The Practical Sabbatarian, Chapter 41
CHAP. XLI. A Charge drawn up againſt prophane Perſons, who live down the Sabbath by looſe and vicious Practices.
WHen God on Mount Sinai gave the two Tables, wherein the Decalogue was written, the text tells us, Exod. 19. 18. The mountain burnt with fire, and the ſmoak thereof aſcended as the ſmoak of a furuace, and Deut. 4. 11. Exod. 19. 18.the whole mount quaked greatly: And all this was to caſt an aw upon the Jews, that they might ſerve God with fear and Ignis eſt ſignaculum aptum divinae & regiae Majeſtatis, & ſic terrebant, quae in Sinai fiebant. Riv.trembling, in keeping thoſe Commandments which were then delivered, and among others, in the holy obſervation of the bleſſed Sabbath: And it were well for the world, if ſtill ſome burning Sinai, ſome tremendous proſpect was exhibited to affect and over-aw the hearts of the people to a due and reverend obſervation of Gods holy day. In nothing Cavendom eſt ne feſtis abutamur, ad atium, luxuriam & voluptates turpes Chriſtianis omnimodò indignas. Dav.more mans heart had need to be ſhackled, it being ſo prerient and propenſe to break the hedge of that ſacred incloſure. Some make bold with the name of God in words of prophaneneſs, and ſome with the day of God in acts of prophaneneſs. Many turn the Sabbath into a Market day of Satan, and like the fooliſh Iſraelites, they love to have it ſo, Jer. 5. 31. How many ſpend much of the Sabbath in the methods of Pride, in conſulting the glaſs, in fitting the dreſs, in plaiting the hair, when yet the crookedneſs of the Prov. 5. 20.heart is diſcerned in the curles of the hair, nay in patching the face, and faſhioning the garb, as if they went to the Sanctuary to meet with ſome amorous lover. Some ſpend their Sabbath, as the Prodigal did his Eſtate, Luke 15. 30. with harlots and curtezans, and ſtudy more their luſt, then their Chriſt, the ſinful embraces of the ſtrange woman, then holy communion with the beloved, Cant. 2. 16. Nay others defile the Sabbath with riots and exceſſes. Riotous company is their Congregation, healths are their Ordinances, idle Prov. 23. 29.Songs are their Pſalms; their eyes are filled with fire for their redneſs, and not with water for their tears, and they Iſa. 5. 11.are inflamed with commeſſation, and not devotion. Theſe Ebrietas eſt daemon voluntarius, Malitiae mater, & omnibus virtutibus inimica. Baſil.juſtly demerit that reproach which the Jews unjuſtly caſt upon the Apoſtles, Acts 2. 13. They are filled with new wine. Plutarch a heathen Philoſopher believed that Sabbatum the Sabbath, was derived from foreign, which ſignifies to be riotous and drunken, and the occaſion of this derivation of his was, the Jews looſe and debauched manners on the Sabbath day. It is ſtrange impiety to ſin againſt the light of nature, and as ſtrange to be looſe on a day of grace. To follow vile practices on a precious Sabbath, what is it, but to throw dung upon Roſes? The Apoſtle ſaith, that they who are drunk, are drunk in the night, 1 Theſ. 5. 7. It is too ſhameful a ſin for the day to behold; and Job ſaith, the Adulterer waits for the twilight, Job 24. Graviter inceſſimus diei dominicae prophanatores, qui intemperantiâ, luxu, omni que genere, flagiorum eam vio lant, in irreparabile infirmorum ſcand…lum, & in horrendum Chriſtiani nominis dedecus.15. Theſe ſins need a dark Lanthorn, they avoid and ſhun the light, leaſt their ſhame be publiſhed by every Spectator: And the Prophet obſerves, that the Iſraelites committed their Idolatry in ſecret; they had their chambers of imagery, Ezek. 8. 12. They would put ſome covering upon their ſin. But how great is our abomination to dabble in our paint, to rowl in our vomit, to be inflamed in our luſts, to wallow in our ſenſualities, and wantonize in our vanities upon Gods holy day? When the Sun of Nature and the Sun of Righteouſneſs both ſhine together to ſcatter all clouds and covering? It is a pathetical, but a holy ſpeech of a Learned man, Who without mourning can endure to ſee Chriſtians keep the Lords day, as if they celebrated a Feaſt rather to Bacchus, then Leid. Prof.to the honour of Jeſus Chriſt, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world, for having ſerved God an hour or two in outward ſhew, they ſpend the reſt of the Lords day in ſitting down to eat and drink and riſing up to play, firſt ballaſting their bellies with eating and drinking, then feeding their luſts in playing and dancing. Againſt theſe riots holy Auguſtine bitterly inveighs, Auguſt. 4. Tract. in. Joan.and ſaith, It is better to ſpin then to dance on Gods holy day.
