Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	body_n	life_n	power_n	6,331	5	4.8831	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A63797	Healths grand preservative: or The womens best doctor A treatise, shewing the nature and operation of brandy, rumm, rack, and other distilled spirits, and the ill consequences of mens, but especially of womens drinking such pernicious liquors and smoaking tobacco. As likewise, of the immoderate eating of flesh without a due observation of time, or nature of the creature which hath proved very destructive to the health of many. Together, with a rational discourse of the excellency of herbs, highly approved of by our ancestors in former times. And the reasons why men now so much desire the flesh more than other food. A work highly fit to be persued and observed by all that love their health, and particularly necessary to the female sex, on whose good or ill constitution the health and strength, or sickness and weakness of all [cropped]sterity does in a more especial manner depend. By Tho. Tryon.	Tryon, Thomas, 1634-1703.	1682 (1682)	Wing T3182; ESTC R219417	19,602	25

Healths Grand Preservative OR THE Womens best Doctor A TREATISE Shewing the Nature and Operation of Brandy Rumm Rack and other distilled Spirits and the ill consequences of Mens but especially of Womens drinking such pernicious Liquors and smoaking Tobacco As likewise Of the immoderate Eating of Flesh without a due observation of Time or Nature of the Creature which hath proved very destructive to the Health of many Together With a Rational Discourse of the Excellency of Herbs highly approved of by our Ancestors 〈◊〉 former times And the Reasons why Men now so much desire Flesh more than other Food A Work highly fit to be perused and observed by all that Love their Health and particularly necessary to the Female Sex on whose good or ill Constitution the Health and Strength or Sickness and weakness of all Posterity does in a more especial manner depend By THO. TRYON London Printed for the Author and are to be sold by Lang Curtis near Fleet-Bridge 1682. Healths Grand Preservative OR THE Womens best Doctor c. CHAP. I. Of the Nature and Operation of Brandy Rumm and Rack which of late years are become as common Drinks amongst many as Beer and Ale not only in England but also in all the West-Indies where the English inhabit and of the evil consequences that do attend the Drinkers thereof BRandy R●mm Rack and other distilled Spirits are all very per●icious and hurtful to the Health of the Body if not sparingly taken on extraordinary occasions in a Physi●●● way for the Intention of all such Chymical preparations when first Inr●●ted was for Medicinal uses and not to be used as Common drink as of late years indiscre●tly they are to the destruction of many Thousands the frequent use of them contracting such 〈◊〉 and stubbo●n D●seases as for the most part are incurable 1. All such Spirits as are drawn by common Distilla●●● through those cruel Sulphuro●s Fires where the Air hath not its free egress and regress their 〈…〉 har●h fiery Spirit or Brandy The same you shall have if you distil Sugar only it yields a stronger Spirit for the more Bal●amick the Body of any thing is the stronger and fiercer is its Spirit when that Balsamick body and the pure Volatile Spirits are destroyed or seperated from it Now here you will see that the Volatile Spirit and 〈◊〉 Cordial 〈◊〉 or Body both in the Sack and also in the Sugar are destroyed and there doth remain as is said before only a fierce harsh Brimstony Spirit void of all the wholesome qualities Sack and Sugar did contain for the Volatile Spirit or Tincture is the Essential Life of every thing and its the maintainer of its Colour Smell and T●st Now these pure Spirits will not endure any violent Heat or harsh Fire but through the fiery heat and want of the free Egress and Regress of the Air they presently become Suff●cated and then the sweet Balsamick body is turned sour for this sweet Balsamick body is the pleasant Habitation of the Volatile Spirit and this pure Spirit is the true Life of that Balsamick body they are inseperable Companions the one cannot subsist without the other destroy either and both Dye Therefore all such Spirits so drawn do loose their Balsamick body with all their Cordial Vertues and Tinctures put what Herbs or Li●u●rs you will into such Furnaces they are presently P●●ndeted of their Natural Colour and run off white whereby it appears that this Common way of Distillation destroys the pure Natural Vertues and Tincture for from the Tincture proceeds all the Variety of Colours both in Vegetables Minerals and Annimals so that such Spirits do only contain a harsh fier●e Fiery Nature and for that reason if they be frequently Drink do ●rey upon the Natural Heat and by degrees weaken it destroying the very Life of Nature by way of Simile for every Like works upon its likeness whence it comes to pass that in those who addict themselves to the Drinking of these high Fiery or Brimstony Spirits their Natural heat grows cold and Feeble and their Appetites are weakened they destroying the Power of the Digestive Faculty of the Stomach so that many such People after Eating are forced to Drink a Dram to help concoction all other Drinks proving too cold for them which constrains them to continue ●ooping of such Liquor a sad Remedy when we go about to help a mischief by encreasing the application of the same ill means which first occasioned it● for these wrathful Spirits have awakened the Central Heat which is the Root of Nature that ought not to have been awakened or kindled for if the Central Heat be stired up by any