And let every man take heed that his own heart do not deceiue him, and that he doe not flatter himselfe in his follie, when it is manifest that such sports are a mans owne pleasures condemned by the Prophet, Isa. 58. And are seen and known daily to steale away mens hearts from holy duties, and to turne their affections from heavenly and spirituall things, wherein they ought chiefly to delight.
Thirdly, as men may not do the lawfull works of their calling, nei∣ther in providing meat, drinke, cloathes, or other necessaries on the Lords day, with a bare respect of naturall good and worldly profitt, because this is doing of his owne waies and workes, and not the worke of God. Unto which Gods holy day is wholy consecrated and set a∣part: Except onely in case of necessity, when men and beasts cannot otherwise bee preserued in life, health and being, or when Gods people without such workes cannot be made fit, & able to serue God cheerful∣ly as they ought on that day: So also no bodily sports, Recreations and pleasures are to be tolerated or used, merely to cherish the flesh, to re∣fresh the body, and to procure bodily strength, but onely such as are in verie deed needfull in themselves, and used and intended by Gods peo∣ple with this purpose, and ••o this end, that they may with more abilitie, alacrity, and cheerefulnesse do the holy workes, and performe the holie duties of Gods worship and service which are proper to the Lords ho∣ly day. First, this is manifest by the words of the Lord: Isa. 58.13. Where he requires of his people, that they turne away their feete from do∣ing their owne pleasure on his holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the ho∣ly of the Lord, Honourable, and honour him, not doing their owne wayes, nor finding their owne pleasure. By their owne waies and pleasures, we are to understand, not onely their corrupt sinfull workes, filthy words, and vaine carnall pleasures which proceed from nature corrupted and natu∣rally tend to increase transgression, (for they are to be abhorred eve∣ry daie and at all times,) but here by their owne waies, words, and plea∣sure we are to understand such as proceed from nature created good, and are onely intended to that end, and haue none other effect: For such, though at other times lawfull and honest, Yet on Gods holy daie are prophane, common and inordinate, as these words imply.
Secondly, as it is not lawfull to use Gods holy word in jeasting, nor with it to mingle our owne vaine talke, nor to play with holy things, be∣cause this is taking of Gods name in vaine. Soe undoubtedly to use worldly delights, and to sport our selues with uanishing, earthly natu∣rall