A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 37
CAP. XXXVII.
That we muſt moderate our ſleepe, and not ſpend too much time in ſloth and ſluggiſhneſſe.
§. Sect. 1 That this moderation is commanded in the Scriptures, and the contrary ſloth condemned.
ANd theſe are the duties of the night, which are to be performed whileſt we are waking. In reſpect of ſleepe, our dutie is that wee vſe it with moderation, not ſatisfying thereby our carnall and ſluggiſh concupiſcence, but taking only ſo much as is fit and neceſſary to ſatisfie nature, that we may be more ſtrong and vigorous, actiue and able to performe all Chriſtian and ciuill duties. Of which there can be giuen no certaine rule, on more then of the meaſure of meates and drinks; for as one mans ſtomacke requireth more, and anothers leſſe: ſo one mans body, for the preſeruing of health and ſtrength, needeth ſleepe in a greater, and anothers in a leſſer and ſhorter proportion; as youth more then age, thoſe of a melancholike complexion Inprimis autem cubilis mollitiem commoderatè et conucnienter virilem eſſe oportet & maſculam, &c. Clem. paedag. lib. 2. cap. 9. Dormiens autē homo nullus vllius eſt pretij, non magis quàm qui non viuit. Ibidem.leſſe then thoſe of a ſanguine or flegmatike, and the weake and ſickly more then the ſtrong and healthy. Yet generally wee may ſay thus much, that as in other things, ſo in this, nature is content with a little, in compariſon of that which ſatisfieth the carnall appetite. That our ſleepe ought to bee moderate and conuenient, and (as Clemens ſpeaketh) maſculine and manly, and not effeminate and luxurious, not a ſolution and weakning, but only a remiſſion of the body, and therefore not to bee taken for ſloth and idleneſſe, but for the better inabling vsus for action and imployment. For as the ſame Author ſaith, A ſleeping man is of no worth, no more then he that liueth not. Neither muſt we meaſure our ſleepe according to our buſineſſe, taking too much becauſe wee hauehave nothing to doe; for a true Chriſtian will neuer want imployment, either for the good of his neighbour or himſelfe, of his ſoule or body; and therefore howſoeuer vponupon ſome waighty occaſion a man may abridge himſelfe of his ordinary meaſure, yet ought he not to exceede and ſpend his time, which is ſo precious, in ſloth and lazineſſe, vponupon pretence that he wanteth imployment; nor ſleepe any longer then is ſufficient for the refreſhing of his body, that it may ſerue his ſoule as a fit inſtrument for vertuous and ciuill actions. For ſleepe was ordained not to ſerue our luſt, but for the repairing and chearing of the ſpirits, and refreſhing of the body: and therefore we muſt not out of a ſlothfull humour, take ſo much as may dull the ſpirits, and make the body more lumpiſh and heauie. For as there is a ſinfull exceſſe in eating and drinking, ſo alſo in ſleeping, when as wee exceede that which nature requireth; and therefore as it were an ill excuſe for gluttonie and drunkenneſſe, to ſay that we ſit eating and drinking more then inough, becauſe we hauehave no other buſineſſe; ſo is it alike abſurd, to ſpend our precious time in ſlothfull and exceſſiue ſleeping, becauſe wee want other imploiment; ſeeing as one ſaith, There is no part of our liues Nihil temporis tam perit de vita noſtra, quàm quod ſomno deputatur. Bern. ad fratres, de monte.more deſperately periſheth, then that which is deputed to exceſſiue ſleepe. Which that wee may auoid, let vsus conſider, how the holy Ghoſt diſgraceth the ſluggard in the Scriptures. For firſt he maketh him more fooliſh and brutiſh then the ſilly Ant, and therefore (as it were) putteth him to ſchoole to learne of her, that he might become wiſer; Go to the Ant, thou ſluggard, conſider her waies & be wiſe. Secondly, rowzing him vp from his ſleep; How long wilt thou ſleepe, O ſluggard? when wilt thou ariſe out of thy ſleepe? hee Pro. 6. 6. Ʋerſ. 9. 10, 11.bringeth him, like one halfe drunke, anſwering in imperfect and broken ſentences, and begging for a little more ſleepe, as the drunkard for more drinke, when as already hee hath had too much. Yet a little ſleepe, a little ſlumber, a little folding of the hands to ſleepe. Thirdly, he ſheweth that he is vnprofitable and good for nothing, and ready to pretend friuolous and fooliſh excuſes, when as he is perſwaded to any good action, ſaying, There Pro. 26. 13, 14, 15, 16.is a Lyon in the way, and that which is more ridiculous, a lyon in the ſtreetes, as though the City were a Wilderneſſe, and the houſes dennes for wilde beaſts. That like the doore vponupon the hindges, he turneth and tumbleth vponupon his bed, and cannot be drawne from it by any perſwaſion, no more then the doore from the hookes by much pulling and tugging; yea that hee is ſo beſotted on his ſloth, that he had rather forgoe his meate, then take any paines to eate it: for hee hideth his hand in his boſome, and it grieueth him to bring it againe to his mouth. The which his follie is ſo much the more deſperate, becauſe in all this hee applaudeth his owne wiſedome; for the ſluggard is wiſer in his owne conceite, then ſeuen men that can render a reaſon. Secondly, let vsus conſider, that the holy Ghoſt forbiddeth this ſluggiſh ſloth; Therefore let vsus not ſleepe as doe others, but let vsus watch and be ſober; 1. Theſ. 5. 