unnatural Meats or Drinks or other violence done to Nature then presently follows the Consumption of the Radical Moisture and the pure Spirits and Lively Tinctures become Suffocated wherein consists the Essential Life of Nature And as in the before mentioned Example the pure Spirit and Balsamick body in Sack will not indure those cruel harsh Sulphurous Fires where the Air hath not its free Influence but presently becomes Suffocated or destroyed and the most pleasant Sweetness thereof turned into a Stink so neither will the Radical Spirits and pure Oyl in the Body endure those Sulphurous Flames and Fierce Spirits without sustaining the like prejudice for that pure Vertue or Essential Principal which the Lord in the Creation endued every thing with which is the true Life thereof will not endure any violent motion or harsh Fire to touch them especially if the circulation of the Air be wanting as it is in all such Distillations for these Spirits are so pure and subtle that when any Injury is offered to them they either evaporate or become suffocated for this Essential Powder or pure Life is the moderator or Friendly Quality in all Minerals Vegetables and Animals which doth mix and Qualify the harsh Fiery dark Principal and does allay and moderate the cruel harsh Nature of the Dark-Fire as does plainly appear in all the forementioned Liquors and also in Charcoal for before the Sack or any Balsamick Liquor was put into the Still and drawn off those very same Fiery harsh sulphurous Spirits were essentially in the Wine or whatever else it be for it is the Root of Nature and the Original to every Life but being mixed or incorporated with the Balsamick body and pure spirit the fiery fierce sulphurous spirit is thereby swallowed up and as it were hid and moderated for in what thing soever the pure Balsamick body is predominant there this dark furious spirit is hid or captivated an Example whereof we have in Sugar where when the sweet Balsamick body is potent there also this fiery sulphurous Spirit is strong but not manifest but as soon as this Essential Spirit and Balsamick body are seperated or destroyed this dark Fiery Brimstonie Spirit appears in its own form and becomes like a Mad furious Devil in Nature its cloathing being the Dark-Fire for this Spirit hath lost

its Sweat Water or Friendly Life in its Seperation which before did Qualifie its harsh Fierce Fire it also looseth its pure Colour or bright native Shine because the Essential Oyl is consumed in that Seperation so that there doth remain no true Life nor Light in it but being set on Fire its Flame ●s of a 〈…〉 that the dark wrathful Properties of Sat●●● and Mars and their Fierce Fires are predominant in all such 〈◊〉 or Spirits This is further 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 as was hinted before which is made of Wood but in the making thereof the pure Oyl or sweet Wat●r which is the Essential Life of the Wood is suffocated or destroyed for from that Friendly Quality the Wood had its bright Shine or Fl●●e which is of a Benevolent refreshing opperation● Now this pure Oyl or Balsamick body is the Essential Life and moderator of all harsh Fiery dark Fumes or Qualitys in the Wood which being suffocated or totally destroyed in the making it whereby the Original dark Sulphurous Fire becomes strong and raging giving greater and stronger Heat than the Fire of Wood but its Flame is not bright clear and refreshing as that of Wood but it is of a dimn B●●●●ony colour sending 〈◊〉 strong fulsome Fumes and Vapours very offesive to the pure Spirits and Health of those that are near it for having lo●t its pure Spirits and Oyl of Life in its making into Charcoal there does only remain in it the Fierce dark original Fire an untameable devou●ing Spirit in Nature for every Quality in Nature hath power only to kindle and awaken its likeness therefore all such things as have lost their pure Spirits and Balsamick body in the Seperation or preparation must needs Indanger the Health because they do awaken by Simile their own or like Poysonous Properties in the Body and if it were not so a little Poyson taken into the Body would not destroy the Life but Poysons taken in do by Simile joyn or Incorporate themselves with the Internal Poyson or destructive Principal in the Body which before laid hid or as a Man may say was moderated or Captivated by the sweet Body and pure Spirits even as the Fiery Spirits of Brandy are in Sack or Sugar but so soon as the ou●ward Poyson that is taken in Incorporates it self with the inward Poyson in the Body it does so pow●●fully Strengthen and awaken it that in a moment it overcomes the pure Oyl of L●fe and the pure Spirits become Suffocated and then the Natural Life is a● an end for every property in Nature both in the Evil and also in the good does with highest dilligence see●● out its likeness and wheresoever it findeth its Simile there it joy●s Forces and 〈…〉 wel●are of the Body Nor is it otherwise in all sorts of Food and other Drinks if the pure Vertue thereof be Seperated or any way destroyed for then forthwith the dark brimstony-Brimstony-Spirit is set at Liberty which before the Seperation the Ba●●amick body and pure Spir●ts did Qualify and hold Captive that it could not mannifest its-self in its own Nature but being Seperated from the good Properties and Friendly Principal 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 b●●h up the Radical moisture and Natural Heat and are greedy devourers of the Sweet Oyl in the Body whence proceeds General Obstructions Crude Windy humours Consumptions unna●ural Heats and Flushings Loss of Appetite Retchings to Vo●●it 