Foolish Talking and Jesting Described and Condemned, Section 2
§. 2. What is Fooliſh Jeſting?
Fooliſh-Talking, or Jeſting, ſaith the Text; that is, or Jeſting which is Fooliſh. And, it may be, the Senſe deſigned is ſomewhat more; q. d. Deteſt ye Fooliſh-talking, of all Kinds; even Jeſting it ſelf, that Admired and Beloved one; that Alamode and Sugared one. Abhor Fooliſh Talk the Meat, yea, and Jeſts that are the Sawce. It is ſurely predicated of both, that they are (foreign) Not Pertinent, or conducible to any good Purpoſe; but only ſerve very ill ones. Are inſufferable therefore in Jeſus Chriſt's School, as hath been aforeſaid.
By Jeſting, all Men underſtand Speech framed and intended for Mirth. Talk, is the Buſineſs of the Lips; Jeſts, are their Play. Speaking, is their Trade; Jeſting, is their Game. In That, they do but make a Noiſe; in This, they make Muſick. That, is the Employment; This, the Recreation, they give their Hearers. And as of other Recreations, it muſt be ſaid of Jeſts; No doubt but ſome are Lawful, yea, Needful; and unto ſome Men they are a Duty, ſay the graveſt Caſuiſts. When it is that they are our Duty and Wiſdom, and when our Folly and our Sin, is to be judged by the ſame Rules.
Lawful Recreation, is ſome Action not forbidden; apt to exhilarate the Fancy, or exerciſe the Body, ſo as to whet the Sithe of both, for Sacred and Civil Work. And Lawful Jeſting, is ſome innocent Expreſſion, apt to raiſe drooping Spirits, and ſharpen blunted Minds, ſo as to mend their Plight for all good Service. All is one, whether it be by its Beauty, or its Rarity; whether by its Perſpicuity, or Abſtruſity, an Expreſſion ſo inſtilleth Pleaſure, and reneweth Vigor. Thus may an holy Iſaac Sport with his Rebecca; Laugh, as the Hebrew; Play, as the Chaldee; Jeſt, as the Syriack and Arabick ſpeak. All that can be ſaid for Melancholy-Chriſtians of another Mind, is, that their Error erreth upon the Right hand. He that is no otherwiſe a Jeſter, is far from being a Fool; and he that is contradictiouſly Moroſe, therein, is not Wiſe. Broken Spirits dry our Bones, and unfit us to fight the Lord's Battels. Merry Hearts do good like generous Medicines; and ſtrengthen both for Spiritual Warfare, and for Secular Merchandiſe.
The (foreign) word,A foreign ſeu foreign. Jeſting, is originally of no ill Signification; the Abuſe hath brought it into diſrepute, as the anciently honorable Name of Tyrant; and very many others. Our Wiſdom will be, neither to be Frighted with the harſh ſound of its Name, among our ſelves; nor be Charmed with its Magnificent Titles, found in Pagan Moraliſts. But, leſs regardful of its Denomination, ever to mind its Nature, End, and Ʋſe. By them, forming our judgments of it. Briefly then, All that are Hatched of Forbidden words are Fooliſh Jeſts; ſuch as are Irreligious, are more Mad than Facetious. And if Eating and Drinking without aiming at God's Glory, be fooliſh; Jeſting, without that Deſign, cannot be Wiſe. Holy Intention, is eſſential to all Moral Good, and is the ſavour of it. If the Salt of Jeſts be without that ſavour, they be good for nothing, but to be caſt out. But we will be more particular;
1. Profane Jeſting is Fooliſh. Prating looſely about things that are Holy. Trifling with the Names, whereat Heaven and Earth trembles. Making Sport with the aweful Word, by which we muſt be judged. A certain Effect of worſt Cauſes, and as ſure a Cauſe of worſt Effects. For, nothing leſs than a Reign of Sin, can make a Play of Religion. Nor can it be, but Playing with Religion, muſt needs heighten Sins Dominion. Only Contempt of Sacred Things, can breed jocular Familiarity: and that worſe than Deviliſh Familiarity greatens the Contempt. I ſay, worſe than Deviliſh for though Profane Men Believe and Jeſt, Devils do Believe and Tremble. If Profane Wits believe not that there is a God, they are blinder than Heathens. If they do believe there is one, they are, on this account, more mad than Devils. And who, ſave mad and blind Men, can think it valuable Wit, to make God and Men one's Enemies for Merriment? expoſe one's ſelf to Everlaſting Fire, for a fit of Laughter. Once a Merry Atheiſt, never a Sober Chriſtian, ſaith Dr. Hammond.
