windows broken the Iron barres of the windows bended and bloody and the poor wretch never more heard of These are sad instances of Gods displeasure if he would please in mercy to set them home upon some poor sinners In the year 1551. in Bohemia five drunkards were met together to drink who seeing a picture painted upon the wall for the devill drank healths to him the next night they were all found dead with their necks broken and their bodies crusht in pieces blood running out of their mouthes nostrils ears c. In the County of Cavan in Ireland a Gentleman of Castle-terra was much given to delight in drunken company wherein healths went down swiftly and glasses broke against the walls at every health by this sin he was so much addicted to wickednesse and impenitency as his sport was to repeat the Ministers Sermons in scorn and derision especially at one time having heard a Sermon upon faith demanded of the Minister if he could remove mountaines else he would not believe he had faith This Gentleman is by Gods hand struck with the small pox which gets into his throat in such extremity that he could not swallow any meat or drink to cool and refresh the violence of his internall heat that throat that had been the gutter and channel of many a pounds worth of drink could not now in torment like Dives suffer one drop to refresh him In this sad and bitter conflict he breaks out into these expressions to an honest man standing by Oh Thomas would I could now receive one of those glasses of drink which formerly I profusely and profanely have thrown against the walls And growing worse and worse without hopes of life perceiving no remedy but death for all his soares he breaks out again in his agony and torment oh that now I had but as much faith as a grain of Mustard-seed and so expired the 57. year of his Age I pray and cordially desire that such sinners as parallel this example may not be reacht with the like Justice Many there are in this Nation grown up to a height of Malice and Rage against Gods Ministers and some in this place boyled up to a proportion of envy ready to break The Lord break their hearts and humble their soules under that two-edged sword of his word that they may be saved in the day of the Lord A Gentleman of Quality being drunk and rising to urine evacuating that into the fire that prepared fuell for himself he fell into the fire and not being able to rise again his belly was gathered together like a piece of Lether the chamberlain coming in helped in that could not pity or help himself and though in great torture and pain through the piercing anguish of Gods Judgement yet he called for and drank off two and twenty double Jugs of Beer and so in this sad and lamentable estate died Roaring and Crying that he was damned for breaking his vow of Reformation Oh that the Lord would work a Reformation indeed that poor creatures may not thus fall under divine Justice too much to be feared as well to soul as body Remarkable is the example of that tragical story of two Drunkards who the fourth of July 1580. at Nekershofew in Almain came into an Inne called for bread and wine and drinking to an infinite excesse at last one of them drinks a health to God demanding what wine God would pledg him in and reaching forth his arm with a cup full sayes God I know not what wine thou likest best but this I think is too good for thee unlesse thou hadst sent better but such as it is I give thee take it pledge me presently and carouse it off every drop as I have done to thee or thou dost me wrong Here 's a piece of blasphemy which I am confident the most wretched creature in the world durst not speak sober Oh this sad sin we little know what the fruits of one drunken hour may produce This vile wretch no sooner ended his hellish courtesie but that just and wise God who must be provoked before he will execute his severe Judgements whom he had blasphemed pledged him with a witnesse for he left him as a pledge to the world of his wrath and displeasure against this sin His arme which he stretched out was never able to be pulled in again his body stupified as well as his senses not able to stirre from the place continuing a long time in this sad condition his eyes rolling to and fro in a terrible manner his breath and speech lost yet seemed to all alive The people flock in droves to see this sad spectacle of fury and vengeance some offer to remove him but could not horses are tied to him but could not stir him they put fire to him which would not take hold so perswaded God had set him there as a warning to Drunkards they left him so and to this day sayes my Author he stands as a Pillar and Mark to bid others avoid the like wickednesse least they participate of Gods wrath which though it moves a slow pace will in the end light heavier in as much as Gods patience provoked turns to the most irresistable punishment His companion who had escaped the imediate hand of God fell into the hands of Justice also for as the other died a terrible so this a shamefull death being hanged by the common people before the door of the house where the sin was committed O that you would consider this ye that forget God least he teare you in pieces and there be none to help At one of Alexanders great meetings appointed for his Officers and Favourits no lesse died with excesse of drink than 41. and after many a health Promachus at the bottom of four gallons of wine found the prize and jewel appointed for the Conquerour Another time he ended his own health and life by drinking a health out of Hercules Cup which to effect 35. drunk their last also These are direful and pregnant testimonies of Gods Judgements upon this impious custom of drinking healths Against that good law of the Spartans Vt bibat abitrio pocula quisque suo Every man to his own liberty Or that of the Goths where it was death to drink or force a health It s placed in the Records of time that Popelus second King of Poland doubting the fruits of his male-government to be the peoples deposing him by his Queens counsel faines himself sick sends for twenty of the Elective Princes out of Pomerania intreating their visit who as well now as at other times came and for their just reward and punishment of their great excesse in drink and custom of healths they now drunk their last without being drunk at all The King makes a Speech intreates his Son may be elected Heir to the Crown after his departure which they promise if the Nobility consented to their resolves The Queen to seal the bargaine brings a
little ones they are the spawn of greater Faith and Troth are the livery of Gods Wounds and Blood and God damn thee We damn our souls by this sin at a low rate if we consider the little either pleasure or profit of it Avoid evil society cursers and swearers are not to be associated with lest partaking of their sin thou taste of their punishment If a Master of a Family or School-Master destroy it there nip it in the bud and resolve with David that none such shall be under thy roof I conclude with Psal. 25. Let them be confounded that sin without a cause If reason prevail not remember the penalties of the Lawes which though severe at this day yet short both in the greatnesse and execution of former times Philip King of France made a Law That whosoever blasphemously swore should be drowned And Max. the Emperour That every vain swearer should pay 13 shillings 4 pence or if he refused to be executed In Hen. the fifth's time A Law was made against prophane and vaine swearing The forfeiture for a Duke 40 shillings a Barron 20 shillings a Knight or Esquire 10 shilling a Yeoman 3 shillings 4 pence and a servant to be whipt and this Law was so well executed that all the Nation over very few were heard to swear an oath These were times of lesse light than we pretend unto yet a spirit of Reformation for God was much more above our Age we live in If still we will not forbear see Gods threatnings against this sin In the Law stoning to death was the lowest punishment Bring him forth that all the people may stone him In that black and forlorne band of sinners the Swearer leads the Van which together with other sins maketh blood to touch blood and the land to mourn