A Threefold Treatise of the Sabbath, Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX. Concerning ſports unlawfull at all times, much more on the Lords day; and why ſports lawfull at other times, are on this day to be forborne; with ſome objections made, and anſwers to the ſame.
COncerning ſports, games, and paſtimes, it is agreed See Maſter Benham his Society of Saints pag. 160. 176. his religious and l…rge d…ſcourſe about ſports and recreations.upon, that they are not all of one ſort: Therefore let us conſider what thoſe be which are to be forborne on the Lords day.
1 All ſinfull vanities, which bee unlawfull by Gods word, as fooliſh talking, and jeaſting, Eph. 5. 4. Idle words, Mat. 12. 36. corrupt communication, Eph. 4. 29. toying wantonneſſe, Rom. 13. 13. Compotations, exceſſe of wine, or ſtrong drink, laſciviouſneſſe, either in words, ſongs, geſture, or action, banquettings, 1 Pet. 4. 3. Revellings reckoned among the ſinnes of the fleſh, which ſeclude from heaven, Gal. 5. 29. and practiſed amongſt the Heathen, and condemned by S. Peter, as Heatheniſh, with other ſins accompanying 1 Pet. 4. 3.it, 1 Pet. 4. 3. Ryoting, Rom. 13. 13. Theſe ſo condemned by God himſelfe, none may uſe at any time, and much leſſe on the Lords day, or any holy day: And yet if our paſtime-followers bee with-held from all theſe, their rude ſporting would be no delight to them: For the common Ruſticks doe horribly defile themſelves with theſe things, as the fruits declare in their drunkenneſſe, fighting, quarrelling, baſtard-breeding, and the like, beſides murthers committed ſometimes.
2 All ſports, games, paſtimes, and pleaſures, which bee made unlawfull by the Lawes of our Land, and Canons of our Church, are not to be uſed at other times, then not on the Lords day, by the rude vulgars and common multitude, who are prohibited, firſt all Beare-baiting, Bull-baiting, Interludes, common Playes, Bowling, Diceing, Carding, Tables, Coits, Cailes, Luggets, Shove-groat, Foot-ball, Fencing, and all meetings out of their owne pariſhes on the Lords day, for any ſports or paſtimes whatſoever. Secondly, All ſuch ſports and pleaſures as cannot be done, but by ſuch perſons as are prohibited to wander abroad, and by the Law judged to be vagabonds, and wandering rogues: ſuch bee Jugglers, Fortune-tellers, Fencers, Gipſies, Players, Pipers, Harpers, and wandering Minſtrels, Players upon Tabors, and Timbrels, Souldiers toſſing the pike, going as wanderers to get money on this day. Thirdly, all pleaſures in prohibited places, as Gaming-houſes, Bowling-alleys, and Tipling-houſes. Fourthly, all ſports whatſoever in the Church or Church-yard forbidden by the Canons of our Church in thoſe places; and here, methinks, the reaſon is good, if ſports and playes pollute an holy place, then ſports and paſtimes pollute an holy time.☜
3 All ſports, games, playes, paſtimes, and pleaſures, as have been condemned by the conſent of ancient Fathers, Imperiall Conſtitutions, edicts of pious Kings, by the learned Fathers, and Divines in Councells and Synods, and many grave and worthy Clerks, Proteſtants, and Papiſts, have ſpoken againſt it, in honour and due reverence to their perſons, and learned judgements, we ſhould forbeare on the Lords day: For that in other things they are much regarded, their judgements are approved, and their authorities alleadged. And may it not ſeem reaſonable unto us in this thing, which men acknowledge to be only matter of recreation, to condiſcend unto them? eſpecially conſidering that no ancient Father, no Councell, no Synod, can be produced for allowance of ſports, games, playes, and paſtimes to be uſed upon the Lords day: nor can be exerciſed on this our Lords day within the bounds of the Apoſtolicall rules, made by the holy direction of Gods ſpirit, for the uſe, and practiſe of indifferent things which may not be done to greive another uncharitably, Rom. 14. 15. nor whereby another may ſtumble, be offended, or made weak, verſe 21. 1 Cor. 8. 13. For we muſt give no offence, 1 Cor. 10. 