hence too we are taught to Pray for our Daily Bread as including under that Name all things necessary for the support of Human Life 4. Outward cleanness in Meats Drinks Cloathing and Exercises is of great use and prevents and as it were cuts off in the bud many Diseases and Inconveniences both from the Body and Mind therefore the Light of the Gospel or Divine Principle makes that part of Moses Law touching Cleanness Essential when it opens its self in the Center of Man's Heart and it is a Ceremony to none but such as are ignorant of Gods Law and the Sympathetical Operations 5. Frequent Bathing or Washing in pure Running Water is highly convenient for all persons especially after easing themselves for the same will in a great measure prevent the pernitious Diseases of the Fundament some of which are incurable 6. Be careful that you do not sit on Common house of Easement which oftentimes proves of evil consequence and infects the Party with Diseases of various kinds according to each Mans Constitution or Complexion therefore those in Cities that would avoid such Dangers ought to ease themselves in a vessel of Water and when the Excrement is cold then to put it into the House of Office particular Reasons in Nature I have shewn elsewhere 7. Have a care of Compositions use and Desire Simplicity for Wisdom In the preparation of Food preserve Unity that is prepare but one thing at a time for things of differing Natures cannot be prepared together because some requires a longer some a shorter time besides the Spirits and inward Virtues of each thing do mix and incorporate and mightily strive with each other for Victory by which the pure parts of them all are wounded for in the Combat the weaker suffers Violence and the Spirit is Suffocated 8. Flesh and Herbs Roots and Puddings are not to be prepared together in one Vessel but each alone because of their different Nature and times of preparation for Water after it hath boiled an hour more or less will not prepare any sort of Food to that degree of Excellency as at first 6. Let Seafaring Men and others that Travel when they go ashore beware of Venus as also of lying in soft warm Beds especially Feather-beds As also of eating of fresh Flesh and Fish too immoderately lest they fall into Fluxes for Nature cannot endure suddain Changes and where Wisdom and Temperance is wanting People are subject to various Diseases on such occasions as Fevers Fluxes Colds c. 10. The chief occasion why Mankind is so subject to frequent Fevers is the variety of Foods improperly compounded especially the common eating of Flesh and Fish As also Butter Cheese and the use of strong Drinks for always fat Foods do fur the Stomack and are hard to be separated either by the natural heat or by the Liquor that is drank especially strong hot Drinks Water being the proper Minstrim or Liquor for the Stomach for this Cause Obstructions and Fevers as also hot Diseases are so common and griping Pains and Fluxes such Meats and Drinks do awaken the original fierce Fires 11. All Foods proceeding from the vegitable Kingdom are innocent more equal in there Parts easily dissolved affording fine Spirits therefore those that live chiefly on such innocent Foods are more airy pleasant cool and full of Delight in Body and Spirit which none can know or understand but such as have experienced it for some considerable time 12. All that would prevent Fevers and many other Diseases and keep themselves in harmony should apply themselves to simple Foods viz. Bread Fruits Herbs and the like forbear all sorts of Flesh Fish and eat sparingly of Butter Cheese and Milk and eat but little Fat besides Oil for this you must always remember that every thing begets its likeness 13. Bread Herbs Seeds Fruits and most or indeed all vegetative Foods do represent unto Man the Divine Principle of Light and Love but Flesh be it of what kind it will does denote the harsh wrathful Principle and Mans Desires so much after it is a true sign that he lives in that harsh fierce killing Principle 14. For now-a-days if any Man should be condemned to live only on Bread and Water and what might be made thereof he would think himself hardly dealt with which do demonstrate the high degree of Mans Depravation and Separation from the Divine Vision or first simple State 15. Many of the Holy and Wise Antients have declined and decried the eating of Flesh and Blood especially of such Creatures as are unclean and that will eat the Flesh of their Fellow Creatures but never did any of the Philosophical Men forbid the eating of such harmless things as Herbs Bread and the like but have recommended them as most agreeable to Nature and Health 16. A time shall come when the Lyon shall eat Hay with the Ox and the Wolf lye down with the Lamb that is the fierce savage beastial Nature in Man shall be thorough