CHAP.I. j . tACommentarievpon the 304 to take the nameofGod in vaine. 2. The judgements of God are no a fit matters to (port our felucs wichall:vvltetherinman orbea(LVVhen we fee a natural) Toole plaie the look , or maddemen in their frantike fits, this defeel in them is a fearefull fruit of finne , a matter of mourning, and not of laughter: they that keepe fooles onely to folace them- felues by their follie , haue no warrant fo to doe : of all the pleafures lawful) or vnlawfull,that Salomon tried his heart withall, we read ofno fuch ; it is no lawfull recreation : but for other better ends it is fit fuch poore creatures Ihould bekept. And for that mot+ general! iudgement ofGod,the eumitie ofthecreatures,theprincipal vfe we ought tomake thereof,is the acknowledging ofthat fearefull brand of mans fin deep- ly imprinted in the poore creatures ; the feriousconfideration whereof, duly applied , mull needes rather breahe thendelight a mans hearr.Yet euen ofthis enmity and purfuirof famekinds ofthe crearures,theremay be another lawful! vfe by wayofrecreation,delight,& exercife,as efpe- cially in hunting,hauking,and fuch like difports,vfed with moderation, and without needlefle tormenting of filly beaus. But none that hach ei- ther Chriuianicie , or naturali affections can takedelight in the cruel! 7hrowin cocksan in- murthering, or painful) tormenting of any dumb creature. Alas, finfull humane iven, man,hau thou not brought enill enough vpon the innocent creature, without fuch reioycing and triumphing ouer that bondage which thy impietie hath impofed vpon thofe creatures ,which in their kind obey and fettle the Creator (arre better then thou?God fetteth his good crea- ture before thee,that in it thou mighteu behold his loue, mercy,proui- dence,and power towards thee;and not that thou (houldell fhew cruel- ty,and hard-heartednes vuto ic. A noteof a good man is tobe merciful! tohis beau: but this pra£tife is oneofthe cruel! mercies of the wicked: Pro.t.s,, how can fuch recreation !land with thefeare of God ? how is fuch lingreioy- mingled with trembling? It is no rate Sccsndly,Neithcr may we play with fin:for that is no indifferent thing mcdlingwith neither.As when we fee a man Olen ouer to drunkennes this f p eF,lacle cage cooks. is indeed nomatter of laughteror 'nerdment,but of forrow and lamen- tation,that Gods image fhould be fo foully defaced. Neither mull the feare ofGod euer be laid afide,efpeciaily inour recreation, wherein we Prou.:6.zt. are fo Toone ouertaken.Salomon maketh it a note ofa foole,thatis,a wic- ked man ,to make. apaflime of in :and againe,he callethfirebrands,arrewer, anddead) things,andfaith,anoI not infpert ? z. Lone. I The fecond ruleofloue is ncgleEled , r. when anyofour recreations tend to the hurt ofman : as topurchafe thereby his mony to his impo- 2 , ueri(hment or hinderance, as many winne more in (bon time, then they could in much longer time carne in their hone} calling. 2. When by our
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