A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 22
CAP. XXII.
Of diuers Cautions which ought to bee vſed in all our Recreations.
§. Sect. 1 That recreations muſt bee vſed with moderation, in reſpect of our louelove of them.
THe next point to be conſidered in our recreations, is the rules and cautions which are to be obſerued in the maner of vſing 1. Cor. 10. 31.them. The firſt whereof is this, that as much as in vsus lyeth, wee ſo compoſe our mindes and hearts, as that wee take our chiefe delight in thoſe which moſt tend to Gods glory, and the furthering of our owne ſaluation. In which reſpect it were much to be deſired, that we were ſo heauenly-minded, and ſo weaned from worldly vanities, as that wee could take our chiefe pleaſure in holy duties, and eſteeme it our meate and drinke to doe the will of our heauenly Father; recreating Ioh. 4. 34.our mindes, like the Saints and Angels in heauen, in glorifying God by ſinging of his praiſes, holy conferences tending to mutuall edification, and ſtirring vp one another to performe ſeruice vntounto God with all cheerefulneſſe and delight. Or if we cannot, being clogged with the fleſh, attaine vntounto this perfection, our next care muſt bee, that wee delight our ſelues in things indifferent, with ſuch lawfull and lawdable recreations, as that we may in all things, and euen in our ſports, hauehave, with the Apoſtle, a good conſcience, willing to liue honeſtly. Secondly, becauſe in nothing more Heb. 13. 18.then in recreation, we are apt to forget & ouerſhoote our ſelues, by taking vntounto vsus an exceſſe and ouer-meaſure, we are to take ſpeciall care that wee vſe them with due moderation. For ſeeing recreation in the vſe of things indifferent, is not ſimply and abſolutely good, but only as it is rightly vſed according to the rule of reaſon, and that is ſuperfluous which exceedeth this rule, and defectiue which commeth ſhort of it; therefore wee muſt carefully conforme our ſelues vntounto it, and not recreate our ſelues more or leſſe then nature requireth, or then is neceſſary for the preſeruing of our health and ſtrength, and our better fitting for more ſerious imployments. More ſpecially this moderation in our recreations muſt extend both to our minds and hearts, and to the time which is ſpent in them. Wee muſt moderate our mindes that we doe not too highly value them, but eſteeming them in the number of things indifferent, wee muſt cauſe them to Dandum eſt aliquod interuallū animo; ita tamen vt non reſoluatur, ſed vt remittatur. Senec. Epiſt. 15.giuegive place vntounto duties which are ſimply good and of greater importance, when they cannot conueniently ſtand together. Our hearts alſo muſt bee bounded with moderation, in reſpect of our affections and paſſions, ſo as we burſt not out into anger and rage when we are croſſed in our ſports (a vſuall fault that accompanieth the pleaſure of hawking and gaming) and neither wax proud of our owne skill and actiuity, nor be enuious againſt thoſe which doe excell vsus in them. But eſpecially wee muſt watch ouer our ſelues, that they doe not ſteale away our hearts; for this were with Salomon, in ſeeking pleaſure, to loſe our ſelues in a labyrinth of delights, 1. King. 11. 4.and for the inioying of trifles, to forgoe that Iewell wherein God chiefly Pro. 23. 26.delighteth, and deſireth aboue all other things to hauehave in his keeping. And though wee vſe them for our delight, yet we muſt take heede, that wee make them like ſeruants to waite in the out-roomes, to come at our call, and to depart when we hauehave no further neede of their ſeruice, and not like our beſt beloued admit them to keepe reſidence in the priuy Chamber of our hearts, ſo fixing and faſtning our louelove and affection vponupon them, that we cannot indure to hauehave them out of our ſight. For then wee ſhall not onelyonly be in danger of ſpending too much time about them, but after wee hauehave done with them, they will ſo vnſettle our hearts, and weane our affections from all good duties, that we ſhall not without much labour reduce them into good frame, nor make them fit without diſtraction to performe any religious duty, as hearing, reading, praying, meditating, or elſe the workes of our ordinary callings. And therefore though we vſe pleaſures, yet we muſt take heede, that we doe not with Salomon, giuegive our ſelues vntounto Eccleſ. 2. 2, 3.them, for of ſuch laughter, we may rightly ſay it is mad; and of ſuch mirth, we may demand what good it doth vsus?
§. Sect. 2 Moderation muſt be vſed in reſpect of time.
