A mirrour or looking-glasse both for saints and sinners held forth in about two thousand examples wherein is presented as Gods wonderful mercies to the one, so his severe judgments against the other collected out of the most classique authors both ancient and modern with some late examples observed by my self : whereunto are added the wonders of nature and the rare ... / by Sa. Clark ...

CHAP. VII. Examples of Temperance, Abstinence, and Sobriety.

ABstinence orders a man in the use of meates, that it be neither unseasonable for the time, nor unreasonable for the measure: nature is content with a little: grace with lesse. Men should rather be like Ants, and Bees (those wisest of creatures) and abound rather in pectore, ubi est animus, quàm in ventre, ubi est stercus, in breast then in belly: Not, like the Locusts, which have but one gut; and the Spider which is little else then belly: Let us not therefore pamper the body, nor cater for the flesh: Preserve it we must: make provision for it we may not, Rom. 8. 11. and 13. last. Debtors we are to see to it, not to live to ••••: we may not live to eat, but eat to live: whereunto these following examples may invite us.

It's a vertue commanded and commended by God in these Sriptures: Gen. 9. 3. Prov. 23. 1, 2, 3. 1 Cor. 10. 3••. Gal. ••. 23. 1 Tim. 6. 8. Tit. 1. 8. & 2. 12. 2 Pet. 1. 6. Scripturall examples: David, 2 Sam. 23. 16. Rechabites, Ier. 35. 6. Iohn Baptist, Mat. 3. 4. & 11. 18. Timothy, 1. Tim. 5. 23.

Other examples: see the story of Mr. Rogers in my English Martyrology: and of Mr. Wiseheart in my Scottish Martyrology.

The ancient Gaules were very abstemious, and [ 1] sparing in their diet, and used to fine any one that outgrew his girdle. Heyl. Geog.

Philo observeth that the ancient Jewes used after [ 2] their sacrifices to make their feasts in the Temple, that the place and action might minde them of sobriety: So in Moses time, Exod 18. 12.

The Egyptians used to carry about a Deaths head [ 3] in their feasts to restraine their inordinate Appetites.

Socrates is said by sobrietie to have had alwayes a [ 4] strong body, and to have lived ever in health, and that by the good order of his diet he escaped the plague at Athens, never avoiding the Citie, nor the company of the infected, whereas the greatest part of the Citie was consumed by it.

It is reported of Galen, the great Physician, that he [ 5] lived 140. yeares, and that after he was 28. years old he was never grieved with any sicknesse, except the grudge of a seaver fot one day: His rules were, first, never to eat, and drink his fill; secondly, never to eat any raw thing; thirdly, to have always some sweet savour about him. Sipontinus de vita ejus.

Alexander the Great when the Queen of Caria, [ 6] to shew her great love to him, sent him daily variety of dishes, and dainties, and at last sent her Cookes, and Bakers to him, he returned them back again, saying, That he had no need of their service, for his Mr. Leoni∣das had provided him better Cookes, by teaching him to dine, and sup frugally, and sparingly: Also when he had any rare, and dainty fruits, and fishes sent him from the Sea: he used to distribute them among his friends, reserving very little, or none for his own use: Pez. Mel. Hist. p. 173.

The Turk's Bassaes when they feast any great [ 7] Ambassador, use to intertaine him with nothing but rice, and mutton, and that but sparingly, and plain∣ly dressed: and for their drink it is but fair water out of the River. Turk. Hist.

Socrates was all his life long so temperate in his [ 8] diet, that when all the rest of the Athenians were much troubled with sundry diseases, he alone enjoy∣ed his health. AElian. Lib. 13.

The Lacedemonians had their Ephori, who were [ 9] Magistrates that took care that there was no in∣temperate persons in the Citie, and if any grew fat through idlenesse, and intemperancy, they were publickly beaten: they also looked after every one's apparel, to see that none used strange, or effe∣minate fashions: and if any knew any other art of Cookery then to dresse meat, they were expelled the City. AElian. Lib. 14.

Alcamen being blamed by one for living so fru∣gally, [ 10] when he was so rich, answered, that it be∣cometh him that enjoyes a great estate to live accord∣ing to reason, not according to lust. Plutar.

Gorgias Leontinus, a famous Philosopher, lived in [ 11] health till he was an hundred and eight yeares old, and being asked how he attained to sucb an age? answered, By never addicting my selfe to any voluptu∣ous living. Theat. vitae. hum.

The Ancient Romanes banished Epicures out of their [ 12] City as causers of much wickednesse amongst the youth: so also did the Messenians. AElian. Lib. 9.

Origen was very frequent in fasting, went bare∣legged, [ 13] had only one coat to keep him from the cold, neither did he eat flesh or drink any wine. Ful. Lib. 4. c. 3.

Socrates having invited sundry friends to supper, [ 14] one told him, his provision was too small for his com∣pany:

to whom he answered, If they be good, here is e∣nough: if they be bad, here is too much. Theat. vitae. hum.

