Lord thanks and humble acknowledgments for the least of his Mercies because they see feel and taste the most pleasant Operation of the Divine Hand in all things their Bodies are both sustained and delighted with the coursest Fare their Minds satisfied their Beds easie their Sleep sound they are not tortured with Gouts nor drowned with Dropsies nor burnt up with Feavers their Heads are not dulled with Fumes nor their Stomachs oppressed with fainting fits nor windy griping humours but they rise fresh as the Morning-Sun and chearful as the early Lark soaring aloft towards Heaven and on the Wings of Love and Gratitude chaunt forth Anthems of Praise to their adorable Creator For they are equally fit for Exercises either Corporeal or Spiritual their Fountain of Life Natures Balsamick Oyl the Radical Moisture flows freely thro' every part like a pleasant breeze of Wind that moderates the Central Fires that they burn not too violently For these reasons the Wise and Prudent in all Ages have zealously courted Temperance Abstinence and Cleanness as their best Guides and Companions they abate extravagant desires because a small matter will suffice a regular Appetite they resist Pride Covetousness and Vain-glory and are the only Friends or proper Nurses to Charity They punish not the Body with excessive Labour and at the same time ease the Mind of distracting Cares for what need they scrape contend or take thought for much when they know how little will fully and comfortably supply all their real wants To do good and Communicate of those Gifts which God has intrusted us with is one of the most fundamental Precepts in the Gospel since nothing renders us more like our Maker for he gives all things freely and receives nothing And likewise the same does naturally and by simpathy attract the sweet Influences of the Coelestial Bodies the Vertues all Elements with the well-wishes and hearty Prayers not only of the Poor and Needy but of all good Men which have a Secret yet powerful Influence on the Souls and Spirits of People so well disposed and to obtain Blessing on their Persons and Families 3. Therefore let all that would observe Solemn Times or Feasts observe them to the Lord viz. with serious pious Meditations Holy Conferences Humility Temperance and Alms-deeds and at such Seasons especially to avoid Gluttony Riot Drunkenness Excess Superfluity and Prophaneness and not to sacrifice so many thousands of innocent Creatures to their inordinate Lusts or ravenous Desires as now commonly they do which perhaps ought the rather to be regarded and avoided since God's Manifestation of his Holy Son of Light seems to have been in Love and Mercy to the whole World not only unto Man but likewise in some respects to the rest of the under-graduated Creatures for the Everlasting Gospel or Divine Power of God in his Son was and is to be Preached unto every Creature under Heaven as the Angel has it in the Revelations for this Act of Grace though some obtain greater Priviledges by it than others was Universal and though the Creatures were become subject unto Vanity by Man's Degeneration and Fall yet they shall again receive that State of Vnity and Pleasure which they should have enjoyed if Man had continued in his first Estate and therefore the Apostle aith The whole Creation groans to be delivered into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God That is to be freed from those Oppressions Violences and Miseries they now suffer under Man's fierceness and Tyranny for so far as Man is truly Redeemed from the wrathful fierce Spirit so far he freeth all Creatures under his Government And therefore the Scripture saith The Righterous Man is merciful to his Beast And let us flatter our selves as we please these Extravagancies and Violences to innocent Creatures the spilling of their Blood and eating so continually of their Carcasses does both awaken and strengthen the Fountain of Wrath within us and will certainly in due time draw down a Retaliation of Vengeance This we see every day in part fulfilled for are not our Heliogaâ—alus's our mighty Devourers that continually gorge their Paunches with the Flesh of their fellow Animals severely punisht for their Gluttony and Cruelty by a multitude of torturing Diseases as Gouts Dropsies Consumptions c. And not only so but when the Evil grows generally predominant it is Chastized by some Epidemical Judgment or Pestilence I pretend not to Prophecy nor would amuse People with vain Threats but this I may modestly say That if we look back into History we shall rarely find but the Plague hath visited the City of London more or less in the Circle of every twenty years And if it hath now been free twenty two years we may perhaps assign the Nature Causs thereof to the great Fire which purged its stench and pollutions and that noble open way of Rebuilding whereby the whole City is become much more sweet and delightsome and the particular Houses more Airy and Pleasant rendring the whole much more wholsome to the Inhabitants this may defer but will not I fear be able altogether to prevent the returns of sweeping Sicknesses and if we regard the Course of Nature and especially the Sins and Provocations of People stirring up the Divine Wrath I am very apt to fear some such terrible Visitation within these two three or four years next at farthest but in this I am not positive for God draws his destroying Sword at his own appointed times however the Caution can do no hurt to admonish all Persons of each Sex Age and Condition to Repent and amend their Lives lest they be snatcht away suddenly and there be none to deliver Which that they may do and lay up Treasures in Heaven by being liberal to the Poor on Earth I do again with all earnestness exhort them to Sobriety Temperance and Works of Mercy And that this may be the more regularly performed I shall propose an easie Method which each Person may encrease or diminish as to the proportion of Alms set down according to their respective Circumstances provided they bestow freely as in the Presence of God what they can spare without any real Injury to their Family Since 't is a custom amongst most Men especially Traders in Cities and Towns at this time to cast up their Stocks to see how God has blessed them for the year past as to their Profits or Losses it would be highly convenient if for every Pound it shall upon the Ballance appear that they have gain'd to give at least Six Pence to the Poor or other good Uses as towards the Education of poor Children which is the Foundation of good Government and Order and as for Gentlemen and Persons of great Estates whose Revenues come in without Labour of their own to allow for every Hundred Pounds per Annum one Shilling in the Pound and Farmers or Renters of Land to give Three Pence for every Pound they have gained in the foregoing Year And other Men of
Body from pain and the Mind from perturbations sweetening all God's Blessings and giving the opportunity of time which being well employ'd affords many benefits both to the Body and Mind for what advantage is it if a Man possess the whole World if his Body be full of pain through Intemperance which for the most part no less affecteth and indisposeth the Mind 5. Brandy Rumm and all strong Spirituous Drinks are far more dangerous in hot Climates and Countries than they are in cold and do sooner there destroy the Health though they be bad in both except taken in a Physical way I know this is contrary to the Vulgar Notion but it is agreeable to Truth Experience and Reason for in hot Climates the Natural Heat is not so strong by reason of the forcible Influences of the Sun which do powerfully exhale the Radical Moistrue open the Pores and too violently evaporate the Spirits by continual Sweatings which dulls the edge of the Appetite weakening the Digestive Faculty of thâ—â—tomach whereby the inclination to drink is increased for which reason many desire hot Spiritual Drinks because they find a present Refreshment for all such Drinks do powerfully awaken the Internal Spirit by simile and make Men quick lively and brisk during the time of their Operation which is but for a moment but after wards they find themselves heavy dull and indispesed and their Stomach seeble cold and raw which does inâ—â—ce â—â—dd that do accâ—stoâ—â— themselves to such Drinks To take a Hare of the same Dog as their Phrase is and so they drink more and are continually the more weakened for all such fiery strong Drinks do not only Prey on the Natural Spirits but also too violently do evaporate them The very same Operation have all strong Drinks as Wine and the like if Temperance be wanting but not so violently as the former Therefore in hot Climates there ought to be double the Care and Temperance in Meats Drinks and Exercises as in Cold of which the Natives of most hot Countries might be our Examples for they do for the most part live very temperately their Drink being generally Water or Wineallay'd with Water their Food mean or more simple than ours whereby they are better preserv'd in Health for the Constitutions of all People in hot Climates are weaker or at leastwise not so able to endure great Meals of Food and superfluous drinking of strong Drinks as they are in cold For cold Countries make Men hardy strong and able to endure Intemperance for which cause it is observed that most of the Northern Climates are very Intemperate in drinking and eating and in hot they are the contrary And therefore our English are much Distemper'd and many die when they Travel into the West and East Indies because they take wrong measures continuing the same disorder and intemperance as they did in their own Country or rather encreasing it which Nature cannot bear without manisest prejudice 6. It is to be noted that those that do accustom themselves to the frequent drinking of the forementioned fiery Spiritual Drinks in all the Plantations in the West Indies and also the common-eating of Salt-Fish and Flesh which are all great Extrâ—ams do thereby become very obnoxious to the dry Belly-ach or Griping of the Guts Dropsies and the Gout for all such Food and Drink does violently