Indeed, it is an obſervation of Lactantius: That the Lords Lactant. lib, 7. cap. 1.ſecond coming ſhall be on the Lords day; And then how little joy ſhall they have, who ſhall be overtaken in their carnal ſports, when their Maſter ſhould have found them in their ſpiritual exerciſes, on his own day? the prophane wretch then will wiſh, that Chriſt ſhould find him rather kneeling at prayers in the Sanctuary, then skipping like a Goat in a dance, that he ſhould be found dropping tears like a penitent, rather then drinking healths like a miſcreant, or careſſing Sidon. lib. 1. Epiſt. ad agricolam.harlots, like an impure Gallant. Sidonius obſerves, that in the primitive times, ſome of the Jewes did ſo abuſe the Sabbath to gluttony, and drunkenneſſe, and to laſcivious dances, that the Ethnicks, and heathen ſuſpected, they Quanquam hoc, aliquo ſenſu concedi poſſit, varia peccata aggravationem aliquam inde accipere, ſi die tam Sanctâ perpetrentur Ameſ.adored Bacchus, not Jehovah. It is the obſervation of Dr. Ames, That all ſinns receive an aggravation on this day: which oftentimes is more then the ſin it ſelf, as the dye is ſometimes more coſtly then the cloth; To be intemperate, proud, worldly, wanton on a Sabbath, this is to wear the ſpots of a Leopard, and to be in the hue of an Aethiopian. Some men make the Sabbath a weekly Aequinox their pleaſures, and their duties are of equal length; But others drown the whole Sabbath in vanity and exceſſe, as if they would read the 4th. Commandement backward, and would provoke the God of Heaven, to pleaſe the God of this world. 2 Cor. 4. 4.It may be ſaid to thoſe who thus prophane the Lords day, have ye not dayes enough of your own, to work or play in, or deſpiſe ye the Lords day? It is a ſin, yea, a provoking ſin, to uſe the Lords Table, as your own table, to eat ſacramental bread, as if it was common bread; and is it no ſin to uſe the Lords day, as if it was a common day? Let us therefore ſee the image and ſuperſcription of Chriſt engraven upon the Matth. 22. 21Lords day, and then let us give unto Chriſt, the things which are Chriſts. Cyril complained in his time, That many Chriſtians Chriſtiani ludis illiberalibus, crapulae, choreis, et aliis mundi vanitatibus ſe dant; & in nullum alium finem tendunt, &c. Cyril.indulged themſelves in luxury, dances, playes, and worldly vanities on the Lords day; And what, ſaith he, will be the end of theſe things, but that Gods Name will be derided, and Gods day much contemned and ſcorned? The Apoſtle calls our walking on any day, in laſciviouſneſs, luſts, exceſs of wine, revellings, banquettings, working the will of the Gentiles, 1 Pet. 4. 3. It is an heatheniſh act to adventure upon ſuch unnatural impieties, but to act all theſe ſins upon a Sabbath, it is altogether diabolical; this is to wound a Prince on his Coronation day. Thoſe who prophane the Sabbath Hi omnis generis delitiis, non Chriſto domino, ſed ſatanae ſervitur; Non ſalus noſtra curatur, ſed perditio conciliatur, et ira dei provocatur, non placatur, mores non corriguntur, ſed corrumpuntur. Muſculby ſcandalous ſins, ſaith Muſculus, they ſacrifice to Venus, not to God, and ſerve Satan, not Chriſt; they neglect life and ſalvation, and aſſure to themſelves loſſe and perdition, Gods anger is provoked, not appeaſed, and their manners are not corrected, but corrupted. Let us conſider, the two tables of ſtone, are ſtill tables of teſtimony, Exod. 31. 18. to witneſs againſt the prophanation of this holy day. God did not write this Commandement for the Sabbath with his finger, that we ſhould ſpunge it out by our life, and if we ſhall attempt it, he can turn the writing, into an hand-writing on the wall againſt us, which will make not onelyonly our knees, but our hearts to tremble, Dan. 5, 6. Let us ſeriouſly weigh in Mark 11. 25.the ballance, that the beauty of a woman doth but aggravate her wantonneſs: and the rich mans great eſtate doth but ampliſie his extorſion, and ſo the holineſs of a Sabbath doth dye every ſin which is acted upon it with a ſcarlet colour: Chriſt would not ſuffer the money changers to remain in the temple, Mat. 11. 15. How much worſe merchandiſe is it, when we ſet our ſoules to ſale on that holy day, which is given for life and ſalvation? But further to dilate upon the impiety of Sabbath-prophaneneſs.
