Hither flock the effects of dancing recorded in Matthew, how the daughter of Herodias skipped in the kings feast, the king toke pleasure in her, whom without shame he could not openly gaze upon: for it was a most evident token of the forbidden marriage & whoredom: for Herod had ⟨image 26⟩taken unto him the wife of his brother, and mother of this damsel: of that dance it followed that John was be headed. Many are misgreeved with us, that we cry out upon dances, as upon things: evil of their nature and prohibited. We again make answer, that things ought not always to be measured, by their nature, but by the disposition and abuse of our flesh: wine, we cannot, deny, of it self is good: yet is it not administered to the sick of the Fever: not in that it is evil, but in that it agreeth not with the body so affected. In Exodus when the people made to themselves a golden calf, which they might worship, they sate down, they eat, they drank, and they rose up to play: In which place to play seemeth to be nothing else then to dance. But that I may not seem singular and alone man in these my sayings and censure, I will annex certain testimonies of the forefathers. Augustine in the sixth Chapter of his book against Petilian, saith: Bishops were evermore wont to punish vain and lascivious dances: but now a days, there be many Bishops not only present at the dances, but dancers themselves with ⟨image 27⟩women: so far are they from correcting this vice. The same Augustine while he expoundeth those words of the .32. Psalm Upon an instrument of ten strings will I singe unto thee: those ten strings he maketh the ten commandments, and when he had said some what upon every one of them, at the last he cometh to the Sabbath: of which it is written, remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day: I say not (saith he) that thou shouldest be so drowned in delicacy, as the Jews are accustomed: for better it is all day to dig, then to dance on the Sabbath, Chrysostom in .56. Homely upon Geneses, entreating of Jacobs Marriage, Marriage (quoth he) have ye heard, but no dancing, which there he calleth Diabolical: and many more matters hath he in the same place, which make for us. And among all the rest be writeth how by dancing, the Bride and Bridegroom are corrupted, and the whole family defiled. Again in his .48. Hom.
Hyther flocke the effects of dauncinge recorded in Mathew, how the daughter of Herodias skipped in the kinges feast, the king toke pleasur in her, whome without shame he could not opēly gaze vppon: for it was a most euident token of ye forbidē marriage & whoredome: for Herod had ⟨image 26⟩taken vnto him the wyfe of his brother, and mother of this damsell: of that daunce it followed that Iohn was bee headded. Many are misgréeued with vs, that wée cye out vppon daunces, as vppon things: euill of their nature and prohibited. We again make aunswere, that things ought not alwayes to be measured, by their nature, but by the disposition and abuse of our fleshe: wine, we cannot, denye, of it selfe is good: yet is it not administred to the sick of the Feuer: not in that it is euil, but in that it agreeth not with the bodye so affected. In Exodus when the people made to themselues a golden calfe, which they might worshippe, they sate downe, they eate, they drancke, and they rose vp to play: In which place to play séemeth to be nothing else then to daunce. But that I may not séeme singular and alone man in these my sayinges and censure, I wyll annexe certaine testimonies of the forefathers. Augustine in the sixt Chapter of his booke against Petilian, sayth: Byshops were euermore wont to punish vaine and lascinious daunces: but now a daies, there be many Bishops not only present at the daunces, but dauncers themselues with ⟨image 27⟩women: so farre are they from correcting this vice. The same Augustine whyle he expoundeth those words of the .32. Psalme Vppon an instrument of tenne stringes will I singe vnto thee: those ten stringes he maketh the tenne commaundements, and when he had sayde some what vppon euery one of them, at the last he commeth to the Saboth: of which it is written, remember that thou kéepe holy the Saboth day: I say not (sayth he) that thou shouldest be so drowned in delicacie, as the Iewes are accustomed: for better it is all day to dig, then to daunce on the Saboth, Chrisostome in .56. Homely vppon Genneses, intreating of Iacobs Mariage, Mariage (quoth he) haue ye hearde, but no dauncing, which there he calleth Diabolicall: and many more matters hath hée in the same place, which make for vs. And amonge all the rest be wryteth howe by dauncing, the Bride and Bridegrume are corrupted, and the whole family defiled. Againe in his .48. Hom.