stir up and consume the Natural Heat and Moisture wherethe digestive Faculty of the Stomach is rendered unable to Concoct or make any perfect Separation either of the Food or Drink which oppresses the whole Body whence are generated Evil Iuiâ—es that fall into the Joynts infeebling and torturing them and this is the Original of the Gout in other Complexions these Disorders consume the Airy Flesh of the Bones taking away their Natural Strength and Vigour so that they languish away by degrees and these you call Consumptions in others for want of Heat and Moisture the Excrement in the Bowels is contracted into so hard a Substance that it cannot pass and there is hardly a Medicine found that will cure it this is that which the Learned call the Illiacal Passion and the Vulgar The Plague in the Guts being one of the most tormenting Diseases in the World And in other Bodies the Central Heat being wasted by such unfit Meats and Drinks so that great part of the Food turns into a Flux of Humours both Windy and Watry which swell the lower parts of the Body and this is the Generation of your Dropsies but as God is always good and his Hand-Maid Nature an indulgent Mother so they have as it were chalk'd out the Means and prescribed a Diet whereby these Diseases may be prevented would Men but be so wise as to observe and follow it for all hot Climates do furnish the Natives with wonderful Variety and Plenty of Herbs and Fruits far exceeding cold Countries therein both in quantity and quality for in those hot Regions the Sun hath greater power to prepare all such things And if our English would but accustom themselves to such harmless natural simple Foods and moderate Drinks the forementioned Distempers would hardly be known 7. It is also to be noted and much to be pitied that of late years many English Women have betaken themselves to the drinking of Brandy and other Spirits and have invented the Black-Cherry-Brandy which is in great esteem so that she is no body that hath not a Bottle of it stand at her Elbow or if ever so little Qualm or Disorder be on the Stomach or perhaps meerly fancied then away to the Brandy-Bottle so that when such People come to be sick which most of them are very subject unto the Physiciaus do not know what to Adninister they having in their Health used themselves to such high fiery drinks that their Cordials seem like Water to them Besides there are many fatal inconveniencies attend the Female Sex more than than the Male in drinking such Drinks most of which are not so proper to be publickly mentioned in this place and therefore I shall forbear but some I cannot but instance in and though perhaps some Women too much addicted to the Delights of the Bottle may be offended with me for telling them the Truth and endeavouring to wean them from the Beloved Dram yet to do them good I shall venter the Hail-shot of their Tongues and hope they will in time grow so wise as not to indulge a foolish sottish humour when it tends apparently to destroy not only their own Healths and shortning of their Lives but likewise entails Diseases and Destruction on their poor Innocent Children for it is not only against the Feminine Nature to drink strong Drinks but also Destructive to the Generation of Mankind it makes them Masculine and Robustick filling them with Fury and Madness and many other Indecencies which are no less pernicious than shameful in a Woman lt also Distempers them by causing Fumes and Vapours to fly into the Head generating Wind
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
have the Preheminence of Foods Neither are they indued with so much nor so good Nourishment as Corn Foods But here we must give way to the prevailing Tyrant Custom which is the Champion I am to make War against and as the Foods of Beasts are better or worseâ— clean or substantial their Health Strength and Ability are according The like is to be understood of the Food Men live on for it is not as is said before the gross Juices that affords the true Nourishment but the fine light volatile Spirituous Vertues for this cause most are greatly mistaken that attribute so great and good Nourishment to Flesh and Fish Indeed they are full of gross Matters and Juices which do serve chiefly to cloud the finer Vertues and true Life which do also add Weight and not Spirit so that the great Eaters thereof become dull and heavy loading Nature with too great quantities of Phlegmatick Juices and Humours which do not only oppress Nature in all her Operations but is the Root of many Diseases both of the Body and Mind Green Corn and Grass are endued with more Substance and Juices than either Hay or Corn but it is Earthly and Gross and affords a Nourishment of a like Nature The more any thing is loaded or endued with Gross or Corrupt Matter the sooner it falls into Putrifaction But on the contrary the dryer firmer and more Spirituous any thing is the longer it will endure and be preserved from Corruption But of all things Men eat Flesh and Fish do sâ—oner decay because of the abundance of gross Matter it does contain which does as it were in a moments time cloud and suffocate the fine Sal-nitral Vertues I am sure that a Man may make a better Meal with half a Penny-worth of Wheat-Flower made into Pap and half a Penny-worth of Bread to eat with it and a little Salt and be as strong brisk and able to perform any Labour as he that makes the best Meal he can with either Flesh or Fish So great is the Ignorance Folly Blindness false Opinion and Custom of those that call themselves the Learned Pray tell me what kind of Ignorance and Madness does possess the Poor Labouring Man that hath but Six Pence or One Shilling to buy Food for his whole Family and to lay it out in a Sheeps Head and Gethers or an Oxes Liver which is his whole Stock and the best Food that can be expected from it is a little Corrupt Broth or Putrified Pottage when with five times less charge in Flower he might have procured a far better Meal being made into Pap or Gruel with a little Bread and Salt It is also to be noted that those that live on Corn Food have not occasion to drink Strong or Cordial Drinks as those that eat Flesh and Fish the first being more spiriâ—uous and warming the last Cold Phlegmatick and Gross and harder of Concoction 'T is likewise observable that half the quantity of Wine or strong Drink will exhillerate a Man that lives on CornFood to as high a degree as double the quantity will those that feed on Flesh c. which is a good Argument that Corn Food affords the cleanest and finest Nourishment and breeds the best Blood and Humours the Spirits being as it were always upon the Wing and consequently apter to be moved The Complexion of Fish and Flesh is Cold and Phlegmatick but whilst living they are for the most part of a hot lively-brisk Temperament each according to its Nature and the Food they live on But when the great Powers of Life are destroyed by the baneful stroak of the Butcher all the airy brisk Vertues bid the Corpâ— adue and the whole Mass becomes a lump of a sad Melancholick Nature and Operation what Notions soever some have to the contrary The True and most Natural Method of Preparing the forementioned Pottage Gruels and Paps made of Flower Pease c. TAke one Ounce of Wheatâ— flower which is a small Spoonful make a Point of Water near boyling hot temper your Flower with 3 or 4 Spoonfuls of cold Water then stir it into your hot Water keep it stirring on your Fire till it boyls up then it is at the thickest and is compleatly prepared add some Salt and a few crums of Bread letting it stand till it be almost cold this makes an excellent Meal for any Child from five or six years of Age to ten or twelve Or you may make it thus Take an Onion cut it 〈◊〉 boyl it in your Water a few minutes then add your temper'd Flower as before seasoning it with Salt and some Crums of Bread this eats very pleasant and is very satisfactory to the Stomach Onions are very wholsom in Pottages and Gruels they naturally warm and open the Obstructions of the Brest and Ureters and are not prejudicial to the Head nor Eyes when temperately used Another TAke two Ounces of Flower beaten or mixed with cold Water stir this into one Pint and a half of hot Water till it boyls up adding Salt and a little Bread and those that have no Bread may boyl an Onion in the Water before the Flower is put in this eaten makes a brave noble Exhillerating Meal for a Man which costs little more than one Farthing notwithstanding Corn is at such a high Price after this manner you may make what quantity you please thicker or thinner as it agrees best with you thick is best for strong Healthy People and for such as Labour thin is more advantagious for sick People or such as are troubled with foul Stomachs and obstructed Ureters a mean or middle sort is most proper for those that are of a soft Imployment or live a Sedentary Life Oatmeal Pottage TAke a Quart of Water make it boyling hot then take a large Spoonful of small or ground Oatmeal or somewhat better than a Spoonful temper it with cold Water then set it on your Fire till it begins to boyl up then brew it again and it is done add Salt and a little Bread letting of it stand till it be almost cold with this alone a Man may make as good a Meal as with all the Varities the four Elements afford for it renders the common Eater thereof strong lively and healthful Or you make it thus if it be for a Meal without other things make your Water boyling hot then take an Onion and some Pot-Herbs let your Herbs and Onions boyl a little time in your Water before you brew or stir the tempered Oatmeal after which you must stir your Oatmeal in till it boyl up or begins to boyl then it is done adding Salt and Bread this a most pleasant and wholsome Pottage and very nourishing but such as loves it plain may have it so and others that will have it with Pot-Herbs without an Onion may please themselves it 's a brave Food whether with or without Herbs But give me leave to tell you that for such as live only on such Flowered or
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