To act ſcandalous ſins on Gods holy day, is a moſt daring preſumption, it throwes Gods Memento, with which he Deus non indicit recordationem iſtam, ut eo die g…uderent, tripudiarent, aut ſibi vaca…ent, &c. Oleaſt.prefaced the 4th. Commandement, into his face, and ſaith to Chriſt, who is Lord of the Sabbath, Mark 2. 28. we will not have this man to reign over us, Luke 19. 14. God ſaith, Exod. 20. 8. keep my Sabbath holy; and theſe daringly reply, we will keep it diabolically. This ſin commenceth war with heaven it ſelf, and throws down the Gantlet to the infinite Jehovah. Oleaſter very well obſerves, God had not needed to have faſtned a Memento to the 4th. Commandement, to mind us of dances, and revellings, frequenting a ring, or a ſtage; our own corrupt natures will be officious enough to uſher in ſuch pleaſurous vanities: Diſobedience to other Deus graviter eorum pertinaciam objurgat, quòd profano contemptu legem ſabbati violaſſent. Rivet.commands, may be termed non-conformity; but, to throw the filth of ſcandalous practice into the lovely face of a Sabbath, is an impudent oppoſition of the moſt High, and as God himſelf accounts it, the breach of all his Commandements and Laws, Exod. 16. 28. And this, Rivet calls the Iſraelites ſtubbornneſs.
To pollute the Sabbath with ſcandalous practices, raiſes complaints in heaven and earth. When God draws his endictment againſt Iſrael, immediatly before he ſentenced them Iſa. 1. 13.to the Babyloniſh captivity, one chief part of their charge Ezek. 20. 13.was, They prophaned his Sabbaths, Ezek. 23. 38. And this Ezek. 22. 8.he calls prophaning of himſelf, Ezek. 22. 26. which is a ſtrange Ezek. 23. 38.expreſſion. And for this ſin, he brought wrath upon them, Nehem. 13. 18. This provocation opened the ſluces of divine fury. There are three things God is very jealous of,
1. Of his worſhip; And of this he hath taken care in the Iſraelitae non ſabbata, ſed B…alis feſta obſervabant. Alap.ſecond Commandement.
2. Of his Name; The glory of which, he hath ſecured in the third Commandement.
3. Of his Day: Which he hath hedged about with a hedge of thornes, in the fourth Commandement: And when men by their prophaneneſs, break this …edge, he makes his complaints from heaven againſt this prodigious evil.Jer. 40 3.
In the Primitive times, the univerſal complaint of the Fathers was againſt prophaning of the Lords day. Clemens Clem. Alexand Paedagog. lib. 3. cap. 11.Alexandrinus, complained in his time, That the people after they were gone out of the Church, they laid aſide the counterfeit vizard of gravity, and fell to delight and ſport themſelves in an impious manner, with love-ſongs, and noiſe of Minſtrels, &c. Auguſtine called the prophanation of the Lords day, by dancing, Playes, or rev…lling, A Jewiſh ſabbatizing, to be Aug. de conſer. Evangel. lib. 2. cap. 27. & Enar. in Pſal. 32. & de decem chor. dis. cap. 3.abominated by all good Chriſtians; As if it was a ſin not to be named among thoſe, who did wear the livery, and glory in the name of Jeſus Chriſt, who was perfection incarnate, the Beauty and deſire of Nations, Hag. 2. 7. The Lords day, is that Virgin light which muſt be eſpouſed by holineſs, by exact and ſuitable carriages, and not ſubjected to the rapes of ſin Greg. Nyſſen. Orat 2 de reſurrect. carnis.& prophaneneſs: as Gregory Nyſſen ſpeaks moſt piouſly. Sins which are deeds of darkneſs, John 3. 19. Epheſ. 5. 11. are no way becoming the Sabbath, which is a day of the ſweeteſt Opera carnis ſunt opera tenebrarum. Gloſ. interlin.light; and therefore we may take notice, that whereas the Evening and the Morning made up every day elſe, Gen. 1. 5. Gen. 1. 8. Gen. 1. 13. Gen. 1. 19. Gen. 1. 23. Gen. 1. 