The natural use, is either to relieve our necessities, or for honest delight. Thus the Psalmist saith, that God gives not only bread to strengthen the heart of man, but also wine to make glad the heart, and oil to make the face to shine, Psal. 104.15. and God hath: put into his creatures infinite varieties of colours, savours, tastes, and forms, to this end that men might take delight in them. Hence it follows, that Recreation is lawful, and a part of Christian liberty, if it be well used. By recreation, I understand exercises & sports, serving to refresh either the body or the mind: and that they may be well used, two rules especially must be remembered. The first, that lawful recreation stands only in the use of things indifferent. For if the things be commanded by god, there is no sporting in them; or if they be forbidden, there is no using of them at all. Upon this ground, sundry kinds of recreation are to be neglected. As I. the dancing commonly used in these days, in which men and women, young men and maids, all mixed together, dance to the sound of the instrument or voice in time and measure, with many wanton gestures, and that in solemn meetings after great feasts. This exercise cannot be numbered among things indifferent: for experience showeth, that it hath been usually either a fruit or a follower of great wickedness, as idolatry, fornication, drunkennes•e; hereupon, one well compared it to a acircle, whose centre was the devil. Again, if we must give an account of every idle word, then also of every idle gesture and pace: and what account can be given of these paces backward & forward, of caprings, jumps, gambols, turnings, with many other frisks of lightness and vanity, more beseeming goats and apes, of whom they are commonly used, then men. Whereas Solomon esteemed laughter as madness, he would (no doubt) have condemned our common lascivious dancing much more for madness, laughter being but the least part of it. II. Dicing, which is precisely the casting of a lot, not to be used at our pleasures, but in matters of weight and importance. And of this kind are all gains, the ground whereof are not the sleight of mans wit, but lot alone. III. Plays and interludes, ⟨p. 870⟩that stand in the representation of the vices and misdemeanour of the world.
The naturall vse, is either to releeue our necessities, or for honest delite. Thus the Psalmist saith, that God giues not onely bread to strengthen the heart of man, but also wine to make glad the heart, and oyle to make the face to shine, Psal. 104.15. and God hath: put into his creatures infinit varieties of colours, sauours, tasts, and formes, to this ende that men might take delight in them. Hence it followes, that Recreation is lawefull, and a part of Christian libertie, if it be wel vsed. By recreation, I vnderstand exercises & sports, seruing to refresh either the bodie or the minde: and that they may be well vsed, two rules especially must be remembred. The first, that lawfull recreation stands onely in the vse of things indifferent. For if the things be commanded by god, there is no sporting in them; or if they bee forbidden, there is no vsing of thē at all. Vpon this ground, sundrie kinds of recreation are to be neglected. As I. the dauncing commonly vsed in these daies, in which men and women, yong men and maides, all mixed togither, daunce to the sound of the instrument or voice in time and measure, with many wanton gestures, and that in solemne meetings after great feasts. This exercise cannot be numbred among things indifferent: for experience sheweth, that it hath beene vsually either a fruite or a follower of great wickednes, as idolatrie, fornication, drunkennes•e; hereupon, one wel compared it to a acircle, whose center was the deuil. Again, if we must giue an acount of euery idle worde, then also of euery idle gesture and pace: and what account can bee giuen of these paces backward & forward, of caprings, iumps, gambols, turnings, with many other frisks of lightnes and vanitie, more beseeming goates and apes, of whome they are commonly vsed, then men. Whereas Salomon esteemed laughter as madnesse, hee would (no doubt) haue condemned our common lasciuious dauncing much more for madnesse, laughter beeing but the least part of it. II. Dicing, which is precisely the casting of a lotte, not to be vsed at our pleasures, but in matters of weight and importance. And of this kinde are all gaines, the ground whereof are not the sleight of mans witte, but lotte alone. III. Plaies and enterludes, ⟨p. 870⟩that stand in the representation of the vices and misdemeanour of the world.