its free Circulation causing the pure natural Spirits whose habitation is in the Blood to become impure whence arises a general indisposition over the whole Body Therefore all that love their own Health or the good of their Children ought to refrain such hurtful Food and learn to know that Brandy Tobacco and all such things are to be taken sparingly and no otherwise than as People take Physick CAAP. II. Of Flesh and its Operation in the Body and also on the Senses That the continual eating thereof without the due distinction of proper Times and Seasons does darken the Spirits and distempers Nature Likewise of the Exellency of Herbs Fruits and their inward Operation on the Body and Mind THE eating of Flesh was not allowed or practised in the first and purer Ages when Men gave themselves to the Study of Wisdom viz. To the Knowledge of themselves and were partakers of God's Secrets in Divine and Humane things and enjoy'd Health and long Life drawn out to the Age of many hundred years For thus the Holy Scripiure tells us Gen. 1. The Lord said Behold I have given to you every Herb bearing Seed which is upon the Face of all the Earth and every Tree in which it the Fruit of a Tree yielding Seed to you it shall be for Meat And in another place it is said Flesh with the Blood thereof you shall not eat It is not said That the Lord made all Creatures for Man to eat as I have heard many affirm but he made them for his own Glory and Eternal Honour and for the manifestation of his Wonders and that Men should have Dominion over all Creatures and Created things which Man hath lost by suffering his desires and imaginations to enter into the Bestial Nature which does by degrees captivate the Noble parts in Men. But the Wise Ancients for divers Ages of the World did know but little of the variety of Flesh and strong Drinks or of compounded Dishes of twenty sorts of things most of them of disagreeing Natures No their Food was simple and natural easie to be procured without oppression to themselves or to any of God's Creatures as Herbs Fruits and Grains and pure Water for drink which things are endued with a most simple Nature and Operation which neither dulleth the Head by Fumes nor stupifies the Senses by Surplusage of Nourishment but being well prepared and eaten moderately do nourish by way of Simile its like qualities in the Body being of lighter digestion and of a more Airy Operation than Flesh being also void of all Inclinations Senses or Passions of Love or Hate whose Original is more clean and nearer the Unity in Nature therefore the Philosophical Antients in former Ages incouraged the eating of Herbs Fruits and Grains but on the contrary made Laws against the common eating of Flesh without distinction The Great and most Illuminated Prophet Moses did not admit the Children of Israel to eat any Flesh during their forty years March through the Wilderness 'T is true when the People did Murmur the Lord being provoked gave them Flesh in his Wrath and afterwards when they were admitted to eat Flesh it was with such distinctions and with so many circumstances as could not be performed but by abundance of labour and trouble and other inconveniencies by which Laws and Observations many of God's Creatures became of little or no use in the Creation as Swine and the like if indeed they had only been made for Men to eat But the Lord never commanded his People in any Age to abstain from any thing but it was always for their preservation for Abstinence Cleanness and Sobriety in Meats Drinks Exercises and Communications do work wonderful Effects and have a Sympathetical Operation both in the Body and Senses rendering the Observers thereof Healthful with brisk powerful Spirits watchful prndent of good forecast able to give Council and for matters of Learning they do easily grow to an Excellency in the knowledge of themselves and in all other things whereunto they do apply themselves And as for Prayers Meditations and Contemplations they do perform them with great Facility Pleasure and Spiritual delight being always fresh in their Minds and free from Diseases in their Bodies By this way of Sobriety Cleanness and Temeperance many of the Antients became admirable both in Divine and Humane Wisdom 't is well known how Scrupulously the Pythagoreans one of the most Learned and Mysterious of all the Sects of Gentile Philosophers abstained from Flesh. The Divine Writer and great Prophet Moses testifies that God made Man in his own Image and that he should have Dominion over all things or Creatures not that he should eat all things or hurt himself by devouring them nor suffer his desires to enter into them nor theirs into him for Man is a Prince in this World and in him is contained the true Nature of all the inferior Creatures for it it were not so he could not be their Prince nor be sustained by them And tho' Man was made greater than other Creature that is visible and to be Lord over all yet nevertheless he having a Simile with the Nature of all things is thereby rendered capable to be wrought on by every inferior thing he shall suffer his desires to enter into and by degrees he is liable to become captivated unto that thing be it either good or or evil for every like as I told you before works on and awakens its likeness This was the reason why Moses commanded that unclean Beasts should not be eaten that the Humane Nature might not mix or incorporate in it self the Beastial qualities for every indvidual Man has essentially in him the true Natures and Essences of all the Beasts of the Field and Fishes of the Sea as also of all Herbs and Fruits Stones and Minerals and whasoever else can be thought of for it this were not so then Man would not be subject to be wrought on by all neitheir would the various sorts of food agree with him or nourish him The wise Antients understanding this and that every thing had power to attract unto it self such matter out of all things as is capable to nourish its own Body therefore in those days the eating of Flesh was not in such Reputation as of late years it hath been especially as it is in England who do make it their chief Food all Vegetables and Fruits being in themselves of a clean simple Nature and Operation which being well prepared and temperately eaten have only power to waken their Similies in the Body and Senses as foresaid But on the contrary all Beasts especially unclean Beasts are enduâ—d with all kind of Beastial Passions as Anger Revenge Covetousness Love and Hate which Dispositions and Passions of the Flesh but especially the Blood doth retain after such Animals are killed and for that reason it was that the Blood of all sorts of Beasts was so strictly forbidden for the essential Spirits dwell in the Blood
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
innocent ways of God and Nature and through his Free-will hath awakened the dark wrathful powers in himself which have more Affinity with the Beastial Nature than with Herbs or Fruits For the Beasts are endued with the very same Passions in all respects as Men if it had not been so the Commandment had not been so strict against eating of Flesh for the Radix of Beasts and Men have a greater Affinity And the more ignorant and sottish People are the more they desire to eat Flesh and the more Flesh they eat the more Sottish Ignorant and Brutish they become Also the more the dark poysonous Wrath of God and Nature is stirâ—ed up and the more it does predominate in Man the more doth Man desire Food that hath a proportionable Nature From this very ground it is that some sorts of Creatures esteem'd Unclean whose predominant quality stands in the Wrath of Nature do so much desire unclean Food because it hath unity with their Natures the very same is to be understood of those Creatures which we call clean they do as much on the contrary desire clean Food viz. Fruits and Herb because such things have the nearest Affinity with their Natures and if Men had not departed from the Innocent ways of God and Nature and suffer their Wills to enter into the Wrath and Beastial Nature they would not so much desire Flesh for Flesh cannot be eaten without violence done to Nature for the Lives of all Beasts are as sweet to them and they as much desire to continue them as Men do and as unwillingly part with them And the Groanings of these Creatures that suffer Oppression and Pain do awaken the Wrath in them that do it which is a certain Retaliation or Reward for all kind of Cruelty does stir up and awaken the Wrath of God in Nature and so on the contrary all Love and Concord does powerfully beget its likeness Doth not every evil word which does proceed and is formed from the Principle of Wrath and Pâ—ssioâ— carry the power of its Principle with it and awaken its Simile in those to whom such words are directed On the contrary do not soft and pleasant words pacifie Wrath by awakening their Simile Every Principle and Property in Nature must have its own Food or else it loseth its Power and Strength Mens coveting to eat so much Flesh is too plain a sign that they are departed from that Innocent and Simple Life for which they were made and entered into the contrary for if the Wrath of God in Nature were not awakened beyond its proper degree and did not predominate over the Simple Innocent Life then People would no more desire Flesh than our Holy Ancestors in the first Ages of the World It is a token we are in AEgypt when we hanker so much after the Flesh pots As long as Men were partakers of and followers of the true knowledge of God's Works and lived in the simple path of Nature which led to Health and long Life Herbs and Fruits were in as great esteem as Flesh is now It was a shame in former Ages for a Man to be seen to buy Flesh or to have carried it openly in the Streets of Cities but now the best Citizens count it the contrary and make nothing to go openly to the Flesh-Markets in their Plush-Coats and load a Porter two or three time a Week with the Spoils of their Slaughtered Fellow-creatures and if a Man comes to their Houses after Dinner there he may behold a very unpleasant sight viz. Greasy-Platters Bloody-Bones and pieces of fat flesh lie up and down the