32. nor muſt we look what ſimply in it ſelfe is lawfull, but what is convenient, or expedient, or profitable, 1 Cor. 6. 12. and 10. 23. and that the ſame be to the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10. 31. Theſe rules are holy and heavenly, and binde the Conſcience though upon conceit of Chriſtian liberty, few make conſcience of obſerving them, when yet notwithſtanding, the Chriſtian liberty which ſome talke of, if it be not rather licentious looſeneſſe, is either reſtrained within the limits of theſe rules; Of which the Apoſtle Saint Paul made great Conſcience; 1 Cor. 8. 13.but many in theſe dayes make a very jeaſt and mock of, as too preciſe, a nicitie, and a loſſe of Liberty. What the ſports, games, paſtimes and pleaſures be, which the Fathers have declaimed againſt, what the edicts of Kings and Emperours have diſanulled, what Councells and Synods have decreed againſt, and what Learned and Godly men have both written and ſpoken againſt, have been before ſet downe, to which I adde here Concilium Antiſiodorenſe in Anno 614. a thouſand yeares ſince, at which were 45 Biſhops and others of the Clergie, learned men, who did forbid, and expell publick dancing of women: Synodus Turonenſis in Anno 158…. prohibited on the Lords day, rioting, publick Feaſts, Galliards, Dancing, Clamours, Morices, Hunting, Hawking, to ſerve wine or victualls in Innes, or victualling houſes, to any but ſtrangers, the playing of Prize, Comedies, Tragedies, and other ſpectacles. In France, in the raigne of Charles the ninth, and Henry the third, all dancing was prohibited under paine of impriſonment: For what doth dancing produce in the rude vulgars, but laſcivious wantonneſſe, and the fruit, the begeting of baſtards, and ſometime thereupon hath enſued unnaturall murthers by Mothers, thereby thinking to hide the former ſin: Of which there be too many examples, and of which one inſtance before of one gotten with child on the Lords day at night, after dancing.
4 All ſports may well be judged to be forborne on the Lords day, which God hath by his hand ſhewed his diſpleaſure againſt, upon the actors on this day: for the reverence we owe to God, in beholding his handy work by which he leſſons us, and giveth us inſtruction; if it be not to obſerve the day better, to what then? if we ſhall make this uſe of it, I am ſure we doe not offend. Thus we ſee what ſports are on this day to be laid aſide; And if ſo, I hope well, the day will be better employed of many.
Let it not be offenſive to any that I propound theſe Reaſons to their pious conſiderations, to leave their paſtimes this day.
1 The Scripture forbidding the doing of our own waies, finding our owne pleaſures, and ſpeaking of our owne words Eſay. 58. 13. By our owne he doth meane what we do pleaſe to doe, or ſpeake without warrant from him, of our owne heads, from our owne worldly or carnall deſires, for all this is properly our owne: But if we doe what God commandes, Heb: 4. 10. Iudg. 2. 19.and what he warrants us, that is not properly our owne, but Gods: For in the former we doe ſerve our ſelves, and are our own: in this we ſerve God, and are his. This ſcripture is the only place in holy writt which teacheth us how to keep a Sabbath ſpirituall unto God, by teaching firſt what to avoide, and then what we ſhould be taken up with, on this day (to wit) with an honourable eſteeme of the day, in conſidering whoſe day it is, Gods holy day; then what delight we take in it, as a Sabbath day, and count it honourable, and ſo doe him honour, ſhewing that we delight our ſelves in the Lord, verſe 14. This text ſpeaketh firſt, of nothing ☜proper to the Jewes, but what is common to us, in keeping our Chriſtian Sabbath with them. And therefore the Prophet doth mention onelyonly the Sabbath day, and not their ſeventh day. Now Chriſt is ſtill Lord of the Sabbath, Matt. 12. 