In reſpect alſo of our time, which is ſpent in our recreations; we muſt vſe great moderation, making them ſerue like ſawces to our meate, to Sint exercitationes & faciles & breues, qui corpus & ſine mora laxent & tempori parcant, cuius praecipuè ratio habenda eſt. Quicquid facies, citò redi à corpore ad animum, &c. Sen. Epiſt. 15. 1. Cor. 10. 7.ſharpen our appetite vntounto the duties of our callings, and not to glut our ſelues with them, and ſo to make vsus the more vnfit for any neceſſary imployments. We muſt remember that they are but recreations to refreſh vsus, and not occupations to tyre vsus, and that they are allowed vsus to cheere our ſpirits, and repaire our ſtrength, that we may bee made more fit for the well-performing of the duties of Gods ſeruice and of our callings, and not that wee ſhould by toyling our ſelues in them, ſpend and conſume them, and ſo be diſabled for any neceſſary imployment. We muſt conſider that God hath not created and redeemed vsus, that we ſhould wholly follow our pleaſures, and with the Iſraelites, ſit downe to eate and drinke, and riſe vp to play, but that we ſhould ſpend our time and ſtrength in the duties of his ſeruice, or in the meanes whereby we may be fitted for them. Neither hath he appointed recreation to be the end of our liues, but onelyonly as a meanes to preſerue them, for more high and holy imployments, tending to the glory of God and the ſaluation of our owne ſoules. We muſt eſteeme time the moſt precious treaſure, and that the conſumption of it is the moſt dangerous diſeaſe, and deſperately vnrecouerable; that it exceedeth all other loſſes, and that the waſting of it is the greateſt vnthriftineſſe. And therefore wee muſt not turne our recreations into paſtimes, as the Engliſh name importeth, making onelyonly this vſe of them, to cauſe idle houres ſeeme leſſe tedious; for this were but to ſet ſpurres to a running Horſe, which of it ſelfe poſteth away ſpeedily, and when it is once paſt, can neuer be recalled. Let vsus not foole and trifle out this our moſt precious treaſure, vponupon eueryevery baſe vanitie; or if we hauehave done it in the dayes of our ignorance, when we did not know the worth of it, let vsus, according Eph. 5. 16.to the Apoſtles counſell, redeeme it at any price, and recouer our loſſe, by redoubling our diligence in all good duties. Let vsus learne to ſet a right value on theſe wares; and to this end let vsus not goe to enquire of worldly Impoſtors, who will ſet a baſe price of this Iewell, to coozen vsus of it, not to inrich themſelues with our ſpoile, but to ſpoyle themſelues alſo with our loſſe; but rather let vsus thinke how they prize it in hell, and how willing they would be to giuegive millions of worlds, if they had them in their poſſeſſion, for the purchaſe of one day, to repent of their former courſes, eſpecially the prodigall miſ-ſpending of their time. Finally, let vsus remember, that our workes and labours which muſt be here diſpatched, are waighty and manifold, ſeeing in this world euerlaſting life and happineſſe is either gotten or loſt, and that our time is ſo ſhort, that we are in danger to be benighted before wee hauehave ended our buſineſſe, and ſo (as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh) to come ſhort of the promiſed rest. That this ſhort Heb. 4. 1. Mark. 13. 35.time is alſo vncertaine, ſeeing we know not at what houre our Lord will come and call vsus to our reckoning; and therefore if we bee wiſe vntounto our owne ſaluation, we will not ſpend much of this ſhort and vncertaine time in ſloth and idleneſſe, ſports and paſtimes, but rather in making and keeping ſtraight our accounts, and in preparing our ſelues with ioy and comfort to appeare before our Iudge. Eſpecially conſidering that hee hath aſſured vsus before-hand, that he is moſt righteous, and without reſpect of perſons, will reward eueryevery man according to their workes; that hee 2. Cor. 5. 10. Math. 12. 36.will take an account of vsus for eueryevery idle word which wee eſteeme as winde, and therefore much more will call vntounto a reckoning our precious time ſpent in idleneſſe and vanitie; and will make vsus exceede in euerlaſting puniſhments, as wee hauehave in this life exceeded in momentanie pleaſures.Apoc. 18. 7. Luk. 6. 25.
§. Sect. 3 That they muſt be ſo vſed as that they may refreſh the body, not pamper the fleſh.
