Gods Judgments Upon Drunkards Swearers and Sabbath Breakers, Part 3
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, Mat. 12.8.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, Exod. 20.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,Exod. 16.23. & 31.15. & 35.3. 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, Ezech. 22.26.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, Iſay 56.2. & 58.13.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 …armer in a Village called Little-…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 reſreve… the blackneſſe of darkneſſe, which was occaſionally improved to diſcove… the miſerable condition of the damned in hell, by reaſon of their ſeparation from God, called utter darkneſſe. Mat. 22.13. and 8.42 & 25.1…
At the ending of the firſt Sermon this miſerable man accompanied others of his neighbours to the Al… houſe for refreſhment: the time of r… paire to the ſecond Sermon bein… come, ſome of them moved him to return with them, to whom he replye… that the Miniſter was preaching upo… darkneſſe, and he would not hear hi… 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 onelyonly 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; its 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, its 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: its 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 onelyonly Gods Lawes, but the Lawes of the Nation; 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, its 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; Its 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 its 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 onelyonly. 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,Rom. 10, 14, 17. 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 onelyonly 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,Mr. Goodwin. Mr. Cawdry. 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,Jer. 17, 27. 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?Neh. 13.18. 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. Ezek. 22.26. & 31.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 ſtand as a monument of Gods ſeverity.
Theatr… of Hiſtory.A Noble-man that uſed to hunt on the Lords day, had a child born unto him with a head like a Dog, with eares and mouth crying like a Hound, which was a very remarkable judgement of God,
Theatre of Gods Judgements.Reports of an Husband-man, that went to plough on the Lords day, and cleanſing his plough with an Iron, it ſtuck ſo faſt in his hand for two years, that he carried it about with him as a ſignal toſtimony of the Lords juſt diſpleaſure againſt him.
Another that gathered corn into his barn upon the Lords day, had it all with fire from heaven conſumed, together with the houſe.
At Kimſtat in France, 1559. there lived a woman that neither would go nor ſuffer others of her family to go to Church on the Lords day; as ſhe was drying flax, fire iſſued out of it… but burnt it not: ſhe taking no notice, next Sabbath day as ſhe was buſie with it, miraculouſly again fire proceeds out of it, and burnt it; but was put out, this poor creature was … blind, as not to ſee or take warning by theſe foot-ſteps of Gods mercifull providences, but the third Sabbath day, when ſhe was buſied about her flax, as before, it fires of it ſelf, and could not be quenched, till ſhe, and two of her children were burnt to death.
And in the year 1126. One grinding corn upon the Lords days it took fire, and gave him timely warning not to break the Sabbath day, by the works of his calling.
In Helvetia, nigh Beleſſina, Mr. Clarks examples.three men were playing at Dice on the Lords day, one called Ʋlrick Schraeterus, having hopes of a good caſt, becauſe being croſt to the loſſe of much money before; he now expected fortune, or rather the Devill to favour his deſire; and therefore he uttered theſe horrid words. If fortune do dececeive me now, I will thruſt my dagger into the Body of God as farre as I can; O the curſed frames of our naturall tempers, if once God caſt the reins into our own wills, the Dice favours him not, and preſently he drawes his dagger, and with a powerful force throws it up towards heaven, which never was ſeen more; and immediately five drops of blood falls before them all upon the Table, and as ſuddenly comes the Devill amongſt them, carries away this vile wretch, with ſuch a terrible and hideous noyſe, as the whole City was aſtoniſhed at it. Thoſe two remaining alive, endevoured to wipe off the blood, but to ſo little purpoſe, that the more they rub'd, the more the drops of blood were perſpicuous. Report carries it all over the City, multitudes flock to ſee this wonder, who found only the Sabbath profaners rubbing the blood to get it out; theſe two by decree of the Senate of the City, were bound in Chains, and as they were led to the priſon; one of them was ſuddenly ſtruck dead; from out of whoſe body, a wonderful number of wormes and vermin was ſeen to crawle. The City thus terrified with Gods judgements, and to the intent that God might be glorified, and a future vengeance averted from the place; cauſed the third to be forthwith put to death: And the Table with the drops of blood on it, preſerved as a monument of Gods wrath upon this ſin, not only of Sabbath-breaking, but ſwearing, and wicked gameing: O the depth of the knowledge of God, How unſearchable are his judgments, and his wayes paſt finding out,Rom. 11.33.
