A Godly Exhortation, Title page – Dedication
A godly exhortation, by occaſion of the late iudgement of God, ſhewed at Parris-garden, the thirteenth day of IANVARIE: where were aſſembled by eſtimation; aboue a thouſand perſons, whereof ſome were ſlaine; & of that number, at the leaſt, as is crediblie reported, the thirde perſon maimed and hurt.
Giuen to all estates for their instruction, concerning the keeping of the Sabboth day.
By Iohn Field Miniſter of the word of God.
Exodus 20. 8. Remember the Sabboth day to keepe it holier.
Exodus 31. 14. Yee shall therfore keepe the Sabboth, for it is holy vntounto you: he that defileth it, shall die the death: therefore whoſoeuer woorketh therein, shall be euen cutoff, from among his people.
Published by Authoritie.
GOD IS MY HELPE. Pſal. 7. 11.
GOD IS MY HELPER
AT LONDON; Printed by Robert Walde-graue, dwelling without Temple-barre, and Henry Carre in Paules Churchyard. 1583.
TO THE RIGHT honorable, the Lorde MAIOR, OF THE CITIE OF London: & to the worſhipfull, M. VVILLIAM FLEETEVVOOD, Eſquire, Sergeant at the Law, Recorder of the honorable Citie of London; and one of the Queenes Maieſties Iuſtices of Peace and Quorum, within her highnes ſaid Citie and Counties, of SVRRIE and MIDLESEX: and to the worshipfull Aldermen of the ſaid City, Iohn Field wisheth increaſe of grace, and conſtancie in the bleſſed truth of God to the end of their liues. Amen.
YOu vvill perhaps maruell (right honourable and vvorſhipfull in Chriſt) that I taking occaſion to ſpeake ſomevvhat, by this late and fearefull example of Gods iudgement: do dedicate this pore & ſuddain labor vntounto you, as though it ſhould more concern you then others. I profeſſe that I do it aduiſedly, and my reaſon is, becauſe it moſt concerneth you, & ſuch as are in authoritie. For vvho are more ſpecially bounde to looke vntounto the obſeruation of the lavves of God, then the magiſtrates, vvho are ſet vp as conductors and leaders of the people, in ſteede of God? And although you may ſay that this thing happened out of your iuriſdiction whereby you might ſeeme to be cleared: yet forasmuch as they that reſorted, vntounto this prophane ſpectacle (and vvere iuſtly puniſhed, vvith their ovvn tranſgreſſion) vvere of your citie, & you did not reſtraine them being vnderunder your commandement: this tranſgreſſion muſt needs alſo reach to you Is it not a lamentable thing, that after ſo long preaching of the Goſpell, there ſhould bee ſo gteat prophanation amongſt vsus? that Theaters ſhould be full, and churches be emptier that the ſtreetes ſhould be repleniſhed, and the places of holy exerciſes, left deſtitute? I vvrite not this ſimplie but in reſpect, and by compariſon. For I knovv that Churches (thanks be to God) are frequented? But vvhat is this in reſpect of the multitude? VVhy ſhoulde not holy places, in reſpect of their holy exerciſes be more frequented, then theſe places of abuſe, that vndoubtedly prouoke Gods heauy diſpleaſure? For admit that the thing it ſelfe vvere a recreation, lavvfull by the vvorde of God: yet vvho vvill graunt it vponupon the Lordes Sabboth? vponupon that day of reſt, vvherein our exerciſe ſhould be in ſpirituall and holy vvorkes. If you ſay that this thing belongeth, not vntounto you: becauſe that Parris garden, is out of your iuriſdiction: yet vvhy are theſe men ſuffered to bring their Beares into the citie, that thereby they may gather your company vntounto them? It vvere duety in you to hinder theſe, and to take order, that none of the citie ſhould repaire vntounto ſuch places: Nay further, you oughte to prouide that at the time, when by the law of the lande, all are commanded to reſort to publique praiers and reading of the vvord of God in the church, the ſame word may be alſo expounded vntounto them: ſo ſhoulde you both keep the people committed to you of God vnderunder her maieſty, frō vvicked abuſes of his holy Sabboths, which prouoke his wrath againſt the Citie: and alſo procure them to be godly exerciſed, to their encreaſe in all obedience to her maieſtie and to your own authority. But I would▪ to God your ſelues vvere not examples of this diſorder▪ For if there be any market, or peece of a Fayre, falling out vponupon the Sabboth, or on the ſaterdaye afore, any other tryumph, Shooting, or ſhew of actiuity to be shewed in it: you ſpare not to doe it leſſe vpō this day then vponupon any other. And though preachers hauehave cried out, frō time to time, for the reformation of ſuch prophanation, yet there hath beene litle of no amendment at al. But I beſeech you, euen in the bovvells of Chriſt, as you hauehave receiued the glad tidings of your ſaluation, & do make profeſſion of it: ſo learne novv at length to put it in practiſe. Be not vnprofitable hearers of the worde of God any longer, nor dull beholders of Gods iudgements, neither ſhut your eares vvhen God crieth oute by them ſo loudly, that their ſound goeth not onelyonly throughout the land, but alſo euen throughout the vvhole vvorld, leaſt you be made alſo to feel them. God hath ſpoken to vsus many wais, his frowning coūtenāce hath appeared by this long & lingering viſitation, both here and elſevvhere: by this vnſeaſonable wether, and by this preſent iudgement, that is yet ſo green and fresh in memorie. I am ſure if you lacke anye neceſſary help and aſſiſtance, for ſo good and godly a vvorke, you may be, and shal be ſupported to the vttermoſt. But hither to neither the vvorde of God by the miniſtery, and voice of the preachers: the godly and noble aduiſe of their honours, the vnſpeakable benefite, & comfort of youre ſelues, your Citie, and all youre vviues and children, nor the ſundry iudgementes of God following one another, and threatning more to come, could yet be able to ſtirre you vp to any ſuch worthy duetie in this behalfe, as the Lorde no doubt requyreth at your haundes. VVherefore I beſeeche you in time, euen in Gods feare: conſider vvhat belongeth vntounto your peace, and according to the places, wherein God hath ſet you, be vigilant and diligent for your owne good. It ſhall be no profit vntounto others, the gaine ſhall be yours, many diſorders ſhall be ſtopped, manye ignoraunt & erring mindes inſtructed and reclaimed; God shall bee ſerued, the prince better honored, your ſelues obeied, & eueryevery one ranged to keep a happy courſe towardes heauen. Novv the Lorde Ieſus eſtablish your hearts in his trueth, and giuegive you a ſvveete feeling and taſte of his exceeding mercye, that vvith true iudgement you maye diſcerne his iudgements, truely turning vntounto him, & fearing vnderunder his hande, that in the end you may be ſaued. Amen.
Fare you vvell this eyghteenth of January. 1583. Your humble and bound in Chriſt. …ohn Feild.