A20559:286
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This serves then, to confute those that will be bold and venturous to do the works of their calling, upon the Lords day, and then if they be reproved for it. The answer is, why, what need you make such a stir, I hope I am neither whore nor thief? yes, they be thieves, and cursed thieves, and thieves that rob God, for the sabbath day is his, in as much right and property as any of our goods is ours; many would be ashamed if their son or daughter, should be found pilfering or prigging, from their neighbour, and it is well they should do this, but these men are never a whit ashamed that their son or daughter should rob God of his day, run abroad to vanity and dancing, and wantonness, upon his sabbath. That is youth, and it must be borne withal, nay, it is theft, and must not be suffered, for he that will deal thus unfaithfully with God, if occasion serve, will deal worse with men, and he that is not holy in the first table can never be truly righteous in the second.
This serues then, to confute those that will be bold and ventrous to doe the workes of their calling, vpon the Lords daye, and then if they be reproued for it. The answere is, why, what neede you make such a stirre, I hope I am neither whore nor theefe? yes, they be theeues, and cursed theeues, and theeues that rob God, for the sabboth day is his, in as much right and propertie as any of our goods is ours; many would be ashamed if their sonne or daughter, should be found pilfering or priging, from their neighbour, and it is well they should doe this, but these men are neuer a whit ashamed that their sonne or daughter should rob God of his daye, runne abroade to vanitie and dauncing, and wantonnesse, vpon his sabboth. That is youth, and it must be borne withall, nay, it is theft, and must not be suffered, for he that will deale thus vnfaithfully with God, if occasion serue, will deale worse with men, and he that is not holy in the first table can neuer be truely righteous in the second.
Then this serves for the instruction of those that have this ways dealt unfaithfully with God, serving their lust, when they should have served him, they must repent for this, and purpose hereafter to keep it faithfully, and be as much afraid to steal Gods time as mens goods, and to take away any part of the sabbath, as the communion cup, or any such like things, pertaining to the church, for neither hath God taken that to himself by so special a commandment, neither is the taking away of that, so dishonourable to God, and hurtful to others and our selves, as of the sabbath. But men will be objecting, what, shall men have no recreation, shall our selves be still toiling & moiling.