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,…

If it be demanded whether this day be fit for marriage or no: I answer, it is, because on¹ that day as it is a day of rejoicing, there is a more lawful liberty of speech, and a more liberal use of cheerful behaviour. Howbeit, let them not on that day, if they marry, make their solemn cheer: but seeing they may have a convenient company some other day, let them either both marry and feast some other day, or marry on the Lords day, & feast another. And if it be demanded, whether Love feasts may be kept on this day or no; I an swear, there is difference between love-feasts and solemn feasts. And if men were as wise as they were in the times of Popery, they would be politic to find out some means to, provide for the glory of God, and yet not altogether neglect the convenient furniture for their table. I am not to appoint, neither do I undertake to prescribe how meat should be prepared, or how offices should be divided: yet by experience I can give testimony of some who for their religion bear credit in the Church, and for their authority carry some countenance in common wealth, and yet on the Lords day have their tables both Christianly and worshipfully furnished without any hinderance of the worship of God at all, notwithstanding the number of their daily retinue & ordinary family is great. It is one thing to provide feasts of entertainment more than competent, and another thing to use lovefeasts nothing less than is convenient, the one oppressing and disabling us to holy exercises, the other refreshing and enabling us to the duties of religion.

If it be demaunded whether this day be fit for mariage or no: I answere, it is, because on¹ that day as it is a day of reioycing, there is a more lawfull libertie of speech, and a more liberall vse of cheerfull behauiour. Howbeit, let them not on that day, if they marrie, make their solemne cheere: but seeing they may haue a conuenient companie some other day, let them either both marrie and feast some other day, or marrie on the Lords day, & feast another. And if it be demanded, whether Loue feasts may be kept on this day or no; I an swere, there is difference betweene loue-feasts and solemne feasts. And if men were as wiseas they were in the times of Poperie, they would be politike to finde out some meanes to, prouide for the glorie of God, and yet not altogether neglect the conuenient furniture for their table. I am not to appoint, neither doe I vndertake to prescribe how meate should be prepared, or how offices should be deuided: yet by experience I can giue testimonie of some who for their religion beare credit in the Church, and for their authoritie carie some countenance in common wealth, and yet on the Lords day haue their tables both Christianly and worshipfully furnished without any hinderance of the worship of God at all, notwithstanding the number of their daily retinue & ordinary familie is great. It is one thing to prouide feasts of intertainement more than competent, and another thing to vse louefeasts nothing lesse than is conuenient, the one oppressing and disabling vs to holy exercises, the other refreshing and enabling vs to the duties of religion.