shined and bowed before the Divine Principle or Lamb-like Spirit and whosoever comes to know that time will be contented with innocent Herbs Bread and the like harmless Foods 17. For if the Wolfish Dogâ—sh Nature did not predominate in Man they would not so much long after the Flesh and Blood of Beasts but whatsoever Principle do Reign in the Center of a Mans heart whether Good or Evil he will desire Food suitable thereunto Some particular Notes whence Consumptions proceed and the occasions thereof 1. THE Compositions of sweet fat Foods and Spices all mixed together do destroy the innocent ways of Nature especially when done without understanding the Principles of Nature clog and obstruct the Stomack and too much open the Gate of Venus 2. The frequent eating of Flesh and Fish and such as are Rapacious mixed with the richest vegetations do open and manifest the hidden internal Properties of such Flesh and Fish thereby increasing Lust and evil beastial Inclinations 3. The great quantities of Food wherewith most People overchange Nature which do generate superfluity of gross Juices and if such Foods be from the Animal Kingdom as Flesh Fish Butter Eggs Milk or various sorts of them mixed together then they do so much the more provoke Inclinations to Venus for Flesh and Fish do much more strengthen the Venerial Property than simple Vegetations especially when joyned with strong intoxicating Liquors 4. The frequent or overmuch drinking of strong fermented Drinks especially when the Foods are fat rich spicy and succulent then if there be not great temperance in quantity Nature is set into an unnatural Flame 5. The too frequent visiting the shades of Venus with the before-mentioned Intemperances do extremely promote to the utter ruin of many thousands this is the secret Enemy that wounds the bravest Gallant and strongest Nature and send them down with Sorrow to the Grave betimes 6. The common Lying of Men and Women together on hot soft Feather-beds which do hinder Rest keep
the spirit then also the Oyl does with the true spirit become either suffocated or evaporated for this very cause all Herbage that has lost its spirit does neither smell well nor weigh heavy for that fragrant smell proceeds from the Essential spirits and the weight and ponderousness is from the Oyl the very same is to be understood in all Grains as Wheat Barly Rye and the like the true colour also do arise and proceed both from the Essential spirit and Oyly quality 2. Therefore all Vegitative Foods especially such as are made of Corn as Wheat Rye Barly or the like are far more agreeable and harmonial than Flesh and Fish easier of digestion affording a finer livelier and more brisker spirit and less phlegm or gross Juices which the Natural heat and sharp pleasant Minstruum or Runnet of the Stomach can easily digest and send down into the passages and so free the Joynts and other parts of the Body from Inconveniencies This is manifest by External Operations for how quickly will Bread dissolve being put into Water nay the whole dry Corn it self being infused grows soft and tender in a little time but how long may one infuse Flesh Fish Cheese or Butter before they dissolve or grow more tender Vegetative Foods do also keep the Body cool and pleasant preventing Fumes and Vapours from flying into the Head because such Foods do not generate them as all fat Victuals does for their crude obstructive phlegmatick Juices that lodge in the Stomach and Vessels that cause Fumes and Vapours as also Fevers for the principal cause that Fevers are so frequent is that surplusage of matter that proceeds from Intemperance in Foods both in quantity and quality for when People over-charge Nature then the digestive faculty cannot make a perfect separation but the gross Juices does load stop and fur the passages whence is generated thick Blood and impure Spirits so that Nature becomes stagnated which does immediately stir up and awaken the Centerial Fires in all parts of the Body and makes the whole burn with an unnatural heat uneasie and burthensom which is that we call a Fever 4. Therefore in a special manner after full Meals of Flesh or Fish or other fat Foods Men ought to be cautious of drinking too plentifully of strong spirituous Drinks a cup of good Water to most Constitutions has had far better success to carry off a full Meal of such Foods than strong Liquors for good Water is endued with a mild friendly quality of a dissolving dissipating digestive nature and therefore helpâ— Concoction better than Spirituous Drinks as may be gathered from most or all External Operations for Water especially River Water or Spring Water such as will Wash Boil and Brew well will dissolve and dissipate hard Coagulated Bodies sooner than strong Drink or Spirits as Water will dissolve Sugar sooner than Beer Wine or Brandy