What rules the Author of the _Whole Duty of Man_ may have laid down to keep recreations of all kinds within the bounds of innocence, it may be needless here to enquire. Is it not sufficient, my Lords, to mention, that the holy scriptures (wherein the whole duty of man, and that too in respect both to faith and practice, is fully and really taught) lay down one golden universal rule for recreations and every thing else, that “Whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, we must do all to the glory of GOD?” Whatever recreations people take to the glory of GOD, these itinerants, my Lords, think are quite allowable: but if they are made use of meerly for self-pleasing, and not to GOD’s glory, nor to fit us for his service, they do affirm, that all such recreations neither are nor can be innocent. And if the Author of the _Whole Duty of Man_, or any other Author whatsoever, hath set any other bounds, or fixed any other rule, however fairly he may have considered the frame of human nature, is it not evident, that he has not fairly considered the frame and nature of true christianity? For does not that, my Lords, turn our whole lives into one continued sacrifice to GOD? And if we fairly consider the frame of human nature, how weak and frail it is, and how easily diverted from pursuing our one great end, are not those the greatest friends to religion, who caution people against leading themselves into temptations, or making use of any recreation that may put them out of a spiritual frame, and unfit them for the service of GOD? Is this going any further than the Apostle did, who so strictly cautions christians “not to grieve the Spirit of GOD, whereby they are sealed to the day of redemption?”
Our Author, under this head, has referred to a passage out of one of my Journals, wherein I gave an account of my being in some polite company at _Maryland_, who were disposed to cards; and also a passage out of my letter from _New-Brunswick_, occasioned, if I mistake not, by meeting a man who thought it allowable to play at cards in the _Christmas_ holidays, from the liberty given him by the Author of the _Whole Duty of Man_. And will our Author allow playing at cards to be a lawful recreation for a christian? Is this one of the recreations of _all kinds_ which may be kept within the bounds of innocence? Is it not a kind of casting lots? Has it not the appearance of evil? Will he not hear the church? And what says the 75th canon? “No ecclesiastical person shall at any time, other than for their honest necessities, resort to any taverns or alehouses, neither shall they board or lodge in any such places. Furthermore, they shall not give themselves to any base or servile labour, or to drinking or riot, spending their time idly by day or by night, _playing at dice_, _cards_, or _tables_, or any other _unlawful game_: but at all times convenient, they shall hear or read somewhat of the holy scriptures, or shall occupy themselves with some other honest study or exercise, always doing the things which shall appertain to honesty, and endeavouring to profit the church of GOD, having always in mind that they ought to excel all others in purity of life, and should be examples to the people to live well and christianly, under pain of ecclesiastical censures to be inflicted with severity, according to the qualities of their offences.” An excellent canon this! And may I not argue from it thus? Either this canon is founded upon the word of GOD, or it is not: if it be not, why is it not abrogated? if it be, why is it not put in practice? Why do the clergy encourage frequenting of taverns, alehouses, and gaming by their own example? Are not such practices in this canon supposed to be quite contrary to the purity of life and excellency of example which may be justly required from them? And if such things are unseemly in a _clergyman_, are they not in a degree equally unseemly in _laymen_, whose privilege as well as duty it is, to be “holy in all manner of conversation and godliness,” and who are universally commanded “to shine as lights in the world amidst a crooked and perverse generation?”