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

III. The Lords day must not be spent in tempting, diverting, unnecessary recreations, or pleasures of the flesh. 1. For these are as great an impediment to the holy employment of the soul, as worldly labours, if not much more. It is easier for a man to be exercised in heavenly cogitations, at the Plough or Cart, or other such labours of his place and Calling, than at Bowls, or Hunting, or Cards, or Dice, or Stage-plays, or Races, or Dancing, or Bear-baitings, or Cock-fights, or any such sensual sports. I need no proof of this to any man, that hath himself any experience, of the holy employments of a believing soul, or that ever knew what it was to spend one Day of the Lord aright; And no proof will suffice them that have ⟨p. 111⟩no experience, because they know not effectually what it is that they talk of.

III. The Lords day must not be spent in tempting, diverting, unnecessary recreations, or pleasures of the flesh. 1. For these are as great an impediment to the holy employment of the soul, as worldly labours, if not much more. It is easier for a man to be exercised in heavenly cogitations, at the Plow or Cart, or other such labours of his place and Calling, than at Bowls, or Hunting, or Cards, or Dice, or Stage-playes, or Races, or Dancing, or Bear-baitings, or Cock-fights, or any such sensual sports. I need no proof of this to any man, that hath himself any experience, of the holy employments of a believing soul, or that ever knew what it was to spend one Day of the Lord aright; And no proof will suffice them that have ⟨p. 111⟩no experience, because they know not effectually what it is that they talk of.

2. We find that even on other days, the worst men are most addicted to these sports, and are the greatest pleaders for them, and that the more they use them the worse they grow; yea that the times of using them are frequently the times of the eruption of many heinous sins. I have lived in my Youth in many places where sometimes Shows or uncouth Spectacles have been their sports at certain seasons of the year, and sometimes Morris-dancings, and sometimes Stage-plays, and sometimes Wakes and Revels; And all men observed that these were the times of the most flagitious crimes, and that there was then more drunkenness, more fighting, more horrid Oaths and Curses uttered than in many weeks at other times; Then it was that the enraged sensualists did act the part of furious Devils, in scorning and reviling all that were soberer and better than themselves, and railing at those that minded God and their everlasting state, as Precisians, Puritans and Hypocrites; Then it was that they were ready in their fury, if they durst, to assault the very persons and houses of them that would not do as they did. Whatever is done in such Crowds and Tumults, is done with the impetuosity of rage and passion, and with the greatest audacity, and the violation of all Laws and regulating restraints. As many waters make a furious stream, and great fires where much fuel is conjunct do disdain restraint, and quickly devour all before them; so is it with the raging folly of Youth, when voluptuous persons