for in the last especially it will lie a great while before it dissolves 5. Vegetative Foods affords not only the greatest and most vigorous spirits in the Bodies of either Men or Beasts but more fine and innocent free from the seeds of violence passion and inclinations to Beastiality 6. For the forementioned Reasons those that live wholly on Vegitations can drink more strong spirituous Drinks and with far less prejudice than those that live on Flesh and Fish for they will not so soon fume up into their Heads nor so much heat their Bodies finding their Stomachs free from those Crudities and flatulent Juices wherewith the others are pestered and consequently the digestive Property more powerful the Drink is presently dispatched and the grosser parts evaporated by the Uretors without any let or hindrance but the case is otherwise in the Stomachs of such as eat Flesh and fat Foods the truth of this may further appear by Men that do drink much strong Drink after full Meals such will be made drunk before and also sick before those that take the like quantity whose Stomachs are rather empty than full and the latter are in far less danger of Surfets it being seldom known that such that are both great Eaters and great Drinkers too do live long but on the contrary great Drinkers that eat but small quantities of Food do often live to old Age or if a great Eater chance to out-live Youth they seldom but have the Gout from all which it follows that Animal Foods which are for the most part fat are nothing so Excellent or Commendable as Vegitations which none can understand or know but Doctor Experience talk will not convince any Man no not Men of the greatest Reasons Obj. Some will be apt to object and say that it is nonsence to discourse after this manner viz. to affirm that fat Animal Foods are not so good as poor lean Vegitations and Victuals made thereof for we see will they say that fat things are desired by all or most and if Flesh be not fat it is counted worth little because fat is counted to be of a brave healing nourishing Nature and Operation and therefore our Nurses endeavour to make sucking Children to take it even against their Stomachs Answ. To which I answer that I am not ignorant that this is indeed the vulgar Opinion but for that very reason to be suspected nay if you will hearken to the Voice of Wisdom utterly to be expelled for Doctor Experience and that most excellent Phylosopher Right Reason will tell you that it is a grand mistake to think that Vegitations and Foods made thereof though they have not gross greasy qualities as Animal Foodâ— have are therefore to be counted poor lean and of but little Nourishment for are we not every day taught the contrary though not in Man yet in all other Creatures Will not a little cold Grass and dry Hay and especially Corn make several sorts of Beasts fat and that too very firm and substantial And what is your brave Butter and Cheese but the digested Juice of Grass and Vegitations all dried Grains as Wheat Barly Rye and many other sorts are endued with an excellent Spirit and pure Oyl much finer and freer from grossness and phlegm than Flesh or the product of Flesh the Oyl of Grains being as it were vollatile like a Spirit so that when it comes into the Stomach it is brisk and lively most easily separated and digested as being turned into an Unctious substance from whence the fatness of these Creatures that live on Corn does proceed which Unctious quality does also contain a bright lofty exhillerating spirit that makes all such Creatures so strong lively and brisk that they have no need of the fat either of Flesh or Fish The very same would happen to Man if he could content himself with Vegitative Foods and good Drinks made thereof 7. Such as live on Vegitative Foods are hardly ever subject to drought though they can when they eat drink with more pleasure to the Stomach though not so much to the Pallate as
of Butter and less of Cheese 503. Bread Water and Flower without any farther preparation Bread and Milk Herbs and Bread Fruit and Bread are the most useful and necessary Foods which are ready at hand and may be obtained by every one with little labour of Body or trouble of Mind 504. All Men ought to consider that the chief cause of all Diseases and Unhealthiness to young and old is for want of Government and Wisdom and the desiring those things that are out of the ways of simple Nature 505. There are not many Diseases where Men walk in Natures Path and avoid Compositions and as much as in them lies fiery Preparations 506. The more Men imitates Nature the nearer they come to their first State of Innocency and thereby obtain Health of Body and vigor of Mind 507. An Example of this we have in all Animals or Beasts who continue in that pure Law they were made in and placed under how Healthy most of them are