The Practical Sabbatarian, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. That Needleſs Recreations are unlawfull on the Sabbath.
THere are another ſort of actions we muſt abſtain from upon the Sabbath, (viz.) Recreative Actions; ſo the Recreative actions to be abſtain'd from on the Sabbath day. foreignText, [Not finding thy own pleaſure] Recreations on a Sabbath, are blown up into prophaneneſs. Thoſe delights which in the week are commendable, on the Sabbath are intollerable. foreign Kephetz, the original word denotes, we muſt have no blandiſhments on that day, nothing to be a ſnare or titillation to ſenſe, then the outward man muſt not be flattered or gratified. The Commandments muſt be our walk, the Pſal. 119. 32.Word our field, and Devotion our chiefeſt recreation. Our exerciſes on the Sabbath are not Corporal but Spiritual, not for outward but inward delight, not to pleaſe fancy, but to ſtrengthen faith. The Sabbath is the ſouls holy day; It Iſid. Hiſpa. de Eccleſ. Offic. Lib. Cap. 19.was a good ſaying of Iſidore Hiſpalenſis, The Apoſtles (ſaith he) therefore ordained the Lords day to be kept with Religious Non ed ludendum ordinatur talis dies, ſed ad laudandum, et orandum deum. Aquin. Opuſc. de Praecept. 10. 2 Sam. 12. 3. Grande videlicet officium focos, et choros in puhlicum educere, vicatim epulari, civitatem lat bernae halitu obolefacere, tatervatim curſitare ad injurias ad impudicitias ad libidinis illecebras, ſiccine exprimitur publicum gaudium per publicum dedecus? Tertul. Apol. Cap. 35.Solemnity, becauſe in it our Redeemer roſe from the dead, which was therefore called the Lords day, that reſting on the ſame from all earthly acts, and the temptations of the World, we might intend Gods holy worſhip, giving this day due honour, for the hope of the Reſurrection we have therein. We enjoy the Sabbath …ot to play in, but to pray in; for our ſouls, and not for our ſports, ſaith Aquinas. It is true, Man is a poor frail piece of Clay, and therefore had need to be recreated, created again by lawful delights and recreations; but muſt the holy day of the Lord be this vacation? Is this the time for ſports and pleaſurous ſatisfaction? Surely this ſpeaks a grand abuſe of the Sabbath. Muſt the poor mans Ewe-Lamb be taken? that little ſpot of time God gives us more immediately for our ſpiritual intereſt, muſt that be proſtituted to gratifie the ſoftneſs of the fleſh? The Council of Carthage petitioned the Emperour Theodoſius the younger, that the ſhews of the Theatre and other Playes, then uſed on the Lords day might be removed, which accordingly was granted by his Edict; and it was Enacted, Anno Dom. 415. That on the Lords day the Cirques and Theatres in all places ſhould be ſhut up, and people denyed the pleaſure thereof, that ſo their whole minds might be taken up in the worſhip of God: And thus at this time both Church and State united to ſuppreſs ſenſual Recreations on Gods holy day; and indeed Dies feſtas Majeſtatialtiſſimae dedicatos, nullis voluptatibus volumus occupari, C. Lib. 12. Tit. 12.how irrational is this, that mans ſenſe muſt be flattered in that juncture of time when his ſoul is to be feaſted? how comes it, that a Sabbath is ſo tedious, that there is a need of paſtime to wear it away, and ſo the burthen may be lightned? It is charged upon the carnal and covetous Iſraelites, that they wiſht the Sabbath over; but this is cenſured as ſuch a ſin as God threatens with the worſt of judgements, a famine foreign. Theod. ad Graec. Infid. Serm. 9. Amos 8. 5. compared with v. 8. 11. Ludi noſtri eſſe debent ſacrae cantiones, verbi divini lectiones, aegretori viſitationes, afflictorum conſolationes, pauperum ſuſtentationes. Zanch. in Col.of the Word, nay, ſuch a ſin as will ſhake a Land, and make it tremble. Learned Zanchy hath an excellent Speech; Our Playes on a Sabbath ſhould be Holy Singings, Scripture readings, viſitation of the Sick, comforting of the Afflicted, and ſupporting of the Poor: Theſe are the delights of a ſavoury ſpirit, and a gracious ſoul. I am ſure that of the Apoſtle is ſeaſonable on a Sabbath, If any man will make merry, let him ſing Pſalms, James 5. 13. This is a comfortable James 5. 13.Ordinance, and a ſpiritual Recreation. Chriſt is an incloſed Garden, Cant. 4. 12. And can we complain of the Cant. 4. 12.want of delight, who have ſuch a Garden to walk in? Senſual paſtimes, for the moſt part, they are uſeleſs impertinencies, the Parentheſis of mans life; but on the Lords day theſe are unjuſtifiable vanities, and let Reaſon bring in its ſuffrage to condemn theſe unſeaſonable Sports and Recreations.
