double refined Sugar half an Ounce of Mirrh and mix them well together Use it thus First wash your Ulcer with Rain Water very clean dropping some of the forementioned Spirits into your Ulcer then apply this Poultis following Take one Quart of Rain Water Parsley Mint and Balm of each a like Quantity cut small two Ounces of good Sugar as much Bread as will make it of a fit Consistency for a Poultis make it boyilng hot stirring it all the time then put a Glass of Wine Sider Ale or good Beer into it lay this Poultis on every three Hours always washing it with the Rain Water and Spirits If this Method be observed it will Cure almost to a Miracle To Cure Gaul's or the Skin being rubbed off by any accident Take Spirit of Wine and Vinegar mix it well together wash your Sore every Hour for a Day or two laying on it a Diaculum Plaister This will heal and Cure the most inveterate Gaul in a few Days time An Excellent Poultis to Cure Sore Breast's Take one Quart of Rain or River Water some Sorrel cut small half an Ounce of Coriander Seed beaten to Powder two Ounces of good brown Sugar as much Bread as will make it into a Poultis make it Boyling hot stirring it all the time then it is done Apply this every Hour or every two Hours as warm as your Blood on a Linnen Cloath for two or three Days more or less as you see occasion and remember to wash your Breast with good Water and fresh Butter beaten together every time you apply the Poultis and you need not doubt but with God's Blessing the Cure will be Effected in a short time A rare Poultis to allay all Swellings or Contusions in any part of the Body Take one quart of Rain or River Water Rosemary and Balm cut small two Ounces of Sugar a Glass of Wine Sider Ale or good Beer as much good Bread as will make it into a Poultis make it boyling hot stirring of it all the while then it is done Lay this pretty thick on a Linnen Cloath as warm as your Blood every Hour or at least every two Hours for a Day two or three according to the occasion washing of it well with Spirit of Wine wherein Sugar is disolved This is a safe and secure remedy Another excellent Poultis to Disolve Ripen and Cure any Rising Swelling or Boyl in the Flesh viz. Take white Lilly Roots good Figgs boyl them soft in River or Rain Water then Temper them together add as much Bread as will make it thick enough for a Poultis add to this one Ounce of white Sugar and half an Ounce of Carrâ—way Seeds beaten to Powder stir them all together on the Fire till they are boyling hot then it is done Apply this Poultis every Hour washing the Grieved part with Ale and Sugar every time you lay the Poultis on this is a Noble Poultis and is likewise good to cure sore Breasts applyed as abovesaid The best Spirit of Scurvygrass is made Thus. Take the Leaves of Scurvygrass some Horse-Redish-Roots Scrapt small put this into a Glass or Earthen Vessel put to it as much strong double Spirit of Wine as will cover it stop this Vessel close and let it stand three Days and three Nights then Pour it off into Glass Bottles when settled you may put it into other Bottles and then it is fit for use This is called The plain Spirit of Scurvygrass and it is the best that is made you may take in a Morning of this Spirit from 60 to 80. or 90. Drops in good Water Beer Ale or Wine fasting two or three Hours after it then eat some of our Gruel with Bread How you may make this plain Spirit of Scurvygrass into a purging Spirit Take one Quart of this plain Spirit put into it one Ounce of Rozin of Scamony and half an Ounce of Rozin of Jallop both beaten to Powder let it stand one week andâ— then it will be fit for your use Take 50 60. or 80. Drops of this in a Glass of Ale Beer or Wine Drink plentifully of our thin Gruel after it staying within it will purge you very well and not gripe or but very little An Excellent Drink against the Stone Gravel and other Obstructions Take Scurvygrass Leaves the Seeds of Dorcas some Horse-Redish-Scrapt put them in an Earthen Vessel and then add as much White-wine as will cover the Herbs Seed and Roots let them stand five Days and Nights then pour it off and keep it in Glass Bottles it will continue good four or five weeks Take a Sack Glass of this and a like quantity of Water every Morning fast two Hours and then Drink at least a Quart of our thin Water-Gruel either of the cold or hot The constant use of this is not only a prevention and Cure but it moves most sorts of obstructions of the Stomack begets appetite Generates good Blood causing it to circulate freely How to purge by Herbs and Foods When you are minded to purge your self with both ease and safety and to preserve your Health then observe the following Method viz. In the Morning drink a Quart of our thin Water-gruel either the cold or the hot Eat a small piece of Bread with it at dinner take Spinnage Lettis Onions parsley and Sage wash them and Eat plentifully of them with your Food be it what it will at night Drink a like quantity of Gruel and Eat some good Bread as you did in the Morning this you must do for four or five or six Days together more or less as you see Occasion the like Method you are to observe If you would purge your self with Carrots Turnips and Parsnips as you did with Herbs with this Variation viz. Drink your Gruel and Eat