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kingdom_n	gospel_n	heaven_n	lord_n	2,159	5	3.5651	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A73049	Englands pvrginge fire Conteyninge two petitions, the one to the Kinges most excellent Majesty, the other to the High Courte of Parliament held at this tyme in England. Shewinge in diverse perticulers, how the Church in England might be ordered, yet more conformably to the Will of God reveiled in his worde then at this day it is. Herewithall is declared, the evell and lamentable effects of our vnable and negligent ministers: and the happy fruict of our learned and painefull pastors. A worke most needefull for theise tymes, as servinge to turne away the wrath and iudgements of God from this lande, through the removinge, (accordinge to the advertisements herein given) such disorders and evells, as for which the wrath of God may be, and is, kindled against this Land, and the church therein.	Proctor, Thomas, fl. 1621.	1621 (1621)	STC 20408.5; ESTC S124597	53,590	98

no Reformation of thinges if therefore Gods vvorde hath made us happy in overcomminge the dangers of the greater Change should we neglect the yet further Conforminge of things to the vvorde for feate of the danger of the lesser Change I beseech your Majestie therefore that you will so tender the Good of the Church of God as that no feare of the danger of a Change may hinder the yet further conforminge of things to the evidence of the vvill of God as vve fynde it in holy Scripture With which Petition I put an end to theise my Collections out of holy Scripture humbly praying that I may yet further continue this wryting of mync shewing unto your Majestie the evidence of the prevaylinge or not prevaylinge of the Kingdome of heaven amonge your People as the Ministers are good or bad painefull or idle who are allowed in this your Kingdome to possess our Spirituall livings Verily my most gratious Soveraigne who so loveth the prevaylinge of the Kingedome of heaven and desireth the suppression of the Kingedome of Sathan cannot but cherish and rejoice of the industrious Ministers of the Ghospell and be zealous against the negligent and idle Hopinge therefore of your Majesties gratious disposition towards the Kingedome of Heaven and zealous hatred of the Kingedome of Sathan I vvill proceede to shew the Meanes by which the Kingedome of Heaven prevayleth amonge your people petitioninge also your gratious cherishinge and assistinge the same V. CHAP. EXperience hath declared that the Kingedome of Heaven hath increased and Sathans Kingedome decreased by the Ghospells beinge Ministred by Men vvho have an inseazoning of the Spirit of God therefore every childe of the Kingdome of Heaven as he loveth the prevaylinge of the one declyninge of the other Kingedome so he is to love cherish and susteine to his Power such Ministers of the vvorde as have cvidence of an inseazoninge of the Spirit of God The Seripture every vvhere vvitnesseth that the Ministration of the vvord through the Spirit in the Minister is truly that prevaylinge vaylinge Power and effectuall Ministration by which if not onely yet cheifely the Kingedome of Heaven prevalleth the contrary Kingedomes subdued therefore though the vvorde Ministred by a wicked Minister may be of some yet certainely it is not of like Power as vvhen the Spirit of God assisteth the Minister in ministringe the same It is therefore none of the least vertues of a godly King to observe the Ministers of the Ghospell markinge in whose Ministration the Ghospell most prevaileth and in vvhose not the one to cherish as proffitable Ministers the other to reprove as unproffitable Suffer me therefore Dread Soveraigne I humbly pray you to set before your viewe in a breife manner the diverse sorts of Ministers which I fynde in this your Kingdome of ENGLANDE and the diverse effects in your people of their diverse manner of executinge their Ministrations that so it may by the effects and Fruicts appcare vvho be those Ministers vvho cheifely have an evidence of an inseazoninge of the SPIRIT of GOD. Some are admitted Ministers in the Church of Englande vvho neither by the Spirit nor yet of industrious Study cann Preach at all therefore they content themselvs to reade Divine Service onely or at the most to reade some tymes a Homily to their Parishioners Theise vvhen they reade Divine Service you shall fynde them to doe it very irreverently postinge over it also as hastily as they may Also if they reade any Homilyes it is then but seldome and this also in such a manner as plainely shewes that they little tender the peoples in struction If you observe the Speach or Communication of theise out of the Church you shall fynde the same to be vvholy of the vvorid and vvordly things havinge no evidence of Religion or of faith accordinge to the Ghospell Yea you shall fynde the most of theise to be pott companions and this also in the lewdest and most prophane company of the Parrish they are as lascivious as those who have no feare