Spread this Poultis on a Linnen Cloath indifferent thick apply to the grieved part every Hour or two at most and by God's assistance it will effect the Cure to your Heart's desire An excellent Remedy against any Wound Stab Prick or Cut with a Sword or other Weapon Take Spirits of Wine with some double refined Sugar or other Sugar mixed with it Wash or Serringe your Wound with this Sugared Spirit very well then take a small quantity of the fine Powder of Refined Sugar and put into the said Wound and presently sow it up with a fine Needle and Silk the quicker you do it the better will the Cure be performed for the more the Air is kept out of it the better If this Method be observed it will do wonders the way of tenting is generally pernicious and prolongs the Cures of the above mentioned hurts keeping the Parts from closing or cementing for this prevents the flowing of the Humors and putrefaction and Nature does her own work without trouble cost or pain Pithagoras's Method and Advice to his Disciples viz. Whenever they had Occasion to make any Medicine Poultis Plaisters Decoctions of Herbs or any other thing they were always to be mindful to take of those things that their Genius did first dictate to them and not only the Herbs or Seeds grains or other things but likewise the number of their Composition that is how many ingredients they were to mix together the manner form and postures they were to observe in gathering of them also what Words Invocations and Prayers they use also naming the name of the Person they operate for expressing in words for whom they do it for to Cure such or such a Disease And if you would know more of this Read Pythagoras's Letters lately Printed by T. Sowle in White-Hârt-Court and observe th◠Methods and Numbers there treated off at large and your understanding will be enlightened if you are in good earnest and live in the Fear and under the Dominion of the Fountain of Benignity whose Signal Character is plainness Simplicity and Innocency An excellent remedy against all Old Inveterate Vlcer's and Sores occasioned by the Disease called The Kings Evil viz. First take Rain or River Water with which wash the Grieved part very clean then take strong Spirits mixed with white Sugar and wash it several times and fill up the Mouth or cover the Sore with Sugar and Spirits mixed thick then apply this following Poultis viz. Take two Quarts of Rain or River Water as much dried Wormwood as the Water will cover let it lie and infuse two Hours then strain it off and add as much good Bread as will make it thick add to it two or three Ounces of white Sugar with half or a Pint of good strong Beer or Wine then make it boyling hot stirring it all the time then it is done Apply this every two Hours as warm as your Blood washing the Sore every time with water and then with the Sugared Spirits as is mentioned before Remember that the Water wherein the Wormwood is infused two Hours must be cold and after the Ingredients are put in made boyling hot as in other Poulises An Vniversal fomentation for all Tumors Bruises Hard Swelled Members or parts of the Body Take a good quantity of dried Wormwood put it into two three four or five Quarts of Rain or River Water make it boyling hot then take it off the Fire and let it lie in the Water one Hour then add to every Quart of this Wormwood Liquor half a Pint of old Wines three Spoonfuls of good Spirit of Wine two Ounces of double refined Sugar and one Ounce of Salt of Tartar with this wash or foment the part very well for half an Hour together or more resting one Hour and in the Interim apply this following Poultis viz. Take two or three Handfuls of the Green Leaves of Sorrel infuse them in two Quarts of boyling Water one Hour Strain it off and add to this Water as much good Mault Flower as will make it thick to every Quart put half a Pint of Ale and two Ounces of double refined Sugar apply it warm every Hour fomenting the part as you are taught before and you need not doubt but it will have a good Effect and Cure to Admiration A Famous Poultis against Sprains Take two or three Quarts of good Water and a Quart of good strong Beer four Ounces of refined Sugar make this just boyle then put in it as much fresh gathered Thyme as the Liquor will cover make it ready to boil again and then Strain it from the Herbs and add to it as much Brown Bread as will make it thick stir this over the Fire till it be boiling hot then it is done Add to this three Ounces of Spirits of Wine stirring it all well together spread this thick on a Linnen Cloath and apply it every three Hours as warm as your Blood A good Method to Cure Sprains if you cannot have the Forementioned Poultis viz. So soon as you have Sprained any Member of your Body then presently put that part into cold Water wherein some Wood-Ashes are put continue the grieved part one Hour or at least half an Hour this will give you ease and have a good Effect An Excellent Wash against all old Aches and Sciatica's in any part or Member of the Body Take Rain Water in March April May Iune or Iuly and keep it in Glass Bottles open standing either without Doors or in Airy Rooms wash your infirm part three times a Day Very well the Water must be cold and the Part or Member must not be kept warmer then is usual This do for two three or four weeks if you have occasion but in many this Method will effect the Cure much sooner An Excellent Method to Cure the Sores occasioned by the Disease called The King 's Evil. Fist take Water wherein Wormwood is infused wash the Sore part very well then take Spirits of Wine Mault or Sider mixed with Sugar and wash it again then apply this following Poultis viz. Take three Pints or two Quarts of Rain or River Water make it boil then put into it as much Hyssop as the Water will just cover continue it on the Fire till it boil then take it off and Strain it add to this Liquor as much Bread as will make it thick to every Quart put two Ounces of Refined Sugar and half a Pint of Ale spread this pretty thick on a Linnen Cloath and repeat the application every Hour two or three the oftner the better the like is to be understood in all applications of this Nature as we have demonstrated in our Book Entituled The Good Hous-wife made a Doctor A rare Poultis against all Inflamation◠Rhumes and other Sores in the Eyes viz. First wash your Eyes with Rain or other good Water then apply this following Poultis viz. Take one Quart of Water the whites of three Eggs beaten well together with
three Ounces of double refined Sugar as much white Bread as will make it into a Poultis then make it boiling hot stirring it all the time then it is done Spread this thick on a Linnen Cloath apply it to your Eye every Hour fresh and you will have your desire but this course and repeated application must be continued for 1 2 3 4 5 or 6. Days as you see occasion Observe that you never apply your Poultis hotter then your Blood nor bind the Grieved part hard both are great Evils but more especially the last A rare Poultis against the Head-Ach Take one Quart of Rain or River Water one Ounce of white Sugar as much Mault Flower new Ground as will make it thick enough add to it half a Pint of good Ale making it boyling hot and stirring it all the timâ— then it is done Spread this on a Linnen Cloath pretty thick apply it as warm as Milk from the Cow every Hour or every two Hours continue the application one two or three Days more or less as occasion An Excellent Poultis against all Sorts of Sprains Take two Quarts of Rain or River Water make it boiling hot or boil up put to it as much good Green Sage as the Water will cover then make it just boil take it off the Fire and let it stand one quarter of an Hour Strain the Water off then add to this Sage Liquor as much Bread as will make it thick put to this three Ounces of double refined Sugar and a quarter of a Pint of Red Wine and five Spoonfuls of Spirit of Wine Sugar or Mault stir them well together and make them boiling hot stirring it all the time then it is done Spread this likewise on a Linnen Cloath and apply it warm as your Blood every Hour or two for one Day or two resting all the time A brave Noble Poultis against all hot Tumors Bruises or Swellings or the like Take two or three Quarts of Rain or River Water as much Spinnage as the Water will cover But first let the Water be boiling hot then make