your Bread Mornings and Nights and at Dinner Eat only Carrots Parsnips or Turnips boyled only in good Water and Eat them freely with no other thing but a little Salt and Bread during these several Days you may Purge your self to what degree you please Another way to Purge by Food 's and Drinks Drink in the Morning at several times three Pints or two Quarts of thin Watergruel at Dinner drink a Pint or a Quart at Night drink a Quart more and Eat some Bread This Method will Purge or at least will keep your Body open let your Foods at Dinner be what it will the Body being kept open and cool doth prevent and Cure Various Diseases in hot costive constitutions An excellent Poultis against the Headach Pain in the Side also a rare Remedy against the disease called St. Anthonies Fire Take Sage Parsley and Balm of each a like quantity cut small one Quart of Rain or River Water one Pint of Whitewine three Ounces of white Sugar two Ounces of Coriander Seed beaten as much good Bread as will make it fit for a Poultis mix them and stir them over the Fire till they are boyling hot then it is done
Spread this Poultis on a Linnen Cloath indifferent thick apply to the grieved part every Hour or two at most and by God's assistance it will effect the Cure to your Heart's desire An excellent Remedy against any Wound Stab Prick or Cut with a Sword or other Weapon Take Spirits of Wine with some double refined Sugar or other Sugar mixed with it Wash or Serringe your Wound with this Sugared Spirit very well then take a small quantity of the fine Powder of Refined Sugar and put into the said Wound and presently sow it up with a fine Needle and Silk the quicker you do it the better will the Cure be performed for the more the Air is kept out of it the better If this Method be observed it will do wonders the way of tenting is generally pernicious and prolongs the Cures of the above mentioned hurts keeping the Parts from closing or cementing for this prevents the flowing of the Humors and putrefaction and Nature does her own work without trouble cost or pain Pithagoras's Method and Advice to his Disciples viz. Whenever they had Occasion to make any Medicine Poultis Plaisters Decoctions of Herbs or any other thing they were always to be mindful to take of those things that their Genius did first dictate to them and not only the Herbs or Seeds grains or other things but likewise the number of their Composition that is how many ingredients they were to mix together the manner form and postures they were to observe in gathering of them also what Words Invocations and Prayers they use also naming the name of the Person they operate for expressing in words for whom they do it for to Cure such or such a Disease And if you would know more of this Read Pythagoras's Letters lately Printed by T. Sowle in White-Hârt-Court and observe th◠Methods and Numbers there treated off at large and your understanding will be enlightened if you are in good earnest and live in the Fear and under the Dominion of the Fountain of Benignity whose Signal Character is plainness Simplicity and Innocency An excellent remedy against all Old Inveterate Vlcer's and Sores occasioned by the Disease called The Kings Evil viz. First take Rain or River Water with which wash the Grieved part very clean then take strong Spirits mixed with white Sugar and wash it several times and fill up the Mouth or cover the Sore with Sugar and Spirits mixed thick then apply this following Poultis viz. Take two Quarts of Rain or River Water as much dried Wormwood as the Water will cover let it lie and infuse two Hours then strain it off and add as much good Bread as will make it thick add to it two or three Ounces of white Sugar with half or a Pint of good strong Beer or Wine then make it boyling hot stirring it all the time then it is done Apply this every two Hours as warm as your Blood washing the Sore every time with water and then with the Sugared Spirits as is mentioned before Remember that the Water wherein the Wormwood is infused two Hours must be cold and after the Ingredients are put in made boyling hot as in other Poulises An Vniversal fomentation for all Tumors Bruises Hard Swelled Members or parts of the Body Take a good quantity of dried Wormwood put it into two three four or five Quarts of Rain or River Water make it boyling hot then take it off the Fire and let it lie in the Water one Hour then add to every Quart of this Wormwood Liquor half a Pint of old Wines three Spoonfuls of good Spirit of Wine two Ounces of double refined Sugar and one Ounce of Salt of Tartar with this wash or foment the part very well for half an Hour together or more resting one Hour and in the Interim apply this following Poultis viz. Take two or three Handfuls of the Green Leaves of Sorrel infuse them in two Quarts of boyling Water one Hour Strain it off and add to this Water as much good Mault Flower as will make it thick to every Quart put half a Pint of Ale and two Ounces of double refined Sugar apply it warm every Hour fomenting the part as you are taught before and you need not doubt but it will have a good Effect and Cure to Admiration A Famous Poultis against Sprains Take two or three Quarts of good Water and a Quart of good strong Beer four Ounces of refined Sugar make this