of God their talke also is full of foolish jestinges if not also of ribaldry Looke into the familyes of theise and what shall you fynde verily as little shew of Godliness feare of God or faith as in the most ignorant and prophane familyes of your Kingedome No Morninge or Eveninge Praier scarce Grace before and after meate little or no Readinge of the Scriptures No repetition of Sermons nor any Catechising throughout the yeare As for your People in such Parishes you shall commonly fynde them ignorant in Divine Mysteries necessary to Salvation Careless to knowe them at all Swearers Drinkers Iesters filthy speakers and in a vvord vvithout any Showe of true Godliness save onely that to satisfy the Lawe they resorte on sundaies to the Readinge of Divine Service but there neither caringe to marke oughts for their instruction nor comminge away to be oughts at all bettered in life or conversation In theise Parishes you shall commonly fynde very few if any Bibles no use made of them at home if there be any Nor any religious Dutyes as I said above exercised in their familyes such as are Eveninge Praier Grace before and after Meate Repeatinge of Sermons or Catechisinge Alas what evidence of the Spirit of God in such Pastors vvhat prevayling is here of the Kingdom of heaven Doth not the Kingdome of Sathan rather prevaile in such Parishes verily my Lord and Kinge you shall fynde under such Pastors as now I write of the rudest ignorantest and wickedest of your people therefore my humble petition is that for the betteringe of your people in such places and for removinge a scandall from our Church such unpreachinge Pastors enjoy not vvholy the livings but rather be put to some smale stipend and the residue bestowed on some other who cann Preach the Ghospell I grante that Homily-readinge is not wholy without use in such Parishes but yet no Divines but will confes that skill in a Pastor to divide the worde aright as the Necessityes of the Parishioners requires is much to be preferd unto the same for though Homilyes conteyne excellent and sounde Doctryne and are fraught with Christian precepts yet they are so generall that vvithout a skilfull makinge use of the perticulers in a Homily applyinge things to the present Necessityes of the Paris hioners they cannot proffit the people as doth a skilfull Sermon composed by the Spirit in the Pastor and fitted to the occasions of the tyme and of Persons For in a Pastor in seazoried with the Spirit of God the Spirit assists in his choice in his judgement and directs him secreately to the Doctrynes most proffitable for the people of his Charge therefore a Sermon so disposed is farr to be preferred before a Homily which is penned at random servinge generally for all places and all people a like But when the people feele not their owne ignorance met with nor their owne knowledge confirmd nor their owne Manners reprovd

or commended they acknowledge no Power in that read unto them out of a Homily Neither are Homilyes written to occasion in our Cleargy a Negligence of Study but rather for the help of those onely who cannot Preach soundly at all therefore fart be it from our Church to fetter a Congregation to a Homily reader onely if the tymes affoorde Ministers who cann divide the vvorde of the Ghospell aright Thus having vvritten of one sorte of Ministers I humbly pray that I may proceede to another Other Ministers there are who though they cann and doe Preach vvell yet they preach as seldome as Lawe will permit them Herewithall many of them are loose of life prophane in Conversation Yea they are common pot companions they serve as jesters at great Mens tables and make no conscience of their Speach so as they may gaine a Meales meate in such company of Credit In a vvorde neither commonly in their Conversation nor commonly in their dealings with Men they shew any Signes of a Religious disposition of mynde If you examine their family you shall fynde there as little exercise of religious Dutyes as in those familyes where there is neither faith nor feare of God In such Parishes the voice of the people is That they have a Parson that cann doe well if he would that he is a good fellowe and the like but they cannot commned him either for any painefull Preachinge or for any evidence of Piety And according to his evel disposition and example so you shall commonly fynde the Parishioners to take all liberty in vvickedness so farr fourth as they dare for the Law of your Kingedome Here what faith vvhat Sanctification vvhat feare of God vvhat talke of religious thinges here you may fynde some dusty Bibles in familyes but they serve not for any use all the yeate longe save onely to carry to Church on Sundaies Here scarce in any one family of the Parrrish you shall fynde or Morninge or Eveninge Prayer the whole yeare thorowe here no Repetition of Sermons no Catechising of the family at any tyme yea scarcely Grace before or after meate What evidence here then of the Kingedome of heaven vvhat childe of that Kingedome would not mourne to