Answ. Disclaim not the name only while you defend the thing. Be not like them that say, We persuade men to voluntary untruths but not to lying; to break their Vows and Oaths in lawful matters, but not to perjury; to kill those that anger them, but not to murder; to take other mens goods by force, but not to robbery, &c. Is not a Wakes and Revels and Morris-Dances, and Dancing-assemblies, and Spectacles, and Stage plays, and the like, such a concourse as I am speaking of. Do you limit Dancers, and Players to any numbers? I speak not of the Laws. I am too much unacquainted with them. If they say, that above four meeting to Dance or Drink on the Lords day shall be accounted a Conventicle or unlawful Assembly, ⟨p. 114⟩it is more than ever I heard of, But I am speaking of the common practice of the contrary, and of those that ordinarily defend it, and labour to bring both Godly Ministers, and sober people, under the scorn of foolish preciseness and superstition, because they would hinder the sin and ruin of the people. If you will allow them to assemble for their Dancings, Shows, and Sports, you will encourage them to break the Laws both of God and Man, though you pretend never so much care that they be observed. You may as well allow them to be Drunk, and when you have done, forbid them to break Gods Laws and the Kings in their Drunkenness. There are few in such sportful Assemblies that are not Drunk with Concupiscence, and whose reason is not drowned in voluptuousness and vain imaginations. Let those Divines (if I may so call the Advocates of Sensuality and Sin) which are otherwise minded, give us leave to oppose against all their Cavils, and the false names of harmless recreations, but, 1. Our own experience, who in our youth, have always found such sports and revelling Assemblies to be corrupters of our minds, and temptations to evil, and quenchers of every holy motion, and enemies to all that's good. 2. The experience of the visibly corrupted undone sensual youth, that are round about us, in all Countries where we have lived. 3. And the judgement of Solomon, (who saith as much for pleasure as any Sacred Writer) Eccl. 7. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: For that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart: Sorrow is ⟨p. 115⟩better than laughter;
Answ. Disclaim not the name only while you defend the thing. Be not like them that say, We perswade men to voluntary untruths but not to lying; to break their Vows and Oathes in lawful matters, but not to perjury; to kill those that anger them, but not to murder; to take other mens goods by force, but not to robbery, &c. Is not a Wakes and Revels and Morrice-Dances, and Dancing-assemblies, and Spectacles, and Stage playes, and the like, such a concourse as I am speaking of. Do you limit Dancers, and Players to any numbers? I speak not of the Laws. I am too much unacquainted with them. If they say, that above four meeting to Dance or Drink on the Lords day shall be accounted a Conventicle or unlawful Assembly, ⟨p. 114⟩it is more than ever I heard of, But I am speaking of the common practice of the contrary, and of those that ordinarily defend it, and labour to bring both Godly Ministers, and sober people, under the scorn of foolish preciseness and superstition, because they would hinder the sin and ruine of the people. If you will allow them to assemble for their Dancings, Shews, and Sports, you will encourage them to break the Laws both of God and Man, though you pretend never so much care that they be observed. You may as well allow them to be Drunk, and when you have done, forbid them to break Gods Laws and the Kings in their Drunkenness. There are few in such sportful Assemblies that are not Drunk with Concupiscence, and whose reason is not drowned in voluptuousness and vain imaginations. Let those Divines (if I may so call the Advocates of Sensuality and Sin) which are otherwise minded, give us leave to oppose against all their Cavils, and the false names of harmless recreations, but, 1. Our own experience, who in our youth, have alwaies found such sports and revelling Assemblies to be corrupters of our minds, and temptations to evil, and quenchers of every holy motion, and enemies to all thats good. 2. The experience of the visibly corrupted undone sensual youth, that are round about us, in all Countreys where we have lived. 3. And the judgement of S•lomon, (who saith as much for pleasure as any Sacred Writer) Eccl. 7. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: For that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart: Sorrow is ⟨p. 115⟩better than laughter;