it boil take it off the Fire and let it stand one quarter of an Hour the Vessel uncovered Strain it off add to it as much House-hold Bread as will make it thick with two Ounces of course Sugar make it boiling hot then it is done Spread this on a Linnen Cloath apply it every two Hours as warm as your Blood for two three four or five Days and you will find good Effects thereof always observe and be careful that you do not bind the Grieved part too hard but very Gently there being nothing worse then hard binding it often occasions great Evils even to Mortification Wormwood Smokt in Pipes being well dryed in the Sun and Bagg'd in Paper close is far better and more a vailâ—ble for the help and Cure of all or most of the Diseases Tobacco is taken in Pipes for A method how any Person may supply the place of Hops with Wormwood to all intents and purposes and please the pallats of the Drinkers for Wormwood is an Excellent Herb and of far greater Strength Power and Vertue then Hops provided it be gathered in it's proper Season and dried in the Sun and bagg'd up as Hops are so keep them for use according to the Directions in our way to Health long Life and Hppiness viz. Take what quantity you think fit of dryed Wormwood as you have occasion to keep your Drink a longer or a shorter time and put it into your hot Water in your Mash-Tub or Vessel and then presently put your Mault in and stir it together as is usual and when it has stood the common time draw it off then you must take the Wormwood out and add some fresh to your Liquor that you put up the second time and do the like when you put up your third Liquor if you mash more than twice by this Method or way you will only extract the thin fine saline Vertues of the Herb and leave the Gross Churlish bitter behind and Drink thus made doth not only Drink pleasant and keep well but iâ— far more wholsome and healthy than the best Hopped Drink and if your Wormwood is well preserved it will keep three four or five Years good and the second and third Year it is better than the first The very same Method is to be observed in useing all other Herbs But if the forementioned way should make the Grains so bitter that Cattel will not eat them Then observe the following Method viz. Make of fine thin Canvas Baggs both for your strong Beer Ale and small Beer and put such a quantity of your Wormwood as you think fit into them and when your several sorts of Drink is Working in the Tun then hang these Baggs in your Working Drink for three Hours and then take them out this being an approved way which do impregnate or imbibe the fine airy Spirituous Vertues of the Wormwood into the Drink The natural and common vertues of this Drink is it warms and strengthens the Stomack fines the Blood purgeth by Urine Generates like pure Spirits and Drink thus made if not too strong nor too great a quantity Drank then it will prove a Friend both to the Eyes Head as well as to the Stomach Healths Grand Preservative OR THE Womens best Doctor CHAP. I. Of the Nature and Operation of Bandy Rumm and Rack which of late years are become as common Drinks amongst many as Beer and Ale not only in England but also in all the West-Indies where the English inhabit and of the evil consequences that do attend the Drinkers thereof BRandy Rumm Rack and other distilled Spirits are all very pernicious and hurtful to the Health of the Body if not sparingly taken on extraordinary occasions in a Physical way for the Intention of all such Chymical Preparations when first Invented was for Mediâ—inal uses and not be used as Common Drink as of late years indiscreetly they are to the Destruction of many thousands the frequent use of them contracting such grievous and stubborn Diseases as for the most part are incurable 1. All such Spirits as are drawn by common Distillation though those cruel Sulphurous Fires where the Air hath not its free egress and regress atheir Volatile Spirit and Balsamick Body is as it were totally destroy'd As for Example take the best Sack which is the Richest and most Cordial of all Wines and hath the greatest Body put it into a Limbeck or any other Furnace of the like nature and draw it off and you shall have nothing but a strong harsh fiery Spirit or Brandy The same you shall have if you distill Sugar only it yields a stronger Spirit for the more Balsamick the Body of any thing is the stronger and fiercer is its Spirit when that Balsamick Body and the pure Volatile Spirits are destroyed or separated from it Now here you will see that the Volatile Spirit and sweet Cordial Qualities or
Body both in the Sack and also in the Sugar are destroved and there doth remain as is said before only a fierce harsh Brimstony Spirit void of all the wholsome Qualities Sack and Sugar did contain for the Volatile Spirit or Tincture is the Essential Life of every thing and its the maintainer of its Colour Smell and Taste Now these pure Spirits will not endure any violent Heat or harsh Fire but through the fiery heat and want of the free Egress and Regre is of the Air they presently become Suffocated and then the sweet Balsamick Body is turned sour for this sweet Balsamick Body is the pleasant Hab tation of the Volatile Spirit and this pure Spirit is the true Life of that Balsamick Body they are inseparable Companions the one cannot subsist without the other destroy either and both die Therefore all such Spirits so drawn do lose their Balsamick Body with all their Cordial Virtues and Tinctures put what Herbs or Liquors you will into such Furnaces they are presently Plundered of their natural Colour and run off white whereby it appears that this common way of Distillation destroys the pure Natural Virtues and Tincture for from the Tincture proceeds all the Variety of Colours both in Vegetables Minerals and Animals so that such Spirits do only contain a harsh fierce fiery Nature and for that Reason if they be frequently Drunk do Prey upon the Natural Heat and by degrees weaken it destroying the very Life of Nature by way of Simile for every Like works upon its likeness whence it comes to pass that in those who addict themselves to the drinking of these high Fiery or Brimstony Spirit their Natural Heat grows cold and feeble and their Appâ—tites are weakened they destoying the Power of the Digestive Faculty of the Stomach so that many such People after Eating are forced to Drink a Dram to help Concoction all other Drinks proving too cold for them which constrains them to continue Seoping of such Liquor a sad Remedy when we go about to help a mischief by encreasing the application of the same ill means which first occacsioned it for these wrathful Spirit have awakened the Central Heat which is the Root of Nature that ought not to have been awakened or kindled for if the Central Heat be stirred up by any unnatural Meats or Drinks or other violence done to Nature then presently follows the Consumption of the Radical Moisture and the pure Spirits and lively Tinctures become Suffocated wherein consists the Essential Life of Nature And as in the before-mentioned Example the pure Spirit and Balsamick Body in Sack will not endure these cruel harsh Sulphurous Fires where the Air hath not its sree Influence but presently becomes suffocated or destroy'd the most pleasant sweetness thereof turned into a Stink so neither will the Radical Spirits and pure Oyl in the Body endure those Sulphurous Flames and fierce Spirits without sustaining the like prejudice for that pure Vertue or Essential Principle which the Lord in the Creation endued every thing with which is the true Life thereof will not endure any violent Motion or harsh Fire to touch them especially if the circulation of the Air be wanting as it is in all such Distillations for these Spirits are are so pure and subtle that when any Injury is offered to them they either evaporate or become suffocated for this Essential Powder or pure Life is the Moderator or Friendly Quality in all Minerals Vegetables and Animals which doth mix and qualifie the harsh Fiery dark Principal and does allay and moderate the cruel harsh Nature of the dark Fire as does plainly appear in all the fore-mentioned Liquors and also in Charcoal for before the Sack or any Balsamick Liquor was put in the Still and drawn off those very same fiery harsh Sulphurous Spirits were essentially in the Wine or whatever else it be for