31. No duskiſh morning, or declining evening are mentioned, as Si prohibetur die feſto opus aliquid, utile ad vitae neceſſitatem, annon potiori jure. quae non niſi c…m peccato aguntur et gravi offenſione dei. Cyril. lib. 8. in Joan. cap. 5.the integral parts, to make up the Sabbath. Cyril with much reaſon argues, If thoſe works are forbidden upon a Sabbath, which are ſubſervient to the neceſſities of mans life, much more thoſe works which tend to the diſgrace of mans life, which cannot he done, without a grievous provocation of the Lord. O let us take heed, ſaith Primaſius, that we do not celebrate Gods feſtival in luxuries and banquets. Gregory Nazianzen, in an Oration of his againſt Julian the Apoſtate, paſſionately perſwades the holy obſervation of the Sabbath; and plainly tells Chriſtians, That to keep the Sabbath in a more coſtly attire, in a more plentiful meal, in a neater dreſſing of our houſe, in a more metrical dancing to the muſique, or in a more impudent luſting, this better becomes the Gentiles cuſtome, then the Chriſtians practice. This excellent perſon foreign. Naz.thought ſuch ſinful vanities a fitter livery for Pagans, whoſe right eye is put out by divine praeterition. And Chryſoſtome ſha…ply inveighs againſt Commeſſations, and drinkings upon Gods holy day; and affirms, It much redounds to the diſhonour of that bleſſed ſeaſon. The breathings of the heart, not the banquets of the fleſh; the pouring out our ſouls in holy Prayer, not the pouring out of Wine in intemperate healths; to be filled with the Spirit, Epheſ. 5. 18. and not with new Wine; becomes that day which Chriſt is the Lord of.
In theſe latter times, holy and Reverend Divines, have Hiſce diebus opera carnis non ſunt toleranda, nec profana negotia, &c. Bucer de regno Chriſti. lib. 2. cap. 10.with much moan bewailed, and entred their caveats againſt prophanation of Gods holy day. Bucer writing to King Edward the ſixth, Our Engliſh Joſiah, cryes out, On thoſe days, (viz. the Sabbaths) the works of the fleſh are not to be allowed, nor prophane buſineſſes, nor licentious ſports, nor any other vitious pleaſures. And this was a good Memento, for a learned man to ſuggeſt to a religious King. Indeed, to ſerve Satan upon Gods day, is not onelyonly the blemiſh of particular perſons, but the bane and ruine of Kingdomes; it lays a Nation open to the invaſions of mans ſword, and to the effuſions of Gods wrath. King Henry the 8th. who was no Noneſuch of Piety, yet he ſtrictly commanded all Biſhops and Preachers diligently to teach the people, That they all The inſtitution of a Chriſtian man; A book ſet forth 1543. inſcribed by King Henry the 8th to all his loving ſubjects, and approv'd by both houſes of Parliament.offend againſt the fourth Commandement, who will not on Gods day ceaſe from their own carnal wills and pleaſures, but paſs away their time in idleneſs, ingluttony and riot, in vain & idle paſtimes, which is not according to the tenour of the fourth Commandement, but after the uſage and cuſtome of the Jews. So that now, Nazianzen ſaith, To prophane the Sabbath is after the cuſtome of the Gentiles. And King Henry the 8th. ſaith, it is after the uſage of the Jewes: So that it muſt be concluded: to defile Gods holy day, by looſe and prophane practices, doth better become a hardned Jew, or a darkned Gentile, then a holy Chriſtian, whoſe converſation ſhould ſuit with a glorious Goſpel. The learned Gualter 2 Cor. 4 4.bitterly exclaims; How do they ſin with manifold impiety and ſacriledge who attribute this day to Mammon, Bacchus and Venus, who can feaſt, drink, play, dance, whore, and follow their luxury and pride, and live ſo, that they never ſerve the Devil more then on this day, which ought to be wholly conſecrated to God? And it is no way to be doubted, this is not the leaſt cauſe of the evils and calamities of our age: And becauſe the wantonneſs of the fleſh is moſt untameable, and there is a ready paſſage from idleneſs to luſt, Magiſtrates ſhould be awakened to conſider, that it is their duty, to reduce the prophane contemners of the Gualt. 