Page:Earnest persuasive to the serious observance of the Lord's day.pdf/6

 that their carnal heart deſires on other day's they know not how to reſtrain themſelves on this: And having no inward Reliſh of Religion, they are ſoon weary of it; and therefore they ask, what harm there is, if when the Publick Service is over, they ſpend the remainder of the day in recreating themſelves in the Fields, or in a Publick Houſe, or in any common Diverſion? yea, ſome go further, and will not be perſwaded, that there is any Harm in Gaming, Foot-Ball, playing at Long Bowls, Dancing, and the like, on the remaining Part of this Holy-Day.

But, Sirs, whether you'll believe it or not, God has fanctified this Day; that is, he has ſeparated it to his own peculiar Service, from all our worldly Affairs and Buſineſs ſo we muſt not for that reaſon ſet it a-part for eaſe and floth, nor yet for Pleaſure and Diverſion, much leſs for Sin, to recreate the Body and to indulge the Luſts thereof, and Vanities of this World: For we are ſworn againſt there in the Sacred Covenant of Baptiſm, for this Day is principally ſet a part for the Worſhip and Honour of God, and the Spiritual Improvement of our Souls and Preparation for Heaven. And to loſe the bleſſed Opportunity of this, in publick or private, for either worldly or ſinful ends, is a baſe miſpending of our Talent, a