2. Ʋnclean Jeſting is Fooliſh. The Holy Ghoſt hath named Obſcenity, very Folly; and called words of Smut, Rotten and Corrupt. What an extream Phrenzy then is it, ever ſo wittily to commit this Folly, to Spue forth worſe than Street-Dirt, and name it a Fine Sport? But hereunto riſe none, ſave higheſt Graduats in the Univerſity of Wickedneſs. Wherefore I advance but this ſingle Thought; God's Law, in old time, required, cutting off of the Hand, which did, an Indecent Act to ſave the neareſt Relation's Life; Deut.Dura Lex in ſpeciem, ſed ex cujus rigore liqet qantopere Deo placet Verecundia; & qantum abominatur Impudentiam. Calv. 25. 11. And hereby we may eaſily judg of his Wrath againſt the Mouth, that utters Unclean words, for nothing but an once to Diſport and Debauch its Hearers.
3. Ʋnnatural Jeſting is Fooliſh. That which makes merry with the Sins, and ſporteth with the Miſeries of Men. That plays upon their Miſdeeds; and taunts at their Parts, their infirm Bodies, or mean Conditions, and particular Diſaſters. A Practice ſo horrid, that it would be as Impoſſible as Unrighteous; did not Men together put off the Humane, and put on Diabolical Nature. For Humanity will Compaſſionate, not Patratragediate, on a Stray or a Faln-beaſt, and it cannot draw mirth from the Miſery of a Man. There is a Beaſt, and none of the gentleſt neither, which they ſay ſheddeth Tears over them whom it Devours. But a gentle one it is, and a moſt merciful Creature, compared to this Kind of Jeſter. For, there is a Clemency in thoſe that wound us Modeſtly; nor is he near ſo much the Tyrant that doth us our wrongs, as he who Mocks at us for them. The firſt gives the Wound; but it's this Second that makes it Smart, and Kill. In ſhort; he is rather a Stock than a Man that deplores not Evil, but more a Devil than a Man that derides it. And his monſtrous Mirth is ſeldom long from a Hell above Ground.
4. Immoral Jeſting is Fooliſh. In all things, the Wiſdom that is from above requires good Manners. Whereinſoever they are not found, good Conſcience is loſt. It's Aſleep, Blind, or Dead. The fifth Commandment is without Reſtriction; 'tis not ſaid, Honour thy Father and Mother in all Talk, except Raillery. Or, Speak not Evil of Dignities, in any Diſcourſe but Drolling. Or, Honour all Men, unleſs while you are Jeſting. Wherefore they make an unwiſe Bargain, who ſell God and Mens Peace for the Muſick of their Jeſt. For the tickle of their Fancies, in prejudicial and diſgraceful Gibes. For the luſcious, but prodigious Pleaſure of a Waſp, to Sting others and Kill it ſelf.
5. Ʋnprofitable Jeſting is Fooliſh. I mean, That which is not as truly intended, and deſired for a Whet to our Minds; as our Eating is intended for Nouriſhment, and Sleeping for Refreſhment, to our Bodies. That wherein Religious Profit is not deſigned; nor any thing more, than the tranſient Pleaſure of a Laugh and Giggle. A Sorry thing; and below any Ambition, ſave that of Children; who prefer their Toy above the Tower of London, as the Proverb ſpeaks. It would be ask'd, what Underſtanding is in them, ſhould Men uſe other Whetſtones, without Thought or Care whether their Inſtruments were ſharpned at all by them? and for nothing, but an unaccountable Delight taken in Grinding for nothing. A practice which would ſoon ſo ſenſibly and notoriouſly grind them to the Duſt and Depth of Poverty, and Scorn among Men. Awake Conſcience, and ſay whether all Jeſters grind to fetch an Edg, or no!