when Men do not render them otherwise by Oppression and Disorders 508. Keep therefore O Man unto thy Heavenly Guide that the Lord hath placed in the very Center of thy Heart turn thy Eyes inward and learn Wisdom this Divine Spark and holy Son of Light if obeyed in the Life thereof will readily shew and teach Man all things both for Divine and Human that are necessary for this Life and that which is to come 309. Study thy self for that worthy thing in thee cannot be known nor its Voice distinguished from other Voices but only by Self-denial Sobriety and Cleanness in the practise of Silence alone leaning on the Shoulders of none but only thy beloved Jesus 510. Remember that the true pleasure of Temperance and the many benefits that follow Sobriety cannot be imagined by those that lives Riotous Lives so neither can the sweet Influences thereof be enjoyed without self-denial and some trouble to old Adam 511. If thou wilt know God and the sweet Influences of his good Spirit in thy own Soul then thou must live as it were alone for there is but little Company in the ways of Virtue and Self-denial 512. There is nothing does make Men more sensible of Gods Blessings then Temperance and Cleanness in Meats Drinks Imployments and Communications 513. How ready are the sober of Mind to give the Lord Thanks for his Mercies and how sweet is every mean thing 514. Temperance is endued with Divine Power it fits the Mind for the Worship of God their Beds are easie their sleep sound not subject to Indispositions nor molested with Fevers their Heads are not dulled with Fumes nor their Stomachs oppressed with fainting Fits or windy griping Humours they rise as fresh as the morning Sun and are fit for the Exercises both of the Body and Mind their Radical moisture flowes freely through every part like a pleasant Gale of Wind which moderates the Centeral Fires that they burn not too violently This excellent State of Body and Mind is not attainable without the fear of the Lord and self denial which are the first steps to all true Wisdom both Spiritual and Natural The Benefits of Temperance and Mischiefs of the contrary Vice 1. TEmperance is the True way or Royal Road to Peace and Happiness both in this World and the World to come for without no Man can observe the Law of God and Nature 2. Temperance freeth the Body from Labour and Danger and the Soul from Cares Passions and disquieting perturbations 3. Temperance makes all Men rich for it administers Content and gives length of Days Health and a sound Mind which whosoever enjoys cannot be said to be poor 4. Temperance cuts off vain Thoughts and Imaginations and all extravagant Desires as it were in the very Bud which continually wounds the Soul and Body of the Intemperate 5. Temperance wisheth no ill to its Neighbor but is a friend to every thing that is innocent and good 6. Temperance is a perfect Cure or prevention of many cruel Diseases both of the Body and Mind 7. Temperance is a sure support to all needy Families if she be entertained and her voice obeyed 8. Temperance makes Harmony in the worst of Times and deadest of Trading because she furnishes all her followers with what Need and Nature requireth nor does any thing render a Man more like his Creator 9. Temperance is a true Guide to Mans ways cleanseth the inward Parts from uncleanness and makes the Eye or Spirit of the Soul to see with an Intellectual Sight like its Creator who maketh his Sun to shine both on the Just and Unjust 10. Temperance is a glance of the Divine Power which denies Selfhood and teach those that follow her voice to Love all Gods Creation as God Loved Man 11. Temperance envieth nothing nor coveteth no Mans Goods but is a fâ—iend unto all avoiding Strife Contention Controversies Oppressions Violences and Manslaughter 12. Temperance is the firmest and best Establishment of or in all Governments for she teacheth Man to Love and adore their Creator Know themselves and to have an awful Respect to their Neighbors and whole Creation of God's wonderful Creatures 13. Temperance considereth all things prohibiting no Creature that Freedom and Priviledges that their Creator hath bounteously given them by thâ— grand Law and Charter of Nature 14. Temperance knows what that Glorious Liberty is the Great Apostle speaks of that the whole Creation groans to be delivered into and by its sweet influences attracts all things that are capable unto that pure Fountain 15. Temperance illuminates the Soul and makes Mens Reasons Divine 16. On the contrary Intemperance is the greatest Evil on Earth because the Seed-plot of all other Evils and most unlike our Blessed Creator for the superfluous Man wants all things but God wants nothing 17. Intemperance wounds the Body with Diseases and the Soul with Ignorance and Blindness perpetually perplexing the latter with greedy Desires and the former with needless Toils 18. Intemperance hood-winks the Soul so that it cannot distinguish between what is good and profitable and the contrary thereby obstructing and violating the Way and Law of God in Nature 19. Intemperance is the Original of all evil and vain Imaginations it makes Men turn Rebels and imbroils the World with Plots and Wars that they may gratifie their own unbridled Lusts. 