Theses Sabbaticæ, or, The doctrine of the Sabbath wherein the Sabbaths I. Morality, II.…

to turn back sweet presence and fellowship, and love of God in them, to dispute away these days with scorn and contempt, to smoke them away with Profaneness, and mad mirth, to Dream them away with Vanity, to Drink, to Swear, to Riot, to Whore, to Sport, to Play, to Card, to Dice, to put on their best Apparel that they may dishonour God with greater pomp and bravery, to talk of the World, to be later up that d•y then any other day of the Week, when their own Irons are in the fire, and yet to sleep Sermon, or scorn the Ministry, if it comes home to their Consciences; to tell Tales, and break Jests at home, or (at best) to talk of Foreign or Domesticall news only to pass away the time, rather then to see God in his Works and warm their hearts thereby: to think God hath good measure given him, if they attend on him in the Foore•oone, although the After-noon be given to the Devil, or sleep, or vanity, or foolish pastimes; to draw near to God in their bodies, when their Thoughts, and Hearts and Affections are gone a Hunting or Ravening after the World the Lord knows where, but far enough off from him: do you thus requite the Lord for this great love, oh foolish people and unwise? do you thus make the days of your rest and joy, the days of the Lords sorrow and trouble? do you thus weary the Lord when he gives rest unto you? was there ever such mercy shown, or can there be any greater love upon Earth, then for the Lord to call to a wicked sinful Creature, which deserves to be banished for ever out of his Presence, to come unto him, enter into his Rest, take his fill of love, and refresh it self in his Bosom in a special manner all this day? And therefore can there be a greater sin above ground committed out of Hell then thus to sin against this love? I do not think that the single breach of the Sabbath (as to sport or feast inordinately) is as great a sin as to murder a man (which some have cast out to the reproach of some zealous for the observation of the Sabbath day, truly the Lord knows) for I believe their milk sod over, if thus they said; but I speak of the Sabbath under this notion and respect, and as herein ⟨p. 93⟩Gods great love appears to weary, sinful, restless man, as a day wherein all the treasures of his most rich and precious Love are set open;

to turne back sweet presence and fellowship, and love of God in them, to dispute away these daies with scorne and contempt, to smoke them away with Prophannesse, and madde mirth, to Dreame them away with Vanity, to Drinke, to Sweare, to Ryot, to Whore, to Sport, to Play, to Card, to Dice, to put on their best Apparrell that they may dishonour God with greater pompe and bravery, to talke of the World, to be later up that dy then any other day of the Weeke, when their own Irons are in the fire, and yet to sleepe Sermon, or scorne the Ministery, if it comes home to their Consciences; to tell Tales, and breake Jests at home, or (at best) to talke of Forraigne or Domesticall newes onely to passe away the time, rather then to see God in his Workes and warme their hearts thereby: to thinke God hath good measure given him, if they attend on him in the Fooreoone, although the After-noone be given to the Devill, or sleepe, or vanity, or foolish pastimes; to draw neere to God in their bodies, when their Thoughts, and Hearts and Affections are gone a Hunting or Ravening after the World the Lord knowes where, but farre enough off from him: do you thus requite the Lord for this great love, oh foolish people and unwise? do you thus make the daies of your rest and joy, the daies of the Lords sorrow and trouble? do you thus weary the Lord when he gives rest unto you? was there ever such mercy shewen, or can there be any greater love upon Earth, then for the Lord to call to a wicked sinfull Creature, which deserves to be banisht for ever out of his Presence, to come unto him, enter into his Rest, take his fill of love, and refresh it selfe in his Bosome in a speciall manner all this day? And therefore can there be a greater sinne above ground committed out of Hell then thus to sinne against this love? I do not thinke that the single breach of the Sabbath (as to sport or feast inordinately) is as great a sinne as to murther a man (which some have cast out to the reproach of some zealous for the observation of the Sabbath day, truly the Lord knows) for I believe their milk sod over, if thus they said; but I speak of the Sabbath under this notion and respect, and as herein