§. 1. Mirth is sinful, 1. When men rejoice in that which is evil; as in the hurt of others, or in mens1 sin, or in the sufferings of Gods servants, or the afflictions of the Church, or the success or prosperity of the enemies of Christ, (or of any evil cause:) This is one of the greatest sins in the world, and one of the greatest signs of wickedness, when wickedness is it that they rejoice in. 2. When it is unseasonable or in an unmeet subject: As to be merry in the time and place of mourning; to feast when we should fast: or for an unsanctified miserable soul to be taken up in mirth, that is in the power of sin and satan and near to Hell. 3. Mirth is sinful when it tendeth to the committing of sin, or is managed by sin: as to make merry with lies and fables and tempting unnecessary time-wasting dances, plays or recreations; or with the slander or abuse of others; or with drunkenness, gluttony or excess. 4. Mirth is sinful when it is a hinderance to our duty, and unfitteth the soul for the exercise of that grace, which is most suitable to its estate. As when it hindereth a sinners conviction and humiliation, and resisteth the spirit of God, and bawleth down the calls of grace, and the voice of conscience, that they cannot be heard: And when it banisheth all sober consideration about the matters that we should most regard, and will not give men leave to think, with fixedness and sobriety, upon God and upon themselves, their sin and danger, upon death and judgement and the life to come: when it makes the soul more unfit to take reproof, to profit by a sermon, to call upon God: This drunken mirth which shuts out Reason, and silenceth Conscience, and laughs at God, and jesteth at Damnation, and doth but intoxicate the brain, and make men mad in the matters where they should most show their wisdom, I say this mirth, is the Devils sport, and the sinners misery, and the wise mans pity: of which Solomon speaketh, Eccles. 2. 2. I said of laughter, it is mad, and of mirth what doth it. Prov. 26. 18, 19. As a mad man who casteth fire-brands, arrows and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbour and saith Am I not in sport: Prov. 10. 23. It is a sport to a fool to do mischief. 5. But mirth is most horridly odious when it is blasphemous and profane:
§. 1. MIrth is sinful, 1. When men rejoyce in that which is evil; as in the hurt of others, or in mens1 sin, or in the sufferings of Gods servants, or the afflictions of the Church, or the success or prosperity of the enemies of Christ, (or of any evil cause:) This is one of the greatest sins in the world, and one of the greatest signs of wickedness, when wickedness is it that they rejoyce in. 2. When it is unseasonable or in an unmeet subject: As to be merry in the time and place of mourning; to feast when we should fast: or for an unsanctisied miserable soul to be taken up in mirth, that is in the power of sin and satan and near to Hell. 3. Mirth is sinful when it tendeth to the committing of sin, or is managed by sin: as to make merry with lies and fables and tempting unnecessary time-wasting dances, plays or recreations; or with the slander or abuse of others; or with drunkenness, gluttony or excess. 4. Mirth is sinful when it is a hinderance to our duty, and unfitteth the soul for the exercise of that grace, which is most suitable to its estate. As when it hindereth a sinners conviction and humiliation, and resisteth the spirit of God, and bawleth down the calls of grace, and the voice of conscience, that they cannot be heard: And when it banisheth all sober consideration about the matters that we should most regard, and will not give men leave to think, with fixedness and sobriety, upon God and upon themselves, their sin and danger, upon death and judgement and the life to come: when it makes the soul more unfit to take reproof, to profit by a sermon, to call upon God: This drunken mirth which shuts out Reason, and silenceth Conscience, and laughts at God, and jesteth at Damnation, and doth but intoxicate the brain, and make men mad in the matters where they should most shew their wisdom, I say this mirth, is the Devils sport, and the sinners misery, and the wise mans pity: of which Solomon speaketh, Eccles. 2. 2. I said of laughter, it is mad, and of mirth what doth it. Prov. 26. 18, 19. As a mad man who casteth fire-brands, arrows and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbour and saith Am I not in sport: Prov. 10. 23. It is a sport to a fool to do mischief. 5. But mirth is most horridly odious when it is blasphemous and profane:
- 1Stoici dicun• severos esse •ap•entes, quod neque ipsi •oquantur ad voluptatem, n• que ab aliis ad voluptatem dicta admittant. Esse autem & alios severos, qui ad rationem acris vini severi dicantur; quo ad medicamenta, potius quam ad propinationē, utuntur. Laert. in Zenone.Stoici dicun• severos esse •ap•entes, quod neque ipsi •oquantur ad voluptatem, n• que ab aliis ad voluptatem dicta admittant. Esse autem & alios severos, qui ad rationem acris vini severi dicantur; quo ad medicamenta, potius quam ad propinationē, utuntur. Laert. in Zenone.
