicke; and in such holie Exercyses, which are fitting for that day.

And last, if wee come from Eccle­siasticall Canons, to Civill Constitu­tions,Ex Ina regis occid. Sax. lib. cap. 3. in ENGLAND wee shall finde in the days of Ina, king of the West-Saxons, (anno 688) that it is statuted by him, That if a Servant worke on the Sunday at the commaundement of his master, hee shall thence-foorth bee free, and his master shall paye for his Fyne, thirtie shillinges. But if hee doe so without the commandement of his master, hee shall bee scourged, except hee redeeme himselfe, by a pryce, there-from.

And agayne: In the raygne of King EADGAR, about the yeare of GOD 966, it is statuted, That everie one ob­serue the Sunday whollie, from Sa­turndaye evening, to Moondaye mor­ning.

[Page 39]And, latelie,Queene Eli­zabeth her Injunctions, Artic. 34. Anno 27. Henrici 6. cap. 5. King Iames proclamation also at Theo­balds, 1603. for keeping the LORDS DAY. In the Religious Con­stitutions of that famous young Prince, EDWARD THE SIXT, and Queene ELIZABETH; of ever-blessed memo­rie, as in their Statutes of Parliament amplie may bee seene, and in the Sta­tutes of HENRIE THE SIXT be­fore them; wherein whatsoever may with-drawe men, and their servantes, from Divine Service, is forbidden.

CHAP, IX. Howe the Lord's day is to bee obser­ved, and what workes are permis­sible, or not permissible, thereon: And speciallie, That the Sal­mond-fishing thereon is no wayes permissible, or lawfull.

NExt to the former motiues for observa­tion of the Lord's daye, wee are to con­sider, how it is to bee observed: which is [Page 40] first, By CESSATION (as hath beene showne) from all servile and laborious worke, intended onelie for gayne. And therefore in EXODVS this Cessation was appoynted both in Seed-tyme,Exod. 34.21 and in Harvest. Next: Because to rest on­lie from our ordinarie worke, were to keepe the Lord's daye rather lyke a Beast, than a Christian. Therefore wee must knowe, That this Cessation is commanded, (as Augustine sayeth) Vt paratiores & promptiores simus ad Divinum Cultum: that is, That wee may bee the more readie and fit for GOD'S ho­lie Worship. And labour, or working thereon, is therefore forbidden; because of impeding, or with-drawing there­by of men from the Lord's Worship. No action, then, is to bee done of that sort, but such as whereby wee eyther blesse GOD, or looke therein to re­ceaue a Blessing from GOD. Seeing, therefore, the Salmond-fishing, vpon the Lord's daye, is a servile and toyl­some worke, intended onlie for gayne, and that thereby such a number of soules are hindered, and withdrawne, from the Lord's Worship; Howe dare [Page 41] people doe such a thing vpon that bles­sed daye, wherevpon they can neyther looke vp to GOD, to seeke a Blessing to their vse, or expect a Blessing from His Hand? But rather maye justlie feare a Curse heere, and Condemnation heere-after.

But yee will saye; Is no worke to bee done vpon the Lord's Daye? I an­swere; There are three sorts of workes not onelie permissible, but lawfull, vp­on the Lord's daye: which are, Pieta­tis, Charitatis, & Necessitatis: Of Pietie, towardes God; of Charitie, to­wardes our Neyghbour; and of Neces­sitie, towardes our selues.

First, then, Workes of Pietie, are to be done vpon the Lord's day, which eyther directlie concerne God's Wor­ship, (tho performed by bodilie worke) as the preaching of the Gospell nowe, and other Ministeriall paynes, vpon the Lord's daye; and the Priestes vnder the Lawe, their killing and dressing the Sacrifices on the Iewish Sabbath, bur­ning them on the Altar: concerning whom our Saviour sayde, that the [Page 42] Priestes brake the Sabbath, Matth. 12.5. and yet were blamelesse: To wit, They brake it, in so farre as they rested not thereon, or, Quoad quietē; but not in regard of the commandement of halowing the same, or, Quoad praeceptum. For, such workes are not forbidden by that Precept, whereby wee serue GOD onelie: or else they are such workes of Pietie, as indi­rectlie concerne GOD'S Worship, whereby the people are assembled to divine Worship: as the blowing of Trumpets vnder the Lawe, and rin­ging of Belles nowe vnder the Gospell. The holie ende of all which workes, doeth sanctifie the same, as the Temple did the Golde; or the Altar, the Gift thereon.

