A Threefold Treatise of the Sabbath, Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV. Of exemplary judgements mediate from God, againſt the prophaners of the Lords day.
CHriſtians in name ſhould be Chriſtians indeed, and one further another unto goodneſſe, eſpecially on the Lords day, which ſhould bee provocative to good duties, and to the ſtirring of us up to ſhew the vertue of Chriſt his reſurrection in us, and our Chriſtian love one to another, as at all times, ſo chiefly on this day: but where luſts rule and perſons are prophane, the Lord leaveth them to themſelves, to become his inſtruments to puniſh their prophanation of this day; as appeareth by theſe examples.
Some on the Lords day would goe to Bowles (a forbidden game to the common ſort) at which play two falling out, the one threw a bowle at the other, and ſtruck him ſo on the head, as the bloud iſſued out, of which blow hee dyed ſhortly after.
Certaine youthes (contrary to the order in the declaration) would goe out of their owne Pariſh on the Lords day, into another to play at Fives, the Mother of one of theſe earneſtly diſwaded him, but goe he would, and returning homewards at night, with his companions, they fell firſt to juſtling, after to boxing, ſo as their bloud being moved one of his fellowes ſtabbed him in the left ſide, and ſo wounded him, as he dyed the next day at night.
At a Wake on the Lords day, among others, two ſitting and drinking, till late at night fell out, but at firſt they were parted a while, after commeth one of them in againe, and ſeeing the other ſitting by the fire, with his back towards him, commeth behind him, and with an hatchet chineth him downe the back, ſo as his bowels fell out: the cruell murtherer flying, and being hotly purſued, leaped into a river and drowned himſelfe.
A wanton Maide hyred on the Lords day, a fellow to go to the next Pariſh to fetch thence a Miniſtrell (not warranted by the Declaration) that ſhee, and others might Dance: but that night was ſhee gotten with child, which at the time of its birth, ſhe murthered, and was put to death for the ſame, confeſſing the occaſion of her ill hap, to be her prophanation of the Lords day.
Upon a Whitſunday in the afternoone two fellowes meeting at the Ball (again not allowed by the Declaration) the one killed the other: Alſo upon a Lords day in the afternoone, one with much contempt againſt his Miniſter, as appeared by his words, would take up Cudgells to play with another (a ſport not allowed them) but at the ſecond or third bout, one of his eyes was ſtruck out of his head.
A fellow drunk at the Church-houſe where he dwelt, on the the Lords day (a foule ſin both for the time and place) was the next day, ſo given over of God, as hee became his owne executioner, and hanged himſelfe.
One d…poſed to revell-rout, without due bounds of preſcribed order, would in the Church-houſe keep an Ale on the …ords-day and other dayes both night and day without controule: But ſee the Lords hand, on the Sunday night, his youngeſt ſonne was taken for ſtealing of a purſe out of anothers pocket, while he lay drunk in the Church-houſe on the board and that week his eldeſt ſon was by one ſtabd to death.
A poore man after hee had heard a good Sermon (as hee ſaid) when he came from the barre unto a Miniſter, would go to a Revell (an ill name for Chriſtians meeting together) into another Pariſh, where occaſionally falling out with one he killed him; running out of the Church-yard to doe the bloody fact, for which at the next Aſſiſſes, he was excuted, lamenting his ill hap, that he could not tarry at home.
More inſtances of quarrelling, fighting, and killing of one another, might bee given to terrifie men from ſuch ſinfull wayes, and from ſuch prophaneſſe of the Lords day; eſpecially conſecrated to the laud and honour of Jeſus Chriſt our bleſſed Lord and Saviour.