Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

Now in a third place, concerning sleep, I have little to say: no constant rules of and certain measure can possibly be prescribed: Because it is much diversified, and necessarily receives great variation by health and sickness; by age; by time of the year; by emptiness, or fullness of the body; by variety of natural constitutions: only let me counsel Christians, who only make conscience of expense of time, and are sensible of its preciousness expressed before, to take notice, that they may surfeit and sin in sleeping; as well as in eating and drinking. That it ought only, as other of Gods good creatures, to serve the strengthening and refreshing of our bodies; not to satisfy ease, sloth, and a sluggish humour: and therefore to beware, and diligently to watch, lest that great devourer and waster of time, rob and bereave them of the very marrow and fat of time; the flower, and first fruits, as it were, of the day, I mean, many precious and golden hours in the morning; freshest, and fittest to ⟨p. 206⟩converse most fruitfully with God, to examine our spiritual state, to offer up an acceptable sacrifice of Prayers and Praises, to buckle fast unto us the Christian Armour, and to prepare with resolution and life, to hold a sweet and blessed communion with his holy Majesty all the day after. And let them often remember when they see the Sun up before them, that saying of Austin: It is an uncomely thing for a Christian ¹to have the Sun-beam find him in bed: and if the Sun could speak, saith he, it might say, I have laboured more then thou, yesterday; and yet I am risen, and thou art still at rest.

Now in a third place, concerning sleepe, I haue little to say: no constant rules of and certaine measure can possibly be prescribed: Because it is much diuersified, and necessarily receiues great variation by health and sicknesse; by age; by time of the yeere; by emptinesse, or fulnesse of the body; by variety of naturall constitutions: onely let mee counsell Christians, who onely make conscience of expence of time, and are sensible of its preciousnesse expressed before, to take notice, that they may surfet and sinne in sleeping; as well as in eating and drinking. That it ought only, as other of Gods good creatures, to serue the strengthening and refreshing of our bodies; not to satisfie ease, sloth, and a sluggish humour: and therefore to beware, and diligently to watch, lest that great deuourer and waster of time, rob and bereaue them of the very marrow and fat of time; the flower, and first fruits, as it were, of the day, I meane, many precious and golden houres in the morning; freshest, and fittest to