In Zachariah 5.3 The thief and the swearer are linked together against whom the flying Roll with the curse of God is threatned to the consumeing of their House Timber Posts and Stones As he clothed himself with cursing marg saith the Psalmist So let it come into his bowels like water and like oyle into his bones There is nothing more usual and certain then for the arrows of this cursed Quiver to reverberate and fly back upon a mans own face God will be a swift witnesse against such as dishonour his holy name by profane swearing Now those that will not be warned by the nature of this sin nor danger to soule and body nor be diverted from it by Gods threatnings let such harken to his just Judgements in these following examples which are not only as a cloud of witnesses against profanenesse hut also stand as a Pillar of Salt to warn thee from disobedience and wilfull running in a carreer of sin to thy eternal ruine Earl Goodwin having slain Alfred wished at the Kings Table if it were so that the bread he was eating might choak him which God in Justice suffered ere he stirred A Fisherman known to the Authour coming with a Boat of Mackarell to a Town in Suffolke and being the first that came that year the people pressed hard to be first served one steps into his Boat he presently taketh up a stone swearing by God he would make them stand farther off which was no sooner said but he fell down and died presently How many have I heard swear by God as commonly as speak Oh take heed of Gods judgement consider what a mercy it is to thy soul that thou art not thus judged A Gentleman in Edward the sixths time riding with other Gentlemen being reproved for swearing opened his mouth wider and raged worse and worse Mr Haines Minister tells him mildly the danger of it and that at the great day an account must be rendred he with Solomons fool refuses instruction bids him prepare and take care for his own estate Mr. H. replies repent and amend for death is as sure as uncertain But raging and roaring with cursed oathes he sayes Gods wounds take no care for me and and coming to a Bridge his horse leapt over with him who like an impenitent wretch ended his dayes As he had lived crying Horse and man and all to the Devill In Lincolnshire there lived a Servingman who was so accustomed to sweare as at every small occasion he used Gods blood in his mouth his friends mildly warne him from the evill of those wayes lest vengeance follow at the heels of his impiety but he takes no notice of friendly admonition being visited by the hand of God his friends again advise him to repent of his wickednesse but God intended not that affliction to have so sanctifying a vertue in it as to soften his obdurate heart who by his accustomed oathes had forfeited the patience and long-suffering of God and turned his mercy into fury He grows worse and nigher to the chambers of death and hearing the Bell toll for him starts up and under the pains and violence of death cryes Gods wounds the Bell tolls for me but he shall not have me yet Suddenly the blood from his Nose Mouth Wrists Knees and all the joynts of his body flowes out in abundance that he became a spectacle of Gods wrath and died O the dreadfulnesse of Gods Judgements There was a man in Germany so much accustomed to use the Devill in his mouth that if he did but stumble the devill was uppermost he was often reprehended for it to no purpose except to make his sin the lesse excusable which he continuing in coming to a Bridge stumbled and fell down saying Hoyst up with a hundred Devils instantly the Devill appears and carried him quite away that he was never heard of after One who was given much to cursing â—wearing being on his death-bed most wickedly desired those that stood by to help him with oathes and to swear for him and himself swearing so fast as one would think there was little need of any other then himself in the world that could so quickly find out a way for to blaspheme God and damn his own soul In the City of Savoy There lived one who after much exhortation and reproof hardened his neek against all admonition the plague breaking out light upon him he with his family retires to a garden the words of reproof by the mouth of Gods Ministers follow him that if possible the plague of his heart might not at the same instance together with Gods outward hand contribute to the eternal ruine of his soul with that of his body but all in vain as good turn the course of the Sun as his soul accustomed to sin at last swearing and cursing with the Devill in his mouth the Devill suddenly hurries him away into the ayre in sight of his wife and Kinswoman who saw the Devil flying with him over their heads his cap fell off his head and was found at Kosne but himselfe was never heard of to this day The Magistrate at the noyse
dayes of their youth unlesse by blaspheming and cursing it A Noble person of the City of Eflinghen at a losse by gaming began to swear and curse bitterly in which rage and madnesse he mounts his horse for home the Devil meets him pulls him off who with his servants was misguided all the night by evil spirits and in the morning finding themselves not lost they get their Master safe to Bethen-Hansen where in great torment for three dayes he yeilded Justice victor A woman in Marchia being a prophane curser and swearer was justly left by God to Sathan for in sight of many people she is snatched into the air and thrown down again which brake her neck God we see can break us from our sins and lives together if we do not from the first break off by repentance One Margret VVood of Allercleugh in the Parish of Stanhop in the County of Durham was notoriously known for many years upon every slight occasion to use this imprecation I wish I may sink into the earth Upon the last day of August 1655. she with one Elinor Mason of the same Parish being both washing of lead oare to fit it for the Lead-mill and standing upon the same spot of ground where many horses laden with Lead had passed the immediate day before the earth suddenly failed under them and swallowed them both up next day when their dead bodies were digged out Elinor Mason was found with her body erect but Margeret VVood was many yards deeper within ground and her head direct downwards One Elinor Short of the same Parish did frequently use this imprecation I wish my feet may rot off if this or that be not so or so It pleased the Just God about 20 years ago to visit her with a pain in her feet which by degrees did rot quite off as afterwards did her legs also and she is yet alive at this day as a Monument of Gods signal Judgement she creepes upon her hands and thighs and doth often acknowledge Gods just dealing with her Robert Durance Butcher in Carlisle was a known Swearer and Drunkard who about 30 years ago being playing at Cards with some of his companions and having lost all his money except 30 s began fearfully to swear he would be revenged upon himselfe whereupon he run out at the gates of the City towards the River Eden and though he was followed by divers some on Horse-back yet did he destroy himself by leaping into the River in which River hard by the place where he leapt in he lay for the space of four years at the end of which a Fisherman found the lower parts of his body only the other parts being consumed William Knot of Dalston in Cumberland being a common swearer when he was a servant to Alderman Grey of York he fell into a lead full of boyling liquor by which means in ten days he dyed John Prestman of Weighton in Cumberland A Sheriffes Bayliffe being accounted a common swearer one night when he was drunk at Carlisle went out in the night and notwithstanding the perswasion of his Landlord leapt over the Bridge with his horse and was drowned in the River Caude One Hudson of Dalston in Cumberland did wager with another man who should swear more oathes by God the other man was by the just judgment of God struck dead ere he parted Hudston was struck dumb to his dying day and though he lived many years after yet could speak nothing but swear by God which he did upon every occasion Oh the justice of God to some and the patience and forbearance to others waiting to be gracious let such as swear by the name of God look upon this example this sad example On May Eve 1634. one Troe of Gloceâ—ter a Carpenter in the Parish of St. Michael being demanded by some whether he would go with them and fetch the May-pole swore by the Lords wounds he would go though he never went more But mark the justice of God on May day morning as he was working on the May-pole before it was finished he was by a Divine stroke of Justice smote with such a lamenesse and swelling in all his limbs that he could neither goe nor lift his hand to his mouth to feed himselfe but was forced to keep his bed for half a year together and to this day goeth lame May 4. 