it is the Root of Nature and the Original to every Life but being mixed or incorporated with the Balsamick Body and pure Spirit the fiery fierce Sulphurous Spirit is thereby swallowed up and as it were hid and moderated for in what thing soever the pure Balsamick Body is predominant there this dark furious Spirit is hid or captivated an Example whereof we have in Sugar where when the sweet Balsamick Body is potent there also this fiery Sulphurus Spirit is strong but not manifest but as soon as this Essential Spirit and Balsamick Body are separated or destroyed this dark fiery Brimstony Spirit appears in its own form and becomes like a mad furious Devil in Nature its cloathing being the dark Fire for this Spirit hath lost its Sweet Water or Friendly Life in its Separation which before did qualifie its harsh fierce Fire it also loseth its pure Colour or bright native Shine because the Essential Oyl is consumed in that Separation so that there doth remain no true Life nor Light in it but being set on Fire its Flame is of a dim Brimstony colour which demonstrates that the dark wrathful Properties of Saturn and Mars and their fierce Fires are predominate in all such Liquors or Spirits This is further manifest in Charcoal as war hinted before which is made of Wood but in the making thereof the pure Oyl or sweet Water which is the Essential Life of the Wood is suffocated or destroyed for from that Friendly quality the Wood had its bright Shine or Flamo which is of a benevolent refreshing Operation Now this pure Oyl or Balsamick Body the Essential Life and Moderator of all harsh fiery dark Fumes or Qualities in the Wood being suffocated or totally destroyed in the making it whereby the Original dark Sulphurous Fire becomes strong and raging giving greater and stronger Heat than the Fire of Wood but its Flame is not bright clear and refreshing as that of Wood but it is of dim Brimstony colour sending forth strong fulsome Fumes and Vaâ—ours very offensive to the pure Spirits and Health of those that are near it for having lost its pure Spirits and Oyl of Life in its making into Charcoal there does only remain in it the fierce dark Original Fire an untamable devouring Spirit in Nature for every Quality in Nature hath power only to kindle and awaken its likeness therefore all such things as have lost their pure Spirits and Balsamick Body in the Separation or Preparation must needs endanger the Health because they do awaken by Simile their own or like Poysonous Properties in the Body and if it were not so a little Poyson taken into the Body would not destroy the Life but Poyâ—ons taken in do by Simile joyn or incorporate themselves with the Internal Poyson or Destructive Principle in the Body which before laid hid or as a Man may say was modeâ—â—â—ted or captivated by the sweet Body and pure Spirits even as the fiery Spirits of Brandy are in Sack or Sugar but so soon as the outward Poyson that is taken in Incorporates it self with the inward
Poyson in the Body it does so powerfully strengthen and awaken it that in a moment it over comes the pure Oyl of Life and the pure Spirits become suffocated and then the Natural Life is at an end for every Property in Nature both in the evil and also in the good does with highest diligence seck out its likeness and wheresoever it findeth its Simile there it joyns forces and mightily stirreth up its own Quality which when it happens in the Evil Nature as it does in Brandy Rumm Rack and other Distilled Liquors then it endangers the Health and Wellfare of the Body Nor is it otherwise in all sorts of Food and other Drinks if the pure Vertue thereof be separated or any way destroyed for then forth with the darâ— Brimstony Spirit is set at lâ—berty which before the Separation the Balsamick Body and pure Spirits did qualifie and hold Captive that it could not manifest its self in its own Nature but being separated from the good Properties and Friendly Principle this dark fiery sulphurous Spirit becomes of a furious Nature and Operation endeavouring to bring all in Subjection to it self therefore such Liquors or Spirits frequently taken burn up the Radical Moisture and Natural Heat and are grreedy devourers of the sweet Oyl in the Body whence proceeds General Obstructions Crude Windy Humours Consumptions unnatural Heats and Flushings loss of Appetite Reachings to Vomit and many other Disorders and if those of the Female Sex take to drink such Spirits as of late years they do too frequently the Evils are doubled unto them 2. In all the before-mentioned Spirits that have passed through those cruel harsh Fires where the Air hath not its free Egress and Regress the pure Spirit and sweet Body is totally destroyed which is the Root of Motion and Fermentation therefore such Spirits will not Work or Ferment as all other Drinks and Liquors will even water it self but you may put what quantity of Sugar you will to Brandy Ramm or any other Distilled Spirits they will continue a strong Fire void of Moâ—ion or Fermentation this doth further declare that all the good Principles and Vertues are destroyed by the Preparation and that there remains only a strong fixed Fire which has its Uses in Physick as is mentioned before but not otherwise 3. Such Spirits being frequently drunk do generate various Diseases according to each Mans Nature and Constitution and the Climate whether hot or cold for they do powerfully Prey upon the Natural Heat consuming the sweet Oyl and pure Spirits for the Balsamick Body and pure Spirits of all such Liquors being destroyed in the Preparation they become an Extream which Nature in her simplicity hates and for this Cause such Liquors cannot Administer any Proper or Agreeable Nourishment to the Body or to the pure Spirits it cannot give what it hath not it hath only Power to awaken the Central Heat or Fire which ought not to have been kindled and this it doth by a Sympathetical Operation for all Meats and Drinks have power in the Body to awaken and strengthen their likeness for this reason all Wise Men Skilled in the Mysteries of Nature have commended simple Meats and Drinks because most such things are as it were equal in their Parts having no manifest Quality that does predominate violently over the other but yet contains a sufficient Noarishment for the Body and also for the Spirit for Meats and Drinks ought to be equal in their parts the Spirit ought not to be separated from the Body nor the Body from the Spirit but both ought to be Administred together for the Body without the Spirit is of a gross heavy dull or dead Nature and the Spirit without the Body is too violent and fiery but the Health of Mans Body and Mind doth chiefly consist in the equality of both do not all Meats and Drinks wherein any Quality or Property of Nature is â—xtream whether it be in Vertue or Harmfulness if not sparingly taken certainly discompose the Harmony both of the Body and Mind For every Quality begets its likeness and so on the contrary Concord and Harmony are tain'd by their likenesses if there be not a Sympathetical agreement between the Stomach and the Meats and Drinks both in Quality and Quantity the Unity and Concord of the Properties of Nature are immediately broken whence proceeds various Diseases according to the degrees of the Disorder This every one ought to understand or else they may unadvisedly lay heavier Burdens than Nature can bear for most Diseases are generated through surplusage of Nourishment For unto weak Heats there ought to be Administred a proportionable Food but stronger Heats will admit of stronger Foods and greater quantity which all Persons might know if they would but observe the Operation of their own Natures for no Health nor Harmony can be continued where the parts do disagree aniong themselves What Harmony can the most skilful Master of Musick make if the strings of his Instruments be some too sharp and others too flat even so it is in the Elements of the Body and also in the Mind 4. For Man is the most Beautiful and Perfectest of all God's Creation and â—is Image called by the Antients the lesser World for in him is contained the true Nature and Properties of all Elements Numbers Weights and Measures therefore Man is both capable of and and â—lable to receive all all Impressions and to be influenced by all things he communicates with or joyns himself unto as all sorts