And, vpon the peoples part who as­semble together, their preparing of themselues duely, traveling to their Pa­rish-Churches diligentlie, hearing the Word attentiuelie, praying and pray­sing GOD devotelie, and instructing their Families religiouslie. All these, and the lyke, are the workes of Pietie, which becommeth the LORD'S daye suteablie.

[Page 43]Next; Workes of Charitie, 1. Cor. 16. are to be done vpon the LORD'S Day: and therefore the Apostle appoynted, That the Collection for the Poore, (as is vsuall amongst vs) should bee on that daye. In lyke manner,Marke 3.4. Our Saviour declareth, That the lyfe eyther of Man or Beast, ought to bee preserved vpon the Sabbath daye;Matth. 12.1.11. eyther by delivering the same from danger, or by necessarie support of Foode, or the lyke. The vi­siting also of the Sicke,Marke 2.28. relieving the Poore, curing the diseased, and such lyke, are the workes of Charitie, sute­able for the LORD'S daye: For I will haue Mercie, sayeth the Lord, rather than Sacrifice.

Last; Workes of Necessitie, may bee performed vpon the LORD'S daye, which are not for wordlie gayne, or ac­quisition, by servile toyle, and labour of thinges to bee ours, which before the employment in the sayde servile la­bour, were not ours, (as the Salmond-Fishing is) but which are for necessarie preservrtion, in evident and imminent danger, of that which is in our posses­sion, [Page 44] and wee haue right vnto alreadie:Epist. De­cret. l. 2. c. 3. as to drawe our Oxe out of the myre, beeing readie to drowne; to flit our Cornes out of the lowe Valleyes, when by inundation of neare adjoyning Wa­ters, they are in evident danger to bee carried away: to quench, in lyke man­ner, houses that are on fyre, & such like. Therefore, beside our owne men, so al­so sayeth SVAREZ; Causa generalis indu­cens excusationē, Suarez. lib. [...]. de dicb. fest. tom. 1. c. 32. est necessitas imminens quae praeveniri non potuit: that is, The gene­rall cause which importeth an excuse, is an imminent necessitie onlie, which could not bee prevented.

In lyke manner, for some Callings to exercise the practise thereof; as Physi­cians, in Pleurisies, to let blood; Chy­rurgians, to paunse, and applye Cures; Mid-wyues, to helpe Women in travell; Mariners, to governe their Shippes on the Seas, &c. all which are for preserva­tion of lyues. Souldiours also, if they bee assaulted vpon the LORD'S Day, to defende themselues, and fight; as we reade the MACHABEES did,1. Machab. 2.41. when they were set vpon, on the Sabbath Daye: [Page 45] to entrinch and fortifie themselues, al­so, vpon the approach of the Enemie; stell their Pieces, cut Bridges, or doe the lyke: all which is lawfull; Because, (as SVAREZ sayeth) Necessitas Reipubli­cae, & conservationis suae hoc exigit. Suarez. loco quo supra. And the Lawe is, Quod non est licitum in Lege, necessitas facit licitum: that is; The ne­cessitie of the Common-wealth, and of their owne preservation, requyreth this: and what is not lawfull in lawe, necessitie maketh lawfull otherwise.

Some actions, also, which tende not to the preservation of liues, in evident dan­ger otherwyse, but to the preservation also of such thinges as tende to the ne­cessitie of lyfe, and good of the whole Common-wealth, beeing in imminent and evident danger otherwyse, are law­full, and thought permissible vpon the LORD'S Daye; As the keeping of Cole-heughes dry, which might other­wyse fill with water, and perish, to the detriment of a whole Countrey: The sloaking, or quenching, of Mosses, that haue taken fyre in droughtie weather; and are in perill to bee consumed them­selues, [Page 46] and to consume the Cornes neare vnto them: both which are workes of necessitie: not for acquisi­tion of new gayne, (for Servants work not in Cole-heughes on the LORD'S Daye, nor in Peat-mosses) but for pre­servation of that which is ours alrea­die, beeing in evident danger; and the losse whereof would import great pre­judice to the Common-wealth, and whole Countrey.