20. Intemperance causeth Children in the secrets of their Hearts to wish for the death of their Parents that they may enjoy their Estates Married People to desire the death of their Yoak-fellows that they may get others with more Money or that are more young and handsom to please their wantonness 21. Intemperance persuades Men to Marry old diseased and deformed Women which does neither agree with their Age and Tempers nor can answer the end for which Marrying was ordained by God which is one of the greatest Evils under the Sun because they Sin against Nature and the Light of their Understandings 22. Intemperance makes Men more unnatural than
and more applauded Crafts tend unto but either Violence Oppression and the Destruction of Men or to fraud and Cousenage or to Gluttony Drunkenness Luxury and Effeminacy or to Pride and Vanity 7. What kind of Property or Principle was that in Man which first invented and daily improves the use of Warlike Weapons to kill murther and destroy those of their own Kind as well as oâ—her inferior innocent Creatures that raked into the bowels of Hell for Brimstone Nitre Saltpetre to furnish them with Gunpowder and Studied the Art of Mining and Blowing up their natural Brethren by Hundreds at a blast Did not all such things originally arise from the Bottomless Pit that deep dark poysonous Abyss of Fierceness and Wrath And still from the same horrid Fountain do proceed all new Inventions that tend to the Destruction of Man wherein it may be observed that Christians have been more unhappily Ingenious than those they call Heathens which is much to be lamented though the latter have so far learnt of them that now they are grown no less expert in the mischievous uses of those Inventions and not seldom do therewith plague and destroy the Original Authors 8. From what Principle in Man did the Invention of Ships arise or what real Necessity was there for the same has the most merciful and bounteous Creator planted Man in any Country which does not afford sufficient to supply all the necessities of Nature For Did not those millions that inhabited those vast Regions since called America subsist without the Art of Navigation any further than meer Nature taught them for many Ages before Columbus could boast of discovering a new World how many have been swallowed up by the vast Ocean through means of Seafaring Attempts which seldom had better aim than either to Disquiet Conquer and Roâ— Innocent peaceable People or to obtain such things as are not at all needful but serve only to please the vanity of the multitude and procure Diseases 9. Considering the certain and inevitable danger that attends Navigation we may justly say that all things brought from remote parts by Seâ— are the price of Blood Now if a Prince cause a single Man to be put to Death or one privately kill another or if a Man hang or drown himself here on shoar then what a great deal of trouble it makes amongst the Relations and also the People which indeed when done by the Hands of Justice is much to be lamented that People should live so contrary to Human Society that there should be any kind of cause for killing of Human Creatures but there do daily many thousands expose their Lives in going to Sea to fetch superfluities that serve only to promote Vanity and Diseases and when they loose their Lives and perish through their own Folly and ill Conduct little or no notice is taken of it as in one Storm thousands of Men sink to the bottom of the Sea in their Ships laden with Spices Wines and the like which if they had brought to Land they nor no others could not have sustained their Hunger and Lives one Week but could have done abundance of hurt to the Eaters and Drinkers thereof 10. What Tongue or Pen can express the hazards the horrors the miseries that People expose themselves to in Tempests at Sea and to what purpose to fetch Wanton Men Pearls to hang at the Ears of their more Wanton Mistresses to bring Pepper to strew over our Cucumbers Mangoes for our Mutton or Claret Florence Wine Brandy and a thousand other Strong Liquors to Intoxicate our Gallants and make them spend their Means ruine their Healths shorten their Lives be mad quarrel kill one another and so to be hang'd for 't Certainly did our friendly courteous Women and nice Ladies and others pretending to Piety and Conscience consider all this they would not be so fond of these foreign Need-nots but rather