of Meats Drinks Imployments Communications and whatever else he suffers his Will or Desires to enter into the same things have power respectively to awaken their Similes therefore all extreams are perilous to the Health If Men and women were but sensible of the danger and terrible Diseases that are contracted by the frequent eating and drinking of those things that are unequal in themselves as Brandy Rumm and other Spirituous Drinks and high prepared Foods they would not so eagerly desire them Do not all or most that do accustome themselves to such things quickly spoil their their Healths Nature is Simple and Innocent and the Simplicity thereof cannot be continued but by Sobriety and Temperance in Meats and Drinks that are simple and harmless which will not only gratifie Nature but contribute both due and moist Nourishment for beyond all lushious fat compounded Dishes of the Richest Food and Spirituous Drinks as it appears by many hundreds of poor People who are constrained by pure necessity not by Wisdom to live for the most part on simple Food and mean Drinks their Labour hard Cloathing thin open Air cold Houses small Fires hard Beds standing on Earthen Floors by all which means they are not only preserv'd in better Health but also enabled to endure Labour with more ease and pleasure than the Intemperately Supet flâ—ous can lie a Bed or sit by the Fire O then how excellent are the ways of Temperance and Sobriety They free the
double refined Sugar half an Ounce of Mirrh and mix them well together Use it thus First wash your Ulcer with Rain Water very clean dropping some of the forementioned Spirits into your Ulcer then apply this Poultis following Take one Quart of Rain Water Parsley Mint and Balm of each a like Quantity cut small two Ounces of good Sugar as much Bread as will make it of a fit Consistency for a Poultis make it boyilng hot stirring it all the time then put a Glass of Wine Sider Ale or good Beer into it lay this Poultis on every three Hours always washing it with the Rain Water and Spirits If this Method be observed it will Cure almost to a Miracle To Cure Gaul's or the Skin being rubbed off by any accident Take Spirit of Wine and Vinegar mix it well together wash your Sore every Hour for a Day or two laying on it a Diaculum Plaister This will heal and Cure the most inveterate Gaul in a few Days time An Excellent Poultis to Cure Sore Breast's Take one Quart of Rain or River Water some Sorrel cut small half an Ounce of Coriander Seed beaten to Powder two Ounces of good brown Sugar as much Bread as will make it into a Poultis make it Boyling hot stirring it all the time then it is done Apply this every Hour or every two Hours as warm as your Blood on a Linnen Cloath for two or three Days more or less as you see occasion and remember to wash your Breast with good Water and fresh Butter beaten together every time you apply the Poultis and you need not doubt but with God's Blessing the Cure will be Effected in a short time A rare Poultis to allay all Swellings or Contusions in any part of the Body Take one quart of Rain or River Water Rosemary and Balm cut small two Ounces of Sugar a Glass of Wine Sider Ale or good Beer as much good Bread as will make it into a Poultis make it boyling hot stirring of it all the while then it is done Lay this pretty thick on a Linnen Cloath as warm as your Blood every Hour or at least every two Hours for a Day two or three according to the occasion washing of it well with Spirit of Wine wherein Sugar is disolved This is a safe and secure remedy Another excellent Poultis to Disolve Ripen and Cure any Rising Swelling or Boyl in the Flesh viz. Take white Lilly Roots good Figgs boyl them soft in River or Rain Water then Temper them together add as much Bread as will make it thick enough for a Poultis add to this one Ounce of white Sugar and half an Ounce of Carrâ—way Seeds beaten to Powder stir them all together on the Fire till they are boyling hot then it is done Apply this Poultis every Hour washing the Grieved part with Ale and Sugar every time you lay the Poultis on this is a Noble Poultis and is likewise good to cure sore Breasts applyed as abovesaid The best Spirit of Scurvygrass is made Thus. Take the Leaves of Scurvygrass some Horse-Redish-Roots Scrapt small put this into a Glass or Earthen Vessel put to it as much strong double Spirit of Wine as will cover it stop this Vessel close and let it stand three Days and three Nights then Pour it off into Glass Bottles when settled you may put it into other Bottles and then it is fit for use This is called The plain Spirit of Scurvygrass and it is the best that is made you may take in a Morning of this Spirit from 60 to 80. or 90. Drops in good Water Beer Ale or Wine fasting two or three Hours after it then eat some of our Gruel with Bread How you may make this plain Spirit of Scurvygrass into a purging Spirit Take one Quart of this plain Spirit put into it one Ounce of Rozin of Scamony and half an Ounce of Rozin of Jallop both beaten to Powder let it stand one week andâ— then it will be fit for your use Take 50 60. or 80. Drops of this in a Glass of Ale Beer or Wine Drink plentifully of our thin Gruel after it staying within it will purge you very well and not gripe or but very little An Excellent Drink against the Stone Gravel and other Obstructions Take Scurvygrass Leaves the Seeds of Dorcas some Horse-Redish-Scrapt put them in an Earthen Vessel and then add as much White-wine as will cover the Herbs Seed and Roots let them stand five Days and Nights then pour it off and keep it in Glass Bottles it will continue good four or five weeks Take a Sack Glass of this and a like quantity of Water every Morning fast two Hours and then Drink at least a Quart of our thin Water-Gruel either of the cold or hot The constant use of this is not only a prevention and Cure but it moves most sorts of obstructions of the Stomack begets appetite Generates good Blood causing it to circulate freely How to purge by Herbs and Foods When you are minded to purge your self with both ease and safety and to preserve your Health then observe the following Method viz. In the Morning drink a Quart of our thin Water-gruel either the cold or the hot Eat a small piece of Bread with it at dinner take Spinnage Lettis Onions parsley and Sage wash them and Eat plentifully of them with your Food be it what it will at night Drink a like quantity of Gruel and Eat some good Bread as you did in the Morning this you must do for four or five or six Days together more or less as you see Occasion the like Method you are to observe If you would purge your self with Carrots Turnips and Parsnips as you did with Herbs with this Variation viz. Drink your Gruel and Eat your Bread Mornings and Nights and at Dinner Eat only Carrots Parsnips or Turnips boyled only in good Water and Eat them freely with no other thing but a little Salt and Bread during these several Days you may Purge your self to what degree you please Another way to Purge by Food 's and Drinks Drink in the Morning at several times three Pints or two Quarts of thin Watergruel at Dinner drink a Pint or a Quart at Night drink a Quart more and Eat some Bread This Method will Purge or at least will keep your Body open let your Foods at Dinner be what it will the Body being kept open and cool doth prevent and Cure Various Diseases in hot costive constitutions An excellent Poultis against the Headach Pain in the Side also a rare Remedy against the disease called St. Anthonies Fire Take Sage Parsley and Balm of each a like quantity cut small one Quart of Rain or River Water one Pint of Whitewine three Ounces of white Sugar two Ounces of Coriander Seed beaten as much good Bread as will make it fit for a Poultis mix them and stir them over the Fire till they are boyling hot then it is done