1636. OF THE SABBATH DAY WITH GODS JUDGEMENTS UPON THE PROFANERS thereof OF THE SABBATH DAY With GODS JUDGEMENTS upon the profaners thereof I Am now to treat with the Sabbath-breaker who for many reasons will appear to be lesse excusable before God for this sin then either the Drunkard or Swearer Here is a double sin profaneing it and neglecting that which is ordained by God for the eternall good of our soul besides it is a premeditated act and goes along with a great aggravation as we shall see in a word presently It is now become so great a custome to prophane the Lords day that he almost becomes a scoffe to others that offers to reform or punish it and that men may not so much slight it I have collected a few reasons to perswade men to observe it and disswade from the profanation of it for God will not be mocked That we may know this day is no mock-day The Lord that made heaven and earth That great Jehovah stiles himself Lord of the Sabbath and the Lord hath in a more speciall manner singled out this Commandement with a memento Remember by no meanes forget the Sabbath for the Lord rested that day and he blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it It 's a great consideration to make us weigh the duty of keeping it for six dayes the Lord made heaven and earth and when the seventh day came he rested on it The Lord as it were hasted to finish the world in six dayes that he might himself be an example to lead us to the understanding of the great weight which God himself put upon this day And that we may see it is no ordinary nor common thing to break this day see how strictly God in his holy Word commands it This is that which the Lord hath said To morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord six dayes may work be done but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest Holy to the Lord he that works shall be put to death that soul shall be cut off from amongst the people it shall be observed throughout their Generations for a perpetual Covenant The Lord threatens sore Judgements and why Because they have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths and I am prophaned amongst them Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it It 's called by the Prophet the Holy of the Lord Honourable there might be many more places quoted but these few are enough to let people see that it is not a trifling matter to profane the day and that we
ought to give all diligence and respect to this day as a day greatly valued prised and esteemed of by God himself Anno 1647. there was a deplorable accident a tremendous instance of the justice of God upon a person a â—armer in a Village called Little-â—allerton in the County of Northumberland about six miles distant from New-Castle The Relation is thus The Minister teaching upon that Scripture 1 Epist. Pet. 2. cap. 2. latter part Who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvellous light and in the fore-noon Sermon insisting upon the spiritual darknesse and blindnesse of unregenerate men and aggravating the many evills attending upon that condition in this life and asserting the wofull condition period state and conditon of such as should die in that estate of spiritual darknesse how that to such is resreveâ— the blacknesse of darknesse which was occasionally improved to discoveâ— the miserable condition of the damned in hell by reason of their separation from God called utter darknesse Mat. 22.13 and 8.42 25 1â— At the ending of the first Sermon this miserable man accompanied others of his neighbours to the Alâ— house for refreshment the time of râ—paire to the second Sermon beinâ— come some of them moved him to return with them to whom he replyeâ— that the Minister was preaching upoâ— darknesse and he would not hear hiâ— till he should treat upon the light and so continued drinking in the Alehouse with some other profane souldiers and by having immoderately taken Ale and Hot Waters was in the height of his drunkennesse carried to bed in the Ale-house where after a short time he ended his miserable life dying in the very act of sin without any visible act of Repentance This Relation is inserted verbatim as I have it from a godly Minister of the Gospel in the same County and not farre from the same place and is indeed a sad example of Gods Judgement not only against the sin of profaning the Lords day but also of drunkennesse and contempt of the Gospel Now because I observe this day so greatly neglected by the generality of the Nation not onely neglecting to hear the Word preached which is able to save their soules but also violating of it by profanation give me a word and that only to such as professe the observance of it as lawfull for if such a slighting of this day grow we shall from it run to Atheisme by contempt of Gods holy Ordinances and Commandments Let us first consider the end of God in the Sabbath which is chiefly for sanctification of his name and what creature dare say he is not strictly tyed by all the obligations expressable It is a day of liberty not of bondage God can be sanctified without us he shineth not with borrowed lights these tapers that burne from mortall breach can adde no glory to God but as in his great mercy and condescention he is pleased to accept of us Then the intent of this day as to our advantages it 's for the eternall good of our soules that the Lord may by this occasion reach our slow understanding and with his Word preached that he may dwell with the humble and contrite spirit We are not only to avoyd profaning it by not Working Drinking Playing Idlenesse Travelling c but we ought to frequent the publick worship of God in the Assemblies of his people and there to hear his word with Godly reverence and fear The reasonablenesse of one day in seven for God and our own souls may convince us in a great measure of this day that is a sin less excusable that 's so reasonable that we may have the lesse to say for our excuse he gives us 6 for our outward affairs oh then who can grudge the 7th especially when God links in our immortal happinesse together with his own glory It was the custom of Christians in Trajan the Emperours time to meet on the Lords Day morning sing a Psalm receive the Sacrament and covenant to flie sin on that day and when Christians were summoned before the Heathen Governours and demanded Dost thou believe the Lords Day the answer was I am a Christian Take away the Sabbath sayes a Reverend Divine and Religion will soon wither and decay The Indians might as well have been chosen the subjects of this profitable Obedience and we in their conditions keeping instead of a Sabbath to God every day to the Devil It will be more tollerable I am afraid for them at that Great day than for us If we had been left to our own choice What squarer division of time could have been thought upon than one day for our souls and another for our bodies one for the World another for Heaven This had been the reasonable rule of proportion it s more grace than reason that God should desire but one day in seven and that day also to be for our eternal good Oh how inexcusable will it be for us that prophane it or neglect the advantages of it Is refraining from labour a toil to us Is to be eased of sin a burden Lord then let me be burdened for Lord thy yoke is easie and thy burden is light What is a more unspeakable mercy than for souls to have communion with God as well as our own hearts And as Divines say glory is but grace perfected So that eternal Sabbath of rest is but as I may say this perfected