As for keeping in of fyre onelie, in Glasse-Fornaces, (but not making anie Glasses on the LORD'S DAY) and also in Salt-pannes, it is accounted, by sundrie, a necessarie preservation onlie: neyther is it a toylsome worke, nor La­bor multorum, to avocate manie from di­vine Worship. And of such SVAREZ sayeth this is the Rule: Quando inchoa­tum opus non potest intermitti sine dispen­dio personae & Communitatis in die Festo, Suarez. lib. 2 de Fest. dicb. cap. 32. licitum putatur: that is; When a be­gun worke can not be left off, without the hurt of the person, and of a whole Communitie, such a worke is thought lawfull vpon the Holie Day.

But of Salmond-Fishing vpon the [Page 47] LORD'S DAY, hee sayeth express­lie; Piscatio in die Festo propter lucrum, lib. 2. de fest. dies, cap. 19. pag. 209. est opus servile, & prohibitum: that is, But fishing for gayne vpon the Ho­lie Day, is a servile worke, and al­together forbidden.

Neyther can it bee anie wayes ac­counted a worke of Necessitie:

1. Beeing onelie for making world­lie gayne, and acquisition by servile and laborious toyle, of thinges to bee theirs, which before the employment in the sayde servile worke, was not theirs.

2. If the pretence of making gayne, or acquyring, were a necessitie on the LORD'S DAY, then no Aartizane, (especiallie of the poerer sort) but might alleadge also his working on the LORD'S DAY, to bee a worke of necessitie. And those, in lyke manner, who are Whyte-Fishers, might justlie alleadge their Fishing on the LORD'S DAY, to bee a worke of necessiitie, be­cause of their povertie, for the moste parte; and, That they haue not always Fishing-weather on the Sea; and, What they slipped that daye, they would not [Page 48] attayne agayne. Others, lykewyse, might pretende, Their severall necessi­ties: and, so, in ende, cast all Religion loose.

3. But the trueth is; Without anie necessitie, it hindereth, and with-dra­weth, men from a worke, which is, in­deede, of the greatest necessicie that can bee; which is, The Worship of GOD, and, Salvation of their owne Soules. So that I may say just­lie, in the wordes of the PROPHET IEREMIE,Ierem. 2.34 That In their Skirts is found the verie Blood of the Soules of men: Which cannot but crye lowder agaynst them, than the blood of ABELL did agaynst CAIN. And which beeing bought by so precious a pryce, as the Blood of the Sonne of GOD, What may they expect, as their judge­ment, who make their gayne thereby, and their Houses an Aceldama, or a Field of Blood?

CHAP. X. What are the manie and great evills, which the prophaning of the LORD'S DAY, by Salmond-Fishing, produceth.

HAving now looked vpon this forbidden Tree, let vs consi­der what Fruite it bringeth foorth: Surelie nothing but lyke the Pro­phet's wilde gourdes,2. King. 4.40. which made Death to bee in the Potte: or such whereof the LORD complayneth, (ISAIAH 5.) That His Vine-yarde brought foorth even sowre Grapes, vvhich will once set their teeth on edge.

[Page 50]For, 1. This prophanation of the LORD'S DAY, robbeth the LORD of His due Worship, which those should giue vnto Him, who are employed in place of GOD'S Ser­vice, to serue man; and, according to NATHAN'S parable, When wee haue manie dayes of the weeke as ours, or for our service, and will not be con­tented there-with; but will robbe GOD of that one day which He hath for His Service and Worship; vvhat fearfull Sentence can such expect, That their owne mouth, (lyke DAVID'S) shall bee made, one daye, to pronounce agaynst themselues?