and in the Blood and Spirits lie hid all the Dispositions and Inclinations the Creature was endued withal and therefore all sorts of Flesh that were permitted to be eaten were to be well purged from the Blood And also this same Blood was either to be consumed by Fire or an hole made in the Earth and the Blood cast into it and covered that the wrathful Spirits and Vapours thereof might not defile the Air which is continually breathed into our Bodies for when any Creature is killed the great pain and agony they endure does so powerfully awaken the Center of the wrathful Fire and also the internal Poysons which are the Root of every Life that the said fierce Poysonous Spirits seize the Blood on their right Fountain of Preservation so that the Blood does not only contain all the Natural Dispositions Passions and Inclinations but also the awakened Poysons and irritated Spirits which were violently stirred up by Death's stroke For when the Natural Life is in danger the continuation of which is so sweet unto all Creatures and they do so unwillingly part with it especially when the Creature is in perfect health and strength what a strange fear and dread must needs attend the Creature in this condition And how strongly and violently are all the Centers and Powers of Nature stirred up And then are awakened the revengful Spirits which do contain the Blood for that is their Habitation which in this Agonous condition does often spread it self through the whole Body and makes the Flesh look red but this is generally drawn back again by the drawing away of the Blood where the wound is made Now if this Blood be exposed to the open Air these fiery dark wrathful Spirits do by degrees evaporate and incorporate themselves with the Air and so defiles it and renders it pernicious The very same is to be understood in all other Uncleannesses and these are the chief Reasons why the Prophet Moses commanded the Blood either to be burnt on the Altar or buried in the Earth tho' there doth remain somewhat more to be said why he commanded the Blood to be consumed on the Altar by Fire which I shall forbear and speak of it in its proper place for those fiery wrathful Spirits that do evaporate themselves into the Air being continually breathed into the Body by such People as do communicate near such places as Slaughter-Houses and the like and more especially those that are of killing Imployments those awakened wrathful Spirits do enter them and powerfully incorporate themselves with their Similies for this cause all Butchers and others that do use such Trades are more fierce and cruel sooner moved to Wrath than others killing is as easie and familar to them as Plowing the Land is to the Husbandman and in a word they are far more inclined to violence than Men of other Imployments are The same is to be understood in all other Trades and also in Communications as those that are brought up and have their Conversasions amongst Horses are not most of them Robustick Proud Bold and Surly like the Creatures they Communicate with the same is likewise to be understood in many other hard working rough Trades and Imployments are not most of them rash head-strong scarce endued with common Humanity There is nothing so good or so bad but Man is capable of being captivated to it from this ground it is that weak Inclinations that a Man in himself is hardly sensible of may either by Imployments or Communications be made strong which is one Reason why Mens Inclinations and their Love and Hate alters and changes according to time place business and communication as some Men have declared that they did not fear being overcome with Drink Women or the like Evils becaue at that time they found no Inclinations to such things nevertheless Time Opportunity Communications and other Circumstances concurring many of them have been overcome by those Vices they so little stood in fear of though also Astrologick Configurations and Influences have a share in altering and changing Mens Inclinations and more especially when other causes concur For this cause the most prudent in all Ages have advised all Men to avoid evil occasions and the Apostle Paul saith That Evil Communication corrupts good Manners the truth of which no Man will or can deny Now if Imployments Communications Labours Words and all kind of outward business have so great power of changing and altering Dispositions and Inclinations increasing them and the contrary how can we imagine but Meats and Drinks received into the Body will have the same or greater Power and Operation as those that feed much on unclean Elesh as on Swine and that have their Conversation amongst Animals are not many of them much like those Creatures of sottish dull heavy sordid Dispositions yet subtle and cunning in a Bestial way And on the contrary those that drink Wine and feed on the highest Food have not they Spirits accordingly Also those whose Conversation is amongst Men as Citizens and Merchants have they not higher and greater Spirits being more tractable and humane fair and ingenious in all their Dealings and Conversations For all things have sympatheticil Operation whether it be Imployments Meats Drinks or Communications every thing does secretly awaken its like property which do often captivate the Spirit of a Man before he is sensible of it being ignorant of the Nature and sympathetical Operation all things have with his own Nature 'T is true most Men believe that evil Company corrupts Manner and will acknowledge that some sorts of Imployments do by degrees dispose People to Inhumanity Violence and Cruelty but if you tell them there is the same possibility and greater in Meats to vary not only Mens Bodies but also their Inclinations and Minds they shall laugh at it as a ridiculous Dream though in Truth it is a most certain Truth and daily Experience if we would but â—ear her Voice bears Witness unto it Why did Moses prohibit his People the eating of Swines Flesh seeing Swine are not serviceable unto Mankind any other way but by being killed and eaten and besides a Swine is a Creature that being well ordered becomes as wholesome Nourishment as some other Animals that are counted clean though there is somewhat to be said against the grossness of that sort of Flesh but the chief thing the Spirit of God in that great Prophet regarded was no doubt the Spirit of that Creature whose original and predominant quality stands in the dark wrath of Nature which is manisested by their shapes criâ—s and tones which Spirit the humane Nature ought not to joyn it self unto lest it partakes of its Nature Every thing having power to joyn its self with its likeness and to strengthen its own property Doth not Wine and strong Drink precipitate Men into Fury and Madness by Simile That is the Spirits in Wine do incorporate themselves with the natural Spirits and violently awaken them making
them burn too fierce which sets Nature into a Rage awakening the Central Spirits till all parts of the Body burn like Fire till the Oyl be consumed and Nature begins to languish becoming dull heavy and stupid The very same Operation have all Food in the Body and on the Spirits and Senses but more slowly and hidden for great meals of Food makes dull when first eaten for all the time Nature is a digesting and making separation which is four five or six hours a doing and then Nature begins to be brisk and lightsome for what the Stomach and Natural Heat do perform as to Fermentation and Separation with the Food is done to Natures Hand by Art in all sorts of strong Drinks therefore all such fermented strong Drinks have a present Operation but let Drink be ever so strong if it have not passed through Fermentation and Separation it will lie heavy on the Stomach and send dark and dulling fumes into the Head if a quantity be drunk Therefore great Meals of strong rich Food do endanger the Health more than proportionable drinking of strong Drinks especially in hot Countries and in Summer time in colder Climates That Dispositions and Inclinations are chang'd and alter'd by Food may further appear in all or most unclean Creatures are they not made much fiercer if raw flesh and blood be given them their wrathful unclean Nature being thereby enraged and made stronger And is not the very flesh of those Creatures Men feed on altered either for the better or worse according to the nature of their Food what a vast difference shall there be as to the goodness or badness wholesomness or unwholesomeness of the Milk of the very same Cow when she feeds upon fresh delicate Grass Herbs and Flowers and when she is kept on course Brewers Grains or the like The Elements of Man's Body and natural Spirits are compounded of the same matter as other Creatures are and in respects subject to the same or like alterations only the Holy Light and Grace of God which enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World if obeyed