This sin is accompanied with many aggravations and this is none of the least that we have a will given us to refuse to prophane it Besides its a deliberate act of the mind it s not sudden as an oath or murder but in the very act it self thou canst not but know thou art sinning against the light of thy conscience it s the greatest sin that is accompanied with time to consider an enlightened mind to understand the evil to purpose to evil is an aggravation as high as the sin If aggravations face not this sin with a dreadful countenance consider and in reason think Is it not just with God to suffer thy frail composure of corruption to shrink under his heavy judgements that at night Gods protection should leave us as in our graves when we are in our beds Or canst thou expect any blessing upon thy outward estate when it is in the power of God to dispose of life being health estate and all Is it not just if we travel on this day that God should judge us with sudden death in the like severity as he hath made others examples of to all Ages Yet if God do suffer thy corn wine and oil to encrease fear a curse under the Strawberry leaves of thy enjoyments for a blessing is not the shadow of sin it will not follow thee in the wayes of wickednesse rather fear some judgement will overtake thy swift motion to impiety A word to two sorts First those that prophane it contemning not onely Gods Lawes but the Lawes of the Nation
Smiths Barn and though it grieved the holy man of God who was Minister of the place as the Sodomites did Lot yet he could not help it but in their profanenesse they proceeded not long after a fire kindles in the place of this impiety and burnes down not onely his House Shop and Barn but rages so vehemently as it reaches many other houses with ruin all being chief actors in this horrid profanenesse In the year 1634. upon a Lords day when the River Trent was frozen over fourteen young men were at foot-ball upon the Ice near Gainsborough and meeting all in a cluster together the wrath of God met with them and suddenly the Ice broke and they were immediately drowned Oh the justice of the Lord upon the prophaners of his Holy day The same painful and useful Author of Gods examples relates a sad one of Gods Judgements upon two fellows in Essex near Brinkely that were working in a Chalk-pit one of them boasting that he had vext his Mistresse by coming so late in from his Sabbath-dayes Sports and Recreations ◠but sayes he I will anger her worse next Sabbath day which words were no sooner out but Justice seizes upon him for the Earth falls upon him and he never stirred more to his Sabbath prophanesse his fellowes limbs were broken both being sharers in the sin of the Sabbath are made also to be so in their sufferings and punishments The Lord will be known in the paths and wayes of his Judgements to such as will not be led and allured by his tender mercies And of one Mr. Ameredith a Gentleman of Devonshire being recovered from a pain which he had suffered in his feet one of his friends saying he was glad to see him so nimble the Gentleman replies He hoped his hopes should not be frustrated of the great expectations he had to dance about the May-Pole the next Sunday But behold the Lord in a just punishment for such impious and wicked resolutions and no doubt also for his former prophanesse on that day smites him suddenly with feeblenesse and faintnesse of heart ere he stirred from the place and with such a strange dizzinesse in the head that he was forc't to be led home and from thence to his last home before the Lords Day shined upon him Now tell me any that can what little hopes the poor souls thus ushered to the chambers of death have to keep an eternal Sabbath with God that will not keep his Sabbath from prophaning on earth Truly these are sad symptoms of Gods heavy displeasure against soul as well as body his mercy if any be in such dismal dispensations are occult and hidden the Lord in mercy warn poor sinners to avoid the wrath of such an Infinite God that such as will not be intreated to keep the Lords day as they ought may be terrified from prophaning of it Another as severe he relates which together with the three former are attested by sufficient witnesses At Walton upon Thames in Survey upon a great frost in the year 1634. three young men having in the forenoon heard a Sermon from 2 Cor. 5.10 We must all appear before the Judgement-seat of Christ c. they went over the Ice into an house of disorder and gaming where they prophanely spent away the rest of the Lords day and night also in revelling and drinking the one of them next day boasting merrily of his pleasure upon the Sabbath day and his adventure over the Ice All three on Tuesday return the way they went and upon the Ice suddenly sunk to the bottom like stones one of them onely miraculously preserved These judgements may be mercies to some that are yet prophaners of the Lords day if God please At Burton upon Trent Mr. Abberly a godly Minister often took occasion to reprove and threaten such as make no conscience of the Lords day by prophaning it in a more peculiar manner such as bought and sold meat upon this day which it seems was a sin as great and as commonly practised in this place as it was lately at Buntingford where in my journey some Gentlemen of Newcastle being my fellow-travellers we took occasion after Sermon to acquaint the Minister withal I pray God it may not be so still lest such a judgement befal the place as did this prophane wretch which was thus A Taylor being a nimble and active man dwelling at the upper end of the Town must needs in a bravado go to the further end to buy some meat before morning-prayer but coming home with both his hands full in the midst of the street he fell down stark dead I was sayes Doctor Teate an eye-witnesse both of his fall and burial and that it wrought a reformation in the place both among the Butchers and others It was a remarkable Providence and I wish I say that other places may be reformed of this bold and impudent sin or truly they may repent of it when it s too late A Pious Divine sayes he The Lord hath spoken so loud from heaven against Sabbath-sinners that I cannot be silent We hereabout have had in a short time terrible tokens of God severe vengeance upon such as mind not the service of his Day amongst our selves a sad example A Townsman going to gather Cherries on the Lords Day fell from the tree and in the fall was so battered and bruised that he never spake more but lay groaning in his blood until the next day and then died Another man not far from this place in Cherry-time as he was gathering fruit fell from the tree and with the fall was so hurt that he lay in anguish and dreadful dolour all the week till Sabbath day and then ended his miserable life And of a young man that on the Lords Day in a place nigh unto Mr. Goodwins scrambling with others for Peares thrown out in the Church-yard broke his main thigh-bone and the bone of his leg on the same side which was so miserably and strangely broken as that the Bone-setter who was a godly man told Mr. Goodwin though he had seen many yet he never saw the like God here dealt in mercy as well as in judgememt in that he 〈◊〉 him space to repent and see his sin The Lord warn us all by these examples A company of prophane young men in 1635. near Salisbury upon the Lords Day morning went to Clarington Park to cut down a May-Pole and having loaden the Cart with the tree and themselves with the bitter fruits of sin they are severely punisht by the hand of God For entring into the City of Salisbury through a place called Milners Bars unawares the Cart gives a turn and the end of the tree struck one of the Sabbath-breakers such a mortal blow that his brains flew out and there on the place he yeilded himself a conquered sinner by the Just hand of the Lord lying there as a sad spectacle of Gods indignation and sayes Mr Clark I enquired of
