The Holy life of Philip Nerius founder of the Congregation of the Oratory. To which is annexed a relation written by S. Augustine of the miracles in his dayes, wrought many of them in or near the city wherein he resided and well-known to him. And a relation of sundry miracles wrought at the monastery of Port-Royall in Paris, A.D. 1656. publikcly [sic] attested by many witnesses. / Translated out of a French copie published at Paris. 1656.

CHAP. XIV. His Abstinence.

BEsides, he brought under his body by perpetu∣all austerities, and abstinence, the chief pre∣servative of Chastity. For above what hath been already spoken of his rigid course of life, after he was made Priest, he eith•••• did eat nothing at all a mornings, that is, for his breakfast or dinner, or else, without sitting, a morsell of bread dipt in wine. At evening he was content with a Salad and an egg for supper, or two at most. He had no bread brought him at night, but the pieces he left in the morning at breakfast: he had fruit according to the season of the year; he scarce ever eat any thing made with milk or furmety, seldome fish, but more seldome flesh: and though he kept thus mean a diet, yet he alwayes left something.

When the Physicians prescribed him some nou∣rishing broths, he complain'd he was surcharged with overeating; and in his latter time having received the H. Eucharist, he left of breakfasts, being asked, why? he said, He quite forgot it.

He did most what eat alone, shutting himself in∣to his Chamber, and laying a napkin over a stool used the attendance of no servant, he came not to the Refectory with the rest, both to colour his purposed abstinence the better and for his healths sake, hav∣ing for so many years together used so slender a diet at S. Hieroms.

For his drink likewise he was very sparing, the Pot he used not holding above one draught; besides his Wine so dashed, that it tasted most of water, and sometimes he drank only water.

Indeed he was so abstinent, that by the joynt o∣pinion of Physicians he could never have lived so long by the strength of nature, and therefore many thought him rather nourished be the Bread of An∣gels, then fed with the ordinary food of men. But though he lived this strict and retired kind of life, yet would he not let his do any thing unusuall a∣bout their diet, but willed them to be content, with the meat which was set before them, and e∣specially abhorred to hea•• one say, This I like, this I dislike. He forbid making any private entertain∣ments, or speciall exceedings, save in cases of necessi∣ty; and was against the eating any thing between dinner and supper: telling one that had offended in this kind; you will never get a fervour of the Spirit till you mend this fault.

He slept but little, some four or five hours at most, all the rest of the night he spent in Prayer: his bed and Chamber suted with his Christian simplicity; much-what like those used ordinarily by Secular Priests: he commonly went to sleep about midnight, and though last in bed yet he was first up.

As for his apparell, he alwayes followed the garbe of other Secular Priests; neither sumptuous nor sor∣did in his attire; but observing S. Bernards rule, he hated slovenliness and loved cleanliness, though he never wore Silks.

His course of Fasting he left not so long as he lived, yea the older he grew, the more still he a∣bated of the conveniences of life: and if any coun∣selled him to favour himself now he was old, he ei∣ther

turned his discourse to some other thing, or smilingly answered, Heaven stands not open for slug∣gards.

Yet though thus severe to himself, to his Sons none more tender and indulgent always: perswad∣ing them rather to feed a little too freely, than too sparing: it being easier to substract somewhat from too full a diet, then to repair with nutriment the body well nigh pined: affirming that, sometimes Religious Persons had bin instigated by the devil to in∣flict too sharp chastisements on their Bodies, that so being disable by sickness they might chill in holy duties; or dismay'd through the violence of their disease recede from the way of salvation. Therefore this R ^d. Sage person made more account of those who with mo∣deration tamed the wantonness of the flesh, rather teaching the chief Powers of the Soul, as the Ʋn∣derstanding and Will obedience; than of those who were over-rigorous to their bodies, taking little or no care of regulating the unruly affections of the Mind.