The rule and exercises of holy living. In which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every vertue, and the remedies against every vice, and considerations serving to the resisting all temptations. Together with prayers containing the whole duty of a Christian, and the parts of devotion fitted to all occasions, and furnish'd for all necessities.

Measures of Temperance in eating.

1. Eat not before the time, unlesse necessity, or charity, or any intervening accident, which may make it reasonable and prudent, should hap∣pen. Remember it had almost cost Ionathan his life because he tasted a little hony be••ore the sun went down, contrary to the Kings com∣mandment, and although a great need which he had, excused him from the sin of gluttony, yet it is inexcusable when thou eatest before the usual time, and thrustest thy hand into the dish unseasonably, out of greedinesse of the pleasure, and impatience of the delay.

2. Eat not hastily and impatiently, but with such decent and timely action, that your eat∣ing be a humane act, subject to delibe∣ration and choice, and that you may consider in the eating: whereas he that eats hastily, cannot consider particularly of the circumstan∣ces, degrees, and little accidents and chances that happen in his meale; but may contract many little undecencies, and be suddenly sur∣prised.

3. Eat not delicately, or nicely, that is, be not troublesome to thy self or others in the choice of thy meats, or the delicacy of thy sauces. It was imputed as a sin to the sons of Is∣rael, that they loathed Manna and longed for flesh: the quails stuck in their nostrills, and the wrath of God fell upon them. And for the man∣ner of dressing, the sons of Eli were noted of

indiscreet curiosity: they would not have the flesh boiled, but raw that they might rost it with fire. Not that it was a sin to eat it, or desire meat rosted; but that when it was appointed to be boil'd, they refused it; which declared an intemperate and a nice palate. It is lawful in all senses to comply with a weak and a nice stomach: but not with a nice and curious pa∣late. When our health requires it, that ought to be provided for; but not so, our sensuality and intemperate longings. Whatsoever is set before you, eat; if it be provided for you, you may eat it be it never so delicate; and be it plain and common, so it be wholsom and fit for you, it must not be refus'd upon curiosity; for every de∣gree of that is a degree of intemperance. Happy and innocent were the ages of our forefathers,* 1.1 who eat herbs and parched corne, and drank the pure stream, and broke their fast with nuts and roots; and when they were permitted flesh, eat it onely dressed with hunger and fire; and the first sauce they had was bitter herbs, and sometimes bread dipt in vinegar. But in this circumstance moderation is to be reckoned in proportion to the present customs, to the company, to education, and the judge∣ment of honest and wise persons, and the ne∣cessities of nature.

4. Eat not too much: load neither thy stomach nor thy understanding. If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say not there is much meat on it. Remember that a wicked Eye is an evil thing: and what is created more wicked then an eye? Therefore it weepeth upon every occasion. Stretch not thy hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not

with him into the dish. A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his winde short upon his bed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fo••lix initium prior ae∣tas contenta d••lcibus arvis

  Facile{que} se••a solebat je∣junia solvere glande. ••oeth. l. 1. de consol. Arbuteos ••erus, mon∣tana{que} frag••a lege•• a••t.