his conscience as this Providence of God did and since it was no worse it should be an example and a warning to him for ever after Oh that it might be so to others that may heare of it or read it In the year 1644. was a Beer-Brewer dwelling in Giles-Criplegate London nigh unto the white Horse that usually followed the sinful practise of Brewing upon the Lords Day for which he was warned and told of the greatnesse of the sin and how severe God was to such sinful practises but he reformed not Once upon a Lords day at noon the Reverend M. T. VVeld Lecturer of the said place from whom I had the Relation went into the house and taking them at work lovingly yet sharpely admonished them to whom they promised to do so no more within a Sabbath or two after the same servant of the house which before was taken in the act was now again found guilty of the same sin but mark the Justice of the Lord for setting fire to the Copper when it was scalding hot he fell over into it and was immediatly scalded to death Another which I had from the same hand A Cook in the same Parish using to make it his trade on the Lords day to heat Ovens and bake meat whereby all the family was imployed as on other dayes without regard to the Lords day unlesse to his own profit never or seldom frequenting the Word preached was often admonished yet went on in his sin One Christmas day which fell upon the Lords day as he was working and labouring as if no time were unlawful to gain the world though he neglected his eternal soul he was consumed to death by fire A Vintner that was a great swearer and drunkard as he was standing at his own door upon the Lords day with a pot in his hand to invite his guests was by the wonderful justice and power of God carried into the aire with a whirlwind and never seen nor heard of more Much might be said but my Work swells upon the Loome yet have I left many example to have the choice I shall conclude with one word and that is to pray us to consider that God blessed that is say Divines with intention of bestowing favours and benefits this day O let 's then labour for Gods blessing above all things Read those Promises in Esay 56.4 5 6 7. Jer. 17.24 25. let us labour for hearts to attend with delight to his Lawes and Ordinances when once we leave off Ordinances I durst almost say we are in a more sure way to ruin than the most outward prophane They are mercies not so much prized as they would if we wanted them A confluence brings a glut and that a disgust of the most relishing mercies A ten or five mile Sermon formerly tasted sweeter than now greater opportunities of grace and mercy nigher hand and within our reach I say let us set a high value upon the favour and means of conveyances let 's love and honour the faithful Ministers of the Word to love them is to love to hear them Hate thy Minister and then follows contempt of the Word and so hardnesse of heart this is commonly the sad effect of this sin Scoffers of Religion the Ministers of his precious Gospel and people have been made spectacles of Gods anger Judgements are prepared for scorners Prov. 19.29 They are blessed that sit not in their seat Psal. 1.1 One present in this Congregation sayes a Reverend Divine was an eye-witnesse of a woman scoffing at another for piety immediately she had her tongue strucken with a palsie and in two dayes died thereof Value therefore I say thy Minister for he is set over thee for to watch for the good of thy soul the love of the Minister and the Word is no small help to the keeping of the Lords day I conclude with the Psalmist Consider this all ye that forget God lest he teare you in pieces and there be none to deliver you Reader These following sad Examples came to my hand since the Printing of the former part of the Treatise which I thought good to insert here On Thursday in the last week save one of June 1620. A house was burnt down at Hether set in Norfolk there being a jar in the morning between the man and his wife as is said The woman wished that her husband going out might never return to his house which was burnt down e're he came home On the 22th of July 1627. at Barnham-broom some would needs draw up a Bell it being the Lords day into his place that it might be ready against the Bell-founder came on Friday that so they might not hinder their businesse Some went unwillingly to it but others went forewarned and did it when it was up he that was one of the readiest W. Baynes setting his foot on a board that brake or slipped fell and beat out his braines and miserably ended his dayes Aug. 6. 1627. At Scolebridge a man drunken being fastned on a Cart the horse turning suddenly overthrew the Cart into the River loaden with lime upon the drunken man where he was drowned and fearfully burnt with lime In the former part of Summer a man being drunk at VVimondham fell into a watery miry place and was drowned Another Drunkard vomiting a Sow followed him and eat up his vomit at last falling from his horse the Sow pulled out his throat and so he miserably died reported by the Judge at the Assizes FINIS Amos 3.6 Psal. 9.16 Epistle to Mr. Murcots Wo. * Mayor of Exceter Mr. Mantons Epist. to his life death * Suspected to favour Puritans VVilsons K. James Tit. 2.11 a 2. Turkish Hist. Wilson K. Ja. Prov. 23.29 R. Junius L. Bacon D. Taylor Esay 28.1 2 3 7 8 19. Chap. 22.12 13 14. Chap. 5.22 Joel 1.5 1 King 16.9 10. 2 Sam 13.28 Gen. 9.21 Peards Theatre Non ut vivat fed ut bibat Mr. Nealson Minister his Letter to Mr. Taylor in Theatre of Gods Judgements Mr. Ward his Wo to Drunkards D.T. Taylor Mr. Beadles Diary Mr. Clerks Examples Mr. Young Mr. Stubs Anatomy of abuses Mr. Young Doctor Beards Theatre Mr. Trapp M. L. marg Math. 5.34 Prov. 6.34 Levit. 24.14 Hosea 2.4 marg Psal. 109.13 Neh. 13 2. Mal 3 4. Mr. Beadles Diary Mr. Ridsley Serm. R. Junius Theatre of Gods Judgements Mr. Bolton Theatre of Gods Judgements Mr. Clerks examples Theatre of Gods Judgements Luthers Colloquia Theatre of Gods Judgements Mr. Terry's East-India voyage Theatre of Gods Judgements Theatre of historâ— Theatr. Gods Judgements Stow. Cron. Theatre of God Judgements Fox Acts Theatre Histo. Theatr. of Gods Judgements Wilson K. James Sin stigmatised Sword against Swearers Dr. Williams true Church Mr. Nowel These two I have from a reverend Divine of this County The Relation from his Brothers own mouth now alive 1645. 1627. Mr. Burtons Tragedy c. Mat. 12.8 Exod. 20. Exod. 16.23 31.15 35.3 Ezech. 22.26 Isay 56.2 58.13 Rom. 10 14 17. Mr. Goodwin Mr. Cawdry Jer. 17 27. Neh. 13.18 Ezek. 22.26 31. Theatrâ— of History Theatre of Gods Judgements Mr. Clarks examples Rom. 11.33 Theatre of Gods Judgements Luke 13.4 Mr. Clarks Examples 1657. Mr. P. Goodwin Dies dominicus redivivus 117. Mr Clarks Examples Dr. Twiss on Sabb. Dr. Beards Theatre C. Tacitus Josephus Mr. Nelson Minister his letter to Mr. Taylor in Theatre of Judgements 1634. 1634. 1635. July 19. 1635. July 1654. 1634. July 1634. Octoct 1633. 1634. 1634. January 1634. March 1634. June 1635 Feb. 9. 1634. April 18. 1635. Mr. Weld Mr. Clark 2 King 1. 2 King 2 Mr. Greenhill on Ezekiel Psal. 50.22
it concern his own life or â— state and this is the reason that iâ— some Courts they tempt Embassadoâ— to ebriety knowing that he will then be as leaky at the mouth as an old ship at Sea all he knowes comes up with as much ease as his drink went down It is just with a Drunkard as it is said of a Spaniard and a Frenchman That all the drugges in Egypt is not able to purge a secret out of the former which is a sicknesse and punishment for the latter to retain I could have said much more of the evill effects of this sin but I affect brevity though I fear to be tedious We see it is a wofull doleful sinne damnes the soul without repentance destroyes Body Estate Reputation of a good name In a word undoes in this life and that which is eternall Me thinks I see the whole Nation reel under the depression of this sin as in that though often cut yet like quick hedges grow again Hydra-like increases by his wounds but if once cut at the Root the Cedars as well as the Shrubs would fall to the ground So long as the tall Okes stand to shelter the storms of Authority from the Brambles lets never expect a hopefull Reformation of this Abuse For as Gondamar said at a Councel at Madrid Never let 's expect good from the Netherlands so long as England feeds the Humours let 's begin at the cause and the effects will follow so I say if exhortations threatenings nor