162. Homil. in Matth. & 28. Homil. in Marc. Et 56. Homil. in Luc.Sabbath into order. And in another Homily, the ſame Author cries out, What ſhall we ſay to them, who dedicate the ſacred day of the Lord to Bacchus, Mars, Venus, whilſt they reſt in drunken feaſtings, or play the wantons in laſcivious apparel, who whore, commit adultery, dance, and play the gladiatours, or are buſied about the ſight of Spirituali honore hunc diem dominicum venerari oportet, non convivando, non vinum proſundendo, non ebrietati, et choreis vacando. Chryſoſt.moſt filthy playes; all theſe things are done at this day, and if it may be lawfull to confeſs the truth at no time; are there more, or more hainous wickedneſſes committed, then upon the Sabbath, which ſhould wholly be ſpent on God, and in the works of piety? Thus feelingly this worthy man expreſſes himſelf; and indeed the ſharpeſt of his expoſtulations may be calculated for the meridian of our Engliſh Nation. Englands Sabbath-breaking hath been the Trojan Horſe which hath brought miſery into our Gates: The Pandora's box which hath let in thoſe diſeaſes which hath ſent ſo many thouſands to their duſt. Hoſpinian made this ſad Hoſpin. de Orig. Feſtor. Tigur. 1592. lib 1. Cap. 3.complaint; That on no day more then on the Lords day, did the people give themſelves to dancing, to ſurfeting and drunkenneſs, belly-chear, and all kind of voluptuous vanity. And Simler avowedly profeſſeth, That luxury, Simler Comment. in Exod Cap. 20. Tigur. 1588.ſurffeting, drunkenneſs, and riotous feaſtings accompanied with dancing, did viſibly fight with the ſanctification of the Sabbath. The dolefull complaints of others who have been eminent and famous in their Generations; Arel. Probl. Theol. loc. 123. Oecolamp. farraq. in Annot. in 20. Exod.as of Arclius, Oecolampadius, Zanchius, Chemnitius, &c. who ſadly complained, That God was not ſo grievouſly offended on other dayes, as on that day which was moſt peculiarly devoted to his ſervice; I ſay, theſe complaints might more largely be ſet down, but dirty wayes do not pleaſe the traveller. Nor ſhall I lead the Reader further through the tears and ſighs of thoſe worthies, who did ſenſibly lay to heart the prophanation of Gods bleſſed Sabbath. We ſee then, that the Sabbath hath been wounded in the houſe of its friends; It's prophanation hath put grief into the hearts, tears into the eyes, and gall and vinegar into the pens of worthy men, and they have left their moans upon record, for the inſtruction and reformation of ſucceſſive generations.
The violation of the Sabbath by looſe and vitious practices, is reckoned among the moſt horrid impieties: Sins as well as ſinners are known by their company. Every vain word is Gal. 5. 19. 20.not put into the chapter of treaſons; But Sabbath prophanation is one of the fouleſt deeds of the fleſh, one of the blackeſt Solem juſtititiae offuſcant nebulae peccati.clouds which darkens the Sun of Righteouſneſs. This ſin is ſometimes coupled with a contempt of divine judgements, Ezek. 20. 13. which is a manifeſt piece of rebellious Atheiſm. Sometimes this ſin is reckoned with open Idolatry, Ezek. 20. 16. Rom. 1. 20.which is mans forgetfulneſs, not only of his Religion, but his Reaſon. Sometimes Sabbath-prophanation is aſſociated with diſobedience and obſtinate rebel…ion, Ezek. 20. 21. which is a raiſing of Armes againſt heaven, and to draw againſt the incomprehenſible Jehovah. Sometimes this ſin is reckoned with a deſpiſing of Gods holy things, his Miniſters, his Ordinances, his Sanctuary, Ezek. 22. 8. which is nothing elſe, but to trample upon Pearls, and to poure diſdain on the means of ſalvation, nay, to tread under foot the bread of life, which is a wickedneſs hardly out-vied, and leaves a people without remedy, 2 Chron. 36. 16. Mr. Carthwright Carthw. in Proverb.recko…s Sabbath-prophanation among the ſins of Idolatry, groſs ſuperſtition, and enchantments; as if, when we were ſcandalous on a Sabbath, we conſulted with Hell it ſelf, and Noſcitur ex ſocio, qui non cognoſcitur ex ſe.we were bewitched into ſuch wickedneſs: If we cannot read Sabbath-prophanation in its definition, we may read it in its companion. This ſin is one of the heavieſt links in the chain, a ſin which the good Angels did never commit, and the Devils cannot; the good Angels never had a Sabbath to prophane, and the evil Angels never had a Sabbath to enjoy; a ſin it is which uſually goes in the worſt company, and is ſeldom or never put into the endictment alone.