Kitchin thereby rendered next door to a Slaughter-House And this Trade is drove every day in the Week but more â—specially on the day they call their Sabbath tho'in truth they do not make it so but rather a day of Feasting a day wherein they bury the dead Bodies of Slaughtered Beasts and a day on which our English Belly-Slaves and Gluttons make their Servants do more work than any other day of the Week as to dressing of Food And day likewise whereon most People Cloath themselves in all their Bravery and the Women go to Church to take notice who has the finest Cloathes and the newest fashions c. but why do I blame the Women the Men have been the occasion of all this and much more If those of each Sex did hearken to the Voice of God and Nature they would forsake such sinful Vanities and not thus seek Death in the Error of their Lives I have drawn the Curtain and given them a brief view of Natures School wherein the Sons of Wisdom learn to obey her Dictates and by their prudent Conduct and Temperance avoid those many torturing Diseases of Body and distracting perturbations of Mind to which the rest of the World necessarily enslave themselves 〈◊〉 their perverse folly What I have delivered is the very Doctrine of Nature approved by Religion justified by Reason and confirmed by Experience Those that wilfully slight so many Monitors will scarce deserve Pity in their Misery CHAP. III. I. Of Cleanness in Food WHat is more profitable for all Lovers of Health and Wisdom than Food that is Radically Clean And as Bread hath deservedly the first place together with Herbs and various sorts of excellent Fruits so the next is Milk which of it self is a brave mild and most friendly Food to Nature very fit and profitable for all Ages and Complexions and if it do not agree with some People it is because their Stomachs are made sharp and sowred by superfluity of dainty Food and the continual use of strong Drink Also Milk being altered it makes many sorts of wholesom healthy Food Next to these are various sorts of Flesh which being killed in their proper Times and Seasons and when they are free from their Uncleannesses Surfeits and other Inconveniences which most Beasts are subject to and if care be taken also that they be well and moderately seasoned with Salt and boyled in plenty of River of Spring-water which is the best of all Waters except Rain-water they become wholesom Nourishâ—â—nt For River-water hath the advantage of running through various sorts of Earth by which it sucks into it self a fat oyly and saline Quality which the Surface of the Earth does plentifully afford which also is the cause of all Vegitation and the lovely Green Colour which all Vegetables are cloth'd with does arise from this Saline Quality For these Reasons River-water will Brew Boil and Wash and it is more profitable in all Uses in Houswifery than Spring or Pump-water and far wholesomer for Men and Beasts to drink Also your Vessel in which your Food is boiled ought to be uncovered all the time it boils for if the Air have not its free egress and regress the pure Spirits in the Food become as it were suffocated and then the Food so prepared becomes dull and heavy for the Air is the Essential Life of the Spirit and all
Food that hath not plenty of Water and the free Influences of the Air in its Preparation does certainly lose its natural Colour with the pure Smell and Taste For if those three Qualities be not preserved in all Preparations of Food then the genuine Vertue and lively Tinctutes are in part lost The same is to be observed in all Physical Operations And if the above-mentioned Order be not observed then the Food is not so pleasant to the Palate nor so easie of Concoction it lies heavy in the Stomach dulling and stupifying the Senses it generates a gross Nourishment and bad Blood whence does proceed many Diseases Whereas if the above-mentioned Rules be observed and your Fire quick that your Food do not stand still or cease from boiling till it be sufficiently done the Effects are contrary It is also much better the Food should be a little under-prepared than too much For when the gross phlegmatick Body of any Food is by Preparation digested then presently the lively spirituous Quality is set at liberty whence does proceed a most pleasant Smell and Taste which pleasant Quality before the Preparation lay hid or captivated in the Body of Phlegm but so soon as this Phlegmatick Body is in part dâ—troyeâ— the Spirit becomes Volatile and then if the Preparation be continued those pure Spirits do either become suffocated or evaporate and then the sweet Balsamick Body turns as it were sowr For these Reasons all sorts of Food either over-prepared or twice prepared are of a strong fulsome taste and smell as all Meats heat again and also Pottages and all such things do obstruct Nature and generate many Diseases But if the forementioned Rules be observed the Food so prepared is not only more pleasant to the Palate but far lighter of Digestion and breeds better Blood For that Universal Distemper the Scurvy which reigns so much in England is chiefly caused by Food ill prepared and the eating of too much Flesh and Fat things especially in the improper Seasons of the Year viz. from Iuly to the last of November In this Season the Sun which is the true Life and Power of all things declines and all sorts of Herbage which is the Food of all Beasts that are generally eaten doth the same The Grass all this Season is fraught with a gross Phlegmatick Matter besides it is a fainty hot time the Air which is the Cherishing Life of all things is more gross and full of Humidity than all other times of the Year the Spirits of all sorts of Creatures are also weak and on any Accidents are quickly wounded or evaporated more especially those Beasts that come from remote Parts to great Cities Besides it is then the principal time of their Generating which renders them unclean Are not the People tenfold as sickly in this Season and double the number die than they do at other times Also you may observe That the Rots amongst Sheep and Murrains that attend other Beasts are all or most of them in this Season Therefore all sorts of People ought to be more careful of their Health both in Exercises Meats and Drink that they do not exceed either in quantity nor eat things that are improper in quality This is the time that all Shepherds and also those that are Drivers of Horses and indeed all that have the Government of Cattel ought to have and use double the Prudence in the Management of them than at other Seasons of the Year as I have more largely discoursed in a small Treatise of the â—â—â—servation of Sheep from the Rot and Horses from Surfeits There are three Marks by which every one may know whether the Flesh be good The first is by its pure White and brisk Red Colour when Raw. The second is by its continuing its firmness being plump or swelled when boiled having a brisk and lively Taste and that after eating it feels easie and pleasant in the Stomach The third is by its taking Salt well for if your Flesh be free from Heat and Surfeits and not over-fed which chargeâ— the body with gross Phlegm as also if it be not kept longer after it is killed as indeed it ought not than it be thought to be cold before it is salted all such Flesh will take Salt greedily and it will not only keep longer from Putrifaction but it will eat much sweeter and breed better Nourishment For if any sort of Cattel be over-fed surfeited or any other Inconveniency attends them and they be killed before they have recovered themselves of those Injuries or if it le in August September or October this Flesh will not take Salt so well as the former neither will the Saltpreserve it half so long from Corruption Also as it is before-mentioned if Flesh 〈◊〉 kept too long after it be killed such Flesh will not receive Salt into it as other will which is salted as soon as it is cold For by keeping it does certainly lose its pure Spirituous Quality so that the Body becomes heavy gross and dull Does not the Life and Spirits of most sorts of Food waste and evaporâ—te by keeping if there be not a proper way of Preservation used If Flesh by any Inconveniences have lost its pure lively Spirits and Vertue Salt then hath no power to preserve such Flesh from Putrifaction For Salt cannot preserve the Body from Corruption but by vertue of the pure subtil Spirits which are a pleasant Habitation for the Salt to incorporate it self with For Salt will not preserve Flesh from Putrifaction any longer than the Vertue and Power of the Spirit does continue as it does appear by all salted Flesh and Fish For through length of time the Spirits become either suffocated or evaporated and then it presently falls into Purtifaction And yet this same Flesh does still contine Salt for Salt does not destroy and pâ—â—ge the Flesh from its Corruption but incorporates it self with the Essential Spirits and those two do as it were tye or hold the corrupt part Captive till the Spirit and Life of the Flesh be spent or wasted and then the Flesh falls into Putrifaction which cannot be recovered either by salting or any other Art to its first state But if the Salt had purged or destroyed the Humidity and gross part then there would have been no Room nor Matter for Putrifaction and then it would have continued firm and found as many other things do which are freed from that gross humid Matter from which Putrifaction does proceed Therefore Flesh is naturally the most unclean of all Food is being of a gross Phlegmatick Nature and if Care be 〈◊〉 taken Order and Temperance observed in the Eater it generates abâ—ndance of crude and noxious Humours 2. Cleanness in Houses especially in Beds is a great Preserver of Health Now Beds for the most part stand in Corners of Chambers and being ponderous close Substances the refreshing Influences of the Air have no power to penetrate or destroy the gross Humidity that all