Particularly, I appeal to God's Regiſter in the Hearts of ſuch, as grind in the Game of Cheſs. That operoſe Syntax of Jeſts; by which, let them ſay, whether they find their Minds more Sharpned, or Blunted, for Buſineſs Civil or Sacred? Wondrous it ſeems, that the Board whereon Men Strain their Thoughts as hard as the Mechanick on his Shopboard, or the Lawyer or Divine on his Desk, ſhould be taken for a Recreation of them; any more, than carrying of Sacks of Corn on one's Back, ſhould be reputed a Sport for the Body's Refreſhment. But Witchcraft there is in all Error; Candles-Ends and Coals be Sweet-meats, when Girls are in a Pica. And, Rowling in the Dirt doth a wanton Boy's heart good. Wracks, are Recreations, if Men fancy them ſuch.
This Game, ſaith one, is not only Lawful, but, it may be, the moſt Ingenious and Delightful that ever was invented. I hope, he Dreamed not, that, the more Ingenious the more Lawful; and the more Delightful to his Fancy, the more undoubtedly Harmleſs and Innocent in it ſelf. He knows, how Witty, the worſt of Creatures is; and how Sweet, abundance of Forbidden Fruit! Well, but, after that, he droppeth theſe more memorable words: Many precious Hours have I profuſely ſpent in this Game; and, It is a Time-waſter. It hath had with me a Faſcinating Property; I have been Bewitched by it. When I have Begun, I have not had the Power to Give over. I will not Ʋſe it, till I find I can Refuſe it. Reaſon and Religion ſhall order my Recreation. It hath not done with me, when I have done with it. In my Study, in my Pulpit, when I have been Praying or Preaching, I have, in my Thoughts been Playing of Cheſs. I have had as it were a Cheſs-board before my Eyes. I have been thinking how I might have obviated the Stratagem of my Antagoniſt (or Play-Mate.) I have heard of one, who, as appeared by his Words, was in his Thoughts playing at Cheſs, as he lay Dying. It hath cauſed me (this Game hath) to break many ſolemn Vows and Promiſes; and often to Prevaricate ſinfully. It hath wounded my Conſcience and broken my Peace. Were I now to Die, the remembrance of this Game would greatly Trouble me. As it did John Huſs, a little before his Death. [One would think ſuch a Burnt Child ſhould make us all to dread this Fire; but he thus proceeds] My Ʋſing this Game hath been Scandalous and Offenſive unto others: Godly Friends have been Grieved. Others (I have reaſon to fear) have been Hardned by it. My Ʋſing it bath occaſioned much Paſſion, Strife, Idle, if not, Lying Words; the Neglect of many Duties to God and Men. My Ʋſing it ſhows, I have little Self-denial. It is altogether Ʋnneceſſary to me; it hinders my Soul's health, and furthers not my my Body's. It hath occaſioned Expence; I ſhould think much to give that to Relieve others, that I have waſted this way upon my Wantonneſs. He concludes with excellent words of the Maſter of Chriſtian Sentences, Mr. Baxter: I know not one of many Hundreds, that needeth any Game at all.—The Temper of Chriſt: and his beſt Servants have been tar from Games and Sports.—I ſee but Few, but Diſtaſte in Miniſters, even Shooting, Bowling, and the Healthful Games.— Therefore there is ſomewhat in others that Nature it ſelf hath ſome Suſpicion of. In ſuch other Games as fit not the End of Recreations. That Student that needs Cheſs or Cards to pleaſe his Mind, I doubt hath a Carnal empty Mind. And his Diſeaſe ſhould be rather Cured, than Pleaſed. Aurea mentis bracteatae Verba.
Reader; Can thy Charity reach to believe, that this Reverend Penitent deſigns his Spiritual Benefit, if he returns to his Cheſs-Board? Or, that other Chriſtians can eaſily think thee to be ſincere, if thou pretendeſt to ſeek renovation of thy Strength for thy Duty, from a Game which evidently Wearies, Weakens, and Waſtes Spirits? For thy Life look well to thy Aims, in Jeſts arid Games! And, for Shame, acknowledge this bright Truth; that Playing (and very Praying alſo) is Sinful Folly, when Aims and Ends in them are not Wiſe! Let the Matter be what it will; whereinſoever, the Pleaſure of the Fleſh is, for it ſelf, Sought, it is Served; and in whatſoever it is Served, the World, and Devil are Served alſo; for, their Intereſts are Conjunct and Ʋndivided.
