Stick not at their scruple, who question the stating of times as superstitious: If thou suit out thy time to the advantage of the work, and place no more Religion in the time it self, thou needest not to fear lest this be superstition. As a workman in his shop will have a set place for every one of his Tools and Wares, or else when he should use it, it may be to seek: So a Christian should have a set time for every ordinary duty, or else when he should practise it, its ten to one but he will be put by it. Stated time is a hedge to duty, and defends it against many temptations to omission. God hath stated none but the Lords day himself, but he hath left it to be stated, and determined by our selves, according to every mans condition and occasions, least otherwise his Law should have been a burden, or a snare. Yet hath he left us general rules, which by the use of Reason, and Christian Prudence, may help us to determine of the fittest times. Its as ridiculous a question of them that ask us, [Where Scripture commands us to pray so oft, or at such hours, privately or in families?] as if they asked, [Where the Scripture commands, that the Church-House, (or Temple) stand in such a place? or the Pulpit in such a place? or my seat in such a place? or where it commands a man to read the Scriptures with a pair of Spectacles, &c.] Most that I have known to break this bond of duty, and to argue against a stated time, have at last grown careless of the duty it self, and showed more dislike against the work, then the time. If God give me so much money or wealth, and tell me not in Scripture, how much such a poor man must have, nor how much my family, nor how much in clothes, and how much in expenses; is it not lawful, yea and necessary that I make the division my self, and allow to each the due proportion? So if God do bestow on me a day or a week of time, and give me such and ⟨p. 698⟩such work, to do in this time, and tell me not how much I shall allot to each work; Certainly, I must make the division my self, and cut my coat according to my cloth, and proportion it wisely and carefully too, or else I am like to leave something undone. Though God hath not told you, at what hour you shall rise in the morning, or what hours you shall eat and drink, yet your own Reason, and experience will tell you, that ordinarily you should observe a stated time.
Stick not at their scruple, who question the stating of times as superstitious: If thou suit out thy time to the advantage of the work, and place no more Religion in the time it self, thou needest not to fear lest this be superstition. As a workman in his shop will have a set place for every one of his Tools and Wares, or else when he should use it, it may be to seek: So a Christian should have a set time for every ordinary duty, or else when he should practise it, its ten to one but he will be put by it. Stated time is a hedg to duty, and defends it against many temptations to omission. God hath stated none but the Lords day himself, but he hath left it to be stated, and determined by our selves, according to every mans condition and occasions, least otherwise his Law should have been a burden, or a snare. Yet hath he left us general rules, which by the use of Reason, and Christian Prudence, may help us to determine of the fittest times. Its as ridiculous a question of them that ask us, [Where Scripture commands us to pray so oft, or at such hours, privately or in families?] as if they askt, [Where the Scripture commands, that the Church-House, (or Temple) stand in such a place? or the Pulpit in such a place? or my seat in such a place? or where it commands a man to read the Scriptures with a pair of Spectacles, &c.] Most that I have known to break this bond of duty, and to argue against a stated time, have at last grown careless of the duty it self, and shewed more dislike against the work, then the time. If God give me so much money or wealth, and tell me not in Scripture, how much such a poor man must have, nor how much my family, nor how much in cloaths, and how much in expences; is it not lawful, yea and necessary that I make the division my self, and allow to each the due proportion? So if God do bestow on me a day or a week of time, and give me such and ⟨p. 698⟩such work, to do in this time, and tell me not how much I shal allot to each work; Certainly, I must make the division my self, and cut my coat according to my cloth, and proportion it wisely and carefully too, or else I am like to leave something undone. Though God hath not told you, at what hour you shall rise in the morning, or what hours you shall eat and drink, yet your own Reason, and experience will tell you, that ordinarily you should observe a stated time.