The third caution to be obſerued in our recreations, is, that wee vſe them ſo, as they may refreſh the body, but not pamper the fleſh, and Gal. 5. 17. Rom. 8. 12, 13. 1. Pet. 2. 11. Gal. 5. 13.that wee ſo indeuour by them to cheare our friend, as that wee doe not ſtrengthen our enemie. For the fleſh luſteth againſt the ſpirit, and the ſpirit against the fleſh, and therefore wee muſt not vſe ſuch recreations, or after ſuch a manner, as may feede and fat it with carnall delight; neither are wee debters vntounto it to liue after it, ſeeing this life bringeth death; but rather, as the Apoſtle exhorteth, let vsus abſtaine from fleſhly luſts, becauſe they fight against our ſoules; and ſo vſe this gracious liberty which God hath giuen vsus, that the ſpirituall part may take occaſion of doing good duties, and not the fleſh of plunging vsus into ſinne.
§. Sect. 4 That in our recreations we muſt auoid giuing of offence.
The fourth caution is, that in all our recreations wee doe not giuegive any ſcandall and offence, neither vſing ſuch before our weake brethren, 1. Theſ. 5. 22.though lawfull in themſelues, whereat they ſticke or ſtumble with ſome ſcruple of conſcience, nor yet carrying our ſelues offenſiuely in ſuch as they approue, either by ſpending vnſeaſonably our time in them, or too much of that which is in moderation allowable, or with any lightneſſe and vanity, or by giuing our ſelues ouer to ſome vnruly paſſion. Yea, as much as in vsus lieth, wee muſt abſtaine not onelyonly from theſe faults themſelues, but alſo from the leaſt ſhevv and appearance of them; and not onelyonly take care to doe thoſe things which are true and iuſt, pure and louely, Phil. 4 8. Pro. 22. 1. Eccl. 7. 1.but alſo which are of good report; not onelyonly taking care to be vertuous, but alſo to bee ſo eſteemed, and hauehave the reputation and praiſe (all pride and vaineglory being auoided) which (as the ſhaddow the body) doth attend and waite vponupon it. And ſeeing recreations are things indifferent, we are rather vtterly to forbeare them, then to giuegive vntounto our brethren any iuſt cauſe of offence, becauſe the greateſt danger that can heereof come vntounto vsus, is but the hazard of our health, whereas by offending them, wee may indanger the loſſe of their precious ſoules, for which Chriſt hath ſhed his blood. In which regard, if the Apoſtle was ſo charitable, that he would Rom. 14. 15, 21.refraine from his lawfull foode, rather then offend his weake brother; then how ſmall is our charity, if we will not forbeare for this cauſe, or at leaſt in offenſiuely vſe our ſports and recreations?
§. Sect. 5 That all due circumſtances muſt be obſerued in our recreations, and what they are.
The fifth caution is, that we obſerue in our recreations all due circumſtances. As firſt, that it be decent and beſeeming our perſon, place, and calling; neither is it fit that age and youth, Magiſtrates and common people, ſhould vſe the ſame recreations, leſt for the gaining of a little vaine ſport, they loſe their grauity, and with it their authority, and that reuerence which is due vntounto them from their inferiours, in reſpect of their age and gouernment. Secondly, that it be apt and fit for our callings, and to refreſh and make vsus more able for the well-performing of the duties belonging to them. For that recreation is beſt which commeth neereſt to the end for which we vſe it, and beſt fitteth vsus to attaine vntounto it; as reſt of the body, and exerciſe of the minde, for thoſe that are wearied with corporall labours; and bodily exerciſe for them whoſe callings doe wholly ſtand in the ſtudy of the minde. Or at leaſt ſome eaſie exerciſe after the greater labour of the body, or ſome ſlight and pleaſant imployment of the minde, after that it is wearied with more ſerious and earneſt ſtudies. In which regard I hauehave always thought the play at Cheſts moſt vnfit for Students and Schollers, becauſe it as much occupieth and wearieth their intellectuall faculties as their other ſtudies; and on the other ſide, violent exerciſes vnmeete recreations for thoſe vvho ordinarily ſpend their ſtrength in painefull labours of the body, becauſe both theſe faile of their proper end, which is to refreſh the body and minde: but contrariwiſe doe more weary and tyre them, and ſo make them vnfit for the duties of their callings. And although (as I confeſſe) there is ſome recreation and delight in change and variety of imployment both of body and minde; yet it tendeth not greatly to the refreſhing of either, but rather deludeth men with a falſe ſhew, and remedieth not the euill, but onelyonly depriueth them of the ſenſe of it whilſt their pleaſure laſts, and cauſeth them to ſpend and conſume themſelues with more delight. Thirdly, in reſpect of the circumſtance of time, there is required that our recreations be ſeaſonable, according to the ſaying of the wiſe Salomon; To eueryevery thing there is a ſeaſon, Eccl. 3. 