Spiritus est vicarius Christi in terra .

A TREATISE wherein Dicing , Dauncing , Vaine playes or Enterluds with other idle pastimes &c. commonly vsed on the Sabbeth day , are reproued by the Authoritie of the word of God and auntient writers .

Made Dialoguewise by Iohn Northbrooke Minister and Preacher of the word of God .

AT LONDON

Imprinted by H. Bynneman , for George Byshop .

WHen I cal to minde ( right worshipful ) the excellent saying of the diuine Philosopher , that saith , Non nobis solum natisumus , Cicero . Lib. 1. de offic●s . ortusque nostri partem patria vendicat , partem parentes , partem amici &c. , 1. Cor. 10.24 . we be borne not for our selues alone : but some parte of our birth , our countrey , some part our parē●s , some part our friends do claime , &c. ( Plato did know only , by the light of natural reason , that al excellente and good giftes came of god , and were giuen to the intente that a man shoulde therewith helpe and profite others . Iames . 1.17 . Of like opinion were all the Philosophers : which had tasted of honest discipline and learning made me to enterprise and take this treatise in hand , that I mought therby helpe those that are diseased with any of these diseases , either of diceplaying , dauncing , or vaine playes or enterludes , whiche raigneth too too much by so much amongst Christians , ( especially in these dayes and light of the Gospel of Christ &c. ) who soeuer therfore doth ●hinke him self to be a member of the common wealth of Christ , ( which is his mistical body , ) he must nedes much more be inforced of Christian knowledge and charitie , to imploy his labours in bestowing those giftes which God hath giuen him , to the profit of others , than those Philosophers , which knew not god aright in his word , through Iesus Christ .

Saint Paul verie aptly ( by a similitude ) compareth the churche of Christ to a natural bodie . 1. Cor. 12.12.14.20 . Col. 1.18 . Rom. 12.4.5.6.7 &c. As in the natural bodie euerie member helpeth the whole : for we see , that there is in a natural bodie such an affection and desire of euerie member to helpe and maintaine the other , 2. Cor. 11.15.16.17.21.22.27 . that not only the senses be readie to do their part and office : as the eie to see , the eare to heare , the nose to smel , the tong to tast , &c. & so likewise in the rest of the senses : but also al the other parts of the bodie do so much care for the whole , 1. Cor. 12.26 . that they refuse no danger ( though it be neuer so great ) to helpe and succour the same .

