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

nay, is it not apparent, that by the very act of Parliament, 1o Caroli, that to go out of a mans own parish about any sports or pastimes on the Sabbath day, is to profane the Sabbath? For to prevent the profanation of the Sabbath, is that statute made: Now, unless the sports themselves be profanations of the Sabbath, it is as evident, that to go forth of a mans parish unto such sports, is no profanation, any more, than to go out of a mans parish walking, or to confer in pious manner with a friend, or to fetch a Physician or Surgeon, if need be, or to hear a Sermon. And it is very strange, that we of the reformed Churches, shall justify such liberty on the Lords Day, which Papists condemn on their holy days; who usually complain of ⟨p. 181⟩dancing upon such days; as Polydor Virgil upon Luke, and Parisiensis de legibus cap. 4. And of old such courses have been forbidden by the decrees of Leo, and Anthemius Emperors; It is condemned also in the synod of Toledo Can. 23. as Baldwin the Lutheran shows, who also writes devoutly against such courses on the Lords Day, and gives this reason. For if the labours of our calling are forbidden in the holy day, how much more such recreations? and p. 48. He showed how the Sabbath was profaned by unchaste dancings and any manner of wantonness; what need I here to make mention of Austin; who professeth, and that against the Jews, that it is better to go to plough then to dance; and that it were better for their Women to spin Wool, then immodestly to dance, as they did; yet now a days such as oppose the same courses, as Austin did, are censured for Judaizing; thus the World seems to be turned upside down. Is it not high time Christ should come to set an end to it?

nay, is it not apparent, that by the very act of Parliament, 1o Caroli, that to goe out of a mans owne parish about any sports or pastimes on the Sabbath day, is to profane the Sabbath? For to prevent the profanation of the Sabbath, is that statute made: Now, unlesse the sports themselves be profanations of the Sabbath, it is as evident, that to goe forth of a mans parish unto such sports, is no profanation, any more, than to goe out of a mans parish walking, or to conferre in pious manner with a friend, or to fetch a Physitian or Surgeon, if need be, or to heare a Sermon. And it is very strange, that wee of the reformed Churches, shall justifie such liberty on the Lords Day, which Papists condemne on their holy dayes; who usually complaine of ⟨p. 181⟩