civility will serve to find out common ingenuity from the great ones let a handle be cut out of the Bowels of greatnesse it self to lop of these exuberant branches of wickednesse which hinder the buddings oâ— vertue and promote the worst of vices but because I account my self strictly related to wish them well give mâ— leave to treat civilly with the Gentry And oh that I could perswade somâ— Gentlemen from this foolish sordid and unmanly trade of Drinking some few there are and I hope but few thaâ— think it an honour to be drunk swear and roar with debaucht company Many there are in these Counties as welâ— as other which bear the remarks of exemplary piety persons who for their vertues are the Honour of their country whose conversations alone set a brand upon debauchedness of such I beâ— the honour to honour them but such as are addicted to this sin I would distill better perswasions into their minds especially to such as in all points save this are extreamely ingenuous and such as through their too much ingenuity cannot resist temptations I pity their easie natures and wish their temperatures had been more steril and morose Oh that I could reach the most inward part and there plant the force of perswasion if it were but to a Moral and Philosophical kind of life that in the sight of this debauched and beastly custom of excesse and riot they might live like sober and discreet men rather glorying in their sobriety like Christians than â—mpiety like beasts Mirth chearfulnesse and sobriety may be nourished without the foolish custom of Drinking healths on purpose to be drunk As Lord Bacon in his Speech in Star-Chamber upon the consideration of â—hat cruelty acted against Sir Tho. â—verbury by imprisonment said It s â—are in the Island of Brittain it s neither of our Country nor Church In â—ome and Italy there is a Religion for 〈◊〉 if it should come amongst us it were â—tter living in a VVildernesse than a court May I not wish that Drunkenâ—esse were a sin rare in the Island of Britain This I say Let other Nations have a Religion to be debauched and drunk let it be to other Nations as their natures but let England account it self a Wildernesse oâ— wild beasts when this sin reigns leâ— us say It s better to live amongst Salvages than such beasts as Adam never found nor God never created This sin formerly was practise onely by Tinkers Beggars c. it waâ— a shame to a Gentleman to be drunk but alas how many now glory iâ— their shame instead of being bâ— their moderation knowledge and sobriety a glory to their Country Would but shame attend this sin â— would soon be left but this boastinâ— of such a dayes meeting wipes off â— shame so that men grow hardned â— their iniquity He that tempts me â— passe the bounds of moderation a â— sobriety does but civilly invite â— to a fever or some ruinous distempâ—Ile Drink my own health sayes a wâ— man and pray for the Kings Whâ—intollerable madnesseâ— sayes a Learnâ—â— Divine hath seized upon great portiâ—â— of mankind that this folly should possâ—â— the greatest spirits the wittiest men â— best company the most sensible of the word Honour the most jealous of loosing the shadow but throw away the thing Thou hadst better give away thy estate than say thy belly was the grave of thy Patrimony Is it not a horrid thing that a Wise Learned or Noble Person should lose his honours become an Apellative of scorn a Scene of abuses a dishonour to that party for which he with â—thers have suffered That which I â—eplore sayes he is that most men preâ—er a cause before their life and by one Drunken meeting set it further backward in its hopes and blessings than a whole year of counsells and arms can â—epair Indeed the Nation would hardly â—lush if onely the scum and froth of â—t were tainted but for this disease â—o fall upon the vitals it s a dye in â—rain a ruine to honour without a â—emedy I hope there are sparkes of â—ngenuity yet remaining in some as well as this sin which if once they take â—re from the consideration either of â—hreatnings judgements reason honour â—eputation or a good name this deâ—auchednesse would soon be blown â—nto the aire and if once the Gentry left it then it would become a shame indeed in the very Nation But I fear the habit and custom of this sin will force us at last to the sordid practise of some Nations where it s not accounted friendly entertainment if men be not drunk before they part I wish it may not be found a practise in some Gentlemens houses in this Nation Let me conclude with lamenting and perswading Is it not a great pity that men of the greatest Honour and expectations of the Nation for Gentility Breeding Learning c. should suffer the shipwrack of every thing that can be called good That such should be so sadly ruined in this seâ— of drunkennesse which like a Hericane spareth none but such as feel a lesse punishment than ruine it self Aâ— one said he could willingly lose half his learning to redeem his health so many may lament and wish half their knowledge and learning which once they had May I perswade you let me tell you it s as much below Gentility as a Gentleman is above other by birth and that which should distinguish him from other more peasantly deportments Can there
A man coming home drunk would needs swim in a Mill dam which his servants and wife disswaded him from because he could not swim and once got him out after he was in but he gets in again and by the just hand of God there perished I was says my Authour at the house to enquire of the truth thereof and found it too sadly true And one of Alisham in Norfolk a notorious drunkard was drowned in a shallow brook with his horse standing by him A Butcher in Haslingfield scoffing at the Preacher for his reproving of this sin was in the instant of his railing choaked by somewhat that stuck in his throat which could by no means be got up or down but strangled him Oh the Divine Justice how Righteous and Just is the Lord in all his wayes how are his judgements past finding out At Tillingham in Essex 3 young men meeting to drink one fell down dead and never rose again the other two escaped through mercy by the gates of much sicknesse that they might repent and if not to be the lesse excusable if God followed them by the like severity At Bungey in Norforlk three drunken companions coming out of an Ale-hous in a dark evening swore they thought hell was not darker but observe the end of Justice one fell over a Bridge and was drowned the second slain with a fall from his horse a third sleeping by the River side was found frozen to death At Hedly a Bayliffe being drunk got upon his Mare saying she would carry him to the Devill she indeed casts him off and broke his neck This Justice was the more remarkable being upon the Lords day A company meeting in an Ale-house in Harwich at night over against Mr. Russels house was once or twice desired to depart and avoyd such wickednesse but they would not he comes to the place himself and apprehends one of them and offering to carry him to prison he drawes his knife and made his escape But oh the Justice of the Lord the strange and wonderfull wayes of his Providence this man was not heard of for three dayes and at last was taken out of the Sea with his knife in his hand justified by Mr. Russell himself who was the Mayor of the place At Tenby in Pembrokeshire A common and frequent Drunkard in the midst of this sin fell from a high Rock and was broke in pieces and four other instances my Authour sayes he could relate wallowing and tumbling in their drink slain by Carts c. But being the common wayes of Gods Justice he forbeares them in the midst of so many extraordinary and remarkable passages of Gods Justice and power and indeed innumerable might be such instances which the experience of every place prevents in this A Glasier in Chancery Lane London having some sparks of profession but falling from them fell into this sin who being often reproved by his Christian friends and no better God hardened his heart against them and once being drunk by the violence of vomiting broke a vein continued two dayes in extremity of Anguish and torment not without great conflicts and distresse of mind his conscience being