is sufficient to subdue most natural Inclinations and to keep them within the bounds of Temperance indeed this Gift is the only power by which a Man may overcome the Evil and deny himself 2. Flesh is not so clean a Food as Herbs Seeds and Fruits for all forts of Animals are subject to various Passions but on the contrary all or most Vegetables have a more simple and innocent Original therefore their Operation on the Body and Senses is as simple having no power to awaken any property in the Body but what is like themselves Furthermore we see that no Creatures that are clean will eat Flesh except they be taught it and brought to it by degrees on the other side all such Animals as naturally will eat Flesh are by all means counted unclean as Dogs Cats Bears Wolves Foxes and many others both in the Sea and Land and most Men will avoid the eating of such Creatures as being unclean in the Root of their Natures Therefore they desire such Food as hath affinity with them for every Creature rejoyceth in its likeness The Prophet Moses well understood this when he commanded that unclean Creatures and Blood should not be eaten because the Blood as is mentioned before doth not only contain the Spirits but the very Humour Dispositions and Inclinations of the Creature therefore it was to be killed and dressed after such a manner by which the Blood and superfluous matter was extinguished and if Flesh should now be prepared after their way we should not account it to have half the Vertue as it hath in our way of preparation Indeed the way of killing and preparing of Flesh and Fish that the Law-giver prescribed to his People was to cleanse the Flesh from all Blood in which stand the Spirits and all the Dispositions and Inclinations of the Creature lie hid By this means the Uniting of the Bestial Nature with the Human was in a great measure prevented and for no other reason all unclean Beasts Fowls and Fishes were so severely forbidden All Created things have but one only Ground and Original Every particular Creature contains the true Nature and Properties of the whole only the qualities are in several degrees one having one quality strong and another the Center For in every Creature one of the forms or properties do carry the upward Dominion and other qualities lye as it were hid but some times do manifest themselves but that property which is weakest may be awakened and made strong by its Simile as often comes to pass From this very ground proceeds all Sympathy and Antipathy Concord and Discord in this World For all those whose predominate qualities stand nearest and have affinity to each other such are friendly one to another but those whose predominate Properties have Antipathy each to other such slight one another and if the Grace and Holy Light of God do not restrain them they are very apt to speak Evil and Backbite one another The same is to be understood in the Divine Principle of God's Love those that through the Blessing and Favour of the Lord have obtained the Holy Gifts of the Spirit be it more or less all such People have affinity and bear good will each to other except the false Prophet's Opinion get in amongst them which is a Ravening Wolf Every thing rejoyceth in its likeness and the contrary in its death therefore it is highly convenient for every man to consider the Variety and the Possibility of its own Nature and that in himself is contained the true Nature of every thing in the visible and invisible World and that he bears a Simile with all things and is both capable and liable to be drawn either to Vice or Vertue by every thing he joyns himself to whether Meats Drinks Communications or whatever else a Man suffers his Will or Desires to run out after or enter into the same thing hath power to awaken its likeness and for this cause all the Wise Men and Prophets have advised to Cleanness and Sobriety and to the reading of Good Mens Books which do stir up the good Faculties in the Soul for all Books do bear the Image and Spirits of him that wrote them and so by Simile do awaken the like Spirit and Desire and so on the contrary if young or old give themselves to the reading of Plays or Books of Romances they will powerfully awaken by Simile the vain wanton Nature which before lay as it were hid Therefore it was said in the Revelations Come out from amongst them and be ye separated lest you partake of their Evils 3. The Reason why most People love and so much desire Flesh more than either Herbs Fruits or Grains is not because it doth afford either better Nourishment or is pleasanter to the Pallate or Stomach but it chiefly is because Man is departed in his Mind and desires from the
observe the necessary Rules of Temperance how careful then ought Mothers and Nurses to be in ordering their Children A great part of the Children that die especially in Towns and Cities is occasioned either by the Intemperance of their Mothers during the time they go with Child or afterwards by their unnatural and badly prepared Food and suffering them to eat to excess also by their keeping of them too warm and too close from the Air and lapping of them up in several Double Clothes and Swathes so tight that a Man may write on them and then puting them into warm Beds and covering them up close If a strong Man was so bound up he could not endure it without great injury unto his Health Besides the Window-Curtains are drawn and also the Curtains about the Bed by which means the Air becomes so hot and sulphurous that it causes great Disorders to attend both the Mothers and the Children This ill Kind of Management does also cause such a Tenderness both in the Mother and the Child that on every small occasion they are liable and apt to get Colds and divers other Distempers Also Women have the entire Management of all things that concern our Healths during the whole time of our Lives they prepare and dress our Food and order all things in our Houses both for Bed and Board There is not one Man of a hundred that understands or takes any notice whether his Food be well prepared or not and if his Bed stinks he is used to it and so counts it all well Mens Time and Study is chiefly taken up about getting a Livelihood and providing things necessary for themselves and Families so that there is not one among a thousand that understands any thing what belongs to the Preservation of his Health Whatever the Women do and say touching the Preparation of Food and other ordering of Families for Health most Men believe not making the least scruple or question of the truth thereof And well they may For the chiefest Doctors of our Times do bow before them and are altogether as subject to the Rules and Directions of Women as other Men. Where are your Doctors that teach Men Sobriety in their Lives or the proper and natural way of preparing Meats fit for the Stomach Which of them adviseth against the evil Custom of keeping their Chambers so over hot when People are sick and in the time of Womens lying in Child-bed Why do they not advise them not to have their Curtains so close drawn both before their Windows anâ— Beds insomuch that they are often times in a manner suffocated for want of the fresh Air For I affirm That all sorts of People that do keep their Beds let the occasion be what it will have ten-fold more need of the refreshing Influences of the Air than others that are up For the Bed being much hotter than a Man's Garments are when he is up the thin refreshing moist Vapâ—urs that do penetrate the whole Body more powerfully when a Man is up are thereby hindered This is one chief Reason why a Man cannot digest a Supper so well in Bed as if he sits up All Men know that the Bed destroys Appâ—tice If a Man go to Bed aâ— Eight a Clock and lies till Eight in the Morning he shall not be hungry but it he goes to Bed at the same time and rises at Four in the Morning though he sâ—s still without Action yet by Eight he shall have a good Stomach to eat and drink so great is the power of the Air For when a Man is up his Body is cool and the pure Spirâ—s and thin moist Vapours of the Air have power to penetrate the Body which Element the Body sucks in like a Spunge thorow the Pores and this doe not only cool and refresh â—he Spirits and the whole Body but also powerfully strengthens the Action of the Stomach But I pity the young Children most who are so tender and of so delicate