Brooks - BX9338 .B7 1813 v2

BOUND. 173 Dr. Bound might carry his doctrine too high by ad- vancing the Lord's day in all respects to a perfect level with the Jewish sabbath. But it was certainly unworthy the character of divines, to encourage men in shooting, fencing, bowling, and other diversions on the Lord's day, especially as they were sufficiently forward in such prac- tices without the countenance and example of their spi- ritual guides. Nevertheless, in the year 1599, Archbishop Whitgift called in Dr. Bound's book, and commanded that it should not be reprinted; and the year following; the Lord Chief 3 ustice Popham did the same. These, indeed, were good remedies, says Dr. Heylin, had they been soon enough applied : yet not so good as those which were formerly applied to Copping and Thacker, who were hanged at Bury, for spreading Brown's books against the church.. Did Dr. Bound then deserve to share the same fate, for writing in defence of the sabbath ? This, however, was the shortest way of refuting his arguments. They both declared, that the doctrine of the sabbath agreed neither with the doctrine of the church of England, nor with the laws and orders of this kingdom; and that it disturbed the peace of the church and commonwealth, and tended to promote schism in the one, and sedition in the other.+ Nothing, surely, could appear more absurd," or more contrary to truth. Notwithstanding all this care and labour to suppress the book, it was read and circulated in private more than ever. Many persons who never"heardof it when printed, inquired for it when prohibited. The archbishop's head hadnot long beenlaid in the dust, when Dr. Bound prepared his book for another impression; and in 1606, he published a second editkm with large additions. And, indeed, such was its reputation, that scarcely any comment or catechism was published by the stricter divines, for many years, in which the morality of the sabbathwas notstrongly recommended and enforced.t But to counteractthe influence of this sabbatarian doctrine, about twelve years after the above period, came forth the Declaration for Sports upon the Lord's day. This, having the sanction of public authority, opened . a flood-gate to all manner oflicentiousness. His WORKS.-1. The Holy Exercise of Fasting, in certain Homi- lies or Sermons, 1604.-2. A Storehouse of Comfort for the Afflicted in Spirit, in 1604.-3. The Unbelief of St. Thomas the Apostle laid open for Believers, 1608. Heylin's Tracts, p. 491. t Strype's Whitgift, p. 531. f Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix, p. 239.

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