A Threefold Treatise of the Sabbath, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI. Of examples of caſuall judgements againſt the Prophaners of the Lords day.
OF ſuch like judgements as happen as it were at unawares, unexpectedly, I have given inſtances in holy writ: And therefore by the recording of them, God would have us not only to take notice of ſuch, but alſo to make good uſe of them, as the Lord ſhall direct us in wiſedome, in charity, and well-mindedneſſe ſo to doe.
For it muſt indeed bee acknowledged that in this ſort of judgements the particular application to particular perſons for this and that act is not eaſie, but requireth prudency of circumſpection, and carefull obſervation of all circumſtances concurring to make a true uſe of them in the application to others, though not the like difficult in all, nor yet ſo hard for the parties upon whom ſuch caſuall judgements doe fall, to apply them home to themſelves for inſtruction. And therefore have they beene obſerved and recorded: Among very many, take theſe few examples.
Famous and memorable is the fall of the Scaffold in Paris garden, where many were gathered together on the Stowes Chron.Lords day to ſee the rude ſport of Bear-baiting, the fall whereof flew eight perſons, and many others were hurt and ſore bruiſed.
A great number gathered on this day to ſee a Play acted Doctor Beard in his Theatre.in a chamber; the floore fell downe, by meanes whereof many were hurt, and ſome kild.
Stratford upon Avon was twice on fire, and both times on the Lords day, whereby it was almoſt conſumed, chiefly for prophaning the Lords day, and for contemning the word of God out of the mouth of his faithfull Miniſters.Theſe two inſtances are cited by Biſhop Bayly.
Teverton, (whoſe remembrance, ſaith mine Authour, made his heart to bleed) was twice alſo almoſt utterly conſumed with fire, 400 houſes at once in a flame; and in the firſt fire were about fifty perſons conſumed; which was for the horrible prophanation of the Lords day, occaſioned chiefly by their Munday-market. Of the firſt judgement they were fore-warned by their Preacher, telling them that ſome heavy judgement God would bring upon the Towne, as it hapned, not long after his death.
Two brethren on the Lords day in the forenoone came from a Market-towne to an Uncle they had, there to dine; after dinner they took horſe againe, but had not gone farre, but one of the horſes fell downe dead: who going back againe to their Uncles houſe, the other horſe being put up into the Stable, within an houre or two after died in the place.
One would ride after dinner on the Lords day, about a worldly buſineſſe, which he needed not then to have done; and therefore was diſwaded from it, but goe hee would, his way was over a bridge, on which when he came, a puffe of wind blew his hat into the river, which he ſeeking to recover by going into the river, both he and his horſe were drowned, nor could he be found till fiſhes had foulely devoured his fleſh.
The Magdeburgenſes report, that a husbandman grinding his corne on the Lords day, the meale was ſet on fire: And it is knowne to many, that a Millers wife ſetting her Mill on going, and ſhe buſie in her Mill on the Lords day, in the morning the Mill-houſe fell upon her, and kild her; of which by the fall of a Stone there, but a few dayes, or but a week before, ſhee had a faire warning given, yet not making good uſe of it, ſhe there ended her dayes.
Fourteene youths adventuring to play at foot-ball upon the river of Trent on the Sabbath day, when it was, as they thought, hard frozen, meeting together in a ſhove, the Ice brake, and they were all drowned.
I might here rehearſe many more caſuall judgements of many ſorts, which have hapned upon ſuch as have prophaned this day. Fires have beene kindled, it not being known how, in time of peoples ryoting on this day, which burnt downe many houſes: Some in one place, ſome in another, on this day ſome going out to ſwimme have beene drowned: Some riding to merriments (which commonly neglect divine ſervice) have fallen from their horſes and broken their necks: More of this kinde might be rehearſed, but let mee conclude with the words of the Authour of the Practice of Piety: If theſe be not ſufficient to terrifie thy heart from the wilfull prophanation of the Lords day, proceed on in thy prophanation, it may bee the Lord will make thee the next example to teach others to keep his Sabbaths better.