The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

This moderation prefixed, let us sift more narrowly the things that are forbidden. These are either the works of our calling, or lawful recreations. The works be such, as either ⟨p. 163⟩are more usual in the six days, or being but at certain special times in the months or years used less usual. First concerning the works having their ordinary course in the week days, as ploughing, sowing, using of handicrafts, and such like, there is no question, and the most profane person will not call them into question, but it is taken as granted, that these works must give place to the worship of God, that men being freed from them may be the more sanctified. And these things are flatly forbidden in the Law and in the Prophets, who would not suffer a burden to be carried on the Sabbath, by which one work they did more secretly point at all the rest. But the words of this commandment are a sufficient demonstration of this matter. Who so then make the Lords day a packing day for their earthly business, either in making it a custom to have their servants follow their callings, or travail in their affairs, or else when they themselves will do that that day, which they will not do at other times, when in spiritual disposing of their business they might provide better, they are profaners of the Sabbath, and shall be judged for contemners of this law. And whatsoever these kinds of professors pretend in word, and brag of knowledge and Christian liberty, they cloak their sin under religion, & draw the curtain of Christian profession to cover the lewdness of their unchristian conversation, and so living as beasts they shall dye as beasts, or worse than beasts, in that they shall go to the hells, when the beasts shall go to the earth. It is too too lamentable, that in a Christian common-wealth, where Christ and none before Christ is to be preferred, where the fruit of so many years, teaching this duty, ought to be showed: that men as Heathen, who never knew of the creation of heaven and earth by God, or never heard of the redemption of man by Christ, or never tasted of the sanctifying power of the holy Ghost, nor at any time understood of the mystery of the Trinity; should make no conscience of the Sabbath, but only vouchsafe it worthy of a eivill duty.

This moderation prefixed, let vs sift more narrowly the things that are forbidden. These are either the works of our calling, or lawfull recreations. The workes be such, as either ⟨p. 163⟩