To prophane the Sabbath by ſcandalous practices, is to re-act Belſhazzars madneſs, who did carouze in the veſſels of the Inſultat Belſhazzar in vaſis templi dei, et ſtatim ultio conſecuta eſt. Hier.Temple, Dan. 5. 2, 3. and what is this but to unconſecrate thoſe things which are ſet apart for the worſhip of God, and to unhallow Gods name? It was Belſhazzars crime to proſtitute ſacred things to unholy practices; and ſo do thoſe who prophane the Sabbath, they deflowre a conſecrated day; they ſpend upon Gods monopoly, and lay open that day as Cant. 4. 12.common and unclean, which is Chriſts incloſed garden. It is Biſhop of Armagh in his Annals.recorded of Ochus King of Perſia, that being angry with the Aegyptians, he took their God Apis (which was a Cow they worſhipped) and cut it into pieces, and gave order to his Cooks to dreſs it, and to ſerve it up to dinner to be Haeccine ſolennes dies deceant, quae alios non decent? Malorum licentia pietas erit? Occaſio luxuriae religio deputabitur? Tertul.eaten; which ſacrifice ſo enraged the Aegyptians, and ſo inflamed Bagoas an Aegyptian born, that he kills Ochus, and when he was dead, cut his fleſh into gobbets, and left it to the Cats to eat, and inſtead of it put ſomewhat into the Coffin, to be buried in the time of his Funerals, and of his thigh bones he made hafts and handles for ſwords: Thus the prophaning of this Idol, was ſorely and ſeverely revenged; And ſhall not God, the infinite Majeſty of heaven and earth, Jer. 5. 9.much more revenge the abuſe of his holy and ſacred day, when it is ſerved up to pleaſe the pallate of the intemperate, Deut. 32. 42.the curioſity of the proud, and the luſt of the wanton ſinner? Shall not the Lord be avenged on ſuch a Generation as this? If a fancyed veneration being affronted, make men vindicative; ſurely a due and juſt honour being Iſa. 43. 24.abuſed by luxury and prophaneneſs will inflame the God of revenges, to purſue thoſe ſins with the greateſt ſeveritie. Servivi, inquit deus, veſtro ex ſacrifi…iis quaeſtui, honori, epulis, & voluptatibus. Stor.To pandorize the Sabbath to our luſts and vanities, what is it but to make God ſerve with our ſins; Or as our Saviour phraſeth it, To turn the houſe of prayer into a den of thieves? Mat. 21. 13. Is it fit for the witch of Endor to put the Devil into Samuels mantle, 1 Sam. 28. 12. And for wicked Ahaz to put the Idols Altar into Gods temple, 2 Kings 16. 14, 15. Indeed the ſame wickedneſs they act, who make the Lords day vile and cheap by ſinfull abominations, which ſhould be honourable, Iſa. 58. 13. in holy worſhip and ſervice, and thoſe adorations which become the Lord of the Mark 2. 28.Sabbath.
To vitiate the Sabbath by viſible prophaneneſs, opens a way to all licentiouſneſs, and will be bitterneſs in the latter end. Sabbath-breaking is uſually the preface to other ſins. The 2 Sam. 2. 26.breaking of the two tables commonly begins at the fourth Commandment; we firſt make bold with Gods day; and then with Gods name, and ſo break the third Commandment; and then we can trinkle in his worſhip, and ſo violate the ſecond; and by degrees we can ſlide into thefts, adulteries Deut. 5. 21.and murders, and ſo daſh all the Commandments in Iſa. 28. 8.pieces: he will eaſily covet his neighbours Wife for wantonneſs, Claudius Tiberius Nero, vocatus fuit, Claudius Biberius Mero propter ebrietatem, & intemperantiam. Sueton.who will ſacrilegiouſly arreſt Gods holy day, for his exceſs and drunkenneſs. It is the obſervation of an ingenuous perſon, That he hath heard many malefactors at their execution, bitterly bewail their prophanation of the Lords day, and humbly acknowledge that ſin was the leading cauſe of all enſuing miſchiefs and miſeries: At the Gallows, their Conſcience hath pointed at the very ſin which had been the chief actor in their wofull tragedy: When Satan hath prevailed with us to violate Gods holy day, he hath got his head in, and he will eaſily draw in his whole body. Prophanation Gulones nihil faciunt niſi ingerere, digerere, et egerere. Bern.of the Sabbath is the gates of Hell, the foundation upon which all other ſins are erected. Indeed the carefull obſervation of this day is a chain upon the ſoul, and ties it up from ſinfull vagaries; it caſts an awe upon the heart, that it cannot preſently ſtartle; but when the chain is filed off, there is no end of licentious ranges; as Cattle when they are got out of the pound, they run into every ones field: This ſin of Sabbath-breaking it is like a Serpent, whoſe ſting is in its tail. Indeed ſanctified afflictions turn a Serpent into a rod; but Sabbath-prophanation turns a rod into a Serpent, and brings the moſt proſperous ſinner into unexpected calamity. It is obſervable of the people of Iſrael, that ſighs and groans Exod. 3. 7.brought them out of Egypt, and Songs and Vanities on Gods day brought them into Babylon. The Hebrew phraſe Ezek. 23. 38.in Ezek. 20. 