awakened and God in much mercy breathing some comfort to his distressed soul he yielded up his soul to God as he had done his body to Sathan attested by a kinsman of his own to my Authour O that if it had been Gods will all examples of justice were accompanied with such sweetnesse and mercy as to give any hope of the safety of the soule when the body in the act of sin is destroyed A Knight given to this wicked sin of Drunkennesse did sometimes order pailes of drink into the fields to make people drunk On a time drinking with company a certain woman comes in and giveth him a Ring with this posie Drink and die which he accepted of and wore and in six dayes died through excesse of drink justified by a Minister dwelling within a mile of the place Two children my Authour sayes he hath known to murther their Mother in drink and another that attempted to kill his Father of which being frustrated he set fire of his barn and afterward came to the Gallowes In Broad-street London Many Gentlemen drinking healths to their sole Lords on whom they depended one wicked wretch takes up a Pottle pot of Sack sweares a deep oath saying will none drink a health to my Noble Lord and Master and without any more words he begunne himselfe and drank up the pot full to the bottome and suddenly fell as if dead snorting but not speaking he is layd by as one overcome and covered with cloathes till they drink as large a proportion as their insatiate appetites would take in when done expecting their friend should rise they found him dead indeed Oh sad to go to Eternity swearing and drunk who would not dread the Issue At Barnwell nigh Cambridge a young man and a woman with a hundred more in company met at the sign of the Plough agreeing to drink off a Barrell of Beer which they did but will not examples of others warn us then let 's expect to be monuments to others three of them died in twenty four houres the fourth escaped with great sicknesse and by the gates of death had life given him witnessed by a Justice of Peace of the County near by Two servants of a Brewers in Ipswich whilst I was Minister there said my Authour drinking for a Rump of a Turky in their drink they strugled for it and both fell into a scalding Caldron the one died presently the other in Torment and Anguish pined away At a Tavern in Essex a Constable was threatned by a drunken Serving-man to be forced out of the house by his oathes and curses if he would not be gone and in his drink pursuing one of his company to force him to drink off a pint of Sack he fell down stairs and immediately fell under the stroke of divine vengeance oh you swearers and cursers remember these examples of God! let them be examples to you will not the wrath of God revealed stand in our way and encompasse us about with terrour and fear Oh be not proud of your strength to devour and engrosse the creatures of God to satisfy your lusts It is recorded of a Noble-man coming to Ipswich to visit his Kinsman in that University that demanded how he profited in his studies to whom they reply very well and that amongst one thousand five hundred he had the garland given him for the ablest drinker Gods Judgements will find us sooner or later In Salisbury one in the midst of his drink began a health to the devill saying if he would not pledge him he would not believe there was either God or devill his associates being terrified at his words with fear runne away the Vintner hearing a hideous noyse and smelling and unusual and noysom savour ran up to the chamber but his guest was gone the
from this sin none knows whither the wind of a distempered brain will hurry thee or whither this spirit of Bacchus will drive thee if once thou put thy foot into the stirrup to mount his saddle when thou art up thou must needs run when the Devil drives thee Play not with healths if thou lovest thy own drink not other mens flie evil society they are the Devils Trapanners be afraid with the Fuller in the Fable who for fear of infection durst not entertain the Collier lest he should make that black which he made white Be in this like the River Danube that will not mixe it self with the muddy streams of Sava Evil fruit grows in bad company they have no Autumn wickednesse withers not the mischiefs attending them are like the Spanish Indies which the Ambassadour told the Venetian had no bottom Ephes. 5.16 Be not drunk with wine wherein is excesse OF BLASPHEMING THE NAME of GOD By Cursed OATHES With the Judgements of God upon â—VRSERS SWEARERS OF BLASPHEMING THE NAME of GOD By Cursed OATHES With the Judgements of God upon CVRSERS SWEARERS THis cursed and crying sin of taking the Lords Name in vain by wicked Oathes hath like the River Nile so overflowed the banks of Authority that many who should restrain the fury and rage of so horrid an Impiety are too sadly guilty of it This sin to the sad experience of this Nation doth swarm in all corners of it A man can hardly negotiate in the World unlesse he resolve it no sin to hear the holy Name of God that God that made us blasphemed by all sorts of people Amongst poor people its common and for Gentlemen its sadly accounted Generous and Valorous That it is a sin against God I hope so few doubt it as I may be spared to prove it the most forcible argument against it lieth open in the possitive Command of God Almighty which made Heaven and Earth Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain and the reason is a terrible one by way of threatning For the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse Which Commandment is seconded by Christ in his Sermon upon the Mount Swear not at all neither by heaven nor earth marg but let your yea be yea and your nay nay The aggravations of this sin are great if parallel'd with the little reason for it or profit by it It must needs be a horrid sin that can propound nothing as the object but God himself we may in this sin confesse with David Against thee onely have I sinned and done wickedly All the creatures he hath made bow to him and to the remembrance of him Shall that mouth that sucks breath from God that made and daily preserveth thee breath out oathes and curses against him Oh impiety in the greatest dimensions wickednesse with an Emphasis Would not such ingratitude look odious in vulgar friendship to sit at thy friends Table and there receive daily food at his care and cost for thee and for thee to make him the subject of thy malice and rage and that to manifest it against his good name Is not this â— say monstrous ingratitude would not this swell provocation to the greatest latitude of revenge Is not the Lords Name as the Apple of his â—e A thing he is jealous of If â—alousie be the rage of a man which he â—ill not spare in the day of vengeâ—â—ce nor wil regard any ransom What â—nst thou expect from the Eternal â—od with whom is terrible Majesty It must be presumed thou knowest â— to be a sin How inexcusable then â—st it be unto thee whose consciâ—â—ce is convinced thereof It is a â— therefore with the full consent of â— will and for want of due care over thy heart and lips Oh man what is it can provoke thee unlesse the height of a Reprobate mind by blaspheming the blessed Name of God! How canst thou expect that blood to expiate thy sins and to wash away thy iniquities that hath so often spit his blood and wounds out of thy mouth I think I should not be guilty of over-rash censure if I say to such as are given up to this horrid impiety that it s but as an earnest of that cursed condition in torment and that the Devil teaches thee in this world that thou mayest be the more ready to blaspheme God in the world to come else what can be the meaning of mens giving up themselves to this wickednesse Considering The little profit got by it A faâ— advantage God knowes no more than to rob out of sport not needâ— and be punished for it What profit have you of those things wherein one day you shall be ashamed Is it because God forbids that we will swear like that man of Venice who for nine years never stept out of the City bâ— when on occasion he was commanded upon forfeiture of his life not to stiâ— then he was seen abroad Much like that of the Apostle Sin took occasion by the Commandment How