just boyle then put in it as much fresh gathered Thyme as the Liquor will cover make it ready to boil again and then Strain it from the Herbs and add to it as much Brown Bread as will make it thick stir this over the Fire till it be boiling hot then it is done Add to this three Ounces of Spirits of Wine stirring it all well together spread this thick on a Linnen Cloath and apply it every three Hours as warm as your Blood A good Method to Cure Sprains if you cannot have the Forementioned Poultis viz. So soon as you have Sprained any Member of your Body then presently put that part into cold Water wherein some Wood-Ashes are put continue the grieved part one Hour or at least half an Hour this will give you ease and have a good Effect An Excellent Wash against all old Aches and Sciatica's in any part or Member of the Body Take Rain Water in March April May Iune or Iuly and keep it in Glass Bottles open standing either without Doors or in Airy Rooms wash your infirm part three times a Day Very well the Water must be cold and the Part or Member must not be kept warmer then is usual This do for two three or four weeks if you have occasion but in many this Method will effect the Cure much sooner An Excellent Method to Cure the Sores occasioned by the Disease called The King 's Evil. Fist take Water wherein Wormwood is infused wash the Sore part very well then take Spirits of Wine Mault or Sider mixed with Sugar and wash it again then apply this following Poultis viz. Take three Pints or two Quarts of Rain or River Water make it boil then put into it as much Hyssop as the Water will just cover continue it on the Fire till it boil then take it off and Strain it add to this Liquor as much Bread as will make it thick to every Quart put two Ounces of Refined Sugar and half a Pint of Ale spread this pretty thick on a Linnen Cloath and repeat the application every Hour two or three the oftner the better the like is to be understood in all applications of this Nature as we have demonstrated in our Book Entituled The Good Hous-wife made a Doctor A rare Poultis against all Inflamation◠Rhumes and other Sores in the Eyes viz. First wash your Eyes with Rain or other good Water then apply this following Poultis viz. Take one Quart of Water the whites of three Eggs beaten well together with
three Ounces of double refined Sugar as much white Bread as will make it into a Poultis then make it boiling hot stirring it all the time then it is done Spread this thick on a Linnen Cloath apply it to your Eye every Hour fresh and you will have your desire but this course and repeated application must be continued for 1 2 3 4 5 or 6. Days as you see occasion Observe that you never apply your Poultis hotter then your Blood nor bind the Grieved part hard both are great Evils but more especially the last A rare Poultis against the Head-Ach Take one Quart of Rain or River Water one Ounce of white Sugar as much Mault Flower new Ground as will make it thick enough add to it half a Pint of good Ale making it boyling hot and stirring it all the timâ— then it is done Spread this on a Linnen Cloath pretty thick apply it as warm as Milk from the Cow every Hour or every two Hours continue the application one two or three Days more or less as occasion An Excellent Poultis against all Sorts of Sprains Take two Quarts of Rain or River Water make it boiling hot or boil up put to it as much good Green Sage as the Water will cover then make it just boil take it off the Fire and let it stand one quarter of an Hour Strain the Water off then add to this Sage Liquor as much Bread as will make it thick put to this three Ounces of double refined Sugar and a quarter of a Pint of Red Wine and five Spoonfuls of Spirit of Wine Sugar or Mault stir them well together and make them boiling hot stirring it all the time then it is done Spread this likewise on a Linnen Cloath and apply it warm as your Blood every Hour or two for one Day or two resting all the time A brave Noble Poultis against all hot Tumors Bruises or Swellings or the like Take two or three Quarts of Rain or River Water as much Spinnage as the Water will cover But first let the Water be boiling hot then make it boil take it off the Fire and let it stand one quarter of an Hour the Vessel uncovered Strain it off add to it as much House-hold Bread as will make it thick with two Ounces of course Sugar make it boiling hot then it is done Spread this on a Linnen Cloath apply it every two Hours as warm as your Blood for two three four or five Days and you will find good Effects thereof always observe and be careful that you do not bind the Grieved part too hard but very Gently there being nothing worse then hard binding it often occasions great Evils even to Mortification Wormwood Smokt in Pipes being well dryed in the Sun and Bagg'd in Paper close is far better and more a vailâ—ble for the help and Cure of all or most of the Diseases Tobacco is taken in Pipes for A method how any Person may supply the place of Hops with Wormwood to all intents and purposes and please the pallats of the Drinkers for Wormwood is an Excellent Herb and of far greater Strength Power and Vertue then Hops provided it be gathered in it's proper Season and dried in the Sun and bagg'd up as Hops are so keep them for