2. Here is nothing ſpoken but what is durable for ever, in keeping an holy day to the Lord: which is, Firſt, That the day be held an holy day. Secondly, That it be of the Lord. Thirdly, That it be a reſt day. Fourthly, That we delight in it and eſteeme it honourable. Fifthly, That on this day we honour him, not doing what we pleaſe, but forſaking our ſelves, do what he would have us to doe, and ſo to manifeſt our delight to be, that day in the Lord: In all which I would faine know what is there that doth not belong to us in keeping our Chriſtian Sabbath? Thirdly, the ſcope of the Prophet tendeth as well to us, as to them: for as in the former part of the Chapter, he had laboured to reforme the abuſe in their Faſts, ſo here the abuſe in their Jewiſh keeping of the Sabbath externally in an outward ſervice, and reſt, mixing withall their own wayes, pleaſures, and ſpeeches, but did not keep it as holy to the Lord, in a ſpirituall manner, with delight to honour God, as they ought to have done. Doth not this tend to the reformation of keeping our Sabbath, as moſt doe, as the Jewes did theirs, externally, mixt with our own wayes, pleaſures, and ſpeeches, but not internally with a ſpiritually delight in the Lord? Therefore this Text is fitly urged by our Learned Divines for the religious obſervation of our Sabbath day.
2 The force of the fourth Commandement, is yet of continuance, and bindeth us, as in the former Treatiſe hath been proved, on our Lords day; and firſt to a reſt, then to the imployment of that reſt to an holy uſe, and ſo to keep the day holy. But ſports and paſtimes are not (to ſpeak properly) any reſt, nor are they any holy duties for which we reſt, thereby to keep the day holy to God: Therefore to be forborn this day.
3 It is reaſonable in all equitie, to give God one day wholly to him for ſpirituall worſhip and ſervice, and for the ſpirituall good of our own ſoules for ever, who hath given us ſix whole dayes for our own ſervice, and for our outward and worldly eſtate concerning our bodies, which be here but for a time: why ſhould wee then grudge to forbeare ſports for one day, denying God his own right, and our poore ſoules their ſpirituall good, for to ſatisfie the corrupt minde with corporall delights on this day?
4 The libertie of ſports, pleaſures, and paſtimes, on this day, ſteale away the heart from God in time of Divine Worſhip: The thoughts of theſe pleaſures choak the ſeed of the Luk. 8. 14. On the fourth Commandement.word, for pleaſures as well as worldly cares choak them, ſaith Saint Luke, and more too, ſaith Learned Biſhop Downham, for nature, ſaith he, preſſeth youth more to pleaſure, than others to their wordly profits. So that the thoughts of them doe not only hinder in time of hearing, but doth quite take away the heart, from after-meditation, private prayer, and conference, without which hearing for the moſt part becommeth fruitleſſe. Now if this libertie were reſtrayned, and they ſet to ſinging of Pſalmes, and other Chriſtian, and heavenly recreations (as Durand before calleth them) they knowing whereto they ſhould hold, they would bee more attent in the Church, and better exerciſed out of it: eſpecially, if they were made to know, that not to ſerve the Lord God with joyfulneſſe, and with gladneſſe of heart, doth not a little anger, and provoke God to wrath, Deut. 28. 47.
5 If ſports, and paſtimes have any allowance from God, it is either Legally or Evangelically. But not Legally, for the letter of the Law bindeth ſtrictly: Not Evangelically, for albeit the rigour of the Law, be mitigated by the Covenant of grace, and wee by Chriſt freed from the curſe thereof, yet nevertheleſſe we are tyed in love, and in thankfulneſſe to the uttermoſt of our power, withall our hearts, mindes, ſoules, and ſtrength, to ſerve him, and to take the benefit of ſuch times, as bee ſet apart for his glroy, and worſhip, and to be taken up therein with ſpirituall delight in ſuch ſervice to the Lord our God. For grace is more binding by the Goſpel upon the regenerate, than the Law can bee forceable upon naturall men: If therefore the Law doth not admit of idle ſports on the Sabbath, then much leſſe the Goſpel, which doth more enlarge our hearts with the love of Chriſt, and more forceably takes us off from making any proviſion for the fleſh, to fulfill the luſts thereof, if in truth it be powerfully in us.