January 13. 1583. At the Bear-garden in Southwark on a Sabbath day afternoon, many people preſſing on the Scaffolds to ſee the ſport, forced it ſuddenly down, with which fall eight were killed, and many ſpoyled in their bodies, who lived not long after.
Much like to it was that at Riſley in Bedfordſhire, Theatre of Gods Judgements.1607. where many people, rather then reſort to hear the the word of the Lord by the mouth of his Miniſter, came in great numbers to ſee a Stage-play on the Lords day; the Chamber floor fell down, and as a judgment of God upon this ſad & wilful ſin, many were killed and wounded, thus we ſee, when the works of piety and mercy are neglected, to proſecute ſinne and wickedneſſe, Gods judgements are ſwift to overtake us; thereby endeavouring to hedg up our way with thornes, which examples may puſh us back from the like impiety and vengeance of an angry God.
A ſad example of Gods ſeverity, in …is hot and ſore diſpleaſure againſt …abbath-breakers, is recorded of Feverton in Devonſhire; which place, ſaith he,, was frequently admoniſhed of the profanation of the Lords day, by a Market kept the day following; which without reformation, would inevitably pluck down divine vengeance: A little after the Miniſters death, upon the third of April 1598. A ſudden fire from heaven conſumeth the whole Town in leſſe than half an hour; excepting only the Church, Court-houſe, and Almes-houſe, where was conſumed in this fire of Gods wrath, four hundred dwelling houſes, and fifty ſoules deſtroyed. Who will not ſay this was a ſad and immediate hand of the Lord? but alas; what will not poor creatures do, that follow ſin with greedineſſe! The ſame Town fourteen years after, on the fifth of Auguſt, 1612. for the ſame ſin, was wholly conſumed, except ſome thirty poor peoples houſes, School-houſe, Almes-houſes: theſe Judgements are not recorded for Hiſtorical Peruſall,Luke 13.4 but to conſider of, and remember thoſe on whom the Tower of Shilo fell.
Mr. Clarks ExamplesAt Alceſter in Warwick-ſhire where the Authour lived, there were of his own knowledge, four remarkable Judgements of God. One that upon the publiſhing of the Declaration for ſports and paſtimes upon the Lords day; A young woman on this day comes to the Green, and ſayes, She would dance as long as ſhe could ſtand, and dancing, in the midſt of her ſin, God ſtruck her with ſuch a violent diſeaſe, that in two or three dayes ſhe died in miſery; as an example to all that delight more in ſerving their own pleaſures, and ſinfull deſires, then to wait upon God, and delight in his wayes.
The other of a young man of the ſame place, and not long after the other; who on the Lords day, immediately after the evening exerciſe was finiſhed, brings into the ſtreet a pair of Cudgells, layes them down nigh unto the Miniſters houſe, and invited divers to play with him; who refuſing, at length comes one, and taking up the Cudgels ſayes, Though I never played in my life, yet I will play one bout now. A little after, ſporting with a young woman, he takes up a Birding-piece charged, ſaying, Have at thee; the piece goes off, and murders her immdiately; for which, as a deſerved judgement, he ſuffered the Law.
Another of a Miller at Wootton in the ſame County, who going forth to a Wake, and coming home at night, found his Houſe, Mill, and all that he had, burnt down to the ground.
A fourth upon Mr. Clarks own knowledge, is of many wicked and prophane perſons, at Woolſton in the ſame County; who on the Lords day met at a Whitſun-Ale, in a 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 onelyonly 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 football 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 onelyonly 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, 1657.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 its too late.
A Pious Divine: ſayes he, The Lord hath ſpoken ſo loud from heaven againſt Sabbath-ſinners, Mr. P. Goodwin. Dies dominicus redivivus. 117.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 Churchyard, 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.
Mr, Clarks 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 the truth of this at my firſt coming to Sarum, and very many godly perſons in my hearing, atteſted it to be true, upon their own ſight and knowledge.
And further, Doctor Teate, he gives a ſecond example upon his knowledge thus.
To my knowledge, at Compton-Chamberlin in VViltſhire, at the houſe of Sir J. Penruddock, a dancing match was held on the Lords Day, where a ſtranger uſhers in, to act his part, and after a few turns about, and a few capers, he in the midſt of the ſin, falls dead to the ground, before all the company. Here was a ſad diſpenſation of Providence from Gods immediate hand, as many elſe beſides are; here was no inſtrument to take off any of the moſt ſevere vengeance of God; and ſuch examples in my mind, ſhould be taken as pregnant teſtimonies, to let all men know this day ought to be kept as Holy. Oh take heed of ſlighting this day, that God ſo ſeverely puniſhes in his ſore diſpleaſure.