see here so smale fruicts of the Ghospell If it be obiected that Morninge and Eveninge Praier Readinge the Scriptures Repeatinge of Sermons and Catechisinge of the family are new taxes not laid upon Men by the Ghospell then I answere That theise dutyes are included either expressly or by consequence in the Commandements given us in the Ghospell Moreover because those commonly doe theise things in whom the Ghospell most prevayleth therefore the not doing them servs as a Signe that there the Ghospell prevailes not in people as it ought Lastly seinge every family is a Charge where Parents have Charge of Children and Masters of Servants therefore in every family there ought to be some Religious exercises by which faith and devotion may be furthered Another sorte of Ministers there is who both cann and doe Preach vvell yea and often as every Sabbaoth day once but though of the aboundance of their learninge they leave excellent Sermons with their Parishioners yet what comes of it they care not neither ever looke after its takinge any effect at all And for all their Preachinge yet observe them in their life and conversation and you shal never heare them speake of religious things longer then they are in the Pulpit for abroade all the weeke and yeare after their Parishioners fynde that their talke is wholy of worldly matters so that by true Signes the Parishioners discover them to be wholy worldly mynded Civilly courtious they are but Men may easely see that it springs but from Civility not from Religion Theise love their Parishioners but it is but because they reape Proffit by them not for that they fynde the Ghospell and the Grace of God to prevaile in them If you search into the familyes even of theise you may fynde commonly more store of Bibles and more use also made of them then in the Ministers howses of whom I have before vvritten but yet here you shall fynde the use to bee onely as for a vvearinge out of the tyme with readinge vvhich else they could not at present tell how to pass away Here you may fynde Graces before and after meate generally more civility in the family more showe of Religion also then in the former Ministers howses but yet for Morninge or Eveniuge Praier Repetition of Sermons or Catechisinge you shal hardly fynde theise things the whole yeare thorowe As for the People in such Parishes you shall commonly fynde them better disposed then in the Paris hes whereof before I have written they are commonly more Civill and respective of their life and conversation They resorte with more reverence to the Church and have more store of Bibles then in the Parishes before written of but as for family exercises at home such as are Morninge or Eveninge Praier Readinge the Scriptures at convenient tymes Repeatinge of Sermons or Catechisinge you shall not commonly fynde theise things used throughout the yeare If you search them more narrowly you may fynde indeed some good measure of knowledge of Divine Mysteries but as for faith or Sanctity through the Spirit as for any conversinge of things of faith as for any joy of things hoped for accordinge to the Ghospell of Christe you shall hardly fynde theise things in them no nor Signes of them Here we may thanke God for the evidence of the prevaylinge of the Kingdome of Heaven in this your Kingedome and this by the sight of a sounde Divine Service and Preaching and peoples resortinge to the Church but we cannot here rejoyce of that Kingedomes prevaylinge in the hearts lives and conversations of your people I grante indeede Dread Soveraigne that it is no smale matter that the Ghospell pressed vvith your Royall Lawes prevailes over Lords and inferior Governours of familyes so much as to bringe their familyes to the Church neither indeede is it a smale Power that hath brought even this to pass Moreover if Lords and other Governours of familyes usinge their familyes to the Church doe leave them therewithall to God hopinge that the vvorde preached and Gods Grace accompanyinge the same worketh in their family to make them inwardly good Christians not further using their family publickly to Morning or Evening Praier daily or to a reading of the Scripturs thorow every one his or hir part at convenient tymes or to Repeating of Sermons or to Catechisinge yet we may not doubt but that in every such family there is one or some in whom the worde of God worketh and faith in God groweth in them accordinge hereto and so herethorowe there is in that family a private prayinge and a private reading the Scriptures and private Meditations and selfe-Catechisinges therefore also vve may not condemne or reproach all such families as wherein publiquely the family gathered togeather