2. Their Servantes (who thus pro­phane the LORD'S DAY, by their servile employment) are wofullie defrauded of their Soules Foode, and Spirituall Edification: So that whyles themselues should bee caught, by the Nette of the Gospell, to bee brought vnto CHRIST, they are catching vnlawfull Gayne, to bring vnto their Masters: Lyke that Damosell in the [Page 51] ACTS, possessed with a spirit of Divi­nation, which brought her Masters al­so much Gayne by Sooth-saying,Act. 16.16. be­fore her dispossession. Whose case, as it was moste wofull, whyle shee was doing so; So is theirs in lyke manner, whyle as sterving in their Soules, and gayning earthlie thinges to others, they become a prey to that craftie Fisher, Sa­tan, and lose heavenlie thinges, which they should gayne to themselues.

3. Whereas the LORD hath ap­poynted a bodilie rest to bee vpon the seaventh day, from all servile work, for refreshing of Man, who hath beene la­bouring the sixe dayes of the weeke, (as Hee hath lykewyse pittie, (and willeth vs to haue) on the verie beast;) yet cruellie, contrarie to GOD'S ap­poyntment, the bodies of their Ser­vantes are toylsomlie wrought and wearied vpon the LORD'S DAY, as well as the rest of the dayes of the weeke; without anie intermission, or cessation whatsoever: and so are made altogether vnfit, all that Season, for [Page 52] GOD'S Worship, publicke or pri­vate.

4. Thorow the long dissuetude of resorte to GOD'S Service, and pro­phanation of the LORD'S DAY, those Servantes of theirs (as wee finde by wofull experience) become altoge­ther neglectiue of the LORDS DAY at all other tymes of the yeare, when Salmond-Fishing is not; and can ney­ther by Admonition nor Discipline, be made to halowe the same. And so being indured thorowe their fore-na­med custome, they remayne altogether ignorant in mynde, most prophane in lyfe, and vtterlie carelesse of their souls, as if they had none at al. Of which induration, ignorance, and prophani­tie, howe fearfull a thing it is to bee the cause, and drawe vpon them such guiltinesse, let anie sensible Christian seriouslie consider.

5. Not onelie are those their Ser­vantes detayned, by that servile em­ployment, from GOD'S Holie Wor­ship; [Page 53] but lykewyse manie others are everie LORD'S DAY, of all sortes of people, with-drawne from the same; going thither to bee spectators of those Fishinges, in the verie tyme of GOD'S publicke Servic, and assemblie of His people: and who, in respect of their multitude, can not bee gotten curbed. As those, then, are happie, who stirre vp people, saying, (as DAVID pro­fesseth) Let vs goe vp to the House of the LORD: and, (as the Disci­ples did one the other) who drawe Men to GOD: Iohn 1.41. So vnhappie maye they justlie judge themselues, vvho giue such an occasion (for their pri­vate gayne) of hindering people, and drawing so manie from GOD.

6. What Scandall [...], and grie­vous offence is given to all good Chri­stians, heere, where this prophanation is committed,Ierem. 9. their querimonies which wee often heare, beare sufficient wit­nessing; and what griefe of heart they giue to vs their Pastours, as the stub­bornnesse of the Iewes gaue to their [Page 54] Prophets, HEE that knoweth the heart can beare vs record: So that with Ieremie, Wee wish our head were waters, and our Eyes a Fountayne of Teares, that wee might weepe day and night for the gransgression of our people. How-so-ever, with open impietie, they joyne not onelie impenitencie, but impudencie, in sin­ning.

7. A great stumbling blocke lyke­wyse they are to the weake, who by their example, thinke it no transgres­sion to violate and prophane the LORD'S DAY manie wayes, in the Countrey especiallie; and are so hardened in their sinne, that when their Pastours accuse or rebuke them for the same, and command Abstinencie, they strayght-way replye, Let the Salmond Fishing bee as well discharged then on the Sundaye; and then they shall cease.

8. If also the Angels rejoyce at the [Page 55] conversion of a Sinner, howe, then, are they contristated, (as it were) and zea­louslie incensed, at such a peart and pub­licke practise of sinne, in prophaning that Holie Daye of their LORD'S Worship, whereof by those so vn­gratelie, and sacrilegiouslie, Hee is robbed?

