A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

Well, but what Rules shall we observe? In short, then we offend in Sports, when they waste our Estate, rob us of our Time, cheat us of opportunity of Privacy and Retirement with God, and when they unfit the Heart for the Duties of Religion.

1. When they waste their Estates. You may not do with your Estates as you please; you are Stewards, and are to be accountable to God at the last Day for every Penny. Why should a Prodigal have a greater Liberty and Dominion over his Estate, than a covetous Man? I will tell you for what reason I speak it; Prodigals that waste their Substance with riotous Living, as he described in Luke 15.13. when they are taxed for this, they say, It is my own, and I may do with my own as I please. We are not content to take such an Answer from a rich and covetous Man, when you press him to Charity; if he should say, It is my own, and I shall give what I please: as Nabal said, 1 Sam. 25.11. Shall I take my Bread, and my Water, and my Flesh that I have killed for my Shearers, and give it unto Men whom I know not? The truth is, it is a mistake on both sides, it is not theirs, but God's, he is the great Owner. Therefore when Recreations are costly, and waste your Estates, you cannot give an account of it to God at the great Day; you rob your Families, at least the Poor. Lust starves Charity, and makes it a Beggar. It is sad when a Lust can command thee to do more than the Love of God can; when you can lavish away thus much upon your Pleasures, and account nothing too dear for them, and every Penny be begrudged that is for a Use truly good: You are guilty of Sacrilege to God, you rob him of his Tribute, and you rob the Poor of their Support, who are God's Receivers.