ENGLANDS PVRGINGE FIRE Conteyninge two Petitions the one to the Kinges most excellent Majesty the other to the High Courte of Parliament held at this tyme in England Shewinge in diverse perticulers how the Church in England might be ordered yet more consormably to the will of God reveiled in his Worde then at this day it is Herewithall is declared the evell and lamentable effects of our vnable and negligent Ministers and the happy fruict of our learned and painefull Pastors A worke most needefull for theise tymes as servinge to turne away the wrath and Iudgements of God from this Lande through the removinge accordinge to the Advertisements herein given such disorders and evells as for which the wrath of God may be and is kindled against this Land and the Church therein IER 6 16. Thus faith the Lord stand in the wayes and behold and aske of the ancient paths which is the good way and walke therein and ye shall finde rest for your Soules 16●● ENGLANDS PVRGINGE FIRE To the Right Honorable the Lords Spirituall and Temporall of the upper Hovvse vvith the Knights and Burgesses of the lovver hovvse assembled in the high Courte of Parliament RIGHT HONORABLE IT pleased the Kinges most excellent Mastie very lately to confess among you that in the Civill affaires off this Kingdome he founde not things answerable to that face which our excellent Government would induce any man to have hope of Might it therefore please this Honorable Assembly to examine the State of this Lande in Spirituall affaires also we then the subjects of this happy Kingedome may well have comforteable hope of your happy successe in theise as in those It is truly a greate measure of Happiness to this Kingdome it is also to be acknowledged to our Kinge as a singular Grace off his unto us that the Ghospell of our Lord Redeemer is freely preached in this Kingdome Solemne Divine Service maintayned and people pressed to resorte on the Sabbaoth to both but because the prevailinge of the Ghospell in the lives and conversations of men is most acceptable to God and because our people are not answereable herein to the face of that excellent Government which our Church carryes I most humbly pray that I may petition this Courte for an entringe into an examination hereof also For my part I havinge here in this Land drawen my first breath of this mortall life thinke my selfe bounde to imploy whatsoeuer Grace my God hath given mee for the Good thereof therefore I have adventured to expose my selfe to danger in movinge you to vouchsafe your examination of the State also of the Church in this Kingedome This high and worthily Highe Courte hath here to fore taken care that God be both solemnely worshipped and also served in this Land by peoples obedience acknowledginge that this is the Meanes to put away punishments and plagues from this Lande As therefore the Ghospell is not sent by God to be hearde onely by our people but to be obeyed also by their ordering their life and conversation thereafter or otherwise serves vnto condemnation rather then to Salvation so surely it will turne from us punishments and plagues and insteade of them will bringe vpon us holy favours and Blessings if you take care of the peoples livinge as becommeth Saincts For the furtheringe whereof I by a writinge adventured many yeares since to petition his sacred Majestie declaringe therein the perticulers wherein I petitioned his Roy all Assistance If it shall please you Right Honorable that I for discharge of my Conscience may exhibit vnto you the copie well neere of the same that so both his sacred Majestie may be put in remembrance thereof in this so sit a tyme for this motion and also you may bee occasioned as you professedly tender so now also to further the good of this Church you shall shew to me a Christian favour and I shall pray for you that God will second with happy succrss all your pious indeavours Your Lo pps in all bounden Duty THOMAS PROCTOR TO THE KINGES MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTY TO my heartes ioye and to the ioye of all good Christians have you my most gratious Lord and Kinge made knovven to the vvorlde by vvritinge your knovvledge of the office of a Christian Kinge As vvhere you vvrite That Christian Kinges within their owne Dominions are to Governe the Church to commande obedience to be given to the vvorde of God yea and to Reforme Religion according to Gods prescribed vvill Which Office most mighty and dread Soveraigne vvell may you perfourme longe may you live vvell to perfourme the same vvithin theise your most flourishinge Kingedomes Imitatinge herein the good Kinges of Israell and Iudah vvhom and vvhose Actions in Governinge the Church your Majestly hath set before Christian Kinges and Princes as examples unto them for their rulinge over the Christian Church vvithin their seuerall Dominions Which excellent knovvledge and religious Care of your Majesties so made euident to the vvorlde put me in good hope that it vvould not be displeasinge vnto you if collectinge out of Scripture some of the speciall Acts of those good Kinges of Israell and Iudah I thereby tooke occasion to vvrite vnto your Majesty of some thinges of greate importāce vvherein the Church of God in England needeth the redress of your povverfull hande Which thinge Dread Soueraigne I have not done either vvith any vaine conceipt thinking