An Act for keepeing holy the Lords day
Forasmuch as there is nothing more acceptable to almighty
God then the true and Sincere Service & worship of him
according to his holy will & fforasmuch as the Sanctifying or
keepeing Holy of the Lords day comonly called Sunday is and
hath been esteemed by the present & all primitive Christian
Churches & people a principall and cheife part of the said
Worship, which day in most places in this Province hath been
& still is profaned and neglected by a wicked and disorderly
sort of people by working Drunkeness swearing gameing
vnlawfull pastimes and other Debaucheries to the high dis-
honnor of almighty God the Scandall of Christian Religion &
the apparent detriment & Ruine of many of the Inhabitants of
this Province for Remedy whereof for the future Bee it Enacted
by the Right Honble the Lord Propry by and with the Consent
of the upper and lower houses of this present Generall Assem-
bly & the Authority of the same that from and after twenty
dayes next after the end of this session of Assembly noe person
or persons within this Province shall worke or doe any bodily
labour or occupacon vppon any Lords day comonly Called
Sunday nor shall Cofnand or willfully Suffer or permitt of his
or their Children hired servants servants or slaues to worke or
labour as aforesaid (the absolute workes of necessity and mercy
alwayes Excepted) And for that through the wicked and pro-
fane licenciousness of severall persons inhabiting or travelling
into this Province itt hath been Customary for such sort of per-
sons to Spend the said day in the bodily Exercise or occupacon
of fishing Bee itt likewise Enacted by the Authority aforesaid
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