And Mr. Clark upon his own teſtimony, brings in a ſad relation thus. When I lived in Cheſhire, there was one Sir T. S. a Papiſt, and at that time a Favorite at Court, who at his appearance in the Country was very much feaſted and entertained by the Gentry: once amongſt the reſt, he was invited to a Knights houſe on the Lords day, where many accompanied him: towards evening, the proper time for the deeds of darkneſſe, they fell to dancing: but look to the finger of God, and ſee what fell upon their ſinful prophaneſſe; In the midſt of their ſport, there was one Sir J.D. had a blow given him on his leg by ſome inviſible hand; for none was ſeen to touch him, as was atteſted by all the company: and thus he went lame for a good while after. It may be it ſet him upright in his practiſe and converſation ever after; if it did, it was a good providence that ſaved him from a more ſevere Judgement.
Dr. Twiſs on Sabb.One Sabbath day in the afternoon, a match at Football was made in Bedfordſhire: as two of the company was tolling a Bell to ſummon the reſt together, ſome that ſat in the Porch of the Church ſuddenly hear a terrible clap of Thunder, and ſaw a flaſh of Lightning, coming through an obſcure lane; which flaſht in their faces, to their great terrour and fear, ſo paſſing on to theſe that were tolling, it trips up the heels of the one, and leaves him ſtark dead: the other ſo blaſted, that he died alſo in few dayes. Theſe are the ſwift Meſſengers of God, which overtake poor ſinners in the way of their ſins, before reſolution can be proud of any actions; God will be ſeen in his wrath and terrour, to all wilfull and impenitent ſinners.
At Tidworth on the Lords day, many were met in the Church-yard to play at football, where one of this wicked company had his legge broken, which by a ſecret judgment of the Lord ſo feſter'd, that it turned to a Gangrene in deſpight of all means; whereof he ſpeedily died.
Stratford upon Sluon, Dr. Beards Theatre.was no leſſe then twice conſumed, by the fire of Gods wrath for this ſin of Sabbath-breaking, and on one and the ſame day twelve-monethmonth: beſides, they were great contemners and ſlighters of the Word of God by his Miniſter; A ſin that is commonly followed with hardneſſe of heart, if no viſible judgement get before it.
It is recorded of Pompey, C. Tacitus,that he ſhrunk under the depreſſion of Gods ſore diſpleaſure, for profaning Gods Sabbath, and Sanctuary. That which God conſecrates, muſt be kept holy, or woe to the profaners of it.
Joſephus.And of Herod who profaned Gods name by his wickedneſſe, and that, when for ſome treaſure which he ſuppoſed to be hid, he cauſed the Sepulcher of Gods Saints to be pluckt up; The Lord in Judgement cauſed a fire to breake forth of the earth, and deſtroyed thoſe that he imployed, which when he ſaw he deſiſted, and durſt go no further.
Mr. Nelſon Miniſter, his letter to Mr. Taylor in Theatre of Judgements.Nov. 26. 1621. One Richard Bourn ſervant to Gaſper Burch of Ely, was ſo accuſtomed to travell on the Lords day, that he made no conſcience of it, ſeldom or never coming to the Aſſembly to hear the Word of God on that day, but went to St. Ives Market, where he ſtayed and ſpent the day; wher being drunk, he was overtaken by Gods Juſtice; for coming home fraught with commodities, he fell into the River, and was drowned; a juſt reward of other ſinnes in the puniſhment of one.
In the year 1635. A Miller at Church-down nigh Glouceſter, would needs make a Whitſun-Ale; notwithſtanding the private and publick admonitions of the Miniſters, and of his Chriſtian friends, large proviſion was made, and muſick was ſet out, as the Miniſter and people in the afternoon went to Church; when prayer and Sermon was ended, the Drum beat up, Muſick played, and the people fell a dancing till evening; at which time, they all reſorted to the Mill: but O the Juſtice of God! before they had ſupped, at 9 of the clock, a ſudden fire ſeized on the houſe which was ſo ſharp, that it burned down his Houſe and Mill, and the moſt of all his other proviſion, and houſhold-ſtuffe.