6 All ſports, and paſtimes on the Lords day are to be forborne, whilſt the lawfulneſſe and unlawfulneſſe is in queſtion by the moſt judicious and greateſt Divines at home and abroad, and the ſame not decided for lawfull, by any of the Fathers, Councells, or Synods, but rather held unlaw…ull: for in ſuch a caſe to forbeare is ſafe without ſin, but if any one ſhall ſport, play, or uſe paſtimes, on this day, muſt either ſide with the one ſort, or with the other, and yet unreſolved, becauſe the controverſie ſtands undetermined by ſome indifferent Umpire, or he doth preſume of his own knowledge, to be able to judge in ſuch a doubtfull caſe, to lead his conſcience to doe ſuch things, which is both too high a conceit, and very dangerous, or elſe is daringly overbold in love to ſports and paſtimes to follow his pleaſure and will, whilſt his conſcience muſt needs remaine in ſuſpence and doubting, which is no little ſinne, Rom. 14. 23. and is no ſmall ſigne, that ſuch a one is a lover of pleaſure more than a lover of God, in that he dareth to attempt the wounding of conſcience, and the breaking off of his ſweet peace between God and him, by ſo ſhort a time of carnall delights: For acts in doubtfull caſes cannot be without ſinne, and to ſport with ſinne is folly, which without pardon is the ſoules deadly wound, and deſtruction of the whole man.
7 Nothing is more warrantable to be done on this day, and on this our day under the Goſpel, than was on their day under the Law; underſtanding the Law in its originall, and ſet apart from the acceſſory precepts added thereto, and durable only for a time. But under the Law, no ſports or paſtimes for corporall pleaſure were allowed on their Sabbath day; and therefore to be forborne on this day: For, concerning ſports on their Sabbath, wee read not in any place of the old Teſtament, either for allowance or practice thereof. Indeed, we read in Exod. 32. 6. 18, 19. of eating, drinking, and riſing up to play, ſinging, and dancing; but it was upon a day made for the ſervice of the golden Calfe, and honour thereof, but condemned by S. Paul 1 Cor. 10. 7. and greivouſly puniſhed by the command of Moſes, Exod. 32. 28. we alſo read (but when there was no King in Iſrael, Iudg. 17. 1. & 18. 1. & 19. 1. & 21. 25.and when every one did that which ſeemed good in his owne eyes) that the daughters of Shilo, on a Feſtivall day of the Lord, came out in dances, Quod erat, ſaith Peter Martyr on this place, Die Feſto abuti: Neither doe wee read, that it was a mixt dancing of men and women together, as our dances pleaded for commonly be, contrary to all the inſtances in holy writ. We may alſo heare what that learned Biſhop White telleth us, how the Rabbins out of the Page 138.Talmud affirme, that it was permitted yong people to recreate and ſport themſelves upon ſome part of the Sabbath, with running, leaping, or dancing, provided that it bee in honour of the Sabbath: Note this well, then not for meere ☜corporall recreation, as our youths uſe their ſports. But what credit can be given to theſe late Rabbins? For it is well knowne, that the Jewes in the time of the Fathers, became prophaners of their Sabbaths, by revelling, and the like, as learned Doctor Prideaux witneſſeth; and therefore their example not to be imitated or regarded.
8 Needleſſely to doe on the Lords day, what may (if out propably) hazard ſinning, and ſo the provoking of God to anger, is a great preſumption that the hearts of ſuch are not poſſeſſed with that holy feare, which maketh men ever jealous of their doings, leſt peradventure they ſhould at any time offend God. But for ſuch to ſport on the Lords day, as have vigour, ſtrength, and health, to expreſſe the bodies activity in their pleaſurable delights (for of ſuch the controverſie only is) it is needleſſe, whether you reſpect their bodies, or their mindes, and ſpirits. And therefore of ſuch are ſports to bee forborne this day.
