The divine appointment of the Lords day proved as a separated day for holy…

AS to the resolving of this Question also, I would wish for no greater advantage on him that I dispute with, but that he be a man that Loveth God and Holiness, and knoweth somewhat of the difference between things temporal and things Eternal; and knoweth what is for the good of his soul; and preferreth it before his body; and hath an appetite to relish the delights of Wisdom, and of things most excellent and Divine. And that he be one that knoweth his own necessities, and repenteth of his former loss of time; and liveth in a daily preparation for death; that is, that he be a real Christian; And then by all this it will appear, how the Lords day must not be spent; or what things are unlawful to be done thereon.

I. Undoubtedly it must not be spent in wickedness: In gluttony or drunkenness, chambering or wantonness, strife or envying, or any of those works of the flesh, which are at all times sinful. An evil work is most unsuitable to a holy day. And yet, alas, what day hath more rioting ⟨p. 109⟩and excess, of meat, and drink, and wantonness, and sloth, and lust, than it?

I. Undoubtedly it must not be spent in wickedness: In gluttony or drunkenness, chambering or wantonness, strife or envying, or any of those works of the flesh, which are at all times sinful. An evil work is most unsuitable to a holy day. And yet, alas, what day hath more ryotting ⟨p. 109⟩and excess, of meat, and drink, and wantonness, and sloth, and lust, than it?

II. It ought not to be spent in our worldly businesses, which are the labours allowed us on the six days; unless Necessity or Mercy make them at any time become such duties of the Law of Nature, as Positives must for that time give place to. For how is it a day separated to holy employments, if we spend it in the common business of the world? It is the great advantage that we have by such a separated day, that we may wholly call off our minds from the world, and set them on the world to come, and exercise them in holy communion with God and his Church, without the interruptions and distractions of any earthly cogitations. A divided mind doth never perform any holy work, with that integrity and life, as the nature of it requireth. Heavenly contemplations are never well managed with the intermixture of diverting worldly thoughts: So great a work as to converse in Heaven, to be rapt up in the admirations of the Divine perfections, to kindle a fervent Love to God, by the contemplation of his Love and Goodness, to triumph over sin and Satan with our triumphing glorified Head, to Commemorate his Resurrection, and the whole work of our Redemption with a lively working faith, doth require the whole heart, and will not consist with alien thoughts, and the diversion of fleshly employments or delights. Nay, had we no higher work to do, than to search our hearts, and lament our sins, and beg