At Baunton in Dorcetſhire, 1634.ſome being at Bowles on the Lords day, one threw his Bowle at his fellow, and hit him on the ear, whereupon blood iſſuing out at the other ear, he died; he that threw it fled.
At Simsburg in Dorſetſhire, 1634.one rejoycing at the erection of a Summer-pole on the Lords day, ſaid, He would go ſee it, though he went through a quickſet hedge; A Proverb here Going with wood in his arms to caſt into the Bonfire, profanely uttered theſe words; Heaven and earth are full of thy glory O Lord: He was immediately ſmitten by the ſtroak of God, and in two or three days died, and his wife alſo.
1635.At Dover, the ſame day that the Book of ſports was read in St. James Pariſh, one profanely went to play upon a Kit, which drew a rude multitude of the younger ſort together. But oh the terrour of the Lord! He was ſtruck with a divine hand, and in two dayes died.
July, 19. 1635.Two Boyes of St. Albans, going into Verolans pond to ſwim upon the Lords day, one of them was drowned, the other narrowly eſcaped, as a warning to others.
Two young men of St, Dunſtans in the Weſt London, going to ſwim on the Lords day, in September, 1635, were both drowned.
A fellow in Sommerſet-ſhire, being to make a Tent on the Lords day, for a Fair, which was to be on the day following, ſaid on the Satterday, that he would make it on the morrow; which was the Lords day, and being drunk, he died the ſame day roaring.
July, 1654.One Mr. Prince Chyrurgion of the of the Tower of London, did on the Lords day ride upon his horſe to pace him for a Chapman, but ſee the juſtice, yet mercy of God, he broke his leg, and lay in great pain and anguiſh eight weeks; His ſon had diſſwaded him from ſo great a ſin, which now he acknowledged as a judgement of God upon him for prophanation of his day: and ever after he became a more frequent reſorter to the congregation, and hearing Gods word.
At Thornton nigh Worceſter, 1634.upon the publiſhing of the book of ſports on the Lords day, the people prepared for a ſolemn prophanation, by ordering purveyors on purpoſe, to provide things fit for it; A proper maid went to the Mill on Satterday, to fetch home the meal on the Lords day, the maid paſſing by a hedge with the meal upon her head, was overtaken with a ſudden and ſad ſtroak of Divine Juſtice, for ſhe fell down dead into a ditch, there ſhe lay all Sabbath day; on Munday ſhe was carried to her grave, where all their intended mirth was buried with her, &c. ſuch a terrour it wrought in the people, and ſuch Reformation in the place, that no more Summer-Ales were kept; they took down the May-pole, and none durſt ſet it up again, or have to do with the publick prophanation of that day.
One at Ham nigh Kingſtone, a ſcoffer of goodneſſe, and a common prophaner of the Lords day, did on that holy day preſume to viſit his grounds, where finding ſome cattle grazing, which were not his own, & running to drive them out, he fell down, and ſuddenly died upon the place.
Upon May day, being the Lords day, a maid in Cripple-gate London, being married to one that had three children, one of them being at nurſe in the Country, they did on the Lords day ſpend the whole afternoon in feaſting and dancing; but God is juſt, and will be ſeen in his judgements to warn others; for a week after the plague began in the Pariſh, & the firſt houſe it entered into, is this new married couples, with which, both himſelf, wife, and two children were ſwept away by death. Theſe things are not to be ſcoffed at, they are not things of chance or blind fortune; no, no, they are providence; and though they are judgements in themſelves, yet in the iſſue, I hope they will be mercifull warnings to others.
July, 1634.Not far from Dorcheſter, lived one widow Jones, whoſe Son Richard upon the Lords day (notwithſtanding her admonitions, and perſwaſions did with his companions go to Stoak to play; where after they had done, and drank ſomewhat freely, they return home; and by the way fell out, whereupon John Edwards one of his conſorts ſtabbed him under the left ſide, vvhereof at ſeven a clock the next night, he died.
One David Price, Octoct. 1633.a ſervant to T. Hill, a Graſier, offering to drive his cattel from Banbury, was diſſvvaded by his Landlord, and told him he vvould be ſtopped, and forced to ſatisfie the Lavv, to vvhichwhich he replied, let me ſee who will hinder. In the morning he ſet out, and not yet out of the Tovvnes end, one met him, and ſaid, What David, to day, to day? he anſvvered not, but paſſed on; and although he never complained, nor any other ſaw any ſignes of the leaſt ſickneſſe, yet in a ſtones caſt of the Town, he fell down dead ſuddenly, and was buried in Banbury Church-yard, the next day after.
