§. IX.
Answ.I answer; Though all this were granted, it would no Ways militate against us, neither plead the Use of these Things, which we would have wholly laid aside. For that Men should be always in the same Intentiveness of Mind, we do not plead, knowing how impossible it is, so long as we are clothed with this Tabernacle of Clay. But this will not allow us at any Time so to recede from the Remembrance of God, and of our Souls chief Concern, as not still to retain a certain Sense of his Fear; The Fear of God the best Recreation in the World.which cannot be so much as rationally supposed to be in the Use of these Things which we condemn. Now the necessary Occasions in which all are involved, in order to the Care and Sustentation of the outward Man, are a Relaxation of the Mind from the more serious Duties; and those are performed in the Blessing, as the Mind is so leavened with the Love of God, and the Sense of his Presence, that even in doing these Things the Soul carrieth with it that Divine Influence and Spiritual Habit, whereby though these Acts, as of eating, drinking, sleeping, working, be upon the Matter one with what the Wicked do, yet they are done in another Spirit; and in doing of them we please the Lord, serve him, and answer our End in the Creation, and so feel and are sensible of his Blessing: Whereas the Wicked and Profane, being not come to this Place, are in whatsoever they do cursed, and their Ploughing as well as Praying is Sin. Now if any will plead, that for Relaxation of Mind, there may be a Liberty allowed beyond these Things, which are of absolute Need to the Sustenance of the outward Man, I shall not much contend against it; provided these Things be not such as are wholly superfluous, or in their proper Nature and Tendency lead the Mind into Lust, Vanity, and Wantonness, as being chiefly contrived and framed for that End, or generally experienced to produce these Effects, or being the common Engines of such as are so minded to feed one another therein, and to propagate their Wickedness, to the imprisoning of others; seeing there are other innocent Divertisements which may sufficiently serve for Relaxation of the Mind, Lawful Divertisements.such as for Friends to visit one another; to hear or read History; to speak soberly of the present or past Transactions; to follow after Gardening; to use Geometrical and Mathematical Experiments, and such other Things of this Nature. In all which Things we are not to forget God, in whom we both live, and are moved, Acts xvii. 28. as not to have always some secret Reserve to him, and Sense of his Fear and Presence; which also frequently exerts itself in the Midst of these Things by some short Aspiration and Breathings. And that this may neither seem strange nor troublesome, I shall clear it by one manifest Instance, answerable to the Experience of all Men. It will not be denied but that Men ought to be more in the Love of God than of any other Thing; for we ought to love God above all Things. Now it is plain, that Men that are taken with Love, whether it be of Women, or of any other Thing, if it hath taken a deep Place in the Heart, and possess the Mind, it will be hard for the Man so in Love to drive out of his Mind the Person or Thing so loved; yea, in his eating, drinking, and sleeping, his Mind will always have a Tendency that Way; and in Business or Recreations, however intent he be in it, there will but a very short Time be permitted to pass, but the Mind will let some Ejaculation forth towards its Beloved. The Love towards its Beloved shuns its Offence.And albeit such a One must be conversant in those Things that the Care of this Body and such like Things call for; yet will he avoid as Death itself to do those Things that may offend the Party so beloved, or cross his Design in obtaining the Thing so earnestly desired: Though there may be some small Use in them, the great Design, which is chiefly in his Eye, will so balance him, that he will easily look over and dispense with such petty Necessities, rather than endanger the Loss of the Greater by them. Now that Men ought to be thus in Love with God, and the Life to come, none will deny; and the Thing is apparent from these Scriptures, Mat. vi. 20. But lay up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven. Col. iii. 2. Set your Affection on Things above, &c. And that this hath been the Experience and Attainment of some, the Scripture also declares, Psalm lxiii. 1. 8. 2 Cor. v. 4.
Sports and Plays draw Men from the Fear of God.And again, That these Games, Sports, Plays, Dancing, Comedies, &c. do naturally tend to draw Men from God’s Fear, to make them forget Heaven, Death, and Judgment, to foster Lust, Vanity, and Wantonness, and therefore are most loved, as well as used, by such Kind of Persons, Experience abundantly shews, and the most serious and conscientious among all will scarcely deny; which if it be so, the Application is easy.