MJy we de fire Deltght, or 011/y Kecejfaries ? God hath made ~ai1y dutits conllandy nec~ff.uy ('a~ to maintain your own b0dies, your children, to p~\ rribure to the King, to hdp the poor, to rnaincain the charges of the Church) there all mull b:: wi1 .~y proportioned. But entertainments, rccreariom, and other fuch after to be mentioned, which are not conHant duties, may be fometimes good and fomerirncs finful; And the meafure of Cuch ex~ per.c<s muH be varyed only by the rule already hid down, viz. According to the proportion of the t HtCt, or good which is l1kc to follow: Though the cufiorne of others of the feme r1nk may fame~ times intimate what proportion will be fuiu.ble to that lawful end ; And fometimes the inordinate cujlomt nf others, will rather tell one what is to be avoided. Therefore true prudence (without a carnal byas) comp:uing the goodcffelll together, which rationally are like to follow, is the only re~ {0\ver of this doubt. Which having fo largely (hewed, 1Ollll Hfer yol.l to ir, in the folution of many o f the following qucnions. 145 ~· 8. Infl. 3· AnothEr 1vay of finful 'll'afii»g i1 upon unncCfff..;ry fumptuouJ buildingI. Jnft. 3· Q~_,n, 3· Whm i< it prodigality to erdl fumptrtoll5 Ediftw l i!<!!_efl." 3• Anfw. Not when they are for the publick good, either in point of ufc, or ornament and honour, fo be it, no greater good be thereby omitted: Therefore it is nmChurches, H0fplrals, Burfes, or Com– mon Halls that l am fpezking of : Nor when they are proportioned to the quality of the ptrfon, for the honour of Magilhacy, or for a mans necdTary ufc. Buc when it is for the oHentation of a mans richn·, or rather ofhis Pride, and for the gratifying ofa carnal irrational fancy: And when a m1n be... Howcth mOre upon buildings, than is proportionable to his e(h.te, and to his better expences ; and (to rpeak more cxallly ) when he benowcth that upon his building<, which fome greater rervice Cll– lerh for at that time; it is then his prodigaliry and lin. ~· 9• Q;!eft. 4· Here once for all, let us enquire, fYhethtr it bt not l.m{ul, aJ in dyet,fo in build- 9{:!tfl· 4· ing1, recreation and other {ucb tbingJ, to bt at fome charge for our Delight , aJ weU aJ for onr Nccrffiliu? Anfrv. Thcquei1ion is thus commonly fiated, bntnotwell: For it fcemeth to imply., thatnoDe– lightJ are nccrffary, and fo putteth things in oppofition, which are oft co-incident. Therefore I di1\inguitb, I· Of necdllty: Some things are necdfary to our being, and fOme to our felicit y, and and fome but to our fmaller benefit! 2. Of Delight: Some ddight is iinful, as gratiiying a finful hu~ mour or·difpo{ition: Soite ii unnecdfuy or wholly u{clefs; and fome is neceffary,either w cur greater or our Jdfcr good. And fo the uue folution is : 1-The h!1ful dtlight of a Proud, aCovetous, a luft... ful, a voluptLtous mind, is neither to be purchafcd or ufed. 2. A Delight wholly needlefl, that is, unprofitable, is finful if it be purchafcd, but at the price of a farthirg, or cf a bit of bread, or of a minuu~ time ; Bccaufe that is ea{\ away which purchafeth it. 3· ADelight which tendcth to the heal£h of the body, and the alactity of the mind, to tit it for our Calling and the fexvice of God ( being not placed in any forbidden thing) may be both indolged and purchaled, fo it be not above its worth. 4• So far as delight in hou[t, or JPortJ, or any creature, tenderh to corrupr our minds, and draw us to the love of this prefent world, and alienate our hearts from Heaven, fo far mull thcy be rdiHcd and mortified, or fantl:ified and turned a better way. 5. Ia the llcenfils of our dury to God, ufually a moderate natural delight, is a great ht1p to the duty, and may become a jpiritHal Jr.. light: As a delight in my Books, in the Preachtn utterance, in the melody of Pl31ms, in my fiu.dy, and its conveniences, in my walk for meditation, &c. And a Odight in our food and recreations, maketh them much fitter to cheri{h health, and to atcain their ends; fo it be n'?_t corrupt, immode... r.a.te, or abufed to evil ends. ~· 10. lnJt. 4· Another way of Prsdigality, is in needlefs coflty Recreations. lnft. 4• ~dt. 5· I1 aU coft laid out upo11 recrtatiom unl,:~rvfi~ll 9<.f!tjf. S• Anfw. No: but c.etcrii parib:u, we thould choofc thecheapefl, and be at no nccdlefs coli on them; nor lay out any thing on them., which conjideratU confider.mdM might be better beflowed. But of t·his h<for<• • §. 11· Infi. 1· Another way ofProdigality is in over-co!lly apparel. 1 rJ! Qiel!. 6. What may be accrnmtcd Prodigality in. the cof!linrji of apparrl? . . . k;i· 6 • .Anfw. Not that wh1ch IS only for a due dli\mlbon of fupenours from mferwrs, or wh~eh is nced(ul ro keepup the Vulgars rtvercnce to MJgilhates. But l· All that which is meerly ferviccable to pride, ar vain cur.iofity, or amorous lufl, or an affectation to be thought to be more comely and beautiful than others. 2· All that which hath more coil bellowed upon ir, than •Che benefit or end is wort.h: 3· be wh:ch hath that cofi which Otould be rather laid out another way, upon better ufes. The cheapdl apparel mufl be chofen which is warm and comely, and fitted to the right ends. And : we mull come neater rhofc that an~ below our ranck, th'}n thofe above ir. 9· 12: Inf\. 6• .AifoProdigality is moch 01ewed in the con which is laid out fornecdlefs pomp and Inf!. 6 • oficntat!on of gl'talnc{s or cunofity; 10 kerpmg a numerous retmue., and m the1r gallantry, and in . keeping matty Horfcs, a·nd c0fily furniture and attendance. Q!_ctt. 7• 1-Ybsn U a coftly retiJZut, and other pompouJ furniture to be accotmtcd Prodigality? !J2.!!rf1. 7 , Anjw. Not when they are net:dful t0 the honour of Magifiracy, and fo to the Government of the .Corrunon-wealth : Nor when it is rn<!ode but a due means to tome lawful end, which anfwereth the . cotl. But when it i~ either the fruits and maintenance of Pride, or cxcecdeth the proportion of mens e!.lates, Or ( efpecially ) when it expendeth that whiclrbcttft and more neceffary u{Cs call for. It is amoll odious and, enormous crime, to wafle fo many hundred or thoufand pounds a year~ in the va.nit.ies of pomp and fruitlefs curiofities and need-nots, while the publick ufcs of the Srate and Church are injured through wan(, and while thoufands of poor families are rackt with cares, and pinched withncccffities round about us. §. 13.
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