be of David's mind touching the Water his Soldiers procured which he counted the price of Blood and though he had need of it yet he would not receive nor drink it 11. What Principle or Property in Man was it that first invented all Strong Intoxicated Drinks which do chiefly serve to destroy Mens Souls and Bodies Did not he that first invented the making of Wine commit one of the greatest Evils through Drunkenness which is still the grand cause and in-let of Adulteries Whoredom Murders Blasphemies and all kind of Diseases and Oppressions both of Body and Mind whence it is clear that this Invention did proceed from the Bitter Root 12. From whence did and do the daily Inventions Compositions and Preposterous mixtures of Foods proceed which merely serves to stupify the Intellectuals and distemper the Body with incurable Diseases doth not all such pernicious Inventions proceed and arise from the Poysonous Root as also all Plays Games Fine Cloaths Rich Furniture Stately Buildings as Pyramids and a thousand sorts of stately Structures of vast Charge invincible Labour and Hazards to those that build them Will any body say that such things are necessary to the Life and well-being of Man Are they not rather contrary to the Command of our Lord Having Food and Raiment be ye therewith content The Excellency of clean Foods especially of Bread 1. AS a Medicine drives its Qualities from the Ingrediencies as a Building is weak or strong according to the proportion of the materials and good Workmanship in joyning them together So Meats and Drinks whereby Men are nourished and sustained in this mortal State have a far greater Influence and Operation not only on the outward Body and Senses but also on the Intellectual Faculties or Soul than the vulgar does imagine for the Spirit makes all things Essential 2. Bread being the equallest aâ—e cleanest of all Foods as wherein the four Grand Qualities stand at the nearest harmony deserves to be stiled the Staff of Life because it affords a firm clean nourishment and pure Spirits excelling any other particular Food whence the Great Light of the World has honoured it so far as to pronounce it the Symbal of his Body For as the Divine Principle or Human Friendly Nature will incorporate qualifie and allay the out-goings of the harsh wrathful bitter Spirit and bring all into Concord and Equality whereby the inward Sences of the Soul and intellectual Powers taste fâ—el and imbrace each other in Love and Harmony The like is to be understood of Bread it qualifies and allays the Discord and Inequality of all other Foods and so renders it fit for the health of the Body and Mind 3. Bread was the principal Food the Creator ordained for Man after the Fall it having the first place before all other Foods therefore the Lord said In the sweat of thy Brows thou shalt eat thy Bread for all other things that Man needs to feed on can be prepared without Labour or with very little as Herbs Fruits c. but there goes considerable pains to the procuring of Bread and
such as live on Animal Foods for great thirst is a kind of a Disease and though such People find Drink very grateful to their Pallates yet afterwards it does not only swell the Body but makes it uneasie and also unfit for Labour which inconveniencies those that live on Vegitables are not subject unto for such Foods being more equal in their parts and easier of concoction and of a middle nature and mild friendly operation having as it were a certain Minstruum of their own does thereby agree with and help the digestive Faculty and being always light and readily separated pass quickly away and cause neither drought nor heat having no occasion to attract or draw the pleasant moisture from the remote parts therefore such as use this Diet do always find themselves brisk light and fuller of life and strength presently after eating than before whereas those that stuff themselves with Flesh Fish and the like are dull heavy and indisposed for a considerable time after eating which is a signal demonstration of the excellency and agreeableness of such Foods with the Stomach and Nature if Reader thou wouldest be assured of the truth of what is said here then go home and practise for there is no other way to be satisfied as for my own part I am never droughthy as those are that eat Flesh yet I can drink freely with pleasure and refreshment the simplicity of such Foods is wonderful delightful to the Pallate as well as the Stomach after a little use and practise far beyond the compositions of Flesh and Fish or any Foods that proceed from the Animal Kingdom 8. By Vegitative Foods I mean all such as are made of Grains of Corn especially of Wheat which is the King of all others as Bread Flowered Water or Pap with Bread in it Gruel Cakes made of various sorts of Flower Gruels with dried Herbs infused or