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

In like manner, to come forth of his own parish, into an other parish to fetch a Physician or Surgeon in case of necessity, no man will say that this is to profane the Sabbath, because the business about which he comes is not to profane the Sabbath. But for a man to come out of his own parish to buy or sell, to trade or traffic, no necessity urging thereunto, this is to profane the Sabbath; because in such sort to trade on the Sabbath day, is to profane the Sabbath. In like sort, for a man to come out of his own parish about any sports or pastimes, is therefore to Profane the Sabbath in the judgement of the Parliament, because the keeping and performing of these sports and pastimes, is a manifest profanation of the Sabbath in the judgement of the King and his Parliament. Now if all sports and pastimes on the Lords day be a profanation of the Lords day our Christian Sabbath; it followeth that may-games and moricings, and ⟨p. 6⟩dancings, at such times usual, are also a manifest profanation of the Sabbath. And herein we speak, as I conceive, in his Majesties meaning, assisted with the great Council of his Kingdom, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the House of Commons: and whosoever shall account it superstition to say so, shall therewithal charge his royal Majesty, and all the Lords both Spiritual and Temporal; and in a word, the whole Parliament with superstition. Yet if it were only the benefit of the common people, that this Translator did intend, I for my part should be content to suffer him to enjoy the honour of seeking the benefit of the people; only admonishing the people committed to my charge, to consider well whether there be any such benefit to be reaped thereby as is pretended.¹ And seeing Saint Peter exhorts us to give diligence, that we may be found of Christ in peace, when he comes in flaming fire to render vengeance on all them that know not God, nor obey not the Gospel of Christ Jesus: Let every one examine himself, whether he could be content to be taken dancing about a may-pole on the Lords day, when the Lord, even the Lord of the Sabbath shall come, and that to be found of him in this condition, were to be found of him in peace. But seeing this translation, and especially the Preface of this Author tends to the promoting of the most rigorous censures against many;

In like manner, to come forth of his owne parish, into an other parish to fetch a Physitian or Surgeon in case of necessitie, no man will say that this is to prophane the Sabbath, because the businesse about which hee comes is not to prophane the Sabbath. But for a man to come out of his own parish to buy or sell, to trade or traffique, no necessitie urging thereunto, this is to prophane the Sabbath; because in such sort to trade on the Sabbath day, is to prophane the Sabbath. In like sort, for a man to come out of his owne parish about any sports or pastimes, is therefore to Prophane the Sabbath in the judgement of the Parliament, because the keeping and performing of these sports and pastimes, is a manifest profanation of the Sabbath in the judgement of the King and his Parliament. Now if all sports and pastimes on the Lords day bee a prophanation of the Lords day our Christian Sabbath; it followeth that may-games and moricings, and