Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ 1807] The evill of Excesse.

HOny is very sweet and comfortable, but too much hony causeth gripings in the belly, breedeth choller and bringeth diseases; Fragrant flowers are sweet to smell to, and much refresh the braine if used moderately, but too much smell∣ing of them causeth paine in the head, as experience testifieth; how delightfull is the light to our eyes? but too much Staring into the Sun-beams, is the dazling of the eyes, if not the blinding of them: Thus it is that the excesse, even of good and lawfull things may be evill and unlawfull; we may take of the good Crea∣tures of God (as it were upon a Knives point, or a spoonefull at a time, that is, in a stinted moderate quantity) in due measure; but if we fall a grasping with both hands, eate great morsells, or drink down great draughts at once, we may easily surfet unto death, unlesse wee evacuate one way or other after our exceedings; And the rule in Philosophy holds true, vehemens sensibile laedit sensorium, Mode∣rate sounds, such as in Musick, may much affect the eare with delight, but ve∣hement sounds, as in ringing of Bells neere hand, beating of Drums, ratling of Guns, or blowing of Trumpets, dulls the hearing: Thus it is that moderate joyes and delights are ever best, least hurtfull, most contentfull and comfortable to our Spirits; whereas intemperance, immoderatenesse, and Excesse, marrs all pleasures and delight, though in themselves never so pleasant and delightfull.

Notes

• Columnella de re Rust.
• Omne nimium vertitur in Vitium.
• Ari••••otel.
• Maurit. Bo∣hem. medit. ma∣tut. loc. Script. sele••t.