to better by instruction your excellent knovvledge or vvith any insufferable presumption in pressinge your executiō of Royall Dutyes vvith more hast then convenience but onely that I might discharge a Christian Duty by petitioninge your povverfull Assistance in some things vvherein your tymely helpe may greately further the good of the Church of God Neither truly is there any thinge better besittinge your Royall hande then is the yeildinge succour to the Church of God in those things vvherein shee greately needeth in theise tymes your aide For thus to doe is not onely the perfourmance of a very speciall duty of the kingely office but also it is an eterniznge of your fame in the eternal continuance of the Church Hovv pretious a Name hovv longe duringe a Fame have those good Kinges of Israell and Iudah obteined by vvhose blessed hands tymely assistāce vvas yeilded to the Church of God VVhat marble Monument of theirs like this VVhat other Act of theirs is comparable to this Their marble monuments are mouldred and their other Acts hovv greate and famous so euer yet make they not their Name and Memoriall so blessed as doth the Recorde of those things done by them in ordeninge the Churches Gouerment according to Gods prescribed vvill Hopinge therefore both of your Majesties beinge like mynded vvith these good Kings and also of your gratious acceptance of this my poore vvritinge vvritten for the good of this Church of Englande I humbly pray that I may prooceede first to collect out of the Scriptures some of the speciall Acts of the good Kinges of

to observe them Againe some may say What is their Office I answere seinge they are called Governours and Rulers and yet inferior to Teachers it implies that they with though under the Cleargy of a Parrish should Governe the people of the Parrish And seinge Goverment is lame where Power of Iudginge Punishinge is wantinge therefore as vve would not conceave the Lord to give a Lame Ordinance to his Church we are to Beleeve that theise Governours should assist the Cleargy in Iudginge and Punishinge with ecclesiasticall Punishments such in the Parrish as observe not the Ghospell in their life and conversation If here it be obiected that then I make them Ministers of the same Power in bindinge and loosinge as the Lord committed to the Cleargy onely I answere No for there is difference betwixt byndinge and loosinge the sinne its selfe and inflictinge or releasinge of Punishments there is difference betweene byndinge a Man in his sinne or loosinge him from it and punishinge a Man with ecclesiasticall Punishments for offences or releasinge him from the the same And indeede the worde is Iohn 20 23 Whosoevers sinnes ye remit whosoevers sinnes yee retayne not whatsoever Punishment you inflict or remit therefore in the first of theise the Cleargy onely have Power but in the second the mixt Elders of the Church aswell the Lay as Cleargy Elders have Power When the incestuous Corinthian was to be excommunicated the Apostle commits this to a plurality rather then to any one 1. Cor. 5 13 Put away ther fore from amonge your selvs that wicked Man And in the remission or Absolution he doth the like 2. Cor. 2 7 Ye ought rather to forgive him To conclude then Theise Lay Governours Office is to joyne with the Cleargy of the Parrish in observinge those of the Parrish whither they live and converse as beseemeth Saincts and where any are faulty there to judge of the crime to proceede against them as the cause requireth If theise Governours offend in their Goverment whither by Negligence or by untymely Severity or disorderly proceedings they have over them the Bishop Arch-Bishop who are to call them to Accoumpt and to punish them also for any evell administration of their office therefore also so much the rather such Governours may be admitted in every Church and Kingedome and not opposed as in theise tymes as for a dangerous rabble of rude and turbulent Busy-Bodies Neither indeede may any be suffered to Rule contrary to the Ghospell who have their office by the Ghospell therefore if Pastors and Bishops must be 2. Tim. 2 24 gentle towards all Men sufferinge the evell Men patiently provinge if God at any time will give them repentance that they may come to amendment how much more should theise inferior Governours be like minded For if Goverment and Iustice be not hindred by this lenity in Pastors and Bishops why should this preiudice the same if theise Governours doe likewise And if Timothie must not receave an Accusation against an Elder but under two or three witnesses I. Tim. 5 19 much less must theise inferior Governours hand over head trouble Men upon every reporte they heare or suspition they have And if the Elders of the Church be so to be respected are not the Elders of the Kingedome even Princes and Magistrates to be likewise so respected As God tendereth the Elders of the Church that every reporte or every little evidence of evell shall not be presently taken hold of to their disgrace so we may well thinke that even such