such Places contract where the Air hath not its free egress and regress In these shady dull Places Beds are continued for many Years and hardly see the Sun or Elements Besides Beds suck in and receive all sorts of pernicious Excâ—ements that are breathed forth by the Sweating of various sorts of People which have Leprous and Languishing Diseases which lie and die on them The Beds I say receive all these several Vapours and Spirits and the same Beds are often continued for several Generations without changing the Feathers until the Ticks be rotten Besides we have many Feathers that are Imported from several Countries which are the Drivings of old Beds the Uncleanness whereof is not considered As to the Nature of Feathers they are of a strong hot fulsom Quality For Fowls of all Creatures are for the most part the hottest and their Feathers contain the fame Nature Therefore the constant lying on soft Feather-beds does not only over-heat the Back and Reins weakning the Joints and Nerves but they have power also not only to receive but retain all evil Vapours and Excrements that proceed from and are breathed forth by various Diseased People Hence it comes to pass that sundry Distempers are transferred from one to another by lying upon or in such Beds which Distempers do secretly steal on a Man by Degrees so that he cannot imagine whence the disorder proceeds or what the Cause thereof should be But I would not have the Reader mistake me all People are not subject to get Diseases this way There are some whose Constitutions are strong and their Natural Heat and Spirits are vigorous and lively by the Power and Vertue whereof they withstand and repel all such evil Vapours and Scents as do proceed from such Beds when a Man is hot and sweats in them that they have no power to seize the Spirit But on the contrary when such People shall lie on such Beds whose Natural Heat is weak their Spirits few and whose Central Heat is not able to withstand or repel those Vapours and Scents which such Beds send forth when a Man is hot in them this last sort of People are subject to receive Injuries and contract Diseases For those evil Vapours do powerfully penetrate the whole Body and if they are not withstood by the Central Heat and Power of the Spirits then these evil Vapours do seize the Spirits and incorporate themselves with their Likenesses For every particular thing does sensibly and powerfully seek out its Likeness and wheresoever it find its Simile it hath power to incorporate and become essential These are the chief Reasons why one Man gets Diseases by lying with Diseased Persons and in unclean Beds and others not It is a general Custom when Men go abroad or travel to desire clean Sheets imagining them to be a sufficient Bulwark to defend them from the pernicious Fumes and Vapours of old stale Beds but it is too short For it is certain that most or all Beds do perfectly stink not only those in Inns and Houses of Entertainment but others Not but that every ones Bed does smell indifferent well to himself but when he lies in a strange Bed let a Man but put his Nose into the Bed when he is thoroughly hot and hardly any Common Vault is like it Now this sort of Uncleanness which does proceed from old Beds is not only the greatest but also the most injurious to the Health and Preservation of Mankind and the least Care is taken to prevent it Every one that can will have plentiful Changes both of Linneâ— and Woollen Garments for if they have not Experience does shaw that the Excrements and Breathings of the Body will generate Vermin Also do not most People take Care that their Furnitures are daily brâ—shed and rubbed and their very Floors washed as though they were to eat their Food on them But all this while they lie on Beds that have not been changed or hardly aired in several Years Let any indifferent Person judge which is most pleasuâ—able and healthful to have a clean Floor to tread on which câ—sts many hard days Labour to keep so and is dirtied in a Moments time or to have a clean sweet Bed to lie on There is no Comparison to be made the difference is so great the one being essential either to Health or Sickness the other an indifferent thing If there was but the tenth part of the Care taken to keep Beds clean and sweet as there is of Cloathing and Furniture then there would be no matter for the getting of Diseases nor for the Generation of Bugs I would have all Housewifes and others consider the Reasons of these things Are not Lice that troublesome Vermin bred from the breathings of the Body for want of often Change both of Linnen and Woolen and will not Fleas breed from the very Dust of Chambers where People lie Also any Woollen that hath been used about Beds although the cold Winter hath destroyed them yet if these Clothes lie in any close place where the Air hath not its free egress and regress these very Garments will generate Fleas the Summer following But if these Clothes had been used about Men and Women they would never have bred Fleas for there is no matter of Element in Wooll or Cloth for the Generation of such Creatures but Wooll Cloth Furs and Hair are chiefly the Element of Moths and sometimes of small Worms that is if such things are kept in places where the refreshing Influences of the Air have not their free egress For all such places do contract great store of Moisture which when hot Weather comes causeth Putrifaction whence all such Vermin do proceed But if those things be in daily use and exposed to the open Element they never breed any Vermin So that the Generation of those things are generally caused by Accidenâ—s not but that there is matter in the Radixes of such things for the Generation of such Vermin 3. From the pernicous Smells and putrified Vapours that do proceed from old Beds are generated the Vermin called Bugs of which neither the Ancients nor the Modern Writers of this Age have taken any Notice according to the Degrees of Uncleanness Nature of the Excrements and the Closeness of places where Beds stand for some Peoples Excrements are not so unclean as others Also in all close places especially in Cities and great Towns the Spirits and thin Vapours of the Air are suffocated which makes the same Air Sulphurous and Humid whence does proâ—â—ed Putrifaction Therefore it is not to be thought a general Rule That all old Beds should breed Bugs as some who are ignorant of the Operations of Nature will be apt to say If one Bed do breed them why not all No it is according to the Nature of the Uncleanness and other Accidents that do happen for where as is said before the thin pure Air with the refreshing Influences of the Sun and Elements have their free egress
and regress all such Matter is destroyed whence such Vermin is produced The Original of these Creatures called Bugs is from Putrifaction occasioned by stinking Scents and Vapours which do proceed from the Bodies and Nature of Men and Women and the mixing or incorporating of these Vapours with moist and sulphurous Airs For where there is no Heat nor Humidity there can begin no Putrifaction Therefore all that have attributed the Generation of this Vermin to Wood as Bedsteads and the like are grosly mistaken in the Productions of Nature for there is no Matter in Wood that can generate such a Vermin it being productive only or chiefly of two Creatures in England viz. of Wood-Lice and a small Worm These Wood-Lice are never generated but in places where the Sun and Air have not their free Influences so that there is store of Humidity contracted and when the Sun comes to such Degrees of the Zodiack this Creature is generated which is of as different a Nature from Bugs as sweet Wood is from a stinking Bed Also Wood does breed a certain small Worm but never till the Salts Nature and Power is decayed through length of time then the Air enters it which does presently cause it to contract a hâ—mid Quality from whence proceeds Putrifaction whereof when the Sun is Powerful this Worm is bred But so long as Wood continues sound and is kept dry the Air having its free Influences on it I affirm That no sort of Wood ever breeds any kind of Vermin 4. There are many also that attribute the Generation of this Creature to Hogs Hair which being mixed with Lime and Houses Plaistered with it does occasion say they the Generation of Bugs Now it is most certain that there is no possibility in Nature for this Production for no kind of Hair ever breeds any living Creature except it be put into Water or Mud when the Sun is powerful and then this Creature thus generated retains its first Species viz. a Hair with a live Head which was its Element from whence it proceeded but if you take it out of the Water it presently dies so also it doth when the Sun declines in heat as most â—orts of Vermin that are bred through Heat and Moisture do But Hair being mixed with Lime all Matter of Generation is thereby totally destroyed For Lime does chiefly contain a harsh fiery keen sharp coroding quality it is so sharp that it does destroy all Life and is as contrary to it as Light is to Darkness the predominant quality in it is the Salts Nature from which no living Creature can be produced Besides if there were never so much Mater in Hair for the Generation of such Vermin Lime would destroy it for in Lime there is only a Sal-nitral fiery Vertue 5. If the Reasons before-mentioned be not sufficient to convince the Ignorant of their erroneous Opinions in this particular then I hope the following one will which is more familiar to every one It hath never been krown that this troublesome Vermin was ever seen in Ware-houses Kitchins Parlors Dining rooms or any places were Beds have never been except they have by accident been brought into such Rooms or Ware-houses by Furniture of Chambers that have been troubled with them though all such places have the same Funiture as Chambers except Beds 6. From the same Substance or Matter whence Bugs are bred is also occasioned the Generation of many nasty Diseases in the Blood so that the destruction of the Matter that breeds them is of greater consequence than most People are sensible of And if these following Rules be observed I dare affirm That the Generation of Bugs will cease and also many other Inconveniencies and Distempers that are got by this sort of Uncleanness will be avoided First You are to destroy