The Sacred Diary, Section 26
SECT. XXVI. Of Recreations, and how to uſe them.
COncerning Recreations, it is the judgment of many Grave and Learned Divines, that it is an unchriſtian and unwarrantable Courſe, to ſpend a great part of a Man's time in Recreation, as if it were one half of a Man's Buſineſs, or perhaps more. It is only ſo far allowable, as it carrieth a reſpect to the Glory of God, and no more; ſo far as it is ſerviceable to a Man's Calling, and maketh him the more fit to diſcharge the Duties thereof to his Glory. I confeſs, it is neceſſary that ſometimes we recreate our ſelves, both our Bodies and Spirits; and it is too rigorous a thing not to give our ſelves any Recreation; nor to ſuffer others that are under our Charge, to take any. To walk Abroad to take the Air, to entertain the company with pleaſant Diſcourſes, to Ring, to Shoot, to play on ſome Inſtrument, or the like, theſe are Recreations ſo honeſt, that to uſe them well, needs nothing but Diſcretion, that gives to every thing its Order, Time, Place, and Meaſure.
Many uſe the Tennis, Batoon, Palmally, running of the Ring, Cheſs, Bowls, and Tables, which are Recreations commendable enough in themſelves; but therein ye muſt beware of Exceſs, be it either in the time employed, or in the Money hazarded; for if we employ too much Time therein, it is no more a Recreation, but an Occupation, that neither recreates the Body nor the Spirits, but rather dulls and diſtracts them. Beſides, if much Money be hazarded, it diſorders the Affections of the Gameſters; and it is an unjuſt thing to lay great Wagers upon the induſtry and abilities of ſo ſmall Importance, as is the hazard of all Games. But above all, take heed of placing your Affection on any of them: For be the Recreations in themſelves never ſo honeſt, it is a Vice to ſet your Affections on any of them. But thou mayſt take Recreation in playing for the time thou playeſt, otherwiſe it would be no Recreation; but thou muſt not eagerly deſire or long after them, nor yet ſtudy on them, nor vex thy ſelf about them. And when thy Recreation withdraweth thy Mind from walking in an honeſt Calling, or eateth up the Time which might be far better ſpent, in doing thoſe things, as might tend to the good of thy ſelf, or others, either in reſpect of this Life, or the Life to come, it is a manifeſt Intemperancy, and want of Moderation. And if ſo ſtrict an account muſt be given of idle words at the Day of Judgment, as our Saviour tells us, how ſtrict a reckoning muſt be rendred of idle Actions? And all actions of Sport are idle, when they are Immoderate. All Chriſtians are bound to redeem the time, not thus idly and vainly to trifle and paſs away the time. And Heaven is appointed as a place for Men to reſt in from their Labours; not for thoſe to ſit down in, who have here ſpent a great part of their days in Sports and Pleaſures.
Ye may ſee the lawful uſe of outward Comforts, Recreations, and Pleaſures, allowed to the Godly, and the ungodly Man's unlawful and voluptuous courſe of living in Pleaſure, ſhadowed forth to us; in the difference that's between a Bird's and a Fiſh's uſing of the Waters.
1. The Bird doth but touch the Water, and ſips only for refreſhment; but the Fiſh wallows and tumbles in it, and delighteth to drench, and cover her ſelf therein.
2. The Bird only toucheth the Waters, but reſteth not upon them, but quickly ſpeeds her ſelf away again; but the Fiſh reſideth in them, as in its proper Element.
3. The Bird as ſhe flieth, lighteth down, and takes up a little Water in her flight by the way; but the Fiſh lieth continually ſwilling and ſucking in it.
So he that lawfully uſeth thoſe things which God hath given for our Delight and Refreſhment, in a Chriſtian moderate way, he takes them more ſparingly; whereas others do even glut and cloy themſelves with them God's Children do take but a little of theſe, and but by the way as they are in running the Race that is ſet before them, as they are in their flight towards Heaven, their Souls being then upon the wing, and raiſed to Heavenly-mindedneſs, when they do taſte of the ſweetneſs of theſe things. And if they herein tranſgreſs, and ſometimes glut themſelves too much with theſe things, their Failing doth more trouble them, than their Pleaſure doth refreſh them. On the other ſide, He that lives in Pleaſure, as the Fiſh in the Waters, he is then at reſt when he is enjoying ſome ſenſual Delights, he is then in his proper Ʋbi, and Element, when his Heart is even drench'd and immerſed in ſome ſuch Pleaſure, as is adapted to his Senſual Affections. And when he is in the Service and Worſhip of God, he is like a Fiſh on dry Land, out of its place; he is in ſuch a Courſe as is not pleaſing to him; his Heart acquieſceth in the midſt of his Delights, being not at all exerciſed in any Heavenly Imployment, his Heart is not any way born up with any lively and Heavenly Affections.