Two guides to a good life The genealogy of vertue and the nathomy of sinne. Liuely displaying the worth of one, and the vanity of the other.

Of gluttony.

GLuttony may bee called the De∣luge or inundation of the soule, because it is a rauenous desire to feed and fill the stomach, beyond the rule or bounds of nature.

There are two sortes of gluttony, the first, consisteth in greedie, often, and immoderate desire of delicate meates, and varietie of dishes.

The second is, when in stead of refre∣shing the body with sufficiēt moisture, we drowne it in the superfluity of drin∣king.

We may eate or drinke immoderately, seauen manner of waies.

FIrst when we our selues in our own persōs do surfit in excesse, or so load

and ouercharge the stomach as we de∣uise meanes by hotte drinkes or other∣wise to cause digestion.

Secondly, when wee our selues ob∣serue a moderation, yet in vaine-glory and ostentation prouide such superflui¦tie at our feasts and banquets, as others thereby become immoderate eaters or drinkers.

Thirdly, when (though we haue but moderate prouision) wee racke the in∣uention and art of cookery for strange compositions, vnusual sauces, and pro∣uocations, therby to please and delight the appetite.

Fourthly, when wee eate or drinke more vpon wantonnesse, then anie ne∣cessitie.

Fiftly, when we are more costlye in one dish of meat, or one draught of wine, then would suffice for the value to sustaine many multitudes, as the dis∣soluing of gold and precious stones to that purpose; by the example of Cleo∣patra

to Antony, & Mulcasses King of Tunis, the one carrowsing to her loue at one draught, a iewel of inestimable price; the other, bestowing a hundred crounes vpon the dressing of a peacock for his owne diet.

Sixtly, when our tables are full, and we well satisfied, we rather couetously lay vp the remainder, than charitablie bestow it to the reliefe of the hungry.

7. and lastly, when wee vse delicate meats and drinkes for the prouocation and stirring vp of the body to lust, and performance of the act of venery.

The effectes of Gluttony.

THere are many dangerous effectes that follow Gluttony: especiallye these eleuen ensuing.

First, stupidity or dulnesse of wit, for the stomach being filde and the braine trobled, we are vnfit to praye, or vse a∣ny other duty of good Christians.

The second impotency, when tho∣rough Gluttony our bodies are infec∣ted with many diseases: as the dropsy, palsie, feauers, inflamations, and diuers others; so that our limbes becom weak and feeble.

The third scurrilitye, which is an im∣pudent behauiour or disordered gest∣ure of the body, whereby we prouoke men to laugh vs to scorne; as appeares in drunkards, when their toongs stam∣mer, their feete stagger, or any other vnseemly and ridiculous action pro∣ceedes from them.

The fourth Furie, when through the ill disposition of excesse, wee spurne at reason and good counsell, wounding, killing, and doing deedes of mischief, we care not vnto whom.

The fifte loquasitie or superfluous talke, when through the force of wine, we vomit out detractions, curfinges, horrible oathes and blasphemies, filthy, ydle, and vnchast wordes.

The sixt drowsinesse, when through rauenous eating or drinking, wee are fit for nothing but for sleepe.

The seuenth, beastly nastinesse, whē for want of other vtterance, our surchar¦ged stomache bewraies our intempe∣rance, by vomiting, belching and stin∣king of the breath.

The eight, lust; for belli-cheere and drunkennesse, are the bellowes to con∣cupiscence: and as the pampered horse will cast his rider into the mire, so the flesh being pampered, will hurle the soule into the lake of all vncleannes

the ninth pouertie, when for abu∣sing of plenty we are plagued and pin∣ched with penurie.

The tenth, losse of credit and estima∣tion in the world.

11. And last, the wraith and indig∣nation of God, whome (thorough our Gluttonie) of a mercifull and louinge father, we make a rigorous and puni∣shing Iudge.

Lesse content in superfluity than sobriety.

BEcause superfluitie and intempe∣rance preuent the sweetnesse and pleasure of the sense, hauing no feeling of hunger, thirst▪ or any other motion of the body: but sobrietie forbearing the fruition of pleasures a long time, re∣ceiues a far more perfect taste of them for saciety makes pleasant thinges be∣come lothsome and vnpleasant.

How to drinke Wine.

THe first draught is for thirst, the second for nourishment, the 3. of pleasure, & the fourth of mad∣nesse.

How to detest gluttonie.

Beside the reasons before mentio∣ned,

there are eight other circumstan∣ces inducing vs to the detestation of gluttony.

First, because it hasteneth the disso∣lution of the body.

Secondly, because it taketh part with the fleshe, in the combat betweene it and the spirit: so that there is twoe a∣gainst one▪

Thirdly, because it invreth the body to an euill custome, which will after∣ward very hardlie be forsaken.

Fourthly, because it plaies the hyp∣pocrite with vs, appearing sweete and pleasant at the first, but in the end it bi∣teth like a Scorpion, and is as fatall as poison.

Fiftly, because it liues continually vn¦der the curse of God, whoe pronoun∣ceth a woe vnto them that rise vp early to follow drunkennesse, and continue in it till night.

Sixtly, because it discipateth and de∣stroyeth the sence, for drunken menne

neither knowe what they doe them∣selues, nor what is done vnto them.

Seuenthly, because he that is subiect to the desire of the belly is in perpetu∣all slauerie by reason the bellie doeth alwaies craue and is neuer satisfied.

Eightlie, because of the iudgements of God inflicted vpon offenders in this kinde, as vpon Noah being derided of his owne sonnes, and of Lot that in his drunkennes committed incest with his daughters; whereof did spring a most wicked and pernitious generation.

How to auoid Gluttonie.

TO auoid Gluttonie wee must em∣brace temperance and sobrietye: which consisteth in chastening and ta∣ming the desires of the bodie, by fast∣ing and abstinence.

There are two kindes of fasting, the first is, to abstaine from meat & drink; the second, to refraine from sinne, and

the corrupt affections of the heart, the first is good, but the last is better than the first.

The properties of true Fasting.

THere are foure thinges required of him that will truely fast.

The first is a voluntarie motion he must not doe it vpon constraint. The second, is zeale without vainglo∣rie, he must not doe it to bee praised or seene of men.

The third, praier, he must cal for the assistance of god.

The fourth, almes-deedes, hee must giue to the poore, to shew the fruits of his fasting: for to faste or vse a sparing diet, not to the intent that we may be the better able to relieue others, but to enrich our selues, is no fast, but rather a chiefe point of auarice.

The better to incourage vs to exer∣cise

fasting and to auoide gluttonie, is to lay before vs the example of Christ, who notwithstanding he were Lorde of al treasure both in heauē and earth, yet voluntarilie fasted forty daies, and fortye nightes: and of Iohn Baptiste, whose best delicates was but Locustes and wilde honny: And of the apostles, that so awed their bodies with tempe∣rate diet, as they were glad to pull the eares of corne to satisfie hunger.

We read that Gallen was a hundred and twenty yeare old, and when it was wondred how hee liued so long, hee made answere, that he neuer rose from his table with a full stomach.

The Egyptians vsed in the midst of their banquets, to bring in the anatho∣my of a dead body dried, that the hor∣ror thereof might keepe them within the bounds of temperance: so that for the bodyes health, and for the vigour and alacritye of the soule, there is no∣thing better then fasting, nor any thing

worse or more fatall than this sinne of gluttonie.