all Press-Bedsteads which stand in corners of Rooms being made up with Boards so close that the Air cannot penctrate or dry up and consume the moist sulphurous Vapours that are contracted These sorts of Beds that stand so are apt to have them more than others Also you are to set your other sorts of Beds as near as you can in the most Airy places of your Rooms exposing them to the Air the most part of the day with your Chamber-Windows open that the Air may freely pass which is the most excellent Element that does sweeten all things and prevents Putrifaction In the Night also you ought not to have your Window-Curtains drawn nor your Curtains that are about your Beds for it hinders the sweet refreshing Influences of the Air so that the Air of all close places becomes of a hot sulphurous Nature and Operation the thin pure Vapours which do wonderfully refesh Nature are as it were suffocated And this preventing the Influences of the Air is in an especial manner observable when People are sick or out of order as though the sweet pleasant Air had been the cause of their Disease such Rooms being so very close with great fires in them that if a healthy Person do but continue three or four hours in them the fulsom Steams and thick Vapours will much disorder him and take away the edge of his Appetite And if so what will the Operation be on those Spirits who are weak and disordered with Distempers What is more pleasant and healthful than good Air It chears and comforts the Spirits it opens the Passages of the Joynts and Nerves it purifies the Blood creates an Appetite increasing Strength and Vigour But on the contrary hot thick sulphurous Airs do not only obstruct the passages of the Spirits but suffocate them loading the Joynts and Nerves with evil Juices whereby the Limbs and Members become full of pain causing a general tenderness to possess the whole Body and destroying the Appetite and the power of the Digestive Faculty in the Stomach Also do not all Houses and Places grow musty and contract too great store of Moisture if the Air be any way prevented by Window-shutters or the like that it cannot have its free egress and regress Therefore moderate Cloathing hard Beds Houses that stand so as that the pleasant Bâ—iezes of Wind may air and refresh them and also Houses that are full of Windows are to be preferr'd for where the Air hath not its free Influences the Spirit becomes dull and heavâ— this being the true Life of the Spirit in everything 7. Now the certain Means and Way not only to prevent the Generation of this Vermin but also to preserve Health and Strength are Straw or rather Chaff-Beds with Ticks of Canvas and Quilts made of Wooll or Flocks to lay on them which certainly is the most easie and pleasant Lodging that can be invented and a little Custom will make it appear friendly to Nature and in every respect far beyond the softest Feather-Beds on which when a Man lies down he sinks into them as into an hole with Banks rising on each side of him especially if two lie together when first they
go to Bed they lie close and after a little time when they begin to be hot or sweat they are generally willing to lie a little further off that they may cool themselves but cannot do it without great difficulty and trouble by reason of the softness of the Bed and those Banks that rise on each side Besides such soft Feaâ—her-Beds do over-heat the Reins and Back making all the parts tender and causing sweatings and many other Inconveniencies to attend the Body Feather-Beds also are nothing so easie as Quilâ—s after a little time being accustomed to them they are also extream fulsom and by their heat they do powerfully dry up the Radical Moisture causing a general faintness to attend the whole Body But on the contrary hard even Beds that lie smooth are not only easie through custom as is mentioned before but a Man may turn freely both sleeping and waking They harden and strengthen the whole Body especially the Back and Reins make the Nerves and Sinews strong preventing the immoderate Evacuatâ—ons by Sweating and keeping the Body in a temperate Heat Bâ—sides such Beds may be often changed with but little Trouble and less Cost they send forth no stinking fumes or steams as Feather-Beds do but are sweet and clean Certainly nothing is more healthy nexâ— to Temperance in Meat and Drink than clean hard Beds 8. All sorts of Beds especially Feather-Beds ought to be changed driven or washed at the least three or four times in a Year or else it is impossible to keep them sweet and clean and to prevent the Generation of Vermin or the other Inconveniences before mentioned Would not every one condemn a Man if he should wear a Shirt a Year and lie in Sheets seven Years Which if any should do it would not either endanger his Healâ—h or bring half the Inconveniencies on his Body as old stinking Feather-Beds do which possibly stunk before ever they were lain on by reason of the fulsom Excrements that the Quills of the Feathers coâ—â—ain Also Feathers do câ—â—tainly contain an unclean putrified Matter that hath a near Affinity with the Nature of Bugs and therefore Feather-Beds are more apt to breâ—d them than Wool or Flocks though both will do it if the forementioned Rules be not observed But if you are not willing or so lowly-minded to have Straw or Chaff-Beds under your Quilts then you may have Flock Beds with Canvas-Tickings which may be both aired and washed as often as you please with little Trouble and Charge If any shall question the Truth of what I have alledged concerning Beds I desire they would please but to try the Experiment by filling a Bed with the freshess and cleanest Straw or Chasâ— which will smell very pleasant and having so done let them lie on it half a year in a corner of a Room as Beds generally stand and then smell to it and instead of sending forth a pleasant Scent as it did at first it will send sorth a strong fulsom musty Steam or Fume And if this will do so what will Feathers do that in the Root of Nature are unclean fulfom Excrements of a hot strong quality Therefore they have the greater power not only to attract and suck in to themselves the fulsom Excrements that are breathed forth of the Body by Sweatings and the like but they have also power to retain such evil Vapours And when others come to lie on them and are throughly hot it awakens those pâ—â—â—icious Steams which often bâ—ing many Inconveniencies on the Body Besides it is very unpleasant to lie in such Beds a Man must always be forced to keep his Nose above-board Indeed each Man 's own Bed does not stink or smell strong to himself because he is accustomed to it neither does a Tallow-Chandler smell those horrible Scents and pernicious Fumes that old Tallow sends forth when it is melted But let any other Person that is not accustomed to it be near such things and it will be very offensive to him Even so it is in all other stinking Trades and things of this Nature so that the greatest Slut in the World does hardly smell her own House or Bed stinâ— For in Man is contained the true Nature and Property of all things both of Good and Evil therefore he is both liable and also apt to receive all Impressioâ—s and to be wrought on by all things he shall either communicate with or joyn himself to whether it be Cleanness or the contrary Also by Meats Drinks and communication all things have power by a Sympathetical Operation to work on Man because he is like unto all bearing a proportionable Nature unto all things If People did understand this they would prefer Sobriety and Temperance with Cleanness far beyond what they do and then Men would not be subject to so many Diseases as now they are 9. Heat and Moisture is the Root of all Putrifaction and therefore Bugs are bred in Summer but they live all the Winter though they are not then so troublesome They harbour in Bedsteads Holes and Hangings Nitting and Breeding as Lice do in Clothes But all Men know that Woollen and Linnen are not the Element of â—ice but they are bred from the fulsom Scents and Exrements that are breathed forth from the Body The very same Radix have Bugs and if there be any difference they are from a higher Putrifaction and therefore they are a more noisom stinking Creature 10. The whole Preservation of Mens Health and Strength does chiefly reside in the Wisdom and Temperance of Women Therefore the Ancient Wise Men in former Ages did direct and accustom their Women to a higher degree of Temperance than the Men. Which Customs of Sobriety the Women of several Countries do maintain to this day as in Spain great part of France Italy and many great Countries under the Dominion of the Grand Seignior Their Women do always drink Water their Food being for the most part of a mean and simple quality and for this reason neither they nor their Children are subject to several Diseases which our Women and Children are Wine and Strong Drink should be sparingly drunk by Women till they are past Child-bearing because the frequent and common drinking of strong Drinks does generate various Distempers in the Female Sex such as are notfitâ—o be discoursed of in this place which their Children often bring with them into the World If the Seed be good yet if the Ground be bad it seldom brings forth good Fruit. Also Women are our Nurses for fifteen or sixteen years and they do not only suffer us to be Gluttons by letting us eat and drink often of their ill-prepared Food beyond the power of the Digestive Faculty and more than the Stomach can bear but many of them will intice us to Gluttony and some will force their Children to eat even against their Stomachs till they cast it up again Now if it be a difficult point for a Man of Age and Experience to