Recreations on a Sabbath they are impediments to duty. The Biſhop of Ely (our adverſary in this point) grants, that Sports and Recreations are prohibited on the Lords day, ſo Biſhop of Ely, p. 217.far forth as they are impediments to Religious and Evangelical duties. Now how they ſhould be otherwiſe, is not eaſily diſcernible; for do not Recreations poſſeſs the mind, divert the intention, withdraw from ſpiritual duties, hinder the ſervice of Chriſt, and fill the heart with froth and vanity? And are not ſports uſually the very leekage of Corruption? When we bowle, what do we think on but the byaſs, and the game? When we ſhoote, what are we intent upon but our aime, and the mark? I inſtance in theſe two, becauſe they are eſpecially urged as lawfull on the Sabbath. Let us, ſaith Greenham, Ceaſe from Games, Sports, Exerciſes and ſuch like things of leſs neceſſity, but great impediments to the Greenh. p. 825.Sabbath. Is it to be ſuppoſed, that we frame our Spirits, or compoſe our hearts for divine conve…ſe on a bowling green? What is this, but to fancy we ſhould meet with the gracious viſitations of God at a Stage-play? An adverſary in C. D. p. 52.this point hath theſe words: Such is the reverence that is due to the publick duties of Devotion, that they require not onelyonly a ſurceaſe from other works and thoughts for the time of the performance, but alſo a decent preparation beforehand, that ſo our thoughts and affections, which are naturally bent upon the world, and not eaſily withdrawn from it, may be raiſed to a diſpoſition befitting ſo ſacred an imployment: This is moſt piouſly and worthily concluded. Let me reaſſume what is here granted: And muſt not our thoughts be as much taken up in digeſting of the word, as in preparing for it; in meditating on Ordinances, when over, as in diſpoſing our ſelves for them when to come? Meat is not healthfull, as Pſal. 1. 2.onelyonly put into the mouth, but as chewed, ſwallowed and Non tantum lectio, ſed et meditatio.digeſted. The ſacred Ordinances of Chriſt muſt be followed with critical inquiries, divine and ſerious meditations, ſervent prayers, or they will fall ſhort of the intended work and deſign of them. The ſeed when thrown into the ground, Acts 17. 11.muſt be covered with ſnow, warmed with ſunſhines, watered Aug. de temp. Serm. 251.with ſhowers, or it will yield no expected crop and harveſt: And if it be ſo, I ſee not where Recreations can find any place, which are nothing elſe but incumberances, as St. Auguſtine ſpeaks.
Recreations on the Sabbath, they are the ſnares of the fleſh, they are onelyonly pleaſing temptations, with a fair colour, like the Apple which drew our firſt Parents to a breach of Gods Gen. 3. 6.will, it was pleaſant to behold. The Jews firſt Feaſted on Sanè Sabbathum feſtus dies cùm fuerit, cò hilaria agere judaeis conſuetum ſuit, quae eò demum abierunt, ut illa ad inſanas ſaltationes, et plauſus abuterentur Leid. Prof.the Sabbath, then danced frantickly, and grew exceſſively prophane, as the Profeſſors of Leiden obſerve. Theſe pleaſing ſports, how often do they draw the tongue to ſinfull ſlipperineſs, inflame the eye with luſt and wantonneſs, and put the heart into a carnal frame, nay, too frequently, ſeduce to exceſs and intemperance? And as Auguſtine in the forementioned place ſaith, They preſs down the Soul, from being lift up to a Heavenly Life. Our corrupt heart need not the inſinuation of ſports and paſtimes to broach it, that it may run with levity and prophaneneſs: Gods holy Sabbath needs not ſuch engines of corruption.Aug. Serm. de tempore.