1, 4.and a time to eueryevery purpoſe vnderunder heauen; a time to weepe, and a time to laugh; a time to mourne, and a time to dance. In which regard there is required, that firſt our recreations doe not goe before, but ſucceed the labours of our callings, vnleſſe in caſe we may thereby be the better inabled, for the performance of them; as when they ſhake off dulneſſe and drowſineſſe, and make vsus more actiue and cheerefull for imployment, which rarely happeneth in the labours of the body, but ſometime falleth out in the ſtudies of the minde, as we ſee in the example of Eliſha, who by muſicke 2. King. 3. 15.was better fitted for prophecie, whileſt it made him more apt to receiue diuine reuelations. For wearineſſe is a kinde of diſeaſe, and recreation is of the nature of a medicine; and therefore as it is prepoſterous, that the cure ſhould precede and goe before the malady, or the medicine the ſickeneſſe, vnleſſe it be ſuch as is fit to preuent it; ſo, that wee ſhould refreſh our ſelues with recreation, before labour hath cauſed wearineſſe; for this were to apply the ſalue to a ſound place, which doth no good, but if it hath any great ſtrength and attractiue vertue, will rather cauſe it to pimple and draw off the skin. And therefore as Salomon ſaith of the vſe of wine; GiueGive ſtrong drinke vntounto him that is ready to periſh, and wine vntounto thoſe Pro. 31. 6, 7.that are of heauy hearts, that he may forget his pouerty, and remember his miſery no more; ſo may I ſay of ſports and recreations; GiueGive them not to them who neede them not, hauing no vſe of refreſhing before they hauehave laboured, nor of repairing their ſtrength before it is ſpent, but vntounto thoſe who are wearied with paines-taking, that they may more freſhly returne to their labours. Secondly, in reſpect of time, there is required that recreations be onelyonly vſed in ſuch ſeaſons as by God are allowed and allotted vntounto them. And that is not on the dayes of our reſt, but on the dayes of our labour, not on Gods Sabbaths, which he hath appropriated to his ſeruice; but vponupon the weeke dayes, which he hath allowed for our owne vſe. For if the Lord hath inhibited the workes of our callings, which in themſelues are in their ſeaſons lawfull and neceſſary, and cannot be neglected without ſinne; yea, if he will not allow vsus on his Day, to ſpeake our owne words, or to Eſa. 58. 11, 12, 13.thinke our owne thoughts, becauſe hee would hauehave vsus wholly deuoted and conſecrated to the duties of his ſeruice; then much more doth he inhibite ſports and recreations, which tend not at all to the ſanctification of his Sabbaths, and are of an inferiour nature and leſſe excellency and neceſſity, and which alſo, in reſpect of their carnall delight moſt pleaſing to the fleſh, are more likely to ſteale away our hearts, and to diſtract vsus in the performance of holy duties. And therefore on this Day the recreation of our bodies, ought to be their reſting from all labour, which is not neceſſary to the duties of the Sabbath; and the recreation of our mindes, muſt be in changing their obiect, not imploying them in worldly cogitations, but about ſpirituall exerciſes, hearing the Word, praying, and prayſing of God, holy conferences, and lifting them vp in heauenly meditations. And the like alſo may be ſaid of the Sabbaths of humiliation, when wee humble our ſelues ſolemnly in the congregation, or priuately by our ſelues, in the ſight and ſenſe of our ſinnes by faſting and prayer, or when ſome iudgement and affliction is feared or inflicted, either vponupon our ſelues or the Church, or ſome ſpeciall members of it, which wee deſire to preuent, or that being inflicted it ſhould bee remooued. For if it were not lawfull at thoſe times for Gods people to delight themſelues with the vſe Exod. 33. 5.of their beſt clothes, no not to refreſh their bodies with their ordinary foode; then much leſſe is it lawfull at ſuch times to feaſt and ſport our ſelues with pleaſures and recreations. And this is the ſinne which the Lord taxeth in the Iewes. In that day (ſaith the Prophet) did the Lord of hoaſts Eſa. 22. 12.call to weeping and to mourning, and to baldneſſe, and to girding with ſackecloth, and behold, ioy and gladneſſe, ſlaying oxen, and killing ſheepe, eating fleſh, and drinking wine; Saying, Let vsus eate and drinke, for to morrow we ſhall dye. And alſo in the Iſraelites; who when the Church of God was afflicted, and they therby called to humiliation, did lye at eaſe, pamper their bellies with full diet, Amos 6. 5, 6, 7.chanted to the ſound of the Viole, and inuented vntounto themſelues inſtruments of muſicke, like Dauid; dranke wine in bolles, and anoynted themſelues with the chiefe oyntments; but were not grieued for the affliction of Ioſeph.
