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

And let the law of this nation or of any nation of the world be judge between us, whether in case one man owe another a days service; I say, let the world judge, whether in common equity this be to be interpreted of an hour and an half in the morning, and an hour and an half in the evening, or only of a part of the day, and not rather the whole day. And what vile courses are these, that men should carry themselves so basely in dispensing unto God the proportion of his service. In the sixth and last place, we have that whereunto all the former discourse is consecrated, namely, to make way for such profane sports and pastimes, which here are glossed with the cleanly stiles of recreations to refresh the spirits, and for the increase of mutual love and neighbourhood amongst us, as if he were ashamed to speak out, that all this ⟨p. 180⟩tends to the countenance of May-games and morricing, and dancing about May-poles on the Lords Day. D. Andrewes, sometimes Bishop of Winchester,¹ spared not to profess, that vacare choreis, to be at leisure on that day, for dancing, is the Sabbath of the golden calf, and he allegeth Austin for it, though he cannot justify his quotation. Doctor Downeham, Bishop of Derry, calls such like courses profane sports and pastimes, which more distract, and more hinder our works than honest labours; and he censures also such a Sabbath, calling it, the Sabbath of the calf, Exod. 23.6.18.19. Bishop Babington, on Exod. 16. puts a Christian soul upon this meditation, Good Lord, what do I upon the Sabbath day? This people of his might not gather Manna, and may I safely gad to fairs and markets, to dancings and drinkings, to wakes and wantons, to Bearbaitings and Bullbaitings, with such like wicked profanations of the Lords Day? Are these works for the Sabbath? Is this to keep the holy day? Can I answer this to my God, that gives me six days for my self, and takes but one to himself, of which I rob him also? No, no, assuredly I shall not be able to endure his wrath for these things one day, and therefore I will leave them, and regard his holy day hereafter better than I have done. And in his exposition of the Commandments by way of question and answer, p. 44. reproves expressly Summer-games on the Lords Day; and in his Examen of conscience annexed to the fourth Commandment, he speaks against going to Church-ales and Summer-games;