If anie man then , which beareth the name of a Christian , and of a Gospeller , Gal. 6.12 . Col. 3.16 . Prouerb . 27.23 . Col. 1.18 . Ephe. 5.23 . shal espy forth anie thing , that may conduce and benefite the mystical bodie , and doeth not his endeuour to the vttermost to bring the same ther vnto : verily he is to be thought an vnprofitable member not worthy ( in my iudgement ) to be accompted of that member of whom Christ Iesus is the head : And also that he had not tasted of the spirit of god , which neither moued with example of the heathen , nor with loue towards the brethren , considering the great daungers that might ensue here vpon , would take some paines , and endeuour to procure medicines , so farfoth as in him lieth , to ease & help the same . Which ( according to my exiled and slender learning ) haue made this little treatise againste Diceplaying , Dauncing , and Vaine playes or Enterludes , giuing herein medicines and remedies against these diseases which most of al trouble the whole mébers of the body : although at the first it seeme not toothsome , yet I dare au●uch , it is holesome . We can be content ( for the health of our bodies ) to drinke sharp potions , receiue and indure the operation of extreme purges , to obserue precise & hard diets , & to bridle our affections & desires &c. much more shold we so do for the health of our soules . And wher should we seeke for this helth of our soules , Esay . 53.4 . Luke . 9.17 . Cap. 11.28 . Numb 21.9 . Cap. 3.16 . 1. Cor. 6.11.12 . but only at Christ Iesus , who is our only Phisition , who calleth eueryone to himself that is burdened & hevy lode and he will refresh them : th●s is that syrie serpent , that as manie as toke vpon him should liue . this is that I sope which purgeth vs : this is that red Cow without blemish not vsed to the yoke , that maketh vs white . This is that sparrow which was staine &c. to set vs at libertie . This is the Lambe that taketh awaie our sinnes , original and actual . This is that Peli●an which giueth out his own hart bloud to remain as his yong ones that haue ben stoong to death by the poyson of Satan . Ambrosli● de Virgen bus . As S. Ambrose saith . Omnia Christus est nobis Sivulnus curare desideras : medicus est . S febribus estuas , sons est . Si grauaris inquitate : iusticia est . Si auxilio indiges virtus est . Si morté times : vita est . Si coe●um desideras : via est . Si tenebras fugis : lux est . Si cib̄u quaeris : alimentum est . Gustate igitur et videte quam suauis est dominus , beatus vir qui sperat in eo . That is : If thou desire to be healed ( of thy disease ) Christ is thy Phisition : if thou wilt haue awaie the burning ague ( of sinne ) he is thy colde fountaine . If thou be grieued with thine iniquities , he is thy righteousnesse : if thou be weake , he is thy strength : if thou fearest death , he is thy life : if thou desirest heauen , he is the way : if thou wilte auoyde darknesse , hee is light : if thou be hungry , he is thy nourishment . O taste therefore and see , how sweete the Lord is : blessed is the man that trusteth in him . After I had gathered togither this simple worke ( which lay far abroad ) & so had finished this treatise , I mused with my selfe , vnto what Patron I mought best direct the same . In fine , I found none more fit than your worship , considering your vertuous and godly disposition , which answereth your zelous and true profession of the gospel ( for I am assured you vtterlye defie and detest al kinde of Poperie whatsoeuer ) and for that I perceiue my selfe something addict and tyed with the bondes of singular & great friendship flowing from you to me , In recompence wher of ( bicause I haue none other treasures to exhibite vnto you , but onlie this little talent of my base and simple learning ) I do here dedicate vnto youre worship this hooke ( named a treatise against , Diceplaying , Dauncing , and vain playes or Enterluds ) although rude & homely , yet ( I doubt not ) plaine & profitable for these times of ours wherein we liue : wherin I haue to craue ( that nothing more hartily I can obtest ) then your friendly acceptance of the same , for it is a token of my hearty good wil , remembring the worthy deed of the famous Persian Prince Artaxerxes , so much of euerie one commended . I humblie obtest your friendlie countenance : and by my strong bulwarke against the fuming freates and belching ires of saucie sicophants , Diceplayers , Dauncers , & Players , which if you do , I haue my whole desire , and crōinuallie I wil poure out prayers vnto the Lord of heauen and earth , to sende you in this earthlie mansion continual encrease of faith , knowledge and zeale in the gospel of Christ Iesu : with prosperitie , and accesse of manie blessed and happie yeares : with your good ladie ( Sarah . ) And after this life , neuer ceassing & endlesse ioyes in the heauenly seniorie .

Consider I pray thee ( good Reader ) what ioly yonkers and lusty brutes these wil be , whé they shal come to be Citizens , and intermedlers in matters of the common welth : Proverb ●3 24. Cap. 23 13. 〈◊〉 7.23 . 〈◊〉 .30.1 . which by their fathers haue ben thus nicely and wantonly cockered vp neuer correcting nor chasting them for any faults and offences whatsoeuer . What other thing but this , is the cause that there be now so many adulterers , vnchast and lewde persons and ydle Rogues ? That we haue such plentie of Dicers , Carders , Mummers & Dauncers ▪ And that such-wickednesse and filthy liuers are spred about in euery quarter , but only naughty education and bringing vp : wel then , suche as impute this thing to the newe learning and preaching of the gospel are shamefully deceiued , hauing no iudgement to iudge of things No , no , the newe learning and preaching of the Gospell is not the cause hereof , but the naughty , wanton and foolish bringing vp of children by their parents , as I haue declared .

Luke . 14.23 . Deut. 21 18 19.20.21 . Also the slacknesse and vnreadinesse of the Magistrates to doe and execute their office , is a great cause of this : if they that vse tauernes , playing , and walking vp and downe the streates , in time of a Sermon : if disobedient children , to their parents . If Dicers Mūmers , ydellers , dronkerds , swearers , Rogues & Dauncers , and such as haue spent and made away their liuing in belly cheare and vnthriftinesse were streightly punished , surely ther shuld be lesse occasion giuen to offend , & also good men should not haue so great cause to complain of the maners of men of this Age . Therfore the magistrate must remember his office : For he beareth not his sworde for naught , for he is gods minister and a father of the countrey appointed of god , to punish offenders : but nowadayes by reason of libertie without punishmente , and slackenesse of men in office , which wink at their faults , causeth so many idle players & dauncers to come to the Gallows as there are , for as the wise man saith , who so prohibiteth not men so to offend when he may , in a maner commaundeth them so to do : 〈…〉 , 〈◊〉 12.13.14 . for it is better to be a subiect to a magistrate vnder whom nothing is lawfull , than vnder him , to whome al things is lawful . I feareme gretly therfore , least the heathen més seueritie , and streightnesse in punishing vice , shal be a reproch to our magistrars , and accuse them at the last day for their negligence and slacknesse herein . It is not inough to punish sinne only , but also to preuent and take away the causes thereof .

