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The young man's guide through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly Canaan…
The young man's guide through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly Canaan showing him how to carry himself Christian-like in the whole course of his life / by Tho. Gouge ...The young man's guide through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly Canaan shewing him how to carry himself Christian-like in the whole course of his life / by Tho. Gouge ...
London: printed by S. and B.G. for Nevil Simmons, 1676
THE Young Man's Guide. › Chapter 23: Of Moderation in Sports and Recreations.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
II. BE moderate in thy Sports and Recreations. Spend not too much of thy precious time therein. Certainly if thou didst but seriously weigh and consider, how much work lieth before thee, and how little time remaining for the doing of it, thou wouldst not trifle away so much thereof in vanity and pleasure; but wouldst rather spend the greatest part of that time thou canst spare from thy particular Calling, in renewing thy peace with God, in clearing up thine Interest in Christ, and making thy Calling and Election sure.
I deny not but Recreations are lawful, and may be used; provided,
1. That they be such as are not forbidden either by the Law of God, or Law of Man. For the pleasing of our selves in any of those, must needs be displeasing unto God.
2. That they be used moderately, not spending too much time in them, nor taking too much pains about them; for thereby you will rather be disabled for the discharge of the duties of your Calling, than fitted thereunto, which crosseth the main end of Recreations. The Mowers whet is counted no let, but rather a furtherance of his work. But if he spend the whole day, or half a day in whetting, he spoils his Sith, and hinders his work. Now our Recreations ought to be as whetting to the Mower, wherein no more time must be spent than doth conduce to the better fitting us for the duties of our general and particular Calling.