Recreations on Gods bleſſed Sabbath, They are the very canker of Ordinances, they eat out the very heart and force of them: Sports will eaſily and naturally rub off convictions, take off the guſt and ſweetneſs we have taſted in the Word, and wear off the impreſſions of Prayer, and of other ſolemn duties, all which with the ſound of the Goſpel we have partaked of, evaporates and is loſt. When we have converſed with God in Ordinances, how many things lye at the catch to invalidate their power; Satan is ready to ſteal Mat. 13. 19.away the Word, our hearts to damp and quench the efficacy Sicut in ſeminando ager praeparandus eſt, niſi operam et laborem cum ſemente perdere velimus; cor ad audiendum verbun dei praeparandum eſt, et deus diligenter orandus, tum ex parte conciona toris, tum ex parte auditoris, Lyſer.of it, the world to charm away the ſweet muſick of it; and there is need of meditation, prayer, and holy and ſanctified means, to keep alive the fire of the Word in the ſoul; and therefore unſeaſonably we fluſh our ſelves with Recreations and Paſtimes, to bury all in diſtaſt or forgetfulneſs. The uſe of ſports will inevitably make our Righteouſneſs like the morning dew, which the heat of play and delights will ſuddenly dry up. Nay, if the Cares of the world, as our Saviour ſpeaketh, will choak the Word, much more the pleaſures of the world, when they are more ſoft and ſutable to delicate fleſh, and corrupt nature. As in the Primitive Times, more Apoſtates were made by the flatteries of Julian, then the fires of Diocleſian, and ſmiles more harm'd the Church, then ſmarts. Nothing more likely, then to ſhoote away, bowle away, whatever we have been affected with, Hoſ. 6. 4.in holy Ordinances and Adminiſtrations.Mat. 13. 22.
Nay, the very Liturgy of our Engliſh Church, compoſed with ſo much exactneſs, and deliberation, (as is often urged by the admirers of it) commands the fourth Commandment to be read, as well as the other nine, and there pardon is begg'd for the breaches of this Commandment for time paſt, Lord have mercy upon us; and then Grace is importun'd to obſerve it better for the time to come, where it is prayed, and incline our hearts to keep this Law: Where theſe three things are conſiderable,
1. That by the Sabbath the Church underſtands the Lords day only.
2. That ſhe takes the obſervation of the Lords day founded upon the fourth Commandment.
3. That ſhe intended that day to be kept as a Sabbath, and therefore begs pardon and grace; which if ſo, there can be no room for unneceſſary labours, and needleſs Recreations, both which are but preſumptuous incroachments on Gods appropriated day. As holy Auguſtine forbad hunting, and all worldly pleaſures. And Leo the Emperour; Nullis Auguſtine. Leo the Emperour.volumus voluptatibus occupari, Our will is, No pleaſures to be uſed, as being the great obſtructions to the ſpirituality of a Sabbath; they diſcompoſing the ſoul for ſublime and heavenly intercourſes; to be ſpiritually raiſed, and to be pleaſurouſly foreign. 1 Rev. 10.addicted on the Lords day, being ſtrange inconſiſtencies.
Recreations on the Sabbath, they are too much the evidence of a formal ſpirit. To the holy ſoul, the Temple is his Triumph, Prayers his pleaſure, Ordinances his delight, the Sanctuary his ſatisfaction. David counts one day in Gods Courts, better then a thouſand. Flaſhy and frivolous Recreations Pſal. 84. 10.on a Lords day, to a gracious ſpirit, they are his little-eaſe, and the clipping of his wing, the Souls confinement and Pſal. 63. 2.reſtraint, the Priſon grate between him and Chriſt, no way his Pleaſure but his Purgatory; and where they are received Pſal. 43. 4.with gratefulneſs and contentment, they loudly Proclaime too much froth and vanity. David danced at the enjoyment of Cant. 2. 4.the Ark, but theſe leave the Ark to ſport and dance.2 Sam. 6. 16.
