4$4, CHRISTIAN MORALITY, VIZ. [SERM. XXIX. those unhealtliy'persons, who can get no slumber till the night is half spent, and are thereby constrained, merely for the sake of health, to -let their- bed intrench upon so many hours of day-light : Yet I persuade myself, that if these last would but bear the inconveniences they com- plain of for a week or two, if they would break off their morning-slumber early, and early betake themselves to rest, nature would quickly learn a better habit, the re- formation would soon grow easy : And perhaps this might advance their health in a sensible manner, be- yond all their old indulgencies, or their present/expec- tations. An excessive love of company, an affectation of going abroad, a delight in wine -and strong drink, are the third sort of enemies to that regularity and order which I am now recommending. Such practices are censured -in the word of God; I have called the prophet Isaiah, in a formerdiscourse, to witness against the drunkard, but I must ask leave to cite the same text again, against the wasters of time in taverns, or meaner drinking-houses. Woe to them that go to their cups in a morning: This throws all the business of the day out of order; -and sometimes they are tempted to continue until night, or at least they return thither again and stay till wine in- flame them; then all the follies of life play their parts; but they forget religion, and regard not the work, nor the worship of the Lord, Is. v. 11, 12. How often has it been found, that the religion of the closet, as well as that of the family, bath been shortened and omitted, and by degrees thrust out -of doors, and forgotten, for want of shaking off every impediment, and confining; ourselves to proper seasons. We intend to fulfil our duties, but we intend it at random, without keeping any time for it: And thus some households, that would be called Christians, live without God in the world. They that tarry long at wine, or in any needless company, and lengthen out the hours of their needless absence from borne, may count themselves guilty of the several disorders: that are committed in the family; which would be rectified, or entirely prevented, by the presence of the master. I confess sometimes necessary business detains a Per- -son beyond his usual and appointed hour: there must
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