§. Sect. 6 That we muſt conſort our ſelues with good company.
The ſixth caution is, that for our recreation ſake we doe not willingly conſort our ſelues with euill company; obſeruing heerein the Apoſtles rule; Eph. 5. 11.HaueHave no fellowſhip with the vnfruitfull workes of darkeneſſe, but rather reprooue them. Wherein our care ought to be the greater, becauſe nothing more cauſeth neere familiarity and friendly acquaintance, then agreement and communion in the ſame delights, and nothing ſooner breedeth likeneſſe of manners and conditions, then when in our pleaſures wee iumpe and conioyne together with one minde and affection. So that as our recreations with them that truely feare God, are ſtrong bonds to tye vsus vntounto them in louelove, and forcible motiues to make vsus alſo ioyne with them, whom wee ſo louelove in all good duties and vertuous actions; ſo contrariwiſe communicating with prophane perſons and carnall worldlings, in our ſports and paſtimes, cauſeth vsus in time to proceede from liking of the pleaſure, to like the party that ioyneth with vsus in it, and from affecting of the man, wee come at laſt to affect his manners. Neither is there more danger in the time of plague, for one that is ſound, to keepe in the ſame houſe with thoſe that are ſicke; then for a true Chriſtian, to conſort in pleaſure with ſuch as make no conſcience of their wayes; ſeeing as well from the one as from the other, there iſſueth and ſpreadeth a ſecret poyſon, which with its contagion, infecteth thoſe that come into their company.
§. Sect. 7 That we muſt take heed that our recreations do not ſteale away our hearts from God.
Seuenthly, wee muſt take care that in our recreations wee forget not God, and that they doe not ſteale our hearts from him vntounto worldly vanities, 2. Tim. 3. 4.leſt by degrees we dote ſo much vponupon them, that wee come vnderunder that cenſure of the Apoſtle; of being louers of pleaſures, more then louers of God; and grow like thoſe Iſraelites, againſt whom the Prophet denounced a fearefull woe; who ſpent the day in quaffing and carouſing, and had the Harpe and the Viole, the Tabret and the Pipe, and wine at their feasts, but regarded not the worke of the Lord, neither conſidered the operation of his hands. Eſa. 5. 12.Which if we would auoid, we muſt often take occaſion from our pleaſures to thinke of the Author of them; and bee aſhamed that an Heathen Poet ſhould be more forward in the fruition of his peace and pleaſure, to acknowledge Augustus as his God that ſent them; then wee to remember Virgil. Eclog. 1. Deus nobis haec otia fecit; nam que erit ille mihi ſemper Deus, &c.and acknowledge the bounty and goodneſſe of our gracious Lord, who hath multiplied his bleſſings vponupon vsus, not onelyonly ſeruing for neceſſity, but alſo for pleaſure and delight. Secondly, if wee would not forget God in our ſports and recreations, nor hauehave our hearts drawne away from him; wee muſt ſanctifie them to our vſe by the Word and prayer. Thinking before we vndertake any, if it bee agreeable with Gods will reuealed in the Scriptures, or at leaſt of an indifferent nature, and not forbidden. And being perſwaded that it is lawfull in it ſelfe, we muſt, before we enter vponupon it, make it lawfull vntounto vsus by hearty prayer for Gods bleſſing vponupon it, not vſing (if we be in company) audible words and viſible geſtures and actions, which would ſauour too much of hypocriticall oſtentation, but lifting vp our hearts and ſoules onelyonly vntounto God by ſhort prayers and eiaculations. And as wee are thus to begin them with prayer, ſo we muſt end them with thankeſgiuing, prayſing the holy Name of our gracious God, who hath by theſe recreations refreſhed and fitted vsus for his ſeruice; and hath giuen vntounto vsus this ioy in earth, as a ſigne of his fauour, and a pledge and earneſt of thoſe euerlaſting ioyes of his heauenly Kingdome.