or center in the Mouth especially bâ—tween the Teeth and on the Gums and some People having fouler Stomachs than others such do breathe forth very sowr stinky phlegmy Matter which does not only increase the Pain but causeth the Teeth to bâ—come loose and rotten And for what of continual cleansing and washing those breathings and this phlegmy Matter turns to Purifaction which does eat away the Gums as though Worms had eaten them And this Deâ—ect is generally attributed to the Disease called the Scurvey but it is a mistake The Cause is chiefly as is mentioned before from the Stomach or for want of Cleansings 2. This Distemper of the Teeth and Gums does also proceed from the various sorts of Meats and Drinks and more especially from the continual eating of Flesh and fat sweet things compounded of various things of disagreeing Natures which do not only obstruct the Stomach but fur and foâ—l the Mouth part thereof remaining upon the Gums and between the Teeth For all such things do quickly turn to Putrifaction which does by degrees corrupt both the Teeth and Gums Besides our Beds take up near half the time of our Lives which time the Body is not only without motion butt he Bed and Coverings do keep it much hotter than the Day-Garments especially of those that draw the Curtains of their Windows Beds so close that the pure Spirits and thin refreshing Vapours of the Air are hindered of having their free egress and regress which does dull flatten the action of the Stomach and this is the chief Cause why suppers lie hard in the Stomach and require more than double the time for perfect Concoction than the same Food does when a Man is up and in the open Air For this Element if it hath its free Influences is sucked in as by Spunges through all the Pores of the Body and does wonderfully refresh comfort open and cleanse all the parts having power to assist and help Concoction But hot dull thick Airs do destroy the Action of the Stomach and as it were suffocate the pure Spirits drying up and consuming the Radical Moisture Therefore the Night does foul the Mouth more than the Day furring it with a gross slimy Matter especially those that have foul Stomachs are in Years which ought to be well cleansed every morning 3. Whatsoever are the Disorders in the Body the Mouth doth always partake of them besides the Evils that the variety of Food and the improper mixtures of Flesh and Fish and many other things which do foul and hurt both the Teeth and Gums When any Person is disordered with inward Diseases does not the Mouth quickly complain of the Evils thereof This very few do consider in time 4. It is to be noted that most People do attribute the Diseases of the Teeth to Colds and Rheumes and other outward Accidents It is true outward Accidents will further thiâ—Disease but then there must be Matter before hand otherwise outward Colds can have no power to cause this pain The same is to be understood in all Stoppages of the Breast and other Obstructions as Coughs and the like For if any part be obstructed or there be Matter for Distemper then on every small occasion of outward Colds or the like Accidents Nature complains If your Teeth and Gums be sound and free from this Maâ—ter take what Colds you will and your Teeth will never complain as daily Experience doth shew For all outward Colds and oâ—her Accidents of the like Nature have no power to seise any part of the Body except first there be some inward Defect or Iâ—fiâ—mity Suppose the Teeth be defective then the Disease falls on that part or if it be the Head Eyes Breast Back or any other Part or Member of the Body that is obstructed the Evil is felt in that Part. Therefore if the Mouth be kept clean by continual Washings it will prevent all Matter which may cause Putrifaction and then Colds and the like Accidents will have no power to seise this Part or cause this terrible pain Even so it is in all other parts of the Bâ—dy If Temperance and Sobriety be observed in Meats Drinks and Exercises with other Circumstances belonging to Health then Stoppages Coughs Colds and other Obstructions would not be so frequent on every small occasion For Temperance has an inward Power and Operation and does as it were cut off Diseases in the very Bud preventing the Generation of Matter whence Distempers do proceed increasing the Radical Moisture and making the Spirits lively brisk and powerful able to withstand all outward Colds and other Casualties of the like Nature 5. There are many various things of divers Natures prescribed by Physicians and others as Washes to preserve the Teeth and Gums but most of them if not all to little or no purpose as daily Experience teaches For all high sharp Salts and things of a sowr or keen Nature do rather cause the Teeth to perish than the contrary as do all hot Spirits be they what they will Many have destroyed their Teeth by the frequent use of such things and it hath hardly ever been known that any such things have ever cured or prevented the aking Pains of the Teeth but Water only Many Examples I could mention if it were convenient Physicians and other do daily prescribe such things for the Cure and Prevention of this Disease of the Teeth which most of them do know by Experience can do no good but rather the contrary But when People come to them they must give them something for their Money for Interest and Ignorance have more affinity with this sort of People than Virtue and the true Knowledge of the Nature of things Most certain it is that the Shepherd and Husbandman do know far better how to prepare their Meat for their Cattel and also how to preserve them from Disorders than many Physicians do their Food or Physick and a Man shall understand more by conversing with some of this sort of People than with the Learned For the Shepherd and Husbandman understand something of Nature but most of the Learned are departed from the simple ways of God in Nature putting out their own Eyes and then boasting what Wonders they can see with other Mens They have invented many words to hide the Truth for the Unearned that they may get the greater esteem This has chiefly been done to advance Pride and Interest so that the Divine Eye is departed from many of them who never make any Inspection into the true Nature of things being contented to take other Mens words let it be right or wrong as long as they have Authority and Law on their sides wherefore should they trouble their weak Heads 6. The best and most sure way to prevent the Diseases and Pains in the Teeth and Gums is every Morning to wash your Mouth with aâ— the least ten or twelve Mouthfuls of pure Water cold from the Spring or River and so again after Dinner
tells us of a Winter so hard That the River Tyber was frozen over a matter very strange in such a Climate as Italy In the Year 1234. the Adriatick Sea was so frozen that the Venetians went over the Ice thereof with Carts Zonâ—rus assures us that in the Reign of that Emperor Constantine who for a nasty Reason in his Christning was called Copronimus about the Year 750. the Pontick Sea was so Congealed that People for many Miles travelled it on foot And Horses and Carts loaden passed over the Fretum or narrow part of it but withal he adds that the Summer following was so excessive hot and dry that great Rivers and most Fountains were wholly dry'd up and People and Cattel perished for want of Water In the Year 821. the greatest Rivers of Europe as the Rhine the Danubius the Elb and the Sein were so incrusted with Ice that for the space of above 30 days Carriages freely passed along on them as on the Land But to look nearer home In the Year of our Lord 1365. and 49th year of K. Edward the 3d A Frost lasted from the midst of September to the Month of April but though so tedious the Cold was nothing so intense or violent as now In the 15th Year of the Reign of K. Henry the Eighth after great Rains and Winds there followed so sore a Frost that many died for cold and some lost Fingers some Toes and many their Nails I follow the very words of Sir R. Baker fol. 297. The same Author tells us That in the Seventh Year of Q. Elizabeth on the 21. of December began a Frost so extream that on New-Years-Day Even People passed over the Thames on foot some plaid at Foot-Ball some shot at Pricks as if it had been firm ground yet this great Frost the third of Ianuary at Night began to Thaw and by the fifth day there was no Ice to be seen but great Inundations followed In the Year 1609. which 't is not impossible but some living might remember being but 74 Years ago a Frost began in December which continued till April following with such violence that the Thames was so frozen that Carts loaden were frequently driven over it most Fowls and Birds were destroyed In the Year 1637. was another Frost which rendred the Thames passable so in the Year 1664. immediately followed by the Great Sickness and the like towards the latter end of the Year 1676. Some of the Consequences of these Extream Frosts I have mentioned more I might all are not convenient those that consult Chronology may eaâ—ily satisfie themselves a Man may soon err in assigning Effects to such or such particular Causes or adapting Events to Signnificators Modesty is the first Lesson in Wisdoms School Therefore as we have been studious in matter of Fact past but sparing as to Sequels so we shall retain the same becoming tenderness as to Futures wherein we shall steer our Course rather by the Guidance of Nature in her usual Operations here below than by curious Researches into remoter Influential Causes above though not neglecting them neither for the Universe is Intire Harmonical and Sympathâ—tical and he that does not competently understand the right Tone of the whole and the true Key of every part will make but bad Musick wherever he lays his Clumsy Fingers First then I say This Extremity of Cold Presages many Calamities and Evils to attend Mankind and the rest of their Fellow-Creatures for as the Innocent Inhabitants of the Air or expanded Suburbs of Heaven viz. Birds and Fowls are endangered by the Elements denying their usual Benefits and Provisions wherein another fourth part of the Creation viz. Fishes are somewhat concern'd so degraded Man taking advantage of this Cruel Weather does for Profit or Pleasure or Vanity destroy many thousands of them Now this great Destruction of them is but a Forerunner of Mortality amongst Creatures of greater value and even of Men themselves Would you know the reason I told you but now Universal Nature is Sympathetical 2dly This Immoderate Cold locks