Tricoenivm Christi in nocte proditionis suæ The threefold svpper of Christ in the night that he vvas betrayed / explained by Edvvard Kellett.

PARAGRAPH. I.

MOre concerning Christs temperancie I will not say. Let mee say something also concerning his most holy Apostles, but first a little of the Romans.

The Romans ate foure times a day, I mean the youth, labouring men, travellors, and sicke people, as they were able. The first Refection Martial speaketh of in his Epigram.

Surgite jam vendit pueris jentacula pistor: Cristataeque sonant undique lucis aves.

Awake, arise, hot Pudding-pies, to th' boyes the Bakers sell. And crested Cocks, like faithfull Clocks, the mornes approach fore-tell.

Some called this breakfast, prandiculum.

The second Refection, was prandium or Merenda: they two were all one (saith Festus) or diverse words of the same signification. Their dinners were short, sparing, private; The whole day was time little enough for the busie active Roman. The more Gentilely bred ate at the most but twice, as Hierom Mercu∣rialis variarum Lectionum, 4.17. and Aldus Manutius de Quaesit. paer Epist. lib. 1. Epist. 4. proveth from many old writers.

The third Supper, which of old, or at first they were wont to eate in propatulo: in the open aire, or sight of all men: In after times they invited their friends to their private houses and chambers. Our men are wiser then the Graecians, saith Cicero, Epistol. ad Familiares. 9.24. The Graecians call these Suppers, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; compotationes, or concoenationes, drinkings together, or suppings toge∣ther. The Romans stile them Convivia, as it were livings together, quod tum max∣ime simul vivitur; because then especially men lived together. In defence of the Graecians I might say, that the Hebrewes also excellently do call this Epularem congressum, this feasting of friends, from their drinking: for, from Shatath, bibere to drinke, a feast is named, Mishteh, potatio, a drinking. In eating they mentioned not their friends: In their drinking they did. Haman was called ad biben∣dum cum Regina, to drinke with the Queene. Ester. 7.1. that is ad Convivium, to feast (saith Bolducus) on Iob 1. But of wine and sweete meates (say I) rather then of Shamble-meates or fowle. Yet must I needs joyne issue with Cicero in the same place, when he saith to Paetus; Extra jocum monco te, quod pertinere ad beate vivendum arbitror, ut cum bonis viris, jucundis, amantibus tuis vivas. I would advise thee in good sober sadnesse (which may much conduce to thy happi∣nesse,) that thou comfort thy selfe with merry companions, and those that are thy true friends: nor do I referre it to pleasure (meere pleasure) but to commu∣nity of life, and repast, and to the relaxation, and unbending of the minde; which is chiefly wrought by familiar discourse, which is most sweete and com∣fortable at our refections with our friends.

The Romans fourth meale was Commessatio, or postcoenium a reare supper, or beover taken after supper, a night drinking. This tasted of superfluity, and was not practised of all; but was disliked by some, and them of the best sort.

The moderate use of meate and drinke which was practised by the Apostles, was so well knowne, that they who accused our Saviour himselfe, yet they ac∣cused not the Apostles.

Indeed when the knowledge of languages was immediately and divinely infused into the Christians, and when they spake in divers tongues wonderful∣ly, the wonderfull works of God, other men mocking the Apostles said, Act. 2, 13. These men are full of new wine, which being a foule imputation, Saint Pe∣ter wipeth it off, saying: These are not drunke as yee suppose. vers. 15. And if

there had beene any truth or likelihood of truth of any ones being drunke, that then was there; yet it concerned other men, and not the Apostles, the auditors and not the speakers. But the aspersion was laid on the Apostles onely, and Saint Peter intended not to defend any auditor, who were not accused; but as the malitious Iewes sayd, These men (meaning the Apostles) are drunke: th' Apostle contradicteth saying, [these are not drunken] for the defence of others had been impertinent when onely the Apostles themselves had beene charged home with the fault. The Apostles all of them stood up with Peter (to defend them∣selves from so foule a crime, and false fame spread concerning them) Act. 2.14.

The Raven brought Elijah bread, and wine in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening: 1 King. 17.6. Twice in a day God miraculously fed Elijah: and the Ravens left off their ravenous nature, and twice a day mini∣stred to the Prophet. A double daily refection God alloweth: and if any one can prove that the Apostles are twice in one day; I dare say, that hee cannot prove that ever they did eate a third time in one day: which inclineth to excesse.

Thy Disciples fast not (say the Disciples of Iohn to Christ) Mat. 9.15. Christ answereth; Can the children of the Bride-chamber mourne, as long as the Bride∣groome is with them? Where Christ tacitly confesseth, that in his life-time, his Disciples did not fast, as the Pharisees, or as the Disciples of John did fast, viz. extraordinarily, so that the people tooke notice of it. and yet assured them, that the time should come, when the Apostles should fast. For all this wee ne∣ver read of any great provision that they ever had. We reade, they were an hun∣gred, Mat. 12: 1: and did eate the very eares of corne, and Christ pronounceth them guiltlesse; vers: 7. Necessity and want was their just excuse: as the pa∣rallell of David and his company sheweth and proveth: Neither when they had provision, was it very costly, but cheape, scant, ordinary, and easie to be had. We have here but five loaves & two fishes, say his Disciples, Matt. 14.17. and they were also Barley-bread, and two small fishes: Ioh: 6.9. At another time their store was onely, seaven loaves, and a few little fishes, Matth. 15.34. And when he asked for meate, they gave him a piece of broyled fish, and of an hony combe. Luk. 24.41, 42. verses. Againe hee asked his Disciples: Children have you any meate? and they answered him, No. Ioh. 21.5. And though heē kindled a miracu∣lous fire: yet (onely) fish was laid thereon, and bread, vers. 9. this was but poore entertainment for the Lord of Life, and for the company of so good, and gratious Disciples.