Rule 3: Of the Use of Them to the Glory of God

3 Of the vse of them to the glorie of God.

To use these things to the glory of God, is so to use them, as we neither be drunk or asleep in them, as the Apostle says, which are the works of the night and darkness: not of the day (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8). To be drunk, it is to be overcome with the delight or the motions which they procure, so as we fall to open outrage of swearing, chaffing, fretting, quarrelling, and such like, which we would never do being sober, in our use of recreations, or any such other benefits. To sleep in them, is to be overtaken with delight of them, as it occupieth our minds and bodies in such sort, as it maketh us unwatchful against the motions of sin, as it breaketh our rests, and weaneth us from some duties of our calling, and the service of God: making us to rest from these things, as sleep does from our labours; when as all these are given to the clean contrary end, so the Apostle expoundeth himself, saying: Let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6). And our Savior Christ gives warning; that we be not oppressed with these things, lest that day come on us unawares: and we are commanded, to rejoice in them, as if we rejoiced not (1 Corinthians 7:30). That is so, as the pleasure we take in these benefits, be no more hindrance to any good duty of the first or second Table, than if we had no use of them at all.