up the Pores of Mens Bodies and drives the Natural Heat more Central which occasions great Appetite and Draught whence follows much and excessive Eating and Drinking of Gross Fat Succulent Foods and strong Drinks in all that have wherewithal to procure them which the voracious desires do at present seem able to bear and digest yet really Nature is not able to do it and so by degrees there are Seeds sown and Foundations laid for Diseases On the other hand amongst the Poor necessity of Feeding on unfit and unusual Viands for their support at present or defect of due Nourishment must to them do as much mischief For want is as great though I think not so common an Enemy to Nature as Superfluity the way to prevent these mischiefs is for the Rich to observe Sobriety and Temperance and for the Poor to use Discretion in their Diet for a pint of Milk with a quarter of a pint of Water thickened with one Spoonful of Flower and heated just to Boyling and then putting into it a few Crums of Bread all which will not cost above a Penny shall give any Person as Nourishing a Meal as the best Surloyn of Beef or Capon I mention not this to prevent Benevolences towards the Poor which all that are able are bound to afford but only to Advise them how to supply themselves when they meet not with other Accomodations but find Rich Mens Charity more frozen than the Thames 3dly This Excessive Frost condenses the Air and renders it Sulphurous and Unhealthy especially in such Cities as London where Sea-Coals are generally used for Firing and most People especially Women creep close to those fulsom Fires without using themselves to proper Exercises whereby their Blood stagnates and becomes thick and foul whence are Generated the Scurvey stoppages of the Breast Coughs and Shortness of Breath the ill effects whereof will more manifest themselves next Spring and Summer 4thly This Disharmony and Inequality of the Elements portends a dry hot Summer to ensue for all Extreams as before observed produce their Contraries which will not only encrease Distempers but I fear some Epidemical Disease and it is also a Forerunner of Dearth and Scarcity and the latter is the more to be apprehended because we have had several Plentiful and Fruit. ful Years and very few of us scarce any have improved them to that end for which they were given us by the Lord and his Hand-Maid Nature but most that abound in Plenty have gratified their Lusts and Passions and such as have not had wherewith to commit the same Intemperances in Act have done it in their Wills and Desires and shall not our God visit us for these and other crying Abominations daily exhaled from our polluted Streets and Dwellings I will not take upon me to aver a Plague or Scarcity shall be the next Year Iehovâ—h the All-Wise is the Limiter of Times and Seasons for extraordinary
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
both personal and Real Security Neither do I believe there is any firmer or better way of Conveying or Intailing Estates on our Children and Posterity than by Works of Mercy and Almsgiving being assured according to the Word of God that they are the likeliest Expedients and Antidotes against the secret Canker and give our Children a sure and lasting Title to their Inheritance For Retaliation of Rewards and Punishments is the Indispensible Law of God which will have its Execution either in this World or that which is to come This our Saviour further exemplifies in the Parable between the Sheep and the Goats when he says to the Sheep on his Right Hand Come ye blessed into the Kingdom prepared for you for I was hungry and you fed me naked and ye cloathed me sick and in Prison and ye administred unto me But to the Goats he says Go ye cursed into everlasting Darkness prepared for the Devil and his Angles for you have neither fed cloathed nor administred to me And further when they expostulated with him saying Lord when did we see thee hungry naked sick or in Prison His Answer was Insomuch as ye did it not to one of these little ones ye did it not to me Hence it is Evident in so many plain words what Christ's Sheep were justified for and for what the Goats were condemned the first had Charity the latter not therefore to do good and communicate those Gifts the Lord hath intrusted us with is one of the most Binding and Fundamental Precepts in the Christian Religion Charity being therefore the first true step to all Vertue that we may obtain the Blessing of the Almighty upon the Publick Undertakings and all our Private Lawful Endeavours let us resolve to go on chearfully and lay up a Treasure in Heaven by being Liberal to the Poor and Needy upon Earth And for the better and more singular performance of these Duties our Holy Religion and Interests obliges every one in his Station avoiding Covetousness and Expensive Sensuality to betake our selves to Sobriety and Temperance which are the great Promoters and Encouragers of Charity with proper and due Fasting which is none of the least Vertues for they all proceed from the Fountain of God's Grace and an inward Ground or Divine Principle in the Soul This is what I have given my Mind to think of and do believe it my Duty to Recommend the same to my Fellow Citizens wherein I humbly Pray That my good Will at least may be accepted though it should happen that some of my Notions are not altogether approved of for I am conscious to my self of no other aim than the discharge of my Duty to persuade Men to be really what they profess themselves nominally viz. Disciples and Followers of Jesus Christ in whose Service I am Gentlemen Your Well wishing Friend Thomas Tryon The Vse and Vertues of several Sorts of Gruels and Pottages viz. Water-gruel and Milk-pottage have the first place not only for their Excellent Qualities and Friendly Agreement they have with the Stomach but also they are easy Come at able by the Poor and Meanest of People next in Rank do follow many other sorts of Brave Exhilerating Pottages viz. Pap made with Wheat-flower and Water or with Milk Water and Flower Barley-gruel Herb-pottage Pease-pottage Furmity Buttered Wheat Possets Bonny-clabber Flummery Caudles made of Beer Wine Cider or other Liquors with Oat-meal also with Eggs and Chocolate all which are the most agreeable friendly Foods to Nature being easie of Concoction and do afford greater Strength and generates better Blood and finer Spirits than most do imagine which are the Sinews of Health and they may be eaten freely without any danger of Surfeits either with Bread or without for these Liquid Regions do as it were contain the Sominary Vertues both of dry and moist Aliment contributing a more Sublime Nourishment than strong hard salt Foods being tempered with such equality of Parts whence do proceed such an Innocent Power and Ravishing Balsamick Vertue that the frequent Eating thereof do fortify strengthen and refresh Nature to the highest degree being endued with a certain innate Power and Vertue not only to help to digest harder Foods but they cleanse and open all the Passages and are a Powerful prevention of Obstructions and gross Phlegmy Humors and at the same time supplying Nature with a substantial brisk Nourishment and sweet friendly Moisture provided they are mixed and prepared with Judgment and all that Love their Health ought to Eat them at all times of the Year but more especially in Summer and hot Seasons they make no noise nor cause any insurrection in the Body so that after a Meal of such Foods there is felt no inequality or indisposition the Body doth not Burn with an unatural Flame nor the Crown is not pestered with Fumes and Vapours in a word they are endued with all the good united Vertues both of the Vegetable and Animals Kingdoms besides these Pottages have such a Sympathetical Agreement with the digesting Liquor of the Stomach called the Menstruum Whose Office is to fit qualifie and prepare the Food for separation and digestion being of a mild gentle Nature and Operation imitating the Dew of Heaven which doth bow apply and incorporate its sweet Dews and moist Vapours to all its Off-spring whence all things become impregnated with Life Power and Vertue For this cause all Pottages do not only strengthen the Appetite and the Aâ—tractive Facultieâ— and Powers of Nature but they are easily melted into Chyle without any manifest trouble or molestation to the Stomach for the nearer affinity the Foods have to the Menstruum the easier they are digested and sharper is the Appetite because the sweet Vertues of such things are drawn forth into all the Members and Parts of the Body gently and mildly supplying them with a fit and proper Nourishment with far more ease and pleasure to Nature than from hard strong salt Foods neither doth our Friendly Homogenial Pottages heat consume or dry up the Menstruum or Radical Moisture as gross Flesh Fish and Cheese do from whence do proceed after the eating thereof Indisposition and an unatural Drought which renders the whole uneasie and unfit either for the Business of the Body or Mind therefore it is observable that in the Eastern and Southern Parts of the World where the Natives drink Water their Foods being most or all made into Pottages where they never or very seldom eat any Flesh Fish old Cheese salt Butter and but little Bread in gross as the Custom is in the Northern Parts of the World therefore the Gout Stone Scurvy and many other Cruel Diseases are not known which Distempers do for the most part proceed and are generated by the constant feeding on strong hard salt crude Foods and the drinking of strong harsh sharp Drinks being all of a disagreeing Nature to the Menstruum of the Stomach and therefore they do mightily obstruct Nature stop the Passages begetting sharp windy Humours thick Blood dull and heavy Spirits which are the Original Causes of the Gout Wind Stone Scurvy and many other Diseases For this Cause when any Languish under those forementioned Distempers the Learned advise them to live on some of the above-mentioned Gruels and Pottages for if such Foods recover lost Health pars ratione consequently it must maintain and promote it Thomas Tryon FINIS