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

Fourthly, we must refrain (as much as in us lieth) from thinking our own thoughts on the Lords Day, that is, not only such as are sinful and ¹wicked, vain and good for nothing at any time, but those also which are worldly and about our earthly affairs, which may be lawful on other days. For the Lord requireth not the outward man, and external actions alone to be consecrated to his service, but chiefly and principally the mind and the heart, in which, above all other parts he delighteth. And he forbiddeth us to walk in our own ways and pleasures on his Holy-day, ²which is to be referred to our thoughts as well as to our outward actions, seeing we delight in the one as well as the other. In which regard we must use our best endeavour, to sequester our minds and hearts from all worldly and earthly things, that they may be wholly exercised in spiritual and heavenly Meditations. And as it is unlawful to think and meditate on earthly things on the Lords Day; so also to spend any part of this time allotted unto holy and religious duties, in the reading and studying of profane Books, and such writings as are merely civill and humane, as the Story of the times, and Histories of the Common-wealth, liberal Arts and Sciences, and such like, which may make us more wise to the world, but not to God; fit us for earthly employments, but neither furnish us with spiritual grace, nor yet further our heavenly happiness. Finally, as we must abstain from thinking our own thoughts, and doing our own works on the Lords Day, so also from speaking of our own words, as the Lord requireth.