canst thou call on the Name of that God in the time of calamity and distresse which thou hast so often cursed and blasphemed He that will mention the Name of God must depart from iniquity Shall I saith Polycarpus that have served God to such an old age prophane his sacred and blessed name that so lovingly hath preserved my life unto this day And being urged by the Proconsul to save his life onely replyed Know I am a Christian It is indeed a sin that makes men lesse believed A Heathen could say He was unwise that put trust in the words of a common swearer And another Philosopher sayes Virtue is never in that heart which breaths out curses and oathes He is accounted by all sober men to be a prophane wicked and ungodly man and its the greatest height of prophannesse that can be It s the onely sin and practise of devils in hell to curse swear and blaspheme God The godly have this Character given them That they fear an oath but the wicked are not afraid of a world of oathes The common excuse of this sin is the custom of it which is so slender that it strengthens it and indeed aggravates it for custom in sin by degrees hardens the heart from the fear of God This sin indeed is hatcht in the bowels of passion which boiling to a height vomiteth up all the corrupt filth and scum of the soul casting it in the face of God Beware therefore of passion which through the depravednesse of our natures make us like mad dogs that run at every thing in their way they bark at the Moon To see a man rage against God because his neighbour hurteth him is a perfect madnesse in reason Strive against the custom of this sin thou wilt lose thy senses else and the sense of it which is the height of sin Its Gods giving up a soul to sin when it loses the sense that it is a sin Beware of
know that what is lawful on other dayes are sins on this day and such of you as need not by Gods blessings in a full estate toil all the week whereby you cannot plead a wearinesse to waite on God upon his own day you turn his blessings into a curse if you prophane it you play all the six dayes it s a sin with a witnesse if you play away the seventh also You that cannot close this Holy Day without an evening sacrifice to Bacchus instead of prayers to the Lord that made Heaven and Earth Gods Judgements sleep not you are preparing your selves as fuell for the fire of Gods vengeance and displeasure Nextly to you that sit idly at home never dreaming how to escape that wrath to come methinks I read your sad conditions in your conversations That never think of God all the week you cannot for your callings you will not for your pleasures on the Lords Day if there be any difference betwixt you and Heathens it is that you know your condemnation before it come you will be at the Great Day witnesses for God against your selves To see so many idly sit at home and never mind to hear the Word methinks I am amongst the Indians It s a very heavy thing to consider in some places half the Parish at home in idlenesse or walking abroad in Sermon-time nay I have heard it credibly affirmed from the mouth of a Minister in this County that of some thousands in a Parish there hath not been sometimes a hundred at a Sermon nay not fifty nay not twenty shall I say not ten Is not this a sad case to be in a Christian Common-wealth Nay it s the sad experience of this place where I live and I may speak it to my own knowledge that three quarters of the people able to come of this populous place do idly stay at home or walk abroad not a family of ten but the most of them are at home in idlenesse if not at play or drinking Upon this account I would conclude with one word Good people let me perswade you to serve God rather than gratifie the Devil with your own damnation Is your labour lesse to sit at home than in the Congregation Do you think you have no souls to save nor to lose you had better be working than idle for that is a sin in it self and is made greater on this day You live more like the brute beasts that are fed by the senses onely How can you be saved if you will not come unto him that you may have life Are you Christians or Infidels Do you professe to worship God or Mahomet How shall you believe on him of whom you have not heard how can you hear without a Preacher not to hear that Blessed Gospel which Christ hath sent into our Coasts our Houses is to do as the Gadereans did drive Christ from our Habitations Such as followed Christ and his Apostles were converted I read of few else and such onely as lay at the Pool were healed To see people flocking to hear the Word like Doves to the windows it is a blessed sight But instead hereof we have some that entertain Quakers meetings in their houses on the Lords Day They have a sad account to give I hear some excusing their staying at home sometimes by their going other times these are common excuses But thou knowest not but that day thou stayest from the Ministery of the Word God may have intended thy eternal salvation and that with Zacheus God might have said This day salvation is come into thy house But I read good books That thou mayest do when thou canst not hear good Sermons and though it be good to read yet here its a sin and a temptation because thou neglect'sta greater good The Word stirs the soul under it and commonly cometh with power and demonstration of the Spirit and I know ther 's great difference between hearing and reading and the later is no lesse an evil thus used than the ejection of different thoughts in prayer from the subject and nature of the duty is an evil by consequence But I do no body hurt I am not playing nor drinking nor swearing so that I need not fear Gods judgements What judgement dost thou think a hard heart is which commonly is the fruit of the neglect of Gods Ordinances is it not the worst of judgements for thou mayst be destroyed with bodily punishment as Eli and others were and yet thy soul be saved but thou canst not have a judicial hardnesse of heart upon thee and be saved therefore take heed of this sin and fear lest a worse judgement befal thee than an outward destruction for how canst thou escape if thou neglect so great salvation My design is not to direct others to the keeping this day so much as to keep from prophaning it yet if any be perswaded to look to the keeping of it by way of sanctifying it I refer them to such Learned Divines as have spent their labour in it To those that are not moved by reason nor perswaded by their own advantages from polluting this Holy day by their wickednesse debauchednesse idlenesse or playing at Cards c. Read Gods threatnings that his judgements may appear to be more just by his forewarning us from the sin as well as the punishment If you will not hearken to me to hallow the Sabbath then will I kindle a fire in the gates of Jerusalem and it shall devour the Palaces thereof and shall not be quenched Fire in the Palace sayes a Divine is ment fire in the seats of Justice and the ornaments of a City fire in the Palace no going in fire in the Gates no going out because Justice was not executed upon Sabbath-breakes therefore the place of Justice shall be destroyed those gates that suffered any co come in to profane the Lords day must be now on fire that none shall escape his Judgements If we should see our Towns flaming with the wrath of God and the fire of his indignation taking hold of our habitations it is then in vain to offer to quench it it hath been thus in our Nation as in the examples following If such a judgment be threatned against such as keep not this day what must be the fearful looking for of Judgment by the profaners of it Did not God bring all this upon us in this City yet bring you more wrath upon Judah by profaning the Sabbath sayes the Prophet Ezekiel mentions the sin of the Sabbath and therefore have I powred my indignation upon them I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath and in the 23. Chapter is threatned Plagues and Judgements and v. 18. the Reason for they have profaned my Sabbaths If these serve not the end intended take a prospect of Gods terrible examples which stand as Beacons to warn us from the like sins The poor man that did but gather sticks on the Sabbath day may