The fourth cause is , Luke . 12.15 . Securitie in wealth and prosperitie , which doth inebriate the mindes of men in suche sort , that they neyther remember God , nor constantlye purpose to reforme and amende their liues . Therfore it was wel sayd of one , that like as of prosperitie riot proceedeth : Euen so of riot commeth both other common vices , and also vngodlynesse , and the neglecting of Gods word and commaundements : And as Seneca af●i●meth , that into great welth and prosperitie , Seneca . ( as it was continual dronkennesse ) men ●al into a certaine sweete and pleasaunt sleepe . For as Publius saith , Riches , maketh him a foole , Publius . whom she cockereth to much . Paul also willeth that warning should be giuen to the rich men , 1. Timo. 17.18 . that they waxe not proude , nor haue their affiance in vncertaine riches , but in the liuing God , to do good , and be rich in good workes .

This Securitie is verily the mother of al vi●e , for by the same a man is made vnsensible , 1. Thes. 5.1 . I●dges . 18.7.10 2. Pet. 2.19 . so that in his consciéce he feeleth not the anger and wrath of god against sinne : by Securitie mens mindes are brought into a dead sleepe , that they be not pierced one whit with the feare of gods punishment or with the feare of death , or of the last day , to leaue off their vice and sin . This securitie Christ artificiallye painteth out in Luke , Luke . 12.16 . Ecclesi. 11.19 . where mention is made of the rich man , which when his land had enriched , and made him welthy with a fruitful and plentiful croppe , did not goe about to reforme his liuing , and to repent nor to bestow almes vpon the poore , but studied how to enlarge his barnes , and to make more ●oome for his corne , and sayd , Now my soule thou hast a great deale layd vp for thee , which wil last thee for many yeares : now therfore take thy rest , eate , drinke and be of good cheare . But in this Securitie , what heard he of god : thou foole , this night thy soule shal be také away &c. markest thou not , how death commeth sodainly vpó him thinking to haue had al the cómodities & pleasures of the world , as ease , rest , delicious fare , pastimes , delectations , and safegard of al his goods ?

For this cause then , Paule commaundeth vs to awake and bee in a readinesse at al times against the comming of the Lord . Christ our Sauiour also saith , wa●ch and pray least ye enter into tentation : againe , ● Cor. 16. ● . Col. 4.2 . 1. Th●s 5.6.7.8 . 1. Pet. 5.8 . Mat. 26.41 . Cap. 24.42.43 . 44.45.46.48.49.50.51 . Luke . 21.34.35 . Genes. 7.5 . Luke 17.26 . 27.28 . ●● . Mat 24.38 . ●Pet . 3.20 . Luke 17 . 3● . 1 Cor. 10.6 . Wisdo . 3.17.18 Iames . 4.13.14 . take heed to your selues , least at any time your heartes bee oppressed with surfeting and dronkennesse , and cares of this life , and least that day come on you at vnwares . For as a snare shall it come onal thé that dwel on the face of the earth , like as it befell and happened in the time of Noe , whéal the world was drowned , and in the time of Lot when Sodome was burned with fire from heauen , so verily the last day shal come sodainely , & at the twinckling of an eye , euen when men loke least for it . These things might be faire examples and sufficient warnings for vs , if wee were not more than senselesse .

The fift cause , is the hope of long life . Among many euilles & naughty affections which folow the nature of man corrupted by sinne , none bringeth greater inconuenience than the inordinate hope of long life , as Cicero saith , no man is so olde and aged , that he perswadeth not himselfe that he may liue a whole yeare . This is the cause why we defer the reformation of our liues , Luke . 16.2 . Ecclesi . 5. ● . Gala. 6.7.8.9.10 1. Kings . 10 2. 1. Chro. 9.1 . Luke . 11.31.32 Ion 3.5 and reméber not , that we haue an account to make at the last day . It is to be wondered , that men do put of , and defer such a great and weightie matter , and loke no more of a thing , which profiteth so much , and is so necessarie vnto saluation . The very heathen I feare me shal in the last iudgement be a reproch to vs Christians , in that we are so slouthfull , and haue almost minde at no time to repent and amend our liuings . Pythagoras rule and custome was , when he went to take reste , Pythagoras custome . to recken and call , to remembraunce what thing so euer he had said or done , good or b●d , the day before : which Virgil speaking of a godlye and vertuous man , Virgil. painteth out to vs learnedly : how he neuer slept til he called to remébráce al things that he did that day &c. I can not let passe that which Seneca speaketh of this form and order . Seneca . Sextus . Ecclesi. 4.25 . Ezra . 10.1 . Iob. 40.9 . Cap. 10.15 . Cap. 31.1 . Prouerb . 28 . 1● . 1 Cor. 11.28 . 2. Cor. 13.5 . 1. Cor. 11. ●1 . Sextus ( saith h● ) at the euening ere he went to rest , accustomed to aske of his minde certain questions : what ill and naughty condition hast thou this day amended ? what vice hast thou withstanded ? what art thou better now than when thou diddest arise ? And after he addeth this : what better forme can there be , than this , to examine the whole day againe in this wise ? And this rule saint Paul giueth also , saying , let a man therfore examine himself &c. if we would iudge our selues , we should not be iudged .