At Wicks, 1634.betwixt Colcheſter & Harwich, upon Whitſunday laſt in the after-noon, two fellowes meeting at the Foot-ball, the one killed the other.
1634.At Oxford, one Lords day, one Hawkes a Butcher would needs mend his ditch, his wife diſſwaded him from it on that day; but he would, and did go, but behold the remarkable juſtice of God! he is ſtruck dead in the ditch: a ſad example, amongſt other of Gods terrible Judgements,
January 1634.One Mr. Powel upon the Lords day did at Lemſter ſerve a Writ of Sub poena upon one, Mr. Shuit a Gentleman, (which he did on purpoſe upon that day, as is credibly reported) as ſoon as he came out of the Church into the Church-yard; to whom Mr. Shuit ſaid, I thought you had been an honeſter man, than to do ſo upon this day; who replied, I hope I am never a whit the more diſhoneſt; which he had no ſooner ſpake, but ſuddenly he fell down dead, and never ſpake word more; his wife ſeeing it, was immediately ſtruck with ſickneſſe.
May 31. 1635. being the Lords day, one Rich. Clark Apprentice to Timothy Donorell of Sherſton in Wiltſhire, was drunk in company with one H. Parrum, to whom he ſaid he vvould hang or drown himſelf; deſiring to know which was the beſt, who replied, that he hoped he would do neither: But oh the judgements of the Lord upon the prophaners of this day, and upon the ſin of Drunkennſſe! for on Monday morning, he was ſeen going thorough the Town, as if he were going about his Maſters buſineſſe, and having got up upon the midſt of a Tree without the Town, he there did hang himſelf.
At Billericay in Eſſex, March, 1634.one Theo. Peaſe the Miniſters ſon, would needs ring the Bells on the Sabbath day, but was hindred by the Officers; the next Lords day, he had gathered many together, and in deſpite of any, would ring, and whilſt he was ringing, a giddineſſe ſurprized him like one drunk, of which he fell ſick, and in three dayes died.
The Tapſter and Chamberlain of Queens Head Southwark, June 1635rode upon the Lords day to be merry, and having been too bold with drink, one of them riding homewards, fell off his horſe, and broke his neck.
Being the Lords day, an Apothecaries man in Lime-ſtreet London, Feb. 9. 1634.rid with another to Barnet, to be merry, and being drunk, upon their return they met with a man travelling, to whom offering ſome abuſe, the man ſtrikes one of their horſes, one of them bid the other run him through, which with his Rapier he did through the left breaſt, ſo that he fell down dead; and being both apprehended, they confeſſed, and were ſent to New-gate.
At Baildon in Yorkshire, two men ſitting drinking at a Wake, they quarrelled with one another; but being parted, and one of them ſitting by the fire ſide, the other preſently falls upon him with a Hatchet and cleaves him down the back, inſomuch as his bowels fell forth; the murderer being hotly purſued leapt into a River, and drowned himſelf.
April 18. 1635.Four travelling from London to Maidenhead, one of them would needs travel on the Lords day, the reſt refuſed, ſpending the Sabbath there; this man rode in the morning to Henly, and there heard a Sermon, after that travelled again in the afternoon, and on his way, leading his horſe down a ſmooth deſcent, his horſe ſuddenly fell, and broke both his fore legs; He was ſuddenly amazed at ſo ſtrange and unexpected a Providence, and could not but attribute it to the immediate hand of God: whereupon ſeeing him paſt recovery, he knockt his horſe on the head, and ſo left him. The next day, being overtaken at Abington by his fellow-travellers, they wondering, demanded the reaſon how it came to paſſe, he was no further on his way? He ſmote his breaſt, and related the ſtrange Providence of God, towards him, ſaying, He had heard many a good Sermon, but none of them ever wrought ſo much upon 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.
Mr. Weld.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,Mr. Clark. 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,2 King. 1. 2 King. 2: 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,Mr. Greenhill, on Ezekiel. immediately ſhe had her rongue 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.Pſal. 50.22 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 22 th 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.
End of the text · Samuel Hammond, Gods Judgments Upon Drunkards Swearers and Sabbath Breakers (1659)