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

2. When they engross your Time, which is the most precious Commodity that can be, for it cannot be bought with Gold and Silver, and when once lost, can never be repaired. God hath appointed Pleasures after Labour, and when we are grown dull with Exercise; but then they should be moderate, that as little Time be wasted as may be. But now when Men make a Calling of their Recreation, and their Life is nothing else but a Diversion from one Pleasure to another, and they spend more time than will serve to quicken them to their Work, certainly this is a Sin; for then they alter the nature of them, and make it a Work, and not a Sport. They that spend ⟨p. 68⟩their whole Time in Eating, Drinking and Sporting, live like Beasts rather than Men; for it is the Beasts Happiness to take pleasure without remorse; nay, they live rather like Plants, which are a less noble sort of Beings than Beasts: Beasts have their Labour, but Plants have only Life, and Time given them that they may grow bulky; for it is the perfection of Plants to grow bulky, and increase in Stature. And yet this is the Life of many Gallants, and idle Gentlemen, who live as if they were not born for Business, but Recreation. Nay, tho you do not make a Trade of it, yet too much Time is not to be spent for the measure, only so much Time as will serve to quicken you again to the Labours of your general and particular Calling. An eminent Divine gives this Rule concerning Recreations; It is not lawful for a Man in an ordinary course, to spend more Time in the Day upon any Pastime, than in Religious Exercises: He means private Religious Exercises; he limits him only thus, not constantly. Now if we be tried by this Rule, how many of us would be taken tardy, and guilty of Sin? As one said, when he read Matth. 5. Aut hoc non est Evangelium, aut nos non sumus Evangelici; Either this is not Scripture, or we not Christians. So let us look upon this Rule, Either it is not true, or we do not act aright. Therefore let us debate it a little, and see whether is defective; Either we come short of Strictness and Circumspection, or the Rule comes short of Truth and Weight. Think of it: certainly it is most equal, that the most needful Duties should have most time bestowed upon them. To get Assurance, and enjoy Communion with God, this should be first in your Care; Matth. 6.33.