13. is very expreſſive, the ſame word foreign Chalal, which is rendred to pollute and prophane, viz. the Ezek. 20. 13.Sabbath, ſignifies likewiſe to tripudiate and dance, as the foreignDaughters of Shiloh did, Judges 21. 21. where the ſame word is uſed; to denote unto us, one method of the Jews in prophaning the Sabbath, viz. They paſſed it away jocularly Pſal. 87. 7.in ſinful frolicks and immodeſt vanities; and this was one of the chief ſins, they might ſit down by the waters of Babylon, Pſal. 137. 1. Cyril.and weep over. It is undeniable, that the proſtituting of the Sabbath by prophane practices, both hath, and will ruine Gaud…ntius &c. Judaei non deo ſed ſibi, die Sabbati ociantur. Muſcul.Nations, Families, Perſons, and dig the grave to bury all comforts in. It was generally complained of by holy and devout men in the primitive times; that the Jews neglecting ſpiritual duties which God commanded, abuſed the Sabbath The Jews which were killed at Hieruſalem by the command of Florus, were 630. By the Inhabitants of Caeſarea were 20000. at Scithopolis 30000. at Ptolemais 2000. at Alexandria 50000. at Joppa 8400. at Aſkelon 1000. at A…haca 15000. at Gariz…m 11600. at Jotopata 30000. at Gamala 9000. at the ſi…ge of Hieruſalem 1100000, &c. 1 Cor. 10. 11.to caſe and luxury, and waſted that holy day in gluttony and idleneſs, and idle delicacies; and this accuſation in the firſt times of the Goſpel became proverbial, ſo that to keep the Sabbath looſly, was to keep it after the manner of the fews. And what judgments God brought upon them in thoſe dayes, how he did ſcatter them, unchurch them, unpeople them, and leave them to be a vagabond Generation to all ſucceſſive ages, who knows not, is a great ſtranger to Antiquity. It would fill a Volume to relate the ſeveral ſlaughters of them, and their exiles from Nations, France, Spain, England, and other places; ſo that even at this day their mask is their beſt ſecurity, and their veil is their only ſafety. The Quotations in the margin give in ſome evidence of the infinite ſlaughters which were made of them, they were a prey even to all Nations, as if they were only fit to glut the Sword of an enraged enemy. Let us therefore obſerve the Apoſtolicall advice, and take theſe periſhing Jews for an enſample of Gods heavy diſpleaſure againſt debauched practices on Gods holy day.
To ſerve our luſts upon a Sabbath, is to throw off Jehovah, and to ſerve other Gods. The perſon who is intemperate on a Sabbath, doth he not ſerve Bacchus? The effeminate perſon, doth he not ſerve the Goddeſſe Venus? And Phil. 3. 19.the luxurious perſon, he makes his belly his god; He that In noſtris eccleſiis diebus dominicis carnis voluptatibus profuſiſſime abſ que ullâ diſſimulatione ſervitur, quemadmodum Judaei, qui die Sabbati ociantur, et libidinantur, acta verò, et ſtudia carnis Baccho, et Veneri, luxui, et ſaſtui omninò deputan…ur. Muſcul.prates away a Sabbath, doth his devotion to Mercurius; he that plays at Cudgels and wreſtles, in a ſeeming valour acts his ſervice to Mars; he that ſports away the Sabbath in Courtſhips and careſſes, offers his ſacrifice to Jupiter, that wanton God, whoſe effeminacies are the beſt part of the Legend, we have repored by Pagan Hiſtorians. Strict and holy communion only becomes a holy God on a holy day. Muſculus very piouſly and gravely cryes out, Let us throw off all cloaks of diſſimulation, and if we ſpend our Sabbaths in the pleaſures of the fleſh, let us never ſay we keep a day to the Lord Jeſus, but let us ſay, we will worſhip Bacchus and Venus, or ſome Idol God, who is the Patron of ſuch wickedneſs. And indeed a Tavern or Alehouſe on the Lords day, is a fit temple for Bacchus; a Stews or Whorehouſe is a fit Sanctuary for Priapus; a Table full of vain chat, is a fit tabernacle for Mercurius. The beauty of holineſs is written on Gods houſe, where Ordinances are marrow and fatneſs, and communion with Chriſt the wine on the lees. Let us no more halt between two Opinions. If Jehovah be God, let us keep his day holy; but if with Julian we have Apoſtatized to the Idols of the Gentiles, let us proclaim it to the world by making the Sabbath a ſtage to Dagon eſt deus venter, quia ventris gratiâ colebatur, & deducitur à foreign frumentum Alap.act our lewdneſs upon. Alapide doth elegantly and pregnantly obſerve, that Dagon mentioned in the Scriptures, 1 Sam. 5. 2, 3, 4. is nothing but a belly god; if then we will turn Philiſtinis and worſhip their Idol, we may with more excuſe purſue our ſurfets on the Lords day. In the Primitive times a holy obſervation of the Lords day was an infallible ſign of a Chriſtian Profeſſour; and in all times lewdneſs upon that day, ſpake a totalchange from that holy profeſſion; but if we are ſtill ambitious of the name of Chriſtian, let the holy obſervance of Gods bleſſed day be our teſtimonial, for to live in pleaſures on that day ſpeaks us dead while we live, 1 Tim. 5. 6.
