Wisdom's dictates, or, Aphorisms & rules, physical, moral, and divine, for preserving the health of the body, and the peace of the mind ... to which is added a bill of fare of seventy five noble dishes of excellent food, for exceeding those made of fish or flesh ... / by Tho. Tryon.

The Excellency of clean Foods, especially of Bread.

1. AS a Medicine drives its Qualities from the Ingrediencies, as a Building is weak or strong, according to the proportion of the ma∣terials and good Workmanship in joyning them to∣gether: So Meats and Drinks, whereby Men are nourished and sustained in this mortal State, have a far greater Influence and Operation, not only on the outward Body and Senses, but also on the Intellectual Faculties, or Soul, than the vulgar does imagine, for the Spirit makes all things Es∣sential.

2. Bread being the equallest a••e cleanest of all Foods, as wherein the four Grand Qualities stand at the nearest harmony, deserves to be sti∣led the Staff of Life, because it affords a firm clean nourishment, and pure Spirits, excelling any other particular Food, whence the Great Light of the World has honoured it so far, as to pro∣nounce it the Symbal of his Body; For as the Divine Principle, or Human Friendly Nature will incorporate, qualifie and allay the out-goings of the harsh, wrathful, bitter Spirit, and bring all into Concord and Equality, whereby the inward Sences of the Soul, and intellectual Powers taste, f••el and imbrace each other in Love and Harmony; The like is to be understood of Bread, it quali∣fies and allays the Discord and Inequality of all other Foods, and so renders it fit for the health of the Body and Mind.

3. Bread was the principal Food the Creator ordained for Man, after the Fall, it having the first place before all other Foods, therefore the Lord said, In the sweat of thy Brows thou shalt

eat thy Bread; for all other things that Man needs to feed on, can be prepared without Labour, or with very little, as Herbs, Fruits, &c. but there goes considerable pains to the procuring of Bread; and hence too we are taught to Pray for our Daily Bread, as including under that Name, all things necessary for the support of Human Life.

4. Outward cleanness in Meats, Drinks, Cloath∣ing and Exercises, is of great use, and prevents, and as it were, cuts off in the bud many Diseases and In∣conveniences, both from the Body and Mind; therefore the Light of the Gospel, or Divine Prin∣ciple makes that part of Moses Law touching Cleanness Essential, when it opens its self in the Center of Man's Heart, and it is a Ceremony to none, but such as are ignorant of Gods Law, and the Sympathetical Operations.

5. Frequent Bathing, or Washing in pure Running Water, is highly convenient for all per∣sons, especially after easing themselves, for the same will in a great measure prevent the perni∣tious Diseases of the Fundament, some of which are incurable.

6. Be careful that you do not sit on Common house of Easement, which oftentimes proves of evil consequence, and infects the Party with Di∣seases of various kinds, according to each Mans Constitution or Complexion; therefore those in Cities that would avoid such Dangers, ought to ease themselves in a vessel of Water, and when the Excrement is cold, then to put it into the House of Office, particular Reasons in Nature I have shewn elsewhere.

7. Have a care of Compositions, use and De∣sire, Simplicity; for Wisdom. In the prepara∣tion of Food, preserve Unity, that is, prepare but one thing at a time, for things of differing Na∣tures

cannot be prepared together, because some requires a longer, some a shorter time, besides the Spirits and inward Virtues of each thing, do mix and incorporate, and mightily strive with each other for Victory, by which the pure parts of them all are wounded; for in the Combat the weaker suffers Violence, and the Spirit is Suf∣focated.

8. Flesh and Herbs, Roots and Puddings, are not to be prepared together in one Vessel, but each alone, because of their different Nature, and times of preparation, for Water, after it hath boiled an hour, more or less, will not prepare any sort of Food to that degree of Excellency as at first.

6. Let Seafaring Men and others that Travel, when they go ashore beware of Venus; as also of lying in soft warm Beds, especially Feather-beds▪ As also of eating of fresh Flesh and Fish too im∣moderately, lest they fall into Fluxes, for Nature cannot endure suddain Changes, and where Wis∣dom and Temperance is wanting, People are sub∣ject to various Diseases on such occasions, as Fe∣vers, Fluxes, Colds, &c.

10. The chief occasion why Mankind is so sub∣ject to frequent Fevers, is the variety of Foods, improperly compounded, especially the common eating of Flesh and Fish; As also, Butter, Cheese, and the use of strong Drinks, for always fat Foods do fur the Stomack, and are hard to be separated, either by the natural heat, or by the Liquor that is drank, especially strong hot Drinks; Water being the proper Minstrim or Liquor for the Sto∣mach; for this Cause, Obstructions and Fevers, as also hot Diseases are so common, and griping Pains and Fluxes; such Meats and Drinks do awa∣ken the original fierce Fires.

11. All Foods proceeding from the vegitable Kingdom are innocent, more equal in there Parts, easily dissolved, affording fine Spirits, therefore those that live chiefly on such innocent Foods, are more airy, pleasant, cool, and full of Delight in Body and Spirit, which none can know or understand, but such as have experienced it for some conside∣rable time.

12. All that would prevent Fevers, and many other Diseases, and keep themselves in harmony, should apply themselves to simple Foods, viz. Bread, Fruits, Herbs, and the like; forbear all sorts of Flesh, Fish, and eat sparingly of Butter Cheese, and Milk, and eat but little Fat, besides Oil; for this you must always remember, that every thing begets its likeness.

13. Bread, Herbs, Seeds, Fruits, and most, or indeed all vegetative Foods do represent unto Man the Divine Principle of Light and Love; but Flesh be it of what kind it will, does denote the harsh wrathful Principle, and Mans Desires so much after it, is a true sign that he lives in that harsh, fierce, killing Principle.

14. For now-a-days, if any Man should be condemned to live only on Bread and Water, and what might be made thereof, he would think himself hardly dealt with, which do demonstrate the high degree of Mans Depravation, and Sepa∣ration from the Divine Vision, or first simple State.

15. Many of the Holy and Wise Antients have declined and decried the eating of Flesh and Blood, especially of such Creatures as are unclean, and that will eat the Flesh of their Fellow Creatures; but never did any of the Philosophical Men forbid the eating of such harmless things, as Herbs, Bread, and the like, but have recommended

them as most agreeable to Nature and Health.

16. A time shall come when the Lyon shall eat Hay with the Ox, and the Wolf lye down with the Lamb, that is, the fierce savage beastial Nature in Man, shall be thorough shined and bowed before the Divine Principle, or Lamb-like Spirit; and whosoever comes to know that time, will be contented with innocent Herbs, Bread, and the like harmless Foods.

17. For if the Wolfish Dog••sh Nature did not predominate in Man, they would not so much long after the Flesh and Blood of Beasts; but whatsoever Principle do Reign in the Center of a Mans heart, whether Good or Evil, he will de∣sire Food suitable thereunto.