green Herbâ— â—allats with Oyl Sallats with Vinegar Good Ale made with Malt these are the most material Foods the Vegitable Kingdom affords they be not many but they are excellent There are also several sorts of Fruits as Apples Pears Cherries Grapes and the like which may now and then with Bread furnish thee with a Meal but a few will serve thy turn the best use of them is to make them into Drink as Cyder Perry and the like Moreover there are a great number of Roots as Turnips Carrets Parsnips and others but they are not so proper to be eaten by those that live wholly on Vegitations because they are too cold and earthy affording but a small nourishment and not firm besides they are apt to loosen the Body too much on which account they are profitable for those to live on now and then that eat Flesh and other Animal Foods especially such as are subject to Costiveness but then they should live on them and Bread only 2 or 3 days together or so long till they find a change and that they answer the end they do it for and not eat any Butter with them 9. Live on innocent harmless Foods first for the Health of the Soul and the Benefits of Intellectuals and not for the Health of the Body for all Dispositions are made and continued in their full strength and vertue by Meats and Drinks and according to the Nature of them clean or unclean good or evil such are the Desires Inclinations Words and Works 10. Custom hides the truth from all Men in one degree or another and 't is no small part of Piety and Self-denial to overcome the Inveglements thereof especially the usages of those Places and Countries a Man has been bred up in Some general Observations touching the Vanity of Men in contending about Things that are of little use the Constitutions of Men and Women the most savage Beasts and the true Worship 1. THE Spirit of Wisdom leads all her Children into the Universal Temple where there is no Jangling nor Contention about Words and outward Forms of Religion but they all imitate their Creator by doing Good and living Innocently 2. Rejoyce in the Gifts and true Prosperity of thy Neighbor and in so doing thou wilt imitate the Good Angel who rejoyce at the Repentance of a Sinner on the contrary there is no Vice more devilish than Envy 3. Abstract thy Self from the Sensuality of the Multitude which is one true step towards Regeneration for he that needeth but few things approacheth nearer unto his Creator that giveth all things freely and needeth nothing 4. The ways of God and the Observations of his Law are plain and easy but the Inventions and ways of Men are hard and difficult both to the Soul and Body 5. Content not thy Self with the Image or Likeness of Virtue but keep close unto the Universal which will lead thee to the true Mother and then all Strife and Contention will cease to have a Being in thy Soul 6. As Intemperance degrades a Man and renders him worse than the worst of Beasts so no Man is capable of Regeneration so long as he lives in and under the Savage Nature whence the desiring after Evil and the longing imaginationâ— after the eating of Flesh and Blood do arise for what is it that Men should desire to be Regenerated from is it not from Wrath Fierceness Envy Malice Bitterness and doing Evil or the thing one would not be done unto Wherefore does Man call the Beasts of the Forest Wild Ravenous and Cruel Is it not because of their preying upon killing and eating the Blood and Flesh of their fellow Creatures And wherefore does Man esteem himself in a better state or more highly graduated than they If he himself be the fiercest most ravenous and insatiate Creature of Prey in the whole World for he does not only prey upon kill and eat the Flesh of other Creatures but most inhumanly murders and worries those of his own kind which few or none of the Savages of the Wilderness will do Consider therefore O Man Whether whist thou continuest in this State thou art not as bad nay far worse than the fiercest of Beasts 7. Intemperate Desires and the want of Regulating our Affections are the grand In-letâ— and cause of all Domestique and publick Evils for most or all Contentions and Troubles in private Families do thence arise the Master is angry with his Servant because he doth not get so much Money as he would have him the Husband would fain be rid of his Wife because he thinks he could get another with a great Fortune the Wife is discontented and quarrels with the Husband because she hath not so fine Cloaths as some other Neighbors the Mistriss is in Arms like a Fury beating her Maid because she hath broke some Knick-knack which was not worth a Farthing only it cost dear In brief all these Fudes which People have when they Scold Fight go to Law Forswear themselves and act all the Devils parts are generally about needless things and whose Estimation only foolish