Recreations on the Lords day, They are the debaſements of ſpiritual mercies, as if there were no captivating power in Divine Ordinances, to hold the ſoul intent for a day; no Pſal. 19. 10. Pſal. 42. 4.honey comb in the Word to pleaſe the taſte, no pleaſing vent in prayer, to eaſe and ſatisfie the Soul; as if ſinging of Pſalms made no muſick, and reading the Scriptures did yield no delight. Ah, with what patience and content did the Jewes hear the Law read in the time of Nehemiah? The people ſtood Nehem 8. 7.in their place, ſaith the Text quoted, as if they were ſtaked and faſtened, without any deſire of removal; Their ſerious attention chained them to their preſent ſtation. Paul preached Acts 20. 7.till midnight: the ſweet Oracles of God drowned all weariſomneſs and diſtaſte. Ordinances have a ſavour in them, Rom. 3. 2.which refreſh and raiſe the Saint, and there is no need of carnal ſports to wear off any tedious abhorrency. To affect or uſe theſe paſtimes on the Sabbath, is to embaſe the value of Divine exerciſes, and to charge holy duties with abortive Hoſ. 9. 14.emptineſs, as if they were barren wombs, and dry breaſts. Let the Umpirage in this caſe be referred to the holy Pſalmiſt, in the Text quoted in the Margin.Pſal. 1. 2.
Recreations on the Sabbath, they are the ſpring of impertinent diſcourſe, which is expreſly forbidden in the Text; for ſaith the [Text, Nor ſpeaking thy own words.] In our ſports more eſpecially, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will ſpeak, as our Saviour ſaith. Sports are the very Mat. 12. 34. Malitiae ſermonis, ſons eſt malitia cordis, ex quo neceſſi eſt, ejuſmodi maledicta per os ebullire, ſicut ex faetido fonte non poſſunt niſi fatidae aquae per f…ſtulas effundi. Par. Dr. B. Mark 6. 22. Mark 6. 27. James 3. 6. Peccatum, quod alter incurrit operando, tuum facis obloquendo.fuel of vain and frothy diſcourſe. A holy man obſerves, That ſome men they never make an end of their pleaſures, nor an end of talking and hearing of them; their Hawkes are not only on their fiſts, but on their tongues. There are two things which ſpring a mine of impertinent diſcourſe, Feaſts and Sports. We may as well ſeparate blackneſs from the cloud, as frothy language from frothy pleaſures; Nay, how often are paſtimes ſtained with ſinful proteſtations, the fatal taking of Gods Name in vain, nay, with Execrations and Oaths, the ſcum of Hell it ſelf? Where did Herod make his wretched promiſe, which was died in the blood of the Baptiſt, but at a dancing, when Herodias her Daughters feet, did not trip ſo much as Herods tongue; And if at any time the tongue is ſet on fire of hell, as the Apoſtle James ſpeaks, Games and Paſtimes, preſently become the bellows to blow up the fire. Sports are uſually the tongues Courtizan to draw it to folly, and wanton intemperance, with frothy rejoycings, and carnall triumphs; nay heats and paſſions are mixt with our recreations, and the tongue is to proclaim them. The mirth which attends paſtimes will not be cag'd up in the breaſt, but will fly out inimpertinent and unſavory language. How often in ſports do we call our Brother fool, and yet our Saviour Iracundiae, litis, vanitatis, & cenſurae verba, a Satana procedunt, et ad Satanam tendunt, illic incipiunt, et illic rapiunt. Mat. 6. 22. Pſal. 39. 1.ſaith, that very expreſſion puts us in danger of hell fire? And therefore let any ſerious Chriſtian make his own conſcience the Tribunal, to which I dare appeal, whether this flatulent and unſeemly diſcourſe, the inſeparable companion of Games and Paſtimes, be not a ſinful undecency on Gods holy Sabbath, and an oppoſition to the very Text; ſurely then, if ever, with David, we ſhould take heed we offend. not with our tongue.