But now of the contrarie , let vs consider our exercises , & how we vse to recken our faultes , and examine the whole day again , at night ere we go to rest and slepe : how are we occupied verily , we kepe ioly cheare one with an other in banquetting , Eccl. 7.36 . Iob. 7.6.7.9 . Esay . 40.6.7 . Psal. 3● . ● . Ecclesi 44.18 . 1. Pet. 1.24 . Iames ● . 10 . Cap. 4.14 . Iob. 14.2 . Psal. 102.3.11 . Mat. 25.4 . Ephes. 5.14 . 1. Cor. 6.9.10 . Ephes. ● . 3 . 1 Timo. ● . surfeting and dronkennesse , also we vse al the night long , in ranging from town to town and from house to house with Mummeries and Maskes , Diceplaying , Carding and Dauncing , hauing nothing lesse in our memories than the day of death : for Salomon , byddeth vs remember our end and last day , and then we shal neuer do amisse : but they remember it not , therfore they do amisse . The bereuiti of our life , is compared in Scriptures , vnto the smoke , vapour , grasse , a flower , shadow , a span long , to a weauers web , to a post &c. teaching here by that we should be alwayes preparing to die , for that we know not what hour it wil come : therfore , as wise Virgins let vs prepare oyle readie in our lampes , for doubtlesse the day of the lord is not farre off . Dare we take our rest , and boldely to sleape in these our wicked sinnes , in which if any man should die , 2. Pet. 3.4 . Hebre. 9.27 . ( as no man is sure that he shall liue the next morow folowing , ) he were vtterly cast away , & condemned body & soule ; but alas , these things they remember not . In such wise they flatter themselues with hope of longer lyfe , ( fith with the which so many men be deceiued how childish are they , or rather how do they dote , which do perswade themselues , that they be exempted out of the number of those , as it were by some singular priuiledge and prerogatiue .

These are the chiefest causes that we liue so wickedly as we do in these dayes . Take away therfore the causes , the effectes wil easily be remedied . And for the curing of three notable vices , ( among all the reste ) I haue here made , ( according to my small skill ) a Treatise against Diceplaying , Dauncing , and vayne playes or Enterluds , Dialogue wise , betwene Age & Youth , wherin thou shalt finde great profit and commoditie , and how in al ages , times and seasons , these wicked &c detestable vices of ydlenesse , Diceplaying , Dauncing , and vaine Enterludes , hath bin abhorred & detested of al nations , and also among the Heathens , to the great shame & condemnation of Christians , that vse no playe nor pastime , nor any exercise more than Diceplaying , Dauncing , and Enterludes . Now therfore ( friendly Reader ) I haue laboured for thy sake with my poore penne , to bring forth this small volume that thou seest : Wherin I haue to request and desire thy friendly acceptaunce of the same , bycause it is a pledge and token of my good hart & will to thee for which if thou canst afourde me thy good worde , I aske no more , Psal. 12.2.3.4 . Exe. 33.30.31.32 . Psal. 14.6 . Psal. 101.5 . Mat. 5.11 . Act. 7.57 . Iames . 3.8 . Psal. ●99 . 2.3 . it shal not be the last ( if God lend me life ) that thou shalt receiue of me . As for . Arista●chus broode , and Zoilus generation , lurking loyterers , Dicers , Dauncers , Enterlude Players , & frantike findefaults , dispraysing and condemning ●uerye good endeuour , I wey them not , I am not the first ( though the simplest and rudest , ) that their venemous tongs ( typped with the Mettal of infamy and slaunder ) haue torne in pieces , & vncharitably abused , god forgiue them Accept thou therfore , I beseech , the ( cutteous Reader ) this my trauel , & good meaning in the best part . Thus I bid thee farewel . From Henbury .