1 They are not needfull for the body: If the body hath loſt any ſtrength by weekly labour, ſtirring ſports, and paſtimes which are commonly performed with violent motion, cannot repaire the loſt ſtrength. Firſt, they are not the ordinary meanes appointed by God for recovery thereof, but wholſome food, quiet reſt, moderate ſleep, good phyſick, and the like, as the cauſe ſhall require. Secondly, ſports, and paſtimes are commonly ſo violently purſued, as mens bodies grow thereby the more weary, and ſo in ſtead of repayring, decay their ſtrength. Thirdly, for ordinary and common refreſhment, for the reviving of the body to returne with more lightſomeneſſe and alacrity to work, God hath given the painfull labourer reſt and ſleep in the night, for every dayes labour a nights reſt, for ſix dayes, ſix nights, as in his wiſdome he thought fit; and ſufficient, according to that in the Pſal. 104. 22. 23. Man works on the day, and reſts at Evening. But now for bodily ſtrength, if weakned by labour in the weeke before, to refreſh it for the weeke following, a man hath firſt the Saturday night, then the whole Sunday from ſervile labour, and laſtly Sunday night, two nights and a day for corporall reſt, ſo that to an healthy body apt for labour recreations, ſports, and paſtimes this day are needleſſe, for if every nights reſt in the week day can by Gods bleſſing preſerve ſtrength, recover the decay of it, and make it apt for new labour, then much more two nights and a day, if we pray for a bleſſing thereon. Fourthly, The perſons addicted to ſporting may be reduced to three ſorts, either to induſtriouſly-painfull, or to ſlack-handed, idle and lazy in worke, or to the holy day perſons, ſuch as either have little or nothing to doe, living idlely like Droanes in an Hive upon the ſweat of other mens brows, inordinate livers not worthy to eat: Theſe laſt neede no recreations but rather a whip for correction. The ſecond ſort are either rich mens children, 2 Theſſ. 3.(not wearied with worke whoſe labour is rather a loytering than painfull diligence) or ſlouthfull ſervants; ſports, and paſtimes to theſe two rather increaſe in them idleneſſe than a will to work, for theſe commonly are they which follow moſt after ſports: And experience telleth us, that ſuch as moſt love pleaſure, are the leaſt takers of pains, the greateſt Loyterers, and the lazieſt work-men, and labourers. The third ſort which get hardly their living with the ſweat of their brows, poore men, and their poore children crave quiet reſt, and not painfull paſtime. For ſports are often performed with greater labour of the body than the work of a mans vocation. Reſt is beſt for theſe; and ſporting, and paſtime needleſſe in reſpect of their bodies.
2 They are not needfull for the minde and ſpirit: For what good can ſports, gameing, and paſtime, afford man in this reſpect on this day, after he hath been in Gods houſe? Can they ſharpen his deſire to returne more chearefully to delight in holy duties? It is impoſſible, and the clean contrary is found by experience in ſuch as turne the Sabbaths holy reſt, and their time, which ſhould be for meditation, into pleaſureable recreations.
They cannot this day ſet an edge on, nor ſharpen the ſpirit to make the body more vivacious, chearfull, and lively to goe about a mans calling, trade, art or profeſſion, in the week following.
1 Sports and paſtimes on one day have no ſuch vigour and force to hold up the spirits for an after dayes worke.
It is the nights reſt, and not the ſporting on the Lords day, that doth it.
2 They are not ſeaſonable recreations on this day, to quicken the ſpirits by them: For ſeaſonable recreations is in labouring time, and is to be intermixt betweene labour, and labour, for to refreſh the wearineſſe of the ſpirits, to returne ſpeedily againe to labour. Recreation is, or ſhould be, as a baite to a Traveller, a bit, and away, as a whetting to a Mowers ſithe to cut afreſh, or as an houres ſleepe in the day time, ſhort and ſweet, to a wearied man, that muſt hold to his work: But the Lords day is not the time of Labour, but of reſt: There is a reſt a night before, there is a reſt on the day, and the nights reſt following: What needs then recreation in the time of ſo much reſt, when recreation hath ever relation to labour, and not to eaſe.
