Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

For they keep the sabbath to God, but work to the devil, in dicing, in drinking in dancing, & feeding their humours with the vanities of this world, whereby we are not only drawn from the company of the holy congregation, but do also defile our bodies, which we ought rather to sanctify and keep holy. They sin against this precept, which either exercise any handy occupation on the sabbath day, or else lye wrapped in bed and fast a sleep till the day be almost spent, not once thinking to make one of Gods congregation. They offend in this precept, that awe their servants to work, and by appointing them to other business, do draw them from the worship of God, preferring other stinking things, before the honour due to God. And they above all other offend herein, which do not only, not keep holy the sabbath day them selves, but do also with their ungodly scoffs and evil examples, cause other to despise and set light by religion: when they do disdain and mock at the holy rites & ceremonies, at the ministry, ministers, sacred Churches, and godly exercises. And herein too, do both the goodmen and goodwives offend, if they be slack in their own houses to call upon, and to see their families keep holy the sabbath day. Who so ever do contemn the holiness of the sabbath day, they give a flat and evident testimony of their ungodliness, and light regard of Gods mighty power. Furthermore, the ¹keeping or despising of the sabbath, doth always carry with it, either ample rewards, or terrible threats. For the proof whereof, I will recite unto you (dearly beloved) the words of Jeremiah in his. 17. cha. Thus hath the Lord said unto me, saith he, Go and stand under the gate of the sons of the people, through which the kings of Judah go in and out, and under all the gates of Jerusalem, and say unto them, Take heed for your lives that ye carry no burden upon you on the Sabbath day, to bring it through the gates of Jerusalem, and that ye bear no burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, look that ye do no labour therein, but keep holy the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. Howbeit they obeyed me not, neither hearkened they unto me, but were obstinate and stubborn, and would not receive my correction.

For they kéep the sabboth to God, but work to ye deuil, in dicing, in drinking in dauncing, & féeding their humors wt the vanities of this world, wherby we are not only drawn from ye cōpanie of ye holy congregation, but do also defile our bodyes, which we ought rather to sanctifie and kéepe holy. They sinne against this precept, which eyther exercise any handie occupation on the sabboth day, or else lye wrapt in bed and fast a sléepe till the day be almost spēt, not once thinking to make one of Gods congregation. They offend in this precept, that awe their seruants to worke, and by appointing them to other businesse, do drawe them from the worship of God, preferring other stinking thinges, before the honour due to God. And they aboue all other offende herein, which do not only, not kéepe holy the sabboth day them selues, but doe also with their vngodly scoffes and euil examples, cause other to despise and set light by religion: when they do disdaine and mocke at the holy rites & ceremonies, at the ministerie, ministers, sacred Churches, and godly exercises. And herein too, do both the goodmen and goodwiues offend, if they be slacke in their owne houses to call vpon, and to sée their families kéepe holy the sabboth day. Who so euer do contemne the holynesse of the sabboth day, they giue a flat and euident testimonie of their vngodlinesse, and light regarde of Gods mightie power. Furthermore, the