Recreations on a Sabbath, They are an indignity offered to the noble and precious ſoul. Shall the body, that maſs and Iſa. 2. 22.pile of duſt, cemented onelyonly with a little flying breath, that Corpus eſt ergaſtulum animae. Plato.bag of flegm and cholar, that priſon of the ſoul, as Plato uſed to call it, enjoy the time of ſix whole dayes; and the ſoul, that piece of eternity in the boſome, the breath of God, the ſaving of which was the grand and forcible attractive of Corpus hoc vinculum, & carcer eſt animae, ex quo exire cupit ſanctus, & eſſe cum Chriſto. Hierom.Chriſts incarnation and death, this darling of Heaven, not enjoy one day, but it muſt be retailed and canton'd into divers diviſions? Some parts of it muſt be ſpent in the labours of our Callings, and ſome in ſolemn Duties in the publick Congregations, and ſome in ſports and delightful Recreations, when the publick is over, and ſome in private Duties, (if there be any time;) and this torn and rent Sabbath, ſomething like Joſeph's Coat of many colours, muſt be the Gen. 37. 3.onelyonly morſel for the immortal ſoul. But how irrational is it for the ſoul, that better part of man, which ſhall live as long Mat. 16. 26.as God himſelf, to be ſtraightned and pinnion'd to a few Vita carnis tuae anima eſt, vita animae tuae deus eſt, quomodo moritur caro amiſſâ animâ, quae vita ejus eſt, ſic moritur anima, amiſſo deo, qui vita eſt ejus. Auguſt.hours? It muſt not enjoy one whole day, onelyonly the leavings of our work and recreations, the crumbs which fall from the bodies table; Let the Chriſtian who is ſolicitous of his ſouls eternal intereſt, conſider, whether this pittance of time, onelyonly a few hours on a Sabbath, be ſutable to the vaſt and unlimited ſoul, eſpecially if we obſerve, that the ſoul ſways the body; the body follows the condition of the ſoul, and not the ſoul the eſtate of the body.
Labours are forbidden on the Sabbath, much more Recreations. That labours are prohibited, the fourth Commandment is the pregnant teſtimony of: now ſports, toys, paſtimes Melius eſt in Sabbato araro, quam ſaltare. Aug. Enar. in Tit.are of leſs avail then labours. It is a memorable ſpeech of Auguſtine, Melius eſt in Sabbatho arare, quam ſaltare: It is better to plow, then to dance upon a Sabbath.
Labours may bring in ſome Income, ſo not ſports; there is a temporal profit, and emolument in the one, none in the other. Concerning ſports we may ſay, that the Gameſters labour for that which is not bread, there can be no ſupplies Iſa. 55. 1, 2.from the breaſt of a recreation. Paſtimes are clouds without water.
Recreations more tempt and flatter the fleſh, then Labours do. Toyle doth not pamper; dancing, hunting, ſhooting do; they are ſun-ſhines which make the dunghill of mans heart reak with noyſomneſs. It was once the expoſtulation of a holy man, worth the tranſcribing, his words are theſe; What ſhall I ſay of the Zeal of worldlings, which may controule Mr. Greenham.the ſecurity of our ſins; worldly men never ſeek for pleaſure, Vita in delitiis agens, & mors eſt, & umbra mortis, quantum enim umbra propè eſt corpori, cujus eſt umbra, tantum pro certo, vita illa voluptuario inferno appropinquat, Bern. Serm. 48 in Cantic. 15 James. foreign p. 52.whilſt profit doth drop, and ſo long as they may gain a penny, how diligent are they, they will not ſport or play: But the Sabbath is the market day of our ſouls, where we ſhould gather whilſt the ſun ſhines; Here is profit, and ſo there ought to be diligence, and therefore we ſhould lay aſide pleaſure, and we ſhould ſay, what have we to do with Recreations any more? yet how many neglect their pleaſure for the world, and we will not for heaven or our ſouls? But after the publick Ordinances are over, nay multitudes in the very time of publick Worſhip, follow their ſenſual Recreations, I was going to ſay, Abominations. It was a ſaying of King James, Though without ſuperſtition, Playes and lawful Games may be uſed in May, and good Chear at Chriſtmas, yet alwayes provided, that the Sabbath be kept holy, and no unlawful paſtime be then uſed. And as a worthy and holy man obſerves; No man can think Dr. B.upon that day to be ſo diſordered, as to follow his ordinary pleaſures, without great contempt of God and Man: Ʋpon that holy day, all ſorts of men muſt utterly give over ſhooting, hunting, hawking, bowling, &c. and they muſt no more deal with them, then the Artificer with his Trade, or the Husband-man with his Plow. I ſhall ſhut up this particular with a pious Bp Hall of Exeter. Contemp. Lib. 17.Ejaculation of a Holy and Reverend Biſhop, who thus vents himſelf: I wonder what theſe kind of men, (viz.) (thoſe who bathe themſelves in pleaſures upon the Lords day) will do, when they come to Heaven, (if ever they come there) where there is a continued Sabbatiſme without intermiſſion; ſurely they will wiſh themſelves on Earth again, unleſs they keep a Sabbath better here below. Do we not pray, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven? there the Angels do nothing but praiſe God. Do we hope to be like them in Glory, and not endeavour to be like them in duty? Our Heaven above is a continual Sabbath, our Sabbath below ſhould be a continued Heaven: The Sabbath, not the ſports on the Sabbath, ſhould be our delight.
