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reply, I will not believe that my cards, or dice, or plays are unlawful. I use them but to fit me for my duty. What! would you have all men live like hermits or anchorites without all pleasure?' I answer you but by this reasonable request will you set yourselves as dying men in the presence of God, and the sight of eternity, and provide a true answer to these few Questions; even such an answer as your consciences dare stand to at the bar of God?

Quest. 1. Dost thou not think in thy conscience that thy Maker, and Redeemer, and his work and service, and thy family and calling, and the forethoughts of heaven, are not fitter matters to delight a sober mind, than cards or stage-plays? And what can it be but a vain and sinful mind that should make these toys so pleasant to thee, and the thoughts of God and heaven so unpleasant?

Quest. 11. Doth not thy conscience tell thee, that it is not to fit thee for thy calling or God's service that thou usest these sports, but only to delight a carnal fantasy? Doth not conscience tell thee, that it is more the pleasure than the benefit of it to thy soul or body that draws thee to it? Dost thou work so hard, or study so hard all the day besides, as to need so much recreation to refresh thee?

Quest. III. Doth not thy conscience tell thee, that if thy sensual fantasy were but cured, it would be a more profitable recreation to thy body or mind, to use some sober exercise for thy body, which is confined to its proper limits of time; or to turn to variety of labour, or studies, than to sit about these idle games?

Quest. iv. Dost thou think that either Christ or his apostles used stage-plays, cards, or dice; or ever countenanced such a temper of mind as is addicted to them? Or was not David as wise as you, that took up his pleasure in the Word of God, and his melodious praise?

Quest. v. Doth not your conscience tell you, that your delight is more in your plays and games than it is on God? And that these sports do no way increase your delight in God at all, but more unfit and indispose you? And yet every "blessed man's delight is in the law of the Lord, and in it he meditateth day and night." And do you do so?

Quest. vI. Do you bestow as much time in praying and reading the Word of God, and meditating on it, as you do in your sports and recreations? Nay, do you not shuffle this

over, and put God off with a few hypocritical, heartless words, that you may be at your sports, or something which you love better?

Quest. VII. Doth not conscience tell thee, that this precious time might be much better spent, in the works that God hath appointed thee to do? And that thy sinful soul hath need enough to spend it in far greater matters? Doth it become one that hath sinned so long, and is so unassured of pardon and salvation, and near another world, and so unready for it, to sit at cards or be hearing a stage-play, when he should be making ready, and getting assurance of his peace with God?

Quest. VIII. Wouldst thou be found at cards, or plays when death cometh? If it were this day, hadst thou not rather be found about some holy, or some profitable labour?

Quest. Ix. Will it be more comfort to thee when thou art dying, to think of the time which thou spentest in cards, and plays, and vanity, or that which thou spentest in serving God, and preparing for eternity?

Quest. x. Darest thou pray to God to bless thy cards, and dice, and plays to the good of thy soul or body? Would not thy conscience tell thee, that this were but a mocking of God, as praying for that which thou dost not intend, and which thy pleasures are unfit for? And yet no recreation is lawful, which you may not thus lawfully pray for a blessing on.

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Quest. xI. If you were sure yourselves that you sin not your games or sports, are you sure that your companions do not? that they have no lust or vanity of mind at stageplays, no covetousness, or sinful pleasure, or passion at cards or dice? If you say,' We are not bound to keep all other men from sin,' I answer, You are bound to do your best towards it: and you are bound not to contribute willingly to their sin: and you are bound to forbear a thing indifferent, though not a duty, to avoid the scandalizing or tempting of another. If Paul would never eat flesh while he lived rather than make a weak person offend, should not your sports be subject to as great charity? He saith, "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy weak brother stumbleth, or is offended, or made weak 1.” Object. Then we must give over our meat,

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Rom. xiv. 21. 1 Cor. viii. 13.

and drink, and clothes, and all.' Answ. It followeth not that we must forsake our duty to prevent another man's sin, because we must forsake our pleasure in things indifferent. If you knew what sin is, and what it is to save or lose one's soul, you would not make a sport of other men's sin, nor so easily contribute to their damnation, and think your sensual pleasure to be a good excuse. In such cases, "we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, (that is, to compassionate them as we do children in their weakness) and not to please ourselves (to their hurt). Let every one of us please his neighbour, for his good to edification (that is, prefer the edifying of another's soul, before the pleasure of your bodies). For even Christ pleased not himself.- "If Christ lost his life to save men from sin, will not you lose your sport for it?

Quest. XII. What kind of men are they that are most addicted to thy games and plays, and what kind of men are they that avoid them, and are against them? Are there not more fornicators, drunkards, swearers, cursers, coveters of other men's money, and profane neglecters of God and their souls among gamesters and players, than among them that are against them? Judge by the fruits.