his will is also concerning the Civill Magistrats of the Kingdome therefore the Governours of the Church ought to be slowe in medling with such S. Peter also 1. Pet 5 3 chargeth the Elders Church that not as though they were Lords over Gods heretage they should Governe the same Whilst this bridle therefore is put into the mouthes of theise Governours and this also by the Ordinance of God theise Governours neede not so to be opposed as some would have it under pretence that they woulde prove in the Kingdome a sorte of ignorant Men puffed up by this Power and Authority and troublers of men upon every the least occasion True it is that we must understande that as the Kingedome so the Church may not so pervert Iustice as not to lay hold on them that sinne openly therefore where there is an open sinninge theise may not be timerous vnder coulour of sufferinge the evell men patiently Yea I say more vvhen it is hearde certainely abroade as was that 1. Cor. 5 1. that such or such a Man is a Drunkarde a whore maister fornicator Adulterer extortioner Railer filthy speaker or the like such fame or report must not be neglected but rather must occasion a watchinge over such and when dut Accusation shall seconde the Reporte then may they no neglect to proceede against such To this I may add as a parte of their care and Goverment that they see the Church decently kept and the Congregation ordered in fit manner aswell for order in sittinge as for perfourmance of such Ceremonies as serue to express Reverence at Divine Service In a vvorde they are to see that Men live and converse as the ordinance of the Ghospell together with the Churches Canons not dissonant from the Ghospells ordinances require Surely the Benefit of such Lay Governours in every Congregation woulde be greate for by their Elderly Gravity of yeares and Authority which such kinde of Eldershipp onely carries with it by the plurality of their Number and their dwellinge in severall parts of the Parrish not onely an Awe of them would fall upon them of that Congregation but also a certainety of crimes would the sooner be attayned so that men could hardly live longe disorderly but they would be knowen so to doe to some or other of theise Governours Moreover by such Governours our people would be bettered and the Churches State and Maiesty would be increased for our people seinge that the Antient amonge them have Authority even by Gods Ordinance to observe Governe Iudge punish them they wil be the more carefull to live converse as beseemeth Christians And the church havinge the Antient of the Laiety in every Congregatiö joyned with the Cleargy in the Goverment of the churche servinge as Governours inferior to the Cleargy the State Authority of the church would greately be augmented To conclude then if God sent out the Ghospell accompanied with this kinde of goveruours also which thing I have before proved from the Scriptures cann we expect any other then detriment yea punishmēt if we deny to admit such governours Shall not our Land and Kingedome suffer visitations for the Neglect and Opposinge of so holy and necessary an Ordinance of God Shall the Ghospell be admitted and its Goverment kept out or cann we expect proffit by the Ghospell if thus vve doe For doubless Iudgements accompany the Ghospell where the Government ordeyned to

there is not usually holy exercises perfourmed But yet because the very Showe of Godliness is good not onely for an evidence to Pastors of the prevailinge of Gods Grace in their Parishioners but also for examples sake to others as servinge to provoake or incite one family by another in the use of such pious exercises and Showe of Godliness it is very behoovefull that families have their publick holy exercises at convenient seazons Indeede some of those who most use theise pious family exercises make Religion a weariness to their family by so continually drawinge them in every minute of tyme wherein they worke not to theise exercises that they leave no time for their familyes recreation and refreshment by sportinge dancinge usinge exercises of Activity or exercises of danger for animatinge them to valiancy and other like Thus by an extreame a vice growes and this both to the hurte of the family and also to the scandall of the Ghospell of Christe for some erroneously conceavinge that Religion cannot stande with such things they make their Children servants dull and slowe of motion and unsit for the defence of the Kingedome and of the Church and others thinkinge that the Ghospell admits not such things make the Ghospels yoake heavier then the Lord would have it and so make the people take offēce therat Yea som have raised a reproach caused themselvs to be a by-worde through their puttinge the bridle of their owne worde in peoples mouths restreyninge them in thinges which Gods vvorde restreynes them not in such Men doe both themselvs and also the Ghospell wronge The Scriptures declare the Lord not to dislike but rather to approve of sportinges Gen. 26 8 dancings Exod. 15 20 Iudges 11 34 37 and of exercises of Activity Iudges 20 16 1. Chron. 