6, 7.for they that ſleepe, ſleepe in the night, &c. Which howſoeuer it is to be vnderſtood principally of the ſpirituall ſleep of ſecurity, that by this Allegorie and ſimilitude the Apoſtle implyeth, that Chriſtians ought not now ſo much to addict themſelues to ſloth and ſleepe, as before their conuerſion; becauſe they hauehave farre better imployments for the ſpending of their time; beſides that, corporall ſluggiſhneſſe is a meanes, and alſo an effect of carnall ſecurity, euen as the bodily watchfulneſſe and ſobriety is a meanes of the ſpirituall. And thus our Sauiour Chriſt by like implication Matth. 25. 1. 2, Matth. 26. 40.condemneth it in the Parable of the fooliſh Virgins, who ſpent that time in ſleeping, which ſhould hauehave bin beſtowed in furniſhing & preparing themſelues to meete the Bridegroome; and directly reprooueth it in his Apoſtles, when euen in the night, the ordinary time of reſt, they were ouertaken of ſleep, when as the waighty occaſions which preſently preſſed them, and the ſpeciall commandement of our Sauiour required, that they ſhould giuegive themſelues to watching and prayer.
§. Sect. 2 The manifold euils which exceſſiue ſleepe bringeth.
Thirdly, cōſider the manifold euils which it bringeth vpō vsus; for firſt, like a ſlie and cunning thiefe it robbeth vsus of our time, which is our moſt precious iewell, and when it is loſt, cannot be recouered; yea euen of that part of time which is chiefe and principall, the prime of the morning, which is fitteſt for ſpirituall exerciſes, as prayer, reading and meditation, and alſo for the ciuill duties of our callings. It maketh likewiſe that which remaineth, leſſe ſeruiceable and profitable for any good vſe; for when our ſtrength is repaired by moderate reſt, exceſſiue ſleepe weakneth vsus againe, making our bodies heauie and lumpiſh, and leſſe able and actiue for any good imployment; and as wee conſumed the fore-part of the morning in drowzy ſleeping, ſo the latter part in lazy ſtretching and ſlothfull yawning, making vsus ſluggiſh with too much ſleeping, as the drunkard becommeth more dry with too much drinking. And when the ſpirits are refreſhed and quickned with moderate ſleepe, by that which is exceſſiue they become dull againe, and being drowned and ſtupified with ſlothfull vapours, they are made vnfit inſtruments to the ſoule for any good actions and imployments. Whereby we are notably hindred both in the duties of Gods ſeruice, and in the duties of our callings, not onelyonly becauſe it conſumeth much of our time, which ſhould bee ſpent in them, but alſo greatly diſableth vsus in that which remaineth, when we ſet our ſelues to pray, heare the Word, reade, meditate, or any ciuill duties which belong vntounto vsus. Finally, this exceſſiue ſleeping is exceeding hurtfull both for our ſoules, bodies and ſtates; for it hurteth the braine, dulleth the wit, and much impaireth the memory, making all theſe faculties vnfit for their functions and operations. It breedeth obſtructions and ſuperfluous humours, and ſo filleth the body with innumerable diſeaſes. It impoueriſheth the eſtate, and bringeth them who immoderately vſe it (if they bee of meane condition) to beggerie and penurie; and much diſableth thoſe who are wealthy, to the workes of mercy and Chriſtian charity. And on this miſchiefe accompanying ſloth and ſluggiſhneſſe, the Wiſe Salomon much inſiſteth: For hee telleth the ſluggard, that by his ſleeping, and ſlumbering, and his folding of his hands together, pouerty ſhould come vponupon him as one that trauaileth, who ſtill approcheth though hee commeth but ſlowly, and his want like Pro. 6. 11.an armed man, which cannot poſſibly be reſiſted by one that lyeth naked in his bed. So elſe-where hee ſaith; that the ſoule of the ſluggard deſireth, Pro. 13. 4.and hath nothing, but the ſoule of the diligent ſhall bee made fat; that becauſe he will not plow by reaſon of the cold, therefore he ſhall beg in haruest, Pro. 20. 4.and hauehave nothing, and ſo in the chiefe time of others plenty, hee through his ſloth ſhall pine in penurie. Finally, that as hee ſhall hauehave an emptie famiſhed belly, ſo alſo a cold and tottred backe, for drowzineſſe ſhall cloath a man with ragges, whereas they which hauehave a vigilant eye and Pro. 23. 21.diligent hand, cloath both themſelues and thoſe that belong vntounto them Pro. 31. 15, 21.with purple and ſcarlet, as hee ſheweth in the example of the vertuous huſwife. Neither is this ſluggiſh ſleepineſſe leſſe pernicious to our ſpirituall eſtate, ſeeing it bringeth the ſoule alſo to beggery and to penurious want of all ſauing graces, by taking vp the time wherein we ſhould trade and traffike for them in ſpirituall exerciſes, of which it cauſeth an vtter neglect, or a ſhort and ſlubbering performance, becauſe it ſcarce leaueth ſufficient time for the neceſſary diſpatch of ſuch important buſineſſe as doth belong to our place and calling. For no ſooner is the ſluggard out of his bed, but euen halfe vnready hee choppeth vponupon his worldly imployments, and vtterly neglecting prayer, meditation and all ſpirituall exerciſes, hee thinketh himſelfe ſufficiently excuſed, becauſe hee is ſcanted of time, and called away by ſome that attend his riſing, or by the importunitie of his owne affaires; though hee hauehave voluntarily by his ſloth brought himſelfe into theſe ſtraights, and might eaſily hauehave eſcaped them, and had time inough both for religious exerciſes and his worldly buſineſſe, yea euen for the benefiting of his neighbours that neede his helpe, if he would not hauehave conſumed ſo much in ſuperfluous ſleepe.