Epicurus himselfe that held mans happinesse to con∣sist [ 15] in pleasures, yet was of a very temperate, and spa∣ring diet, saying, that he found far more pleasure in it, then in abundance. Theat. vitae hum.

Anacharsis the Philosopher used to say that the first [ 16] cup was to quench thirst, the second to make one merry, the third for pleasure: but the fourth was to madnesse.

Romulus made a law, that if any women dranke till [ 17] they were drunken they should die for it: and him∣selfe being at a feast, where there was plenty of wine, drank very sparingly; and being asked the reason, he answered: I drinke as much as I please, not as much as I can. Sabel. Lib. 4.

Lycurgus the Lacedemonian Lawgiver, made a Law [ 18] that no man should sup or dine in private: that thereby none should be more superfluous in their diet then others. Theat. vitae. hum.

Alexander the Great would often open his chests, [ 19] and look on his garments, to see if his mother had not provided him either delicate, or superfluous apparel. Q. Curt.

When Alexander the Great sent some talents of [ 20] silver to Xenocrates, he entertained the Ambassadors that brought it with a very sparing supper; and when they asked him the next day to whom they should deliver the money? he answered: Do you not per∣ceive by your▪ last nights supper that Xenocrates hath no need of such gifts? Platina.

Augustus Caesar used to weare no other apparel but [ 21] such as his wife, his sister, or daughter made him, and used to say, That rich, and gay clothing was either the ensigne of pride, or the nurse of Luxurie▪ Suetonius

Alphonsus King of Arragon used to weare no bet∣ter [ 22]

apparel then the ordinarie sort of his subjects did, and being advised by one to put on Kingly apparel: he answered, I had rather excell my Subjects in my behaviour, and authority, then in a Diadem, and purple garments. AEneas Sylv.

Scipio when he was 54 yeares old had not encrea∣sed [ 23] his estate by making the least purchase, and when one shewed him a curiously wrought buckler: he said, It becomes the Citizens of Rome to place their confidence in their right hand, not in their left. AElian Lib. 11.

Julian the Emperour banished all the Eunuches, [ 24] and Cooks our of his Court, and being asked the rea∣son of it, answered, There is no need of them when we may live more sparingly. Eus. Lib. 8 Apoth.

Cn▪ Martius a young noble man of ••ome having [ 25] by his valour won the strong ••••y of C••r••••lus from the Volsci, Post: Cominius the Romane Co••••ull proffer∣ed to him for a reward an hundred acres of land, his choice amongst the C••••tives, divers horses bravely traped an hundred oxen and as much silver as he could stand under: amongst all these large prof∣fers he onely chose the horse that he served on, and to beg the life of one of the Captives, rejecting all other rewards. Val. Max.

Marcus Curius was famons amongst the Romanes [ 26] for his f••ugality, and valour: when Ambassadours came to him from the Samnites, they found him sit∣ting in a Countrey-house upon a stoole by the fire, and supping upon short Commons out of a woden plat∣ter: he contemning their riches and thy wondring at his poverty: and when they brought him a great sum of gold, ••ntreating him to accept favourably of it; he smilingly answered, You are very superfluous, I will not say, foolish Ambassadors: Tell the Samnites

that I had rather rule over rich men, then be rich my self, and carrie back that precious, but ill provided gift, and remember that I can neither be overcome in battell, nor corrupted with bribes. Val. Max.

The same man when he had driven King Pyrrhus [ 27] out of Italy, and thereupon the Senate had allotted him a great deal of land, refused it, neither would he have any of the spoiles which were so great as en∣riched both the Army, and whole City of Rome: Ibid. His saying was, that he was very rich without money, and had company enough without a great family, because he accounted himselfe rich, not because he possessed much, but because he desired little. Idem.

Alexander M. travelling through some deserts in Per∣sia, [ 28] himselfe, and his army were in great straits for want of water: and one of the Souldiers having two sons ready to die with thirst, sought up and down, and at last found a little water, with which he filled a leather bottell, and so was running with it to his sons; but by the way, meeting Alexander he filled out the water in a dish, and proffered it to him: Alex∣ander asked him whither he was carrying it? The man told him, to his sons that were ready to die with thirst: But said he, Pray you, Sir, do you drink it, for if my sons die, I can get more; but if you die we shall not have such another King: Alexandor hearing this, gave him the water again, and bad him car∣rie it to his sons. At another time being in the like strait in the deserts of Arabia, some of his soul∣diers seeking about, found some muddy water; wherewith one of them filling his helmet, ran with it to Alexander: who took it, and thanked him for his diligence, but poured the water upon the ground, though he was exceeding thirsty, saying, If I alone should drink it would make my souldiers languish, and

accordingly they seeing his abstinence, encouraged themselves by his example, and marched forward. Q. Cur.

Wo unto you that are full now, for you shall hunger,

Luk. 6. 25.