The Christian Sabbath defended against a crying evil in these times of the antisabitarians…

Fifthly, that in the celebration of it, there is no such cessation from works of labour required from us, as was exacted of the Jews, but that we may lawfully dress meat proportionable to every mans estate, and do such other things as are no hindrance to the public service appointed for the day, Sect. 8. Sixthly, that on the Lords Day all recreations whatsoever are to be allowed, which honestly may refresh the spirits, and increase mutual love and neighbour-hood amongst us, and that the names whereby the Jews were wont to call their festivals (whereof the Sabbath was the chief) were borrowed from an Hebrew word, which signifieth to dance, and to be merry, or make glad the countenance. If so, if all such ceremonies as do increase good neighbour-hood, then wakes and feasts, and other meetings of that nature. If such as honestly may refresh the spirits, then dancing, wrestling, shooting, and all other pastimes, not by law prohibited, which either exercise the body, or revive the mind. And lastly, that it appertains to the Christian Magistrate, to order and appoint what pastimes are to be permitted, and what are not (obedience unto whose commands is better far than sacrifice to the Idols of our own inventions) not unto every private person (or as the Doctors own words are) not unto every mans rash zeal, who, out of a schismatical, Stoicism (debarring men from lawful pastimes) doth incline to Judaism, Sect. 8. Add for the close of all, how doubtingly our Author speaks of the name of Sabbath, which now is grown so rife amongst us, Sect. 8. Concerning which, take here that notable dilemma of John Barkley, the better to encounter those who still retain the name, and impose the rigour.¹ Cur porrò illum diem plerique Sectariorum Sabbatum appellatis? What is the cause (saith he) that many of our Sectaries call this day the Sabbath? If they observe it as a Sabbath, they must observe it because God rested ⟨p. 170⟩on the day, and then they ought to keep that day whereon God rested, and not the first, as now they do, whereon the Lord began his labours. If they observe it as the day of our Saviours resurrection, why do they call it still the Sabbath, seeing especially that Christ did not altogether rest the day, but valiantly overcame the powers of death? This is the sum of all;

Fifthly, that in the celebration of it, there is no such cessation from works of labour required from us, as was exacted of the Jewes, but that we may lawfully dresse meat proportionable to every mans estate, and doe such other things as are no hindrance to the publique service appointed for the day, Sect. 8. Sixthly, that on the Lords Day all recreations whatsoever are to be allowed, which honestly may refresh the spirits, and increase mutuall love and neighbour-hood amongst us, and that the names whereby the Jewes were wont to call their festivalls (whereof the Sabbath was the chiefe) were borrowed from an Hebrew word, which signifieth to dance, and to be merry, or make glad the countenance. If so, if all such ceremonies as do increase good neighbor-hood, then wakes and feasts, and other meetings of that nature. If such as honestly may refresh the spirits, then dancing, wrestling, shooting, and all other pastimes, not by law prohibited, which either exercise the body, or revive the mind. And lastly, that it appertaines to the Christian Magistrate, to order and appoint what pastimes are to be permitted, and what are not (obedience unto whose commands is better farre than sacrifice to the Idols of our owne inventions) not unto every private person (or as the Doctors owne words are) not unto every mans rash zeale, who, out of a schismaticall, Stoicisme (debarring men from lawfull pastimes) doth incline to Judaisme, Sect. 8. Adde for the close of all, how doubtingly our Author speakes of the name of Sabbath, which now is growne so rife amongst us, Sect. 8. Concerning which, take here that notable dilemma of Iohn Barkley, the better to encounter those who still retaine the name, and impose the rigor.