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,…

And thus having spoken of the works of our callings, now we are to speak of the¹ works of our pleasures. Concerning the lawful recreations of this life, which Christianity doth permit and not forbid (for of unlawful pleasures being always out of season, and especially on the Sabbath, we have nothing to say) whether they may have place and time on the Lords day or no, here is the question. In this part of the treatise, I say, we do not ⟨p. 168⟩speak of profane & idle pleasures, but of them which bring some further use after they be used, & which are permitted by the word of God, so measure in them may be used, and they be sanctified unto us by the word and by prayer. And yet even for these we dare not give the time consecrated to God, unto playing and pleasures. Neither are we curiously to frame any exquisite division in this matter, but first we will consider of the feasts and banquets accustomed on this day, and afterward of other recreations and exercises at that time frequented and used, which though in their time, place and persons they are not unlawful, yet at this time on the Lords day we deny them to be lawful. As for feasts, we may² part them into Love feasts, Church feasts, & sumptuous feasts, which carry with them some further expenses and larger liberality, as are those which are used at marriages, at the admitting of men into their civill offices, or else are taken up for some special benefits received, or some extraordinary judgements removed, or some other causes like unto these, as when men carrying some port and countenance in the common wealth, according to their degrees and callings, at some times do ordain.

And thus hauing spoken of the workes of our callings, now wee are to speake of the¹ workes of our pleasures. Concerning the lawfull recreations of this life, which Christianity doth permit and not forbid (for of vnlawfull pleasures being alwaies out of season, and especially on the Sabbath, we haue nothing to say) whether they may haue place and time on the Lords day or no, here is the question. In this part of the treatise, I say, wee doe not ⟨p. 168⟩