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 ●nto 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 Rumm or any other Distilled Spirits they will continue a strong Fire void of Motion or Fermentation this doth further declare that all the good Principals and Ver●●es 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 pur● Spirits for the Balsamick body and pure Spirits of all such Liquors being destroyed in the preparation they become an Extre●● which Nature in its simplicity hates and for this cause such Liquors cannot Administer any Propper or Agreeable Nourishment to the Body or to the pure Spirits it cannot give that which it hath not it hath only power to awaken the Central Heat o● Fire which ought not to have been kindled and this it doth by a Simpathetical opperation for all Meats and Drinks have power in the Body to awaken and strengthen their likeness for this reason all Wisemen 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 mannifest Quality that does predominate Violently over the other but yet contains a sufficient Nourishment 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 Seperated from the Body nor the Body from the Spirit but both ought to be Administered 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 equal●ity of both do not all Meats and Drinks wherein any Quality or Property of Nature is extream whether it be in Vertue or harmfulness if not sparingly taken certainly discompose the Harmony both of the Body and mind for every Quality bege●s its likeness and so on the contrary Concord and Harmony are maintain●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 opperation of their own Natures for no Health nor Harmony can be

for Man is a Prince in this World and in him is contained the true Nature of all the Inferiour Creatures for if it were not so 〈◊〉 could not be their Prince nor be sustained by them And th● Man was made greater then any other Creature that is visible● and to be Lord over all yet nevetheless 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 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 human Nature might not mix or incorporate in its self the Beastial qualities for every individual 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 whatsoever else can be thought of for if this were not so then Man would not be subject to be wrought on by all neither 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 Opperation which being well prepared and temperately eaten have onely power to waken their Similes in the Body and Senses as aforesaid But on the contrary all Beasts especially unclean Beasts are endued with all kind of Beastial Passions as Anger Revenge Covetuousness 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 lye 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 pre●rvation so that the Blood does not only contain all the natural ●ispositions passions and Inclinations but also the awakened Poysons and irritated Spirits which were violently stirred up by Deaths 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 revengeful 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 de●●les 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 wratchful Spirits do enter them and powerfully incorporate themselves with their Similes 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 familiar 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 〈◊〉 Communications● as those that are brought up and have their 〈◊〉 versations amongst Horses are not most of them Robustick Pro●● Bold and Surly like the Creatures they communicate with th● same is likewise to be understood in many other other hard work●in● rough Trades and Imployments are not most of them rash head strong scarce endued with common Humanity There is nothin● 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 him self is hardly sensible of may either by Imployments or Commu●●cations 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 th● like Evils because 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 Mea●● and Drinks received into the Body will have the same or greater power and operation as those that feed much on unclean Flesh as on Swine and that have their conversation amongst Animals are not many of them much like

those Creatures of so●●ish dull heavy sordid dispositions yet subtle and cunning in a Beastial 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 a sympathetical 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 manners 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 onely 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 hear 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 cheif thing the Spirit of God in that great Prophet reguarded was no doubt the Spirit of that ●reature whose original and predominant quality stands in the dark wrath of Nature which is manifested by their shapes cries and tones which Spirit the h●man nature ought not to joyn it self unto lest it partake of its Nature Every thing having power to joyn it self with its likeness and to strengthen its own property Doth not Wine and strong drink precipitate men into Fury and Madness by simile that is the Spirits in Wine do incorporate themselves with the natural Spirits and violently awaken them making them burn too fierce which sets nature into a Rage awakening the central Spirits till all parts of the body burn like fire till the Oyl be consumed and nature begins to languish becoming dull heavy and stupid The very same operation have all food in the Body and on the Spirits and Senses but more slowly and hidden for great Meals of Food makes dull when first eaten for all the time Nature is a digesting and making