This might have done well for a Caution; it doth scarce well for an Argument. For first, for the proposition of the former Syllogism, if it be understood without limitation, that time ought to be spent always in the best duties simply, it will over-throw all kind of disport whatsoever. For it fighteth equally against all, be it of hazard mere or mixed, or of exercise of bodily strength or wit. But that is not sound; neither is it the Apostles meaning or purpose in that place to cut of all kind of recreation, which Gods word giveth good warrant for; but to ⟨p. 187⟩cut off that idle and vain trifling out and misspending of time needlessly, not only by recreations, but by other worldly occasions,r whereby men many times over-lade themselves, with neglect of those things that do most principally concern them, and qwhich our Saviour therefore would have them to seek principally and in the first place, using the main as a by-matter, and by-matters as the main, as one sometime said wittily; and sliving rather to any end then what they should live unto. And thus not only gaming and play, but tbuying also and selling, and building and planting, and ueating and drinking, and *wiving and wedding, and xhusbandry and tillage may become sins against that injunction of redeeming the time, when ythey shall take up the due time of other necessary duties. And yet are both of them warrantable and good taken in their own time.
This might haue done well for a Caution; it doth scarce well for an Argument. For first, for the proposition of the former Syllogisme, if it be vnderstood without limitation, that time ought to be spent alwaies in the best duties simply, it will ouer-throw all kinde of disport whatsoeuer. For it fighteth equally against all, be it of hazard meere or mixt, or of exercise of bodily strength or wit. But that is not sound; neither is it the Apostles meaning or purpose in that place to cut of all kinde of recreation, which Gods word giueth good warrant for; but to ⟨p. 187⟩cut off that idle and vaine trifling out and mispending of time needlesly, not onely by recreations, but by other worldly occasions,r whereby men many times ouer-lade themselues, with neglect of those things that doe most principally concerne them, and qwhich our Sauiour therefore would haue them to seeke principally and in the first place, vsing the maine as a by-matter, and by-matters as the maine, as one sometime said wittily; and sliuing rather to any end then what they should liue vnto. And thus not onely gaming and play, but tbuying also and selling, and building and planting, and ueating and drinking, and *wiuing and wedding, and xhusbandry and tillage may become sinnes against that iniunction of redeeming the time, when ythey shall take vp the due time of other necessarie duties. And yet are both of them warrantable and good taken in their owne time.
- r[Greek or Hebrew]. Agatho Tr• goed, apud Clemen. Alex. stromat▪ l. 5.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Agatho Tr• goed, apud Clemen. Alex. stromat▪ l. 5.
- qMatth. 6 33. Joan. 6▪27.Matth. 6 33. Ioan. 6▪27.
- sPr•ter propter vitam vivitur. Ennius apud Gell. l. 19. c. 10. Magna pars vitae elabitur malè agentibus, maxima nihil agentibus, tota aliud agentibus. Senec. epist. 1. [Greek or Hebrew]. Clem. Alex. p•dag. l. 2. c. 2.Pr•ter propter vitam viuitur. Enniꝰ apud Gell. l. 19. c. 10. Magna pars vitae elabitur malè agentibus, maxima nihil agentibus, tota aliud agentibus. Senec. epist. 1. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Clem. Alex. p•dag. l. 2. c. 2.
- tLuk. 17.28.
- uMatth. 24.38. Luk. 1•.27.
- *Luk 14.20.
- xLuk. 14.18, 19.
- y