9. But moste, and worst of all; Amongst other crying sinnes of the Land, which incense the wrath of the LORD agaynst the same, this, as one of the greatest, doeth kindle the Fyre of His indignation, procureth His judgement, and His hand to bee stret­ched out still. For, as Hee for the pro­phanation of His Sabbath, threatned the Iewes before by His Prophet IE­REMIE, That Hee should kindle a Fyre in the gates of their chiefe Citie Hierusalem,Ierem. 17.2 [...] which should consume the Palaces thereof; and it should not bee quenched. And, (as good NEHEMIAH declared to the Princes of IVDAH) seeing for [Page 56] this transgression and guiltinesse, the LORD had performed, and put the same to execution agaynst them, in wa­sting of their Land, destroying of their Citie, and killing and captivating the persons: All which (as to one mayne cause) hee attributeth to the propha­ning of the LORD'S SABBATH, saying; What evill thing is this that yee doe, Nehem. 13.17. and prophane the SAB­BATH DAY? Did not your Fathers thus? And did not our GOD bring all this evill vpon vs, and vpon this Citie? And yet ye would bring more wrath vpon Is­raell, by prophaning the SABBATH DAYE. Much more, then, maye Christians,See Theatre of GOD'S Judgements, Tom, 3. of the Generall Councils, 2. part. p. 669. and Practise of Pietie, 368. who liue in a cleare Light, and haue no lesse obligation to sancti­fie the LORD'S DAY, ex­pect for the prophanation thereof, tem­porall punishmentes heere, (as sun­drie haue found inflicted) and eternall punishmentes heere-after, which are most justlie threatned.

CHAP. XI. The CONCLUSION, by way of a faythfull Warning from the head of the Watch-Towre, for exone­ration at least of our owne Soules, whom GOD hath set over them, who so prophane the LORD'S DAYE.

AS Reuben said therefore to his Brethren,Gen. 42.2. Did not I fore-warne you, saying, Doe not sinne agaynst the Chylde, and yee would not heare? There­fore, beholde, his blood is requyred: So wee may saye, whom the LORD hath set over you, who are guiltie of this Sinne; Haue not wee fore-warned [Page 58] you, both by word, and nowe by writ, That yee sinne not agaynst your owne Soules, and the Soules of others, whom yee impede and with-drawe from the LORD'S Worship, and Meanes of their Salvation, on the LORD'S DAY? And if ye will not heare, (as IOSEPH'S Brethren would not REVBEN'S advise) beholde, assuredly, your blood, and the blood of those that perish tho­rowe your default, the LORD shall requyre at your handes.

True it is, that wee would often tymes haue taken IEREMIE'S Resolution,Ierem. 20.9. Not to speake anie more of this sinne of yours, in the LORD'S Name vnto you; perceaving sundrie of you to bee so incorrigible; were not that His Word was within vs, as a burning fyre, shut vp in our bones; & we were wearie with forbearing, and could not stay; except wee would haue beene treacherous both to GOD, who had entrusted vs; and you, whom we should haue fore-warned.

[Page 59]But seeing wee that are PASTORS, haue so frequentlie shotte IONA­THAN'S Arrowes, to fore-warne you to escape from the wrath to come, wee are free from your Blood, if yee perish thorowe your rebellion, and shall finde our owne Approbation (wee hope) in the DAY of the LORD. And if with SAMVELL wee can not mende you, wee shall moane at least, (as hee did for rebellious Saul in RAMAH) and mourne for you in se­cret, and, with IEREMIE, la­ment, That our Mother hath borne vs men of stryfe and contention, with those, for whose good wee powre out our verie Soules, in secret, before the LORD, in our daylie Prayers; That, To the Glorie of HIS NAME, the joye of our Heartes, and Salvation of your Soules, wee may yet see the Happie Daye of your Conversion, and Amendement heere-in: That so yee may bee, in the daye of our Common Compearance before the LORD, our Crowne, and our joye; and at­tayne [Page 60] with vs, to the happie Rest of that ETERNALL SAB­BATH in the HEAVENS, conquessed to vs by the Bloode of CHRIST: To Whom bee ever all Prayse and Glorie.