seperation which is 4 5 or 6 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 Seperation 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 Seperation● 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 inolinations are chang'd and altered 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 wholsomness or unwholsomness 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 Mans 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 enlightneth 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 sorts of Animals are Subject to various Passions but on the contrary all or most Vegetables have a more Simple and Innocent Original therefore their Opperation 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 eat●ng 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 lye hid By this means the Uniting of the Bestial Nature with the humane was in a great measure prevented and for no other reason all unclean Beasts Fouls and Fishes were so severely forbidden All Created things have but 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 the other Quallities 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

but then such through the power●● their depraved Free-wills and wanton Imaginations have forc●● Nature out of her simple Innocent ways compelling her often 〈◊〉 do that which she perfectly loath● The wise Antients understanding this Nature and Constitution 〈◊〉 Women and considering that the whole welfare and health of Man kind depended chiefly on their Temperance and discreet Conduc● did therefore direct them to an higher degree of Temperance an● thought it requisite and so absolutely necessary that both the drin● alotted for Women in most Countries was and is to this day 〈◊〉 Water and their Food as Innocent and Natural they eat Fle●● sparingly living much on raw and boiled Herbs Fruits and Grai● which is a most sublime Diet. And by this means their Women an● Children are not afflicted with such a number of cruel Diseas● There is no Country in the World where there Children and You●● people are so generally subject to the small Pox Kings-Evil Join● Aches and many Leperous and languishing Diseases how many 〈◊〉 them yearly Die with Convulsions and Windy D●●stempers which ge● nerally they receive from their Mothers How many miseries an● aking hearts do Women endure with their Sickly Children an● what Woman is free from Vapours and Windy Diseases fainting Fits weak Joints and Backs their Blood corrupted breaking out 〈◊〉 small Spots in the Flesh of several colours their Stomach cold and their Natural heat not able to digest their Food without a Dram● c. For all which Evils there is no Remedy so long as our Wome● do continue the frequent Eating of fat gross Flesh without Herbs and other sweet high prepared Food and drinking strong Liquo●s as Brandy c. and taking Tobacco for these things do continually heat the whole Body thereby awakening the Central heat which is very injurious to Women for it presently sends sumes and vapours into the Head and the fierce Fires with venemous Particles do penetrate the whole Body drying up and consuming the pleasant moist cool Airy Vapours suffocating the pure Spirits which otherwise would replenish the whole Body and sharpen the Appetite it also dulls the Senses and possesses the Blood with a sharp fretting Humour and hinders its free Circulation causing the pure natural Spirits whose habitation is in the Blood to become impure whence ar●ses a general indisposition over the whole Body Therefore all that Love their own Health or the good of their Children ought to ●e●rain 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 CHAP. II. Of Flesh and its operation in the Body and also on the Senses That the continual Eating thereof without due distinction of proper Times and Seasons does darken the Spirits and distempers Nature Likewise of the excellency 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 Gods secrets in Divine and Humane things and injoy'd Health and long Life drawn out to the Age of many hundred years For thus the Holy Scripture 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 is 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 do by degrees captivate the Noble parts in Men. But the wise Antients for divers Ages of the World did know but little of the variety of Flesh and strong Drinks or of compounded Dishes of 20 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 Gods Creatures as Herbs Fruits and Grains and pure water for drink which things are endued with a most simple nature and operation which neither du●leth the Head by fumes nor stup●●●s 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 A●ery operation than Flesh being also void of all Inclinations Senses or passions of Love or Ha●e whose original is more clean and nearer the unity in nature therefore the Philosophical Ancients 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 Murm●● the Lord being provoked gave them Flesh in his Wrath and aft●rwards 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 Gods Creatures became of little or no use in the Creation as Swine and the like if indeed they had onely 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 D●inks Exercises and Communications do work wonderful Effects and have a sympathetical operation both on the Body and Senses rendring the observers thereof Healthful with brisk powerful Spirits watchful prudent 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 Medi●ations 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 Temperance many of the Antients became admirable both in Divine and humane Wisdome '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