12 2 therefore none ought by a vvorde of their owne to restreyn Gods people in such things Such Men would make conscience to doe as David did who for the rescue of a sheepe would followe after a Beare and after a Lion but this exposinge a Mans selfe to such dangers even upon such causes the Scripture rather approves then condemnes Surely the Scripture commendinge as an Ornament and Honor of Kingedomes that there are Active valiant Men in the same 1. Chron. 12 1 it doth consequently allow of such hazardous exercises as incyte move Men to a valiant exposinge themselvs to dangers therefore the baitinge of Bulls of Beares and huntinge of vvilde Beasts and the like are not to be condemned to be used by Gods people If any evell be done or evell Speach hearde in the usinge of theise things let that indeede be reproved and punished but let not Gods people be debarred from the use of theise lawfull things under pretence that Religion and Holiness will not stande with such thinges Would God that they that use theise things would say and resolve and profess that seinge God is gratious to allowe them to sporte to dance to use exercises for Activity and even unto danger for animatinge of them to valiancy therefore he should not be dishonored by any in the use of them for surely if Gods people did this the Lord would delight in his peoples exercisinge themselvs in theise things True it is Mans corrupt nature is such as that hardly it cann use theise things without takinge Liberty with all both to forget God and also to put away his feare in the tyme of their makinge use of theise things but if Masters of families and publick Governours as also their Pastors would teach them frequently to minde the Lord and to have care in their hearts not to displease him in their usinge theise things as also would be ready to reprove and punish any that should dishonor God in the tyme of the use of theise things then the corruption of nature would be kept downe herein as in other things hereby for the Awe of Goverment changeth the Manners which a depraved Nature is apt to bringe fourth And why should not every one of every family thinke with themselvs that as to doe or say oughts in their sportinges one with another or family with family or neighbours vvith neighbours vvhich vvould displease their Masters and also their Magistrats knewe they thereof were the next way to be deprived of theise Solaces and Refreshments so to displease God is likewise the next way to make him also to deprive them of them and to plague the Land and them Therefore people should use theise things as by Gods permission havinge an Awe of God in their hearts not to permit or doe any thinge in the use of them which is truly a breach of any of Gods Commandements As for the Sabbaoth day vvhereas some use exercises of violence unto Blood such as are baiting of bulls or beares cudgell playinge other like theise though they be lawfull at other tymes yet not on the Sabbaoth more harmeless solaces delights befits the same both for conveniency also for that it is a rest aswell to Beasts as to Men the like I might say for hobby-horses and men in vvomens apparell but this indeede unlawfull vvhich our Maygaimes commonly use for even in indifferent things there may be a fitness not to use them on the Lords Sabbaoth day Theise things I thought good to touch at here because men are apt to erre by an erroneous restreinte aswell as by an erroneous liberty-takinge Againe I finde in those who most use holy and religious dutyes a custome of long prayinge as if they would make a custome or get a Name for great prayinge whereas the Lord doth in Scripture declare himselfe to delight in shorte praiers tendinge to the present occasions of praying vvhich also are fittest for the Spirits attendance thereto and to be made in faith of that praied for There is no truth in praier when the Spirit and faith accompany not the things praied for neither cann they conveniently accompany longe and tedions praiers In Congregations indeede there must be in the Pastor a sence of and praier for publick offences Benefits and the very rehearsing of many perticulers is there truly needefull but in the private family the occasion of the prayinge vvhither it be for the morninge or eveninge is especially to be tendered though som other perticulers for the common wealth may also breifely be remembred Thus have I noted some evells whereinto some the most devoute are apt to fall that so such evells may be prevented but yet if this Care be taken against theise evells it would be very proffitable that every family aparte use its selfe to such Religious Dutyes For for vvant of accoustominge a family hereto vve fynde that Men goinge to church and comminge from thence make that all their Religion for all the vveeke after never thinkinge any more of any thinge learned at the Church nor caringe to doe in the vveeke as they vvere at Church taught to doe vvhereas if at home the family