Christian Directions, Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Of Sports and Recreations.
AS you ought to be watchful over your felves at your Meals, so likewise at your Recreations; for though some recreations are lawful, yet are we generally apt to abuse them unto licentiousness, and to adventure upon all manner of sports and recreations without any difference; therefore I shall shew you,
1 What kind of Sports which are used for recreations are lawful.
2 How those which are in their kind lawful are abused, and so made unlawful.
Unlawful Sports and Recreations may bee brought to these Heads.
1 All such wherein neither wit of mind, nor exercise of body is used, as Dice-play, and some Games at Cards, for in them is nothing but an expectation of an uncertain event, wherein neither wit of mind, nor exercise of body is used, which are the main ends of Sports and Recreations, either for the refreshing of our minds, or bodies, that we may thereby bee the better enabled for the honouring of God in the discharge of the duties of our place and calling.
2 Such as bring danger to men, as of old was fighting with Beasts, and now Matches at Foot-bal, fighting at Cudgels, especially fighting with sharp Weapons,2 Sam. 14. 15, 16. much like the playing of Ioabs and Abners men, who at length killed one another.
3 Such as declare Gods punishment on the Creatures for mans Sin, as Bear-baiting, Cock-fighting, and the like; the enmity that is in one Creature against another, is a punishment on the poor Creatures for mans Sin, and therefore ought no… to bee a ground or matter of sport and rejoycing unto us, but rather of sorrow and humiliation.
4 Such as are forbidden by the Laws of the Land, or place where we live; for Sports and Recreations being among indifferent things, the Magistrates authority is especially of force in them; and in this respect our ordinary Stage-Playes in this City are unlawful.
II. The next thing to be considered is, how those Sports which are in themselves lawful, are made unlawful by mens manner of using them.
1 When too much time is spent in them. Recreations should bee as sauces to your meat, to sharpen your appetite unto the duties of your Calling, and not to glut your selves with them, so as to make your selves the more unfit, both for the duties of your Callings, and of Gods service; you must know, that the main and principal end of Gods sending you into the world, was not to follow your pleasures, but that you should spend your time and strength in the duties of Gods service and in the means whereby you may be fitted thereunto.
2 When your Recreations are made a trade of Merchandise, as when men Play meerly to get mony; that which a man gains by this tra…ick, he cannot with a good conscience possesse and enjoy; it is not by God given him,Zeck. 5. 3, 4 because he cometh not to it by lawful means, but is rather as stolen goods, over which Gods curse hangeth; and as for the party that loseth, he also is guilty of Theft, for that which he loseth he purloyneth from his Wife, Children and Family, if he have any; or if not, from Church, Commonwealth, and poor. Oh that all our Gamesters would consider what a fearful reckoning they are to make at the Day of Judgement, not only of their precious time lavishly mis-spent, but also of their estates for the most part wickedly lost; when in their account there shall be found so much wasted in Gaming, and so little given to the Poor, and charitable uses.
Q. Is it altogether unlawful to play for mony?
A. I will not say it is altogether unlawful to play for money, provided that what you play for be but a small matter, of little value; which is to be measured according to the estate and quality of those who play.
3 Lawful Recreations are made unlawful, when they are used at unseasonable times; as on days of Humiliation, and on the Sabbath Day, in which time the Lord forbiddeth all men to seek their own pleasure.Isa. 58. 13.
4 When they are so used as they raise a mans Passion unto anger, fury, and the like; or that they cause swearing, cursing, brawling, quarrelling, with the like evil effects. Hee that cannot moderate his Passion, nor rule his Tongue at Play, is not fit for it.
5 When in your Recreations you forget God, who is present with you as at all times, so in all your actions; and therefore respect ought to be had to God, as in all your actions, so in your recreations: Then you are to remember, that you are in the presence of God, who seeth and observeth every thing. Which would bee a special means to keep and re…train you from many uncivil and uncomly actions.