§. Sect. 1 That the Eue∣ning must not bee spent in sloth and idlenesse.
HAuing intreated of those Christian duties belonging to the day; it now followeth that wee set downe some directions how wee are to behaue our selues when the day is ended. And these are such as concerne our carriage in the Euening, before wee goe to rest; or afterwards, when wee are laid in our beds. In the Euening, if we be not taken vp with the duties of our cal∣lings, wherein in the day wee were imployed (as it is the case of many, whose states, trades, and necessary occasions require the continuance of their labours) we must not vpon the cessation of our paines, thinke our selues at full liberty to thinke, speake, and doe what we list (as it is the pra∣ctice of many, who when they cannot worke any longer in their callings, spend their long Euenings in the winter season, either in sloth and idle∣nesse, or in vnlawfull gaming, or in vaine, fruitlesse, and oftentimes hurt∣full and vnsauoury communication, by traducing their absent neighbours, and blemishing their credits with slanders or vncharitable truths, or cor∣rupting those that are present, by light and wanton discourses) but we must be carefull of spending our precious time in some meditations, speeches, and actions which are profitable for our selues, and for the edification of those that are in our company and society. For though it may bee very lawfull, and sometime necessary, after our wearisome businesses are dis∣patched, to take some liberty, and to spend some conuenient time in rest∣ing of our bodies, or refreshing our minds with some honest recreations; yet me thinkes it is too much, that so great a part of our time should be so imployed; seeing our liues are so short and vncertaine, and our affaires of much greater waight and importance, which tend mainely to the ad∣uancement of Gods glory and our owne saluation, being so many, might with much more profit and true comfort challenge vnto them a great part of this time. In which regard, though I would not prescribe lawes to bind the consciences of my brethren, but leaue vnto them their liberty to bee guided with Christian prudence, yet I would, as in other things, so herein also giue my aduice; namely, that they would improoue this time to the best, as becommeth wise redeemers of it, so as they may giue some good account of it vnto God when he calleth them vnto it; and not thinke that he hath giuen vnto them the comfortable warmth of the fire, to make them freeze harder in the dregs of sinne, nor the light of their candles, that they should act by them the workes of darkenesse, but that he bestoweth vpon these corporall comforts, that they might be furtherances vnto their soules in the spirituall growth, vsing such good exercises as may tend to the in∣lightening of their mindes in the knowledge of God and his will, and may warme their hearts with true and feruent zeale in the louing and imbra∣cing of them.