6. Immoderate Jeſting is Fooliſh. That is Immoderate, which is uſed in Times prohibited; ſpends more time than is allowed; and is without any Serious thing immixed.
There is a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from the Embraces, of this ſort of Speech. The Lord's-Day, is a Temporary-Heaven, into which nothing ſo Playful may enter. And other times there are, which require our ſevereſt Compoſures of Spirit, and admit not its relaxations. Though we may not Faint, neither may we be Frolic, in a Day of Adverſity. When we addreſs unto Solemn Worſhip at any time, it behoves us to go with fear and trembling. When we are among Perſons Afflicted, and needing Commiſeration;to Jeſt and Sport, is to intimate that we are glad of their Hurt; and is directly to foment their Grief. He is a Glutton of them, who cannot abſtain from Jeſts upon ſuch Faſting-Days. On which, every Sally of his Sportive Wit, is not a dead Fly, but dead Oxe in his Ointment. But,
So is he alſo Immoderate, who at any time whatever, ſpends more Hours in Tuning of his Inſtrument, than Uſing it. In Whetting his Sythe, than in Mowing. In Baiting of his Horſe, than in Riding. As though Paſtime were the Chriſtian-Name of Jeſting; and as if it had been ſaid, Six days ſhalt thou, not Labour, but Play.
But is all Jeſting Sober, that is in no Unſeaſonable time, and is but of an Hour long? No, by no means. He is no Temperate and Wiſe Man, that, for half an Hour together, eats nothing but Sawce, or Speaks nothing but Jeſts. Salts and Sawces are not to be ate by themſelves; Recreative Jeſts are ſuch fare. Unwholſome ſurely, without ſomewhat more Subſtantial taken with it. Some grave Sentences among the light Kickſhaws. Somewhat that may ſhow the Jeſter to be no ſuch Ape, as is not Man and Chriſtian; and his Language, when moſt Merry, to be bridled by a Heart that is Wiſe. Somewhat that may both work and witneſs this rare Effect; that in the Recreation of our Minds, the Buſineſs of our Lives doth not go ſo far from them, as to be long out of them. In ſhort; he who indulgeth Fancy any more Jeſting than this, his Jeſting as truly ſets his Conſcience to Sleep as his Fancy to Play.
7. Oſtentatious Jeſting is Fooliſh. Of all Sins, Pride is the moſt Sinful; and therefore the moſt Silly. And of all Pride, there is ſcarcely a more fooliſh, than Pride of Skill to play this Game. True, our Age wonders after it; prizes nothing ſo much. Men value themſelves upon it; and therefore luſt to be ſhowing it. But,
For this appears no more Reaſon, than the poor Ruſtick had, for his Perſwaſion; that being Condemned to Die, his King would never let him be Executed, becauſe he had ſo Rare a Knack of Whiſtling. No more reaſon, than Children have to admire themſelves for being Artiſts at Puſhpin. Arts, both of them, which have leſs corrupted the World and perverted Mankind, than Jeſting hath done. Worthy therefore, if not of more Honour, yet of leſs Diſgrace. In a word, I ask;
Were they not born among the Cattel of the Field; at leaſt, diſclaim they not the Privilege of a Nobler Birth, who look upon Reaſon as of leſs worth? Reaſon, their Likeneſs to Angels, of leſs worth than Jeſting, their Similitude to Apes and Sportive Brutes. Reaſon, that in Conjunction with Grace, doth all that is Good and Great for both Worlds; of leſs Worth than Freakiſh Wit, which doth its utmoſt, when it Unknits a Brow, Shakes a Spleen, and lets fall a drop of Oil on Reaſon's Wheel. Such Men, if they may be ſtyled Men, do want little more than Hair and Horns to make them Beaſts. For the ſame Wiſdom it is, to break Jeſts for the praiſe of great Parts, and to bring forth Counters for the praiſe of great Eſtates. This is Self-evident, and no more ſhall be added, but this; My need of Medicines can prove me to be but an Infirm Man; my Pride of taking them would prove me a Mad one. No Jeſting is Lawful but what is Medicinal, and reſtorative of Spirits for nobler Thoughts. My Need hereof, is but my common Infirmity; my Pride of it would be my perfect Phrenzy.
It is time that we now enquire,