3 There is no cauſe of the dulling and blunting of the ſpirits on this day, that there ſhould need ſports, and paſtimes for recreation: For if the ſpirits be wearyed this day, it is one of theſe waies following.
1 Either with bodily labour about worldly buſineſſe, which ought not to be done, which rather men ſhould with tears bewaile, than leaving labour to runne to ſports for recreation.
2 Or with the reſt of the body in doing nothing, but either ſtanding idlely, ſit chatting, or lying aſleep like beaſts, and ſo become drowzie, or lazie.
Becauſe moſt perſons ignorant of the heavenly uſe of an holy reſt, know not how to beſtow the time, but either about the world, or about pleaſures, when they are out of the Church. But the well inſtructed know how to ſpend it better, and if ſlouthfull drowſineſſe ſhould take hold on them, they know how to ſtirre their bodies by walking, and in walking to meditate on Chriſt and his benefits alone, or to have ſome to conferre with, or to goe elſe alone to prayer, or having a family to inſtruct them, and ſo ſhake of their ſlouth, and not by gaming, ſporting, and playing.
3 Or elſe the ſpirits are dull by going to the Church, and there continuing for the time: If this be alledged;
1 I aske, how long are ſuch perſons in the whole dayes ſpace at the Church? In ſome Pariſhes (and too many of them) one houre in the forenoone, and leſſe in the afternoone, or an houre and halfe in the forenoone, and as much in the afternoone, and grant to the utmoſt in the whole day, three houres and a halfe, or foure houres, and that alſo at divided times, with a long pauſe betweene, perhaps of three or foure houres. Can foure houres in and about Chriſts Service and Worſhip, in twenty foure, dull and weaken the ſpirits of any, which carry the name of Chriſtians, and have any life of ſaving grace in them?
2 I aske againe of theſe lovers of pleaſures, firſt, whether they come ſoone to Church, and are at the beginning, and ſo abide to the end? Secondly, while they ſtay there, doe they not ſleep? or doe they not ſit idlely gazing about? or are they not carryed away with many bythoughts? If ſo, as too true, can they then plead the dulling of their ſpirits by ſo ſtaying ſinfully in the Congregation, drawing neare with their bodies, but in ſoule and heart be farre from God?
3 I aske them, are they indeed devout Worſhippers, and attentive hearers? and doe they ſo underſtand themſelves, that they know what they have beene doing, what they have reaped thereby? then ſurely they cannot depart away dull in ſpirit, but bee glad of that they have heard, Act. 13. 48. Neh. 8. 12.glorifying the word of the Lord, and ſo depart away with joy, becauſe they have underſtood the words declared to them. Neither is it poſſible, that they ſhould be ſo poſſeſſed with ſuch prophane dotage and folly, that they ſhould think (if they found any dulneſſe in hearing) that ſporting and playing, gaming, and paſtime, to be the meanes to remove ſuch ſpirituall dulneſſe, and to recover their ſpirits to a more chearfull and quicker attendance to Gods word, with joyfulneſſe of minde and heart in the uſe of Gods ordinance? So to think is both without religion, and alſo void of very reaſon it ſelfe.
Therefore from hence, and from the ſubſtance of all that hath beene ſaid, I conclude, that on this day, ſports, games, and paſtimes, are needleſſe, and to be forborne.
And here I end, praying thus for my ſelfe and others.
Oh Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep thy Law; And this our ſacred day, to the honour of thy Sonne our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: And from Judaizing and Paganizing; And from all prophaneſſe good Lord deliver us.
JOHN 7. 17.
If any man will doe his will, hee ſhall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God, or no.
Finis hujus Operis.
End of the text · Richard Bernard, A Threefold Treatise of the Sabbath (1641)