And what I say to idle gamesters, is proportionably to be said to voluptuous youths, that run after wakes, and May-games, and dancings, and revellings, and are carried by the love of sports and pleasure, from the love of God, and the care of their salvation, and the love of holiness, and the love of their callings; and into idleness, riotousness, and disobedience to their superiors. For the cure of this volup→ tuousness (besides what is said Chap. iv. Part 9.) consider:

1. Dost thou not know that thou hast higher delights to mind? And are these toys beseeming a noble soul, that hath holy and heavenly matters to delight in?

2. Dost thou not feel what a plague the very pleasure is to thy affections? how it bewitcheth thee, and befooleth thee, and maketh thee out of love with holiness, and unfit for any thing that is good?

3. Dost thou know the worth of those precious hours which thou playest away? hast thou no more to do with them? Look inwards to thy soul, and forward to eternity, and bethink thee better.

4. Is it sport that thou most needest? Dost thou not

more need Christ, and grace, and pardon, and preparation for death and judgment, and assurance of salvation? Why then are not these thy business?

5. Hast thou not a God to obey and serve? and doth he not alway see thee? and will he not judge thee? alas! thou knowest not how soon. Though thou be now merry in thy youth, and thy "heart cheer thee, and thou walk in the ways of thy heart, and the sight of thy eyes, yet know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgmentTM.

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6. Observe in Scripture what God judgeth of thy ways. "We ourselves were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures ".” Fly youthful lusts: but follow after righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart"," "Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God P.”

7. You are but preparing for your future sorrow, either by repentance or destruction: and the greater is your pleasure now, the greater will be your sorrow and shame in the review.

Having spoken this much for the cure of sinful sports, I proceed to direct the more sober in their recreations.

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Direct. 11. When you understand the true nature and use of recreations, labour to be acquainted just how much, and what sort of recreation is needful to yourselves in particular.' In which you must have respect, 1. To your bodily strength. 2. To your minds. 3. To your labours. And when you have resolved on it, what and how much is needful and fit, to help you in your duty, allow it its proper time and place, as you do your meals, and see that you suffer it not to to encroach upon your duty.

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Direct. 111. Ordinarily join profit and pleasure together that you lose no time.' I know not one person of an hundred, or of many hundreds, that needeth any game at all: there are such variety of better exercises at hand to recreate them. And it is a sin to idle away any time, which we can better improve! I confess my own nature was as much addicted to playfulness as most: and my judgment alloweth me so much recreation as is needful to my health and labour (and no more). But for all that I find no need of any game to recreate me. When my mind requireth re

m Eccles. xi. 9.

2 Tim. ii, 22. Read 1 Pet, iv. 1-4. 2 Pet. iii. 3.

" Tit. iii. 3.
P 1 Tim, iii. 4.

creation, I have variety of recreating books and friends, and business to do that. And when my body needeth it, the hardest labour that I can bear is my best recreation: walking is instead of games and sports: as profitable to my body, and more to my mind: if I am alone, I may improve that time in meditation: if with others, I may improve it in profitable, cheerful conference. I condemn not all sports or games in others, but I find none of them all to be best for myself: and when I observe how far the temper and life of Christ and his best servants was from such recreations, I avoid them with the more suspicion. And I see but few but distaste it in ministers (even shooting, bowling, and such more healthful games, to say nothing of chess and such other, as fit not the end of a recreation). Therefore there is somewhat in it that nature itself hath some suspicion of. That student that needeth chess or cards to please his mind, I doubt hath a carnal, empty mind : If God and all his books, and all his friends, &c. cannot suffice for this, there is some disease in it that should rather be cured than pleased. And for the body, it is another kind of exercise that profits it.

Direct. iv. 'Watch against inordinate, sensual delight, even in the lawfullest sport.' Excess of pleasure in any such vanity, doth very much corrupt and befool the mind. It puts it out of relish with spiritual things; and turneth it from God, and heaven, and duty.

· Direct. v. To this end keep a watch upon your thoughts and fantasies, that they run not after sports and pleasures.' Else you will be like children that are thinking of their sport, and longing to be at it, when they should be at their books or business.

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Direct. VI. Avoid the company of revellers, gamesters, and such time-wasters.' Come not among them, lest you be ensnared. Accompany yourselves with those that delight themselves in God.

Direct. VII. Remember death and judgment, and the necessities of our souls.' Usually these sports seem but foolishness to serious men; Solomon, "it is madness." subjects which maketh serious men. Death and the world to come, when they are soberly thought on, do put the mind quite out of relish with foolish pleasures.

and they say of this mirth, as And it is great and serious

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