a Nature both in their Body and Spirits that every Disorder does wound them to the very Heart Nothing is more grateful and refreshing to them than the pleasant Air It comforts their Spirits and cauâ—eth a free Circulation of the Blood and Radical Moisture begets Appetite and makes them grow in Strength But on the contrary hot sulphurous Airs with great Fires and warm Clothing do not only hinder the Circulation of the Blood but suffocate the Spirits and destroy the Appetite causing an unnatural Heat to possess the whole Body whence does proceed various Disorders and Diseases making them to cry and be very froward Also close Bindings and over-warm Clothings and thick hot Airs do oft in weak-spirited Children cause Convulsions Vapours and Fumes to fly into the Head sometimes occasioning Vomitting which People call Windy Diseases Again the Food of most Children of late years is so enriched with West and East-India Ingredients that is with Sugar and Spices that thereby their Food becomes so hot in Operation that it does not only breed too much Nourishment which generates Obstructions and Stoppages but it heats the Body drying up and consuming the Radical Moisture and infecting the Blood with a sharp fretting Humour which in some Complexions and Constitutions causeth languishing Diseases contracting the Breast and Vessels of the Stomach and hindering the Passages of the Spirits so that the Joynts and Nerves become weak and feeble In others with the help of bad Diet and other Uncleanliness does cause Botches Boils and various sorts of Leprous Diseases Also many that have wherewithal will frequently give their Children Sack strong Drinks and fat Meats as long as they will eat which is abominable and absolutely contrary to the Nature of Children There are a hundred other Disorders and Intemperances that many Mothers and ignorant Nurses affect their Children with which I have no room in this place to discourse of Therefore I commend unto the Women Milk that is raw only made so hot as the Mothers or Nurses Milk is when the Child socks it and sometimes Milk and Flower boyled together giving it the Châ—ld about tâ—e warmness of Breast-milk and indeed neither Children nor others others ought to eat any Food hotter Also no Children ought to drink any kind of strong Drink I could commend Water as the most wholesom but it being contrary to our Custom ordinary Beer may do well or rather small Ale If Women did understand but the hundredth part of the Evils and Diseases those indulging and intemperate Ways do bring both to themselves and Children they would quickly be of my mind which I never expect They are too wise CHAP. III. A short Discourse of thâ— Pain in the TEETH Shewing from what Cause it does chiefly proceed and also how to prâ—vâ—nt it THE terrible Pains and Diseases of the Teeth do chiefly proceed from two Causes The first is from certain filthy Phlegmy Matter which the Stomach and Vessels do continually breathe and send forth which does lodge
in abundance Therefore the Wise Antients did account it a Crime for Women to drink strong Drink or Wine tho' their Countries did afford Wine in abundance and good reason they had for the whole preservation of Mankind resides chiefly in the Temperance and Government of the Women if they are Intemperate the Radix of Men is corrupted are we not like to have very Fine Hopeful Healthy Children when the Mother by excessive Pampering her unweildy Carcass has contracted more Diseases than an Hospital Or when they are put out to some Drunken Nurse that instead of affording them wholsome Natural Milk Suckles them up with the unconcocted Dregs of that Brandy with which she daily overcharges her filthy Stomach The Nature of Women will not bear Excess in Meats and Drinks as Mens will without manifest danger to their Healths and also to the Health of their Children most Windy Diseases both in Women and Children being caused by their Intemperance both in quantity and quality They overcharging their Nature with Food containing too much Nourishment and Drinks that are too strong This is chiefly observable amongst Wanton Citizens and the Richer sort of People who pay dearly for the Lickerishness of their Palats by the Diseases that thence arise they being much more Distempered than the Ordinary pains-taking People I confess their are hardly any Women in the World so Intemperate and such great Lovers of there Bellies as the English nor is there any Nation more subject to Variety of Diseases and therefore they are afflicted with divers Distempers which Women in other Countries know nothing of And as our Children are generally weak Peuling Rickety and Sickly so the occasion thereof is too evident since they are almost made Gluttons from the very Cradle their Mothers gorging and feeding them till they loath their Victuals and often cast it up again and when they have been Cramming all day the good Woman entertains her Gossips with Stories what a little Stomach her Child has and that she can get it to eat nothing and She wonders how it lives and indeed so she may but for a quite contrary reason for this oppressing Nature with Excess in Youth is not only the cause of the Death of many but in others it sows such Seeds and lays foundations for Distempers that they can scarce out-grow them also many Women out of the like foolish fondness give their Children strong Drink which is very destructive to their Health Nor is it become unfrequent for Women not only to drink Brandy but also to smoak Tobacco which two things have a great affinity Tobacco being an Herb of Mars and its Poysonous fulsome attractive Nature from Saturn the common use of it in Pipes is very injurious to all sorts of People but more especially to the Female bex except it be taken very sparingly in a Physical way for some watery and windy Diseases but the usual taking of it destroys the Physical Vertues and Operation thereof only the daily Smoaking it may be profitable to Gluttons and those that Eat and Drink to Superfluity of Rich Food and strong Drink and live idle lives for such want Evacuations but Exercise and Temperance were much better for their Health Tobacco and Brandy are certainly utter Enemies to Women and also to their Children for their Spirits and Balsamick Body whence their true Life shines is more volatile and tender than Mens and their Natural Heat is not so strong for this cause Women cannot bear or endure any extreams either in Meats Drinks or Exercises without manifest danger to their Healths they being generally more sanguine than Men and their Central Heat weaker therefare all kind of inequality makes deeper Impression on them and they are sooner moved to all kinds of Passions for Women in their Radix are compounded more of the sweet Friendly Sanguine Nature their Dignificaâ—ion being chiefly from the Element of Water but the Root of Mens Nature is from the strong might of the Fire And for the same cause Women are more Chaste than Men and of colder Natures tho' many Men do believe the contrary but they are greatly mistaken in this particular having no true understanding of Nature they have judged thus hardly of Women because many of them are so easily drawn into inconveniencies by the pretended Friendship of Men but I do affirm that their being so easily overcome is not from their unchaste desires but chiefly from their Friendly Courteous Efleminate Natures being of a yielding Temper which is essentially in the Root of their Lives and when a Man has once awakened in them the Love-string which is quickly done he may command them as he pleases now finding them comply they imagine that of them which they find in themselves Not but that some Women are as unchaste as Men but then such through the Power of their depraved Free-Wills and Wanton Imaginations have forced Nature out of her simple Innocent ways compelling her often to do that which she perfectly loaths The wise Antients understanding this Nature and Constitution of Women and considering that the whole welfare and health of Mankind depended chiefly on their Temperance and Discreet Conduct did therefore direct them to an higher degree of Temperance and thought it requisite and so absolutely necessary that both the drink alotted for Women in most Countries was and is to this day pure Water and their Food as Innocent and Natural they eat Flesh sparingly living much on