use according to the Directions in our way to Health long Life and Hppiness viz. Take what quantity you think fit of dryed Wormwood as you have occasion to keep your Drink a longer or a shorter time and put it into your hot Water in your Mash-Tub or Vessel and then presently put your Mault in and stir it together as is usual and when it has stood the common time draw it off then you must take the Wormwood out and add some fresh to your Liquor that you put up the second time and do the like when you put up your third Liquor if you mash more than twice by this Method or way you will only extract the thin fine saline Vertues of the Herb and leave the Gross Churlish bitter behind and Drink thus made doth not only Drink pleasant and keep well but iâ— far more wholsome and healthy than the best Hopped Drink and if your Wormwood is well preserved it will keep three four or five Years good and the second and third Year it is better than the first The very same Method is to be observed in useing all other Herbs But if the forementioned way should make the Grains so bitter that Cattel will not eat them Then observe the following Method viz. Make of fine thin Canvas Baggs both for your strong Beer Ale and small Beer and put such a quantity of your Wormwood as you think fit into them and when your several sorts of Drink is Working in the Tun then hang these Baggs in your Working Drink for three Hours and then take them out this being an approved way which do impregnate or imbibe the fine airy Spirituous Vertues of the Wormwood into the Drink The natural and common vertues of this Drink is it warms and strengthens the Stomack fines the Blood purgeth by Urine Generates like pure Spirits and Drink thus made if not too strong nor too great a quantity Drank then it will prove a Friend both to the Eyes Head as well as to the Stomach Healths Grand Preservative OR THE Womens best Doctor CHAP. I. Of the Nature and Operation of Bandy Rumm and Rack which of late years are become as common Drinks amongst many as Beer and Ale not only in England but also in all the West-Indies where the English inhabit and of the evil consequences that do attend the Drinkers thereof BRandy Rumm Rack and other distilled Spirits are all very pernicious and hurtful to the Health of the Body if not sparingly taken on extraordinary occasions in a Physical way for the Intention of all such Chymical Preparations when first Invented was for Mediâ—inal uses and not be used as Common Drink as of late years indiscreetly they are to the Destruction of many thousands the frequent use of them contracting such grievous and stubborn Diseases as for the most part are incurable 1. All such Spirits as are drawn by common Distillation though those cruel Sulphurous Fires where the Air hath not its free egress and regress atheir Volatile Spirit and Balsamick Body is as it were totally destroy'd As for Example take the best Sack which is the Richest and most Cordial of all Wines and hath the greatest Body put it into a Limbeck or any other Furnace of the like nature and draw it off and you shall have nothing but a strong harsh fiery Spirit or Brandy The same you shall have if you distill Sugar only it yields a stronger Spirit for the more Balsamick the Body of any thing is the stronger and fiercer is its Spirit when that Balsamick Body and the pure Volatile Spirits are destroyed or separated from it Now here you will see that the Volatile Spirit and sweet Cordial Qualities or
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
in abundance Therefore the Wise Antients did account it a Crime for Women to drink strong Drink or Wine tho' their Countries did afford Wine in abundance and good reason they had for the whole preservation of Mankind resides chiefly in the Temperance and Government of the Women if they are Intemperate the Radix of Men is corrupted are we not like to have very Fine Hopeful Healthy Children when the Mother by excessive Pampering her unweildy Carcass has contracted more Diseases than an Hospital Or when they are put out to some Drunken Nurse that instead of affording them wholsome Natural Milk Suckles them up with the unconcocted Dregs of that Brandy with which she daily overcharges her filthy Stomach The Nature of Women will not bear Excess in Meats and Drinks as Mens will without manifest danger to their Healths and also to the Health of their Children most Windy Diseases both in Women and Children being caused by their Intemperance both in quantity and quality They overcharging their Nature with Food containing too much Nourishment and Drinks that are too strong This is chiefly observable amongst Wanton Citizens and the Richer sort of People who pay dearly for the Lickerishness of their Palats by the Diseases that thence arise they being much more Distempered than the Ordinary pains-taking People I confess their are hardly any Women in the World so Intemperate and such great Lovers of there Bellies as the English nor is there any Nation more subject to Variety of Diseases and therefore they are afflicted with divers Distempers which Women in other Countries know nothing of And as our Children are generally weak Peuling Rickety and Sickly so the occasion thereof is too evident since they are almost made Gluttons from the very Cