This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
SUch men as are of a Sanguine Com∣plexion (which hu∣mour is hot and moyst) if they ac∣custome and betake themselves to good courses, they are com∣monly cheerfull, merry and plea∣sant therein. And so if they use thir naturall good parts well, adicting themselves to vertue
and goodnesse, They usually be∣come most excellent therein, and gaine to themselves much worth and happinesse.
But if they (neglecting ver∣tue) give themselves to vice, they commonly become very phantasticke, selfe-conceited, bragging, and vaine-glorious; also very Luxurious, Intempe∣rate, profuse Prodigals, and lewdly voluptuous.
Wherefore, to keepe them∣selves in good temper both of body and mind; to prevent and mittigate such diseases as usual∣ly arise from superabundant cor∣rupt or inflamed bloud, also to allay excessive and extravagant passions and affections, incident thereunto, and to bring both their bodies & minds to a good temper and disposition, and so
to maintaine the same therein, let them observe such Directi∣ons as ensue.
It is good therefore (especially for men of this Complexion) if their bloud abound or bee cor∣rupted, and if Age, weaknesse or other cause hinder not (especi∣ally in the Spring or Autumne) to be let blood, and to keepe a good Dyet after the same; for hereby the old corrupted moy∣sture of the body being evacua∣ted, in stead thereof new and purer is introduced and bred.
Let them commonly use a temperate, coole and loose dyet, oftentimes forbearing such as nourishes plentifully, or if they doe eate such, as Flesh, Milke and Egges, let them eate good store of Bread therewith. Also let them eschew too much Sack,
Ale, and such like too sweet and too strong Wine and liquors which heate and nourish much.
Let their Exercise be not too violent, nor too remisse, their sleepe also indifferent.
Hearbes cold in operation are good for them (of which divers are particularly mentioned in the next Division) to prevent and allay the inflamations of Blood, and the diseases and pas∣sions incident thereunto.
It is good for them also (in the Spring especially) to correct and cleuse the blood with Fumi∣tary, Sene, Succory, Endive and others. To use cooling and ope∣ning Clisters, Potions, Julips, &c.
By which, or some of which meanes if but observed onely with conveniency, the distem∣pers
and passions which usually arise from overmuch, inflamed, and corrupted blood may bee happily prevented, removed, al∣layed or mittigated; And both the body and mind made well disposed to performe all the offi∣ces and functions belonging thereunto, to enjoy all good pleasures and felicities; and so to bee maintained in such good temper and disposition.
Further, concerning the dis∣positions of the Mind most inci∣dent to this Sanguine humour, and to direct and rectifie the same; Forasmuch, as the spirits issuing from hot and lusty blood (which in vertues wayes excite the mind to vain-glorious, brag∣ging and phantastick conceited∣nesse; Let us therefore consider.
That this vaine-glorious selfe-conceited humour, is the mother of Pride, Arrogance, Scorne, Contempt, slaunder, detraction and of sundry other vices and ill conditions.
And that if these kind of men be conceited of doing well in a course of evill, it establishes them Cock-sure therein: So as they cannot be crossed with a greater infelicity, then in setling their happinesse in such vices, where∣in indeed consists their misery, So as they will not imagine themselves to be miserable, nor credit those that doe perswade the same, untill they doe indeed bring upon themselves the smart and miseries incident to such vices as they accustome them∣selves unto.
Further, that every Repulse,
cōtempt, injury, slander, disgrace and contumely, doth much more vexe these selfe-conceited men then others.
This Condition also hinde∣reth good Actions; for when wee once thinke our selves wise and good enough, wee then be∣come Fooles, as King Salomon speaketh; for then we common∣ly neglect to seeke for more wisdome and goodnesse, thin∣king wee are well enough alrea∣dy; when indeed a truly wise man knowes, that there is infi∣nitely more Wisdome beyond him then in him. Nor can there bee any men more unlikely to attaine to any excellency, then such whose minds are possessed with the cunning seisure of false Perswasions, blinding and debarring them from seeing and
seeking the meanes to attaine thereunto.
Wherefore it shewes most no∣table wisdome and modesty in a wise and good man to suspect himselfe, to be easily confuted of his errors, and to thanke you for telling him thereof; To thinke and know that there is farre more Wisdome and good∣nesse beyond himselfe then in himselfe, and with a longing desire still to seeke for more. Happie indeed is such a man; Our Saviour saith it, Blessed are the meeke in Spirit (saith hee) for they shall inherite the Earth, Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousnesse, for they shall be filled. It seemes the felicities of Earth and Hea∣ven doe most properly belong to such as are meeke in Spirit;
such as (seeing their owne frail∣ties and emptinesse) doe still long after and seeke for more vertue and goodnesse.
Further, to direct and rectifie the Mind herein; Forasmuch as such men in whom this San∣guine humour doth abound, if they let loose their appetites to runne after vice and evill wayes, their hot, moyst and lusty spi∣rits will excite them to Intem∣perate-voluptuousnesse in all Luxurious, riotous, and prodi∣gall courses; Let us consider the evill and miserable effects of such vicious Courses and dispo∣sitions.
It is wonderfull truly to think how many infelicities and mi∣series doe hereby come to mens Bodies, Minds, Estates, Fortunes,
Credit, &c. Insomuch, as many thousand persons, yea whole Fa∣milies, Cities, and Kingdomes, have by reason of such ill cour∣ses come to Ruine.
Let us thinke of the Vanity, emptinesse, unprofitablenesse, deceipts, and miseries thereof. They passe away as a vapour, a dreame, a shadow, and are gone; Their duration is but a moment in respect of Eternity; They do notably cozen and mocke us; They have stings in their tayles, their choysest Flowers bring foorth but Thornes.
To the body these Intemperate voluptuous and luxurious cour∣ses, doe often cause many evill corrupted Humours, strange Maladies, Griefes, and distem∣pers. From whence spring the common Diseases of our Times,
but from Intemperate-voluptu∣ousnesse.
To the Mind also, These vi∣ces doe often so besot the same, as it becomes very unfit for any good thoughts or actions either Humane or Divine; And the Spirits being thereby distempe∣red, the Mind becommeth prone to evill thoughts and desires, and the Passions so enthralled that a multitude of perturbati∣ons, discontents, and vexations are thereby caused.
So that indeed, what are these Intemperate evill pleasures, but fugitive follies mixt with many Maladies, Distempers, Cares, Feares, Jealousies, and distur∣bances? In the end, what doe they bring foorth but Diseases, Passions, and perturbations, as Melancholy, Sadnesse, Sullen∣nesse,
Discontent, Griefe and Sorrow; which like so many stings doth annoy both Body and Mind? Happie are we if we can avoid the same.
And further let us consider; That we may enjoy much more happinesse in the temperate ver∣tuous use, desire, and enjoyance of earthly Pleasures, then in the intemperate vitious use thereof, as I have else-where shewed and dilated.
For the Temperate man, his body is commonly cleere and free from unnecessary Crudities, Rheumes, noysomnesse, ill Dis∣eases and distempers, and so most Healthfull, agill, lightsome and expedite to performe all the mo∣tions and exercises appertaining thereunto.
His mind also, is cōmonly free
from Sloth, dulnesse, evill passi∣ons and perturbations; His af∣fections well tempered, and his whole Soule apt, perspicuous, free, and cheerefull in the per∣formance of all the actions and exercises thereof.
There are no men in the world, that live more healthful∣ly, prosperously, pleasantly, joy∣fully, and in all respects happily then Temperate vertuous men. They seeme to go to Heaven all the way of their life, as it were in a faire and pleasant day treading on Roses, and Violets, and en∣viron'd with a Paradice of plea∣sures and happinesse.
Hee then who hath a meeke and temperate Mind Within himselfe, doth sweet contentment find: His life's compos'd of golden dayes and howers,
His wayes are strew'd with sweetest pleasant flowers Of happinesse, In these sweet Pathes still treading (As in a Paradice) to Heaven leading.