raw and boiled Herbs Fruits and Greens which is a most sublime Diet. And by this means their Women and Children are not afflicted with such a number of cruel Diseases There is no Country in the World where their Children and young People are so generally subject to the Small Pox Kings-Evil Joynt-Aches and many Leperous and languishing Diseases how many of them yearly die with Convulsions and Windy Distempers which generally they receive from their Mothers How many Miseries and aking Hearts do Women endure with their sickly Children And what Women are free from Vapors and Windy Diseases Fainting Fits weak Joynts and Backs their Blood corrupted breaking out in small spots in the Flesh of several colours their Stomach cold and their Natural heat not able to digest their Food without a Dram c For all which Evils there is no Remedy so long as our Women do continue the frequent Eating of fat gross Flesh without Herbs and other sweet high prepared Food and drinking strong Liquors as Brandy c. and taking Tobacco for these things do continually heat the whole Body thereby awakening the Central heat which is very injurious to Women for it presently sends Fumes and Vapours into the Head and the fierce Fires with venemous Particles do penetrate the whole Body drying up and consuming the pleasant moist cool airy Vapours suffocating the pure Spirits which otherwise would replenish the whole Body and sharpen the Appetite it also dulls the Senses and possesses the Blood with a sharp fretting humour and hinders
But when the Poor Neighbours whom Christ came to save as well as the others knock at the Door you either pretend you have nothing for them or else assign them the worst and coursest Fare a sorry pittance of Bull-Beef or a little Parboil'd Meat out of which you have extracted all the Nutritive Virtue to inrich your Plum Pottage even such as the Proud Wives and Miniking Daughters would scarce offer to their Negro Nos'd Dogs that are their Table and Lap Companions tho' one of the most Ravenous and Uncleanest Creatures in Nature And indeed since Man's Degeneration he delights much in the Converse and Company of the worst and vilest of Animals especially of such as are capable of being made by his wicked Industry his Butchers to hunt tear worry and torment the other Creatures of greater Value and Innocency which is accasioned by Simile because himself is departed from Innocence into Wrath and Fierceness For the same Reason the Rich and Proud cannot endure the Cries or Conversation of the Poor and Humble and therefore rarely Visit or willingly admit them into their Presence and when they crave an Alms will presently like Churlish Nabals reproach them as Idle Persons that spend their Money and time in Ale-Houses or drinking of Brandy when in truth this Reproof is not so much for Admonishment as to excuse your felves from giving them Relief and so at once saveboth your Monâ—y and your Credit as the Proverb hath it tho' at the same time you your selves set them the worst Examples by wallowing in all kind of Excess Intemperance and waste of the good Creatures of God And what is all this but vile Hypocrisy If idle expence of time and unnecessary Tippling be so great a Crime as renders men unworthy of common Mercies why do you practice it If you Indulge your selves therein why do you upbraid these poor Creatures that have far greater Temptations thereunto It may reasonably be supposed That scarce less than an Hundred Thousand Pounds has excused the City of London and Suburhs in unjustifiable Expences and Superfluity this very Christmas and if so what vast Sums may have been consumed in the Nation How common is it at such times especially for a Man to be almost jostled down or otherwise abused by Drunken Men and Boys and to have his Ears bor'd and the Air infected and the Streets polluted with Vollies of horrid Oaths Curses Execrations and Blasphemies O foolish People Bethink your selves turn from these and the like Ungodly Vanities and Abominations and observe this time and all other the short Moments of your fleeting Lives to the Ends for which the one was Instituted and the other lent you consider how uneasie and dreadfully prejudicial these courses will prove both to Soul and Body at the last Audit how incapable they render you of Answering the great Ends for which you were Created and sent into the World Let every one remember that he is but a Steward here and if God has given him a Benjamin's Portion more than is needful for himself and Family as many thousands have then it is his Duty to Improve the same by shewing Mercy â—o all and to distribute to the Needy the Fatherless and the Widow in special manner for with such Sacrifices is our heavenly Father well pleased nothing being capable of rendring us so like our Maker as mercifulness and Deeds of Charity for he makes his Sun to shine on the Just and Unjust and the fructifying Dews of his upper Chambers to fall with equality and affords his great and noble Elements viz the Earth the Water and the Air with all their numberless productions to all Creatures without respect of Persons or Things Therefore we are not to think our selves excused from doing good and relieving necessitous Persons though pehhaps they have not improved their Time and Talents to the best advantage but rather from thence reflect what vain and unprofitable Servants we have been our selves and how unworthy of any of those Mercies we enjoy And the better to accomplish and render us capable of discharging these necessary Duties let all that would be good Christians in earnest betake themselves to the good and wholsome Rules of Sobriâ—ty Temperance Cleanness and Order in Meats and Drinks which will not only make them more able to contribute to the necessities of their Poor Neighbours but preserve their Bodies and Spirits sound vigorous healthful and prompt to all good actions a sober or irregular Diet having far greater power not only on the corporeal parts but also on the Mind it self to improve or weaken it than most in our days imagine Did not our Fore-fathers live to wonderful Ages in perfect Health whilst their Foods were simple and innocent consisting chiefly if not wholly as before the Flood of Herbs Fruits and Grains with pure Water for Drink which of aâ—l other is most natural those Holy Patriarchs did not live by Slaughter and Violence nor make their Stomachs the Burial Places of dead Bodies nor did they ransack the furthest corners of the Earth for Dainties Their Provision was Innocent and simple cheap and ready at hand whereby they became able as fire is quencht by withdrawing of Fuel to check and regulate the extravagant motions of the Mind and Insurrections of the Flesh. Hence some of the Antients have delivered it as a Maxime That none could understand God and his wonderful Works or enjoy Health and long Life but those that abstain from Flesh Wine and Vices bounding their desires according to the Ends and Necessities of Nature not for insatiate Appetite or vain Customs for were Uncleanness and Intemperance reigns the Soul is so subjected to a gross unweildy and polluted Body that it cannot discern things Coelestial but Sobriety and Purity renders it the Temple of God wherein his blessed Spirit delights to dwell and communicate his Gifts and Graces so that where we see Temperance and Abstinence we may justly expect a Concatenation of all other Virtues because there no Superfluous matter is bred that may clog the Organs of the Body or render them indisposed for the Operations of the Soul nor can the manifold Benefits and Advantages thereby acrewing be conceived or understood by any but those only that have abandon'd Riot and Superfluity for nothing but Personal Practise and Perseverance therein can make a Man a competent Judge in this matter which I seriously recommended to all that would enjoy Health of Body or Mind For the Power of Temperance and Sobriety proceeds from an inward Principle and they endow their Observers with the Riches both of Time and Eternity making us truly sensible of God's Blessings The full Stomach loaths Ho Figuratively put for the choicest and most delicate Foods but to the hungry every bitter thing is sweet saith the wise King How pleasant how relishing how refreshing is every Man's dish of Food to the sober Mind and well prepared Stomach And how ready are such Men to give the