To pollute the Sabbath by vioious practices, is to break many Commnadments at once. The Adulterer on a Sabbath breaks the 7th. and the fourth Commandment; the Swearer breaks the third and the fourth Commandment; the rioter breaks the ſixth and the fourth Commandment. Prophaneneſs on a Sabbath is a multiplyed ſin, a twiſted wickedneſs; it is as the Prophet ſpeaks, Iſa. 5. 18. to draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and ſin as it were with a cart rope. We may ſay of this lowdneſs, as Leah ſaid of Gad, Behold a troop, Gen. 30. Si quis ad hoc Sabbatum requitſceret, at memoriam beneficiorum dei recolerct, interim tamen in aliud peceatum incidit; Annon judicandus erat violaſſe hoc praeceptum de ſanctificando Sabbato? Eſt.11. Eſtius ſharply expoſtulates, If God give us a Sabbath to ſolemnize his great and glorious benefits, if on this day we fall into any ſin, ſhall we not be accounted violatours of this holy day? Both the ſtreams meet, the particular ſin committed, and the breach of the Sabbath. This Sabbath prophanation brings forth twins at leaſt; this evil is as the grapes of Sodom, which were in cluſters, Deut. 32. 32. It is not a common ſeam-rent, but it is a rent in the whole cloath. This curſed emphaſis may be annexed to every lewdneſs on the Sabbath; the ſinner added this to all the reſt of his evils, he brake the Commandment alſo concerning Sabbath-holineſs and obſervation.Luke 3. 20.
To prophane Gods holy and ſacred day, is not only morally ſinful, but it is opinionatively evil and Popiſh. It is the Finito priùs ſacro licet iter facere, venari, ſtudere ſuper lites propter pecuniam. Vendere, Animalia occidere ad victum, conſtituere Theatra proſpectaculis. Tol. inſt. Sacerdot. l. 4. c. 25.round aſſertion of Cardinal Tollet, That the publick ſervice being over on the Sabbath, it is lawful to ride journeys, to hunt and follow the game, to plead Cauſes for money and advantage, to kill beaſts for proviſion, to ſet any thing to ſail, and to ſet up Theatres for plays and ſhows. This then is the Doctrine of the Romiſh Conclave: So we ſee, to act looſly on the Lords day, is not only the corruption of our life, but of our opinion, and it taints our judgment as well as our converſation; it is the diſtemper of the head as well as of the heart, and is a plain ſtriking hand with the Mother of Harlots, Rev. 17. 5. So that to act our debaucheries upon Gods holy and bleſſed Sabbath, it is to turn Jew, to turn Heathen, to turn Papiſt, nay to turn every thing, but Saint; and in ſo doing we are not only prophane, Felis. f. 305. Catan. in Chatec. Rom. f. 235. Tit. Feſt. f. 185.but heretical. To add only one thing more, to what hath been ſaid; a Learned man obſerves, that it is put into the Roman Catechiſe, that it is lawful to kill proviſions, bake fiſh, mend and repair Bridges, High-wayes, Churches, teach Vaulx. Chatec. c. 3. f. 53.prophane Arts, Card, Fence, Fiddle, and make muſick for gain and hire on Gods moſt bleſſed day.