A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 1 That this moderation is commanded in the Scriptures, and the contrary sloth condemned.

And these are the duties of the night, which are to be performed whilst we are waking. In respect of sleep, our duty is that we use it with moderation, not satisfying thereby our carnal and sluggish concupiscence, but taking only so much as is fit and necessary to satisfy nature, that we may be more strong and vigorous, active and able to perform all Christian and civill duties. Of which there can be given no certain rule, on more then of the measure of meats and drinks; for as one mans stomach requireth more, and another's less: so one mans body, for the preserving of health and strength, needeth sleep in a greater, and another's in a lesser and shorter proportion; as youth more then age, those of a melancholic complexion ¹less then those of a sanguine or flegmatike, and the weak and sickly more then the strong and healthy. Yet generally we may say thus much, that as in other things, so in this, nature is content with a little, in comparison of that which satisfieth the carnal appetite. That our sleep ought to be moderate and convenient, and (as Clemens speaketh) masculine and manly, and not effeminate and luxurious, not a solution and weakening, but only a remission of the body, and therefore not to be taken for sloth and idleness, but for the better enabling us for action and employment. For as the same Author saith, A sleeping man is of no worth, no more then he that liveth not. Neither must we measure our sleep according to ⟨p. 374⟩our business, taking too much because we have nothing to do; for a true Christian will never want employment, either for the good of his neighbour or himself, of his soul or body; and therefore howsoever upon some weighty occasion a man may abridge himself of his ordinary measure, yet ought he not to exceed and spend his time, which is so precious, in sloth and laziness, upon pretence that he wanteth employment; nor sleep any longer then is sufficient for the refreshing of his body, that it may serve his soul as a fit instrument for virtuous and civill actions. For sleep was ordained not to serve our lust, but for the repairing and cheering of the spirits, and refreshing of the body: and therefore we must not out of a slothful humour, take so much as may dull the spirits, and make the body more lumpish and heavy.