Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred…

2. Refreshments helpful to nature, so far as to refresh it, that it may have a supply of spirits to go on cheerfully in the Duties of Holy Worship, are lawful and useful. To macerate the Body with Abstinences on this Day, is required of none; and to turn it into a Fast, or to Fast upon it, is generally condemned by the Ancients. Wherefore, to forbear provision of necessary food for Families on this Day, is Mosaical; and the enforcement of the particular precepts, about not kindling fire in our Houses on this Day, baking and preparing the Food of it the Day before, cannot be insisted on without a Re-introduction of the seventh Day precisely, to whose observation they were annexed, and thereby of the Law and Spirit of the old Covenant. Provided always that these Refreshments be, (1) Seasonable for the time of them, and not when public Duties require our Attendance on them. (2) Accompanied with a singular regard unto the Rules of Temperance: as (1) That there be no appearance of evil. (2) That Nature be not charged with any ⟨p. 452⟩kind of Excess, so far as to be hindered rather than assisted in the Duties of the Day. (3) That they be accompanied with Gravity, and Sobriety, and purity of conversation. Now whereas these things are in the substance of them required of us in the whole course of our lives, as we intend to please God, and to come to the enjoyment of him, none ought to think an especial Regard unto them on this Day, to be a bondage, or troublesome unto them.

2. Refreshments helpfull to nature, so far as to refresh it, that it may have a supply of spirits to go on chearfully in the Duties of Holy Worship, are lawfull and usefull. To macerate the Body with Abstinences on this Day, is required of none; and to turn it into a Fast, or to Fast upon it, is generally condemned by the Antients. Wherefore, to forbear provision of necessary food for Families on this Day, is Mosaical; and the enforcement of the particular precepts, about not kindling fire in our Houses on this Day, baking and preparing the Food of it the Day before, cannot be insisted on without a Re-introduction of the seventh Day precisely, to whose observation they were annexed, and thereby of the Law and Spirit of the old Covenant. Provided alwayes that these Refreshments be, (1) Seasonable for the time of them, and not when publick Duties require our Attendance on them. (2) Accompanied with a singular regard unto the Rules of Temperance: as (1) That there be no appearance of evil. (2) That Nature be not charged with any