§. Sect. 3 That the expence of our time in ſloth, is diſpleaſing vntounto God; and how this is to be auoided.
But let vsus know that this waſtfull expence of our precious time in ſloth and ſluggiſhneſſe, is very diſpleaſing to God, who hath lent it vntounto vsus that wee ſhould ſpend it in his ſeruice; and that this account will not well paſſe at the day of Iudgement, when God ſhall finde it written in the booke of our conſciences, ſo much time conſumed in ſuperfluous ſleepe, and ſo little imploied in the neceſſary duties of Gods ſeruice, prayer, reading, hearing, meditation; in the religious duties which wee owe to our charge and family, or in the workes of charity and mercy, helpe and comfort which wee are bound to performe vntounto one another, as being children of the ſame Father, & fellow members of the ſame body. At which day fearefull will the eſtate be of thoſe nice wantons and idle ſluggards, who diuide the morning betweene ſloth and pride, hauing ſcarce time, after they are riſen out of their beds, to paint and dreſſe themſelues before they come to dinner, vtterly neglecting all duties of Gods ſeruice, and the honeſt labours of a lawfull calling. But it was not my purpoſe to hauehave touched their abuſes, who hauehave learned to out-face all that admoniſh them, & to put off all that can be ſaid, with ſome merrie ieſt or ſcornefull ſmile, like the foole, laughing with great iollitie when they are going to the ſtockes, and are ready to be called to the barre, and carried out to execution; but onelyonly to admoniſh thoſe who deſire to leade a Chriſtian life, that they auoid ſuch waſtfull expences of precious time, conſuming thoſe good houres in ſuperfluous ſleepe, which being well imployed, would make them rich in grace, and thrice happy in this life and the World to come. Which whoſoeuer would doe, they muſt carefully obſerue theſe two rules; firſt, they muſt be temperate in their meates and drinkes, as being a notable meanes to preſerue vsus from exceſſiue ſleepe and ſloth, and to make vsus watchfull vntounto all Chriſtian duties, which is the reaſon why in the Scriptures they are conioyned; Bee ſober and watch, 1. Pet. 5. 8.becauſe as ſobriety is a cauſe of vigilancie, ſo exceſſe in meates and drinkes is the common cauſe of exceſſe in ſleepe. And this helpe Clemens propoundeth: Let not (ſaith he) our meates oppreſſe, but rather lighten Ne ergo cibi nos grauent, ſed al…euent, &c. Clem. paed. l. 1. c. 9.vsus, that as much as may be, our ſleepe may not hurt vsus, as thoſe that ſwim are oppreſſed, when heauy burthens are faſtened vponupon them. The ſecond rule is, that we doe not ſuffer an ill cuſtome of lying long in bed, to bring an habit of ſloth vponupon vsus, which is almoſt as hard to breake, as to alter nature. Or if wee hauehave already yeelded vntounto it, our beſt courſe is, to diſ-vſe our ſelues from it by little and little, and ſo attaine by degrees to a contrary habit. For as the ſtomacke which is inured to hote waters, is ſtill crauing them, and becommeth ſuch a ſlugge, that it will diſgeſt nothing without theſe helpes, whereas thoſe that vſe them not, neuer neede them; ſo if wee accuſtome our ſelues to immoderate ſleepe, wee ſhall turne ſuperfluity into a kinde of neceſſity, and with Salomons Pro. 6. 9, 10.ſluggard, bee ſtill crauing for more, when as already wee hauehave taken too much; whereas if as ſoone as wee feele our ſpirits refreſhed, and our ſtrength repaired with moderate reſt, wee would ſhake off ſloth, and riſing betimes, ſet our ſelues about ſome good imployment, nature would bee eaſily ſatisfied, and would neuer pull vsus backe when wee are willing to riſe.