Recreations on the Sabbath are forbidden by all kind of Laws.
1. By Divine Law, (viz.) the fourth Commandment, Requies requiritur in quarto Praecepto, & cōmendatur, et ubi que amatur, ſed illa requies in ſolo deo, certa, et ſancta invenitur. Aug.where Labours are expreſly forbidden; and ſports are an equal, if not a greater impediment to the duties of the Sabbath, both publick and private; the ſweets of Recreation influencing the mind, and withdrawing the heart, much more then the ſweats of Labour. Surely if we muſt not toyle, we muſt not trifle on Gods holy day.
2. By the Law of Nature; which requires a total abſtinence from all works, both of Labour and Pleaſure, during the time allotted and conſecrated to Gods ſervice, publick Dies dominicus abipſis Apoſtolis ſacris actionibus eſt conſecratus. Bucer.and private. But the Lords day is that time allotted; we cannot work▪ and worſhip both at once: and if when we ſhould worſhip, we follow our pleaſures, or our profits, Is not this to ſubordinate the Divine Will to mans Fancy?
3. By the Law Political, which requires a total reſting from all kind of labour or diverſion, and applying our ſouls Edw. the 6th.wholly, and onelyonly to Religious Exerciſes, as the Statute of Act. Primo, Carol. Primi.King Edward the ſixth of bleſſed memory, a Law yet unrepealed. That Engliſh Joſiah, the morning Sun of Reformation Ad Sabbathi rectam obſervationem, duo requiruntur, quies et quietis illius ſanctificatio. Ameſ. med. Theol.in England, began early to confine the Sabbath to the two great deſigns of it, Reſt and Sanctity; and in this he ſhewed himſelf to be Cuſtos utriuſ que Tabulae, a Keeper of both the Tables: And indeed the enjoyning of the holy obſervance of Gods bleſſed day, is a rare piece of Reformation, well becoming the Care and Conſcience of the beſt of Princes.
4. By the Law Eccleſiaſtical, eſpecially that Homilie of our Church, which is eſtabliſhed by a political Law, which Hom. Of the time & place of worſhip.forbids all Labour, and requires us wholly to give our ſelves to Religious Exerciſes, and ſo by conſequence, ſtrongly forbids, and prohibits all kind of Recreations: and the ſame Homilie forbids all toyiſh talking on the Lords day, and ſo a majori ad minus, from the greater to the leſſer ſports and paſtimes. Now therefore what is thus prohibited by the Law of God, Nature, Church and State, is certainly a ſinfull practice.
Recreations on a Sabbath are the waſts of time, they alienate the time of a Sabbath from the intention of the Lawgiver. God never ſanctified a piece of a day, or ever ſet apart a few hours onelyonly of his holy day for his ſervice and worſhip, and left the remainder to mans diſpoſal, either to purſue his Games or Delights; Such ſinfull encroachments, Mat. 9. 16.to uſe our Saviours phraſe, are onelyonly the putting a piece of new cloth to an old Garment.
Obj. And if the plea of the labouring perſon be brought in, who labours hard all the week, and therefore lays claim to Recreations on the Sabbath, eſpecially if it be conſidered, that God will have Mercy and not Sacrifice: To this plea and apology Mat. 12. 7.it may be replyed,
Sol. 1 This Argument may as well proceed againſt the Old Sabbath, as againſt the Lords day, and yet it is generally confeſſed, Exod. 20. 8, 9, 10, 11.that the Lord enjoyned the Jews a whole day, and allowed them no bodily recreations on the Sabbath; and therefore it is no violation of mercy to deny the like on the Lords day.Ad minutula, et leviora quibus nec corpus fatigatur, nec mens à cultu avocatur, ad illa non attendendum, quia illa anxietatem potius ſervilem, quàm libertatem filialem reſpicium: modò libertatem illam in licentiam carnis non vertamus. Wal. James 4. 14.
The word Recreation is equivocal. Indeed there is a Recreation which is mercy, (viz.) the neceſſary refreſhment of the body, as eating, drinking, reſting it ſelf, eſpecially to thoſe who have wearied themſelves with labour; yea, to ſome ſickly bodies, ſome ordinary, moderate and inoffenſive Recreations may be allowed, as a learned man obſerves. But there is a Recreation which we call ſports and paſtimes, when there is no neceſſity; and to allow this is no work of mercy; and if it be a mercy to the body, it is ſeverity to the ſoul: and in this caſe, God will have ſacrifice, and no ſuch kind of mercy, which pleaſes the fancy, and the corrupt heart of man, againſt the advantage of his better part: This is to rob the ſoul that bears the Image of God, to pay the body, which beareth the Image of death and frailty.
The greateſt mercy which can be ſhewed to ſuch as labour hard all the week, is to give them reſt for their bodies, and divine refreſhments and recreations for their ſouls; and for Dr. Turners Sermon at VVhitehall. 1635.this the Lord himſelf was carefull: And if their bodies have reſt and repoſe, the greateſt mercy, is mercy to their ſoul. to breath the ſoul in holy meditation, to draw out the ſoul Sic agamus in Sabbatho, ut deum in nobis agere patiamur, at que ita aeternum inchoemus Sabbathum. Wal. Cant. 1. 7. Cant. 2. 5.in holy prayer, to refreſh the ſoul with divine truth, to recreate the ſoul with ſinging of pſalms, to bring the ſoul to holy ordinances, where it may meet with its Beloved; theſe are the very ſpirits of mercy, when Chriſts ſtays his beloved on a Sabbath, with Flaggons and Apples, in Goſpel diſpenſations.
And if any deſire to be mercifull, the way is, not to ſteal it from God, but to allow it of his own; Let the Labourer take his reſt on his own day: And ſome well obſerve, If the Mr. C. and Mr. P. Voluptatem viciſſe eſt m…ima volupt…s, ne que eſt …lla major victoria, quàmquae à upiditatibus refertur. Cypr.Sabbath be Gods, it is no more true mercy to permit bodily recreations on that day, then it is mercy to give men leave to ſteal other mens goods on the Sabbath, becauſe they have fared hard all the week before, the perſon offending in the firſt b…ing far more guilty. Can it be rational, that Gods Commands ſhould wait on mans conveniencies? and happily this conveniency is created from mans neglect, not neceſſity.
But ſuppoſing it was mercy to permit ſome bodily recreation (which yet cannot be granted) to ſuch as have laboured hard all the week long, yet what is that to ſuch who have laboured very little, or nothing in the week, to ſuch whoſe week is nothing but a Sabbath, a reſt, and time of leaſure, and vacation? and yet theſe are moſt ready to call and clamour for ſports and recreations on the Lords day. But as one wittily obſerves, Thoſe who are not annihilated Dr. Paul Micklethwait.with hard labour, have no title or claim to be recreated, created again by delight and liberty: If any can pretend to this plea, They are ſuch whoſe cheeks are moyſtened with ſweat, and hands hardned with toyle, and work all the Epicuri diſciplina multò ce…ebrior eſt non quia aliquid boni afferat, ſed quia multos ad populare nomen voluptatis invitat. Lactant. Lib. 3. Divin.week; but ſuch are moſt ſilent, and modeſt in their claim and pretentious: and therefore it cannot be any mercy to ſuch who ſpend their time in Courtſhips and Dalliancings, who converſe like a wanton Epicurus, or a plump Anacreon, whoſe whole life is nothing elſe but a recreation, and a ſucceſſive chain of pleaſures, and worldly ſatisfactions; and yet theſe (as I ſaid) are they who are moſt importunate for ſports and paſtimes on Gods holy day. And therefore to reaſſume that Argument from which we have a little diverted; Recreations on the bleſſed Sabbath are inexcuſably the waſts of that time, which is wholly dedicated to the ſervice of God, and the ſoul, as now comes to be ſhewed.