A Christian Directory

I would desire no more to confute the distracted Time-wasters, when they are disputing for their idle sports and vanities, and asking, what harm is in Cards and Dice, and stage-plays, or tedious feasts or complementing, adorning idleness, than if I could help them to one sight of Heaven and Hell, and make them well know what greater business they have to do, which is staying for them while they sleep or play. If I were just now in disputing the case with an idle Lady, or a sensual belly-slave or gamester, and he were asking me scornfully, what hurt is in all this? if one did but knock at his door and tell him, The King is at the door and calls for you, it would make him cast away his game and his dispute: Or if the house were on fire, or a Child fallen into fire or water, or Thieves breaking in upon them, it would make the Ladies cast by the other Lace or Ribbon? Or if there were but a good bargain or a Lordship to be got, they could be up and going, though sports and game and gaudery were cast off: And yet the foresight of Heaven and Hell, though one of them is even at the door, will not do as much with them: Because Heaven is as nothing to an unbeliever, or an inconsiderate senseless wretch; And as it is nothing to them when it should move them, it shall be nothing to them when they would enjoy it. Say not, Recreation must be used in its season: I know that necessary whetting is no letting: But God and thy own Conscience shall tell thee shortly, whether thy Recreation, feastings, long dressings, and ⟨p. 277⟩idleness, were a necessary whetting or refreshment of thy Body to fit it for that work which thou wast born and livest for; or whether they were the Pastimes of a voluptuous fleshly brute, that lived in these pleasures for the love of pleasure. Verily if I looked but on this one unreasonable sin of Time-wasting, it would help me to understand the meaning of Luk. 15. 17. [Greek or Hebrew], that the Prodigal is said to Come to himself; and that conversion is the bringing a man to his wits.

I would desire no more to confute the distracted Time-wasters, when they are disputing for their idle sports and vanities, and asking, what harm is in Cards and Dice, and stage-plays, or tedious feasts or complementing, adorning idleness, than if I could help them to one sight of Heaven and Hell, and make them well know what greater business they have to do, which is staying for them while they sleep or play. If I were just now in disputing the case with an idle Lady, or a sensual belly-slave or gamester, and he were asking me scornfully, what hurt is in all this? if one did but knock at his door and tell him, The King is at the door and calls for you, it would make him cast away his game and his dispute: Or if the house were on fire, or a Child faln into fire or water, or Thieves breaking in upon them, it would make the Ladies cast by the other Lace or Ribband? Or if there were but a good bargain or a Lordship to be got, they could be up and going, though sports and game and gawdery were cast off: And yet the foresight of Heaven and Hell, though one of them is even at the door, will not do as much with them: Because Heaven is as nothing to an unbeliever, or an inconsiderate sensless wretch; And as it is nothing to them when it should move them, it shall be nothing to them when they would enjoy it. Say not, Recreation must be used in its season: I know that necessary whetting is no letting: But God and thy own Conscience shall tell thee shortly, whether thy Recreation, feastings, long dressings, and