Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

Now all holy days had one common ¹name & were called Sabbaths, feasts, holy days, meetings and assemblies. All holy days, what name soever they were called by, were ordained to God alone, not to creatures, not for surfeiting and wanton chambering. All holy days were invented for the health, profit, and recreation of mankind. For holy days are no burden, but the easing of our burdens. Profane works I confess are profitable, but ease is also necessary: for without rest labour cannot continue. The Lords will therefore is to give man a time of recreation, and biddeth his servants to be merry on the holy days in holiness and modesty, so that their ease may be an honest recreation, and not reproachful sensuality. Again ease of it self is not good, but in respect of an other thing it is good. God biddeth to cease from work, but yet he setteth us on work another way, he willeth us to cease from bodily labour, and begin to work in hart and mind, and wholly apply our selves to his holy service. And therefore it is needful to have holy assemblies, the reading of the holy Scriptures, public prayers, sacrifices (for it is prescribed in the 28. and 29. Chap. of the book of Numbers, what they ought to offer at every feast and holy day) the celebration of the Sacraments, and whatsoever else the Lord hath commanded to be done at festival days and solemn seasons. For that one thing is here required especially, which Mary found, as she sate at the feet of Jesus and heard his word.

Nowe all holy dayes had one common ¹name & were called Sabbothes, feastes, holy dayes, méetinges and assemblies. All holy dayes, what name soeuer they were called by, were ordeined to God alone, not to creatures, not for surfetting and wanton chambering. All holy dayes were inuented for the health, profite, and recreation of mankinde. For holy dayes are no burden, but the easing of our burdens. Prophane workes I confesse are profitable, but ease is also necessarie: sor without rest labour cannot continue. The Lords will therefore is to giue man a time of recreation, and biddeth his seruaunts to be merrie on the holy dayes in holinesse and modestie, so that their ease maye be an honest recreation, and not reprochfull sensualitie. Againe ease of it selfe is not good, but in respecte of an other thing it is good. God biddeth to cease frō worke, but yet hée setteth vs on woorke another way, hée willeth vs to cease from bodily labour, and begin to woorke in hart and mind, and wholie applie our selues to his holie seruice. And therefore it is néedefull to haue holy assemblies, the reading of the holy Scriptures, publique prayers, sacrifices (for it is prescribed in the 28. and 29. Chap. of the booke of Numbers, what they ought to offer at euery feast and holy day) the celebration of the Sacraments, and whatsoeuer else the Lord hath commaunded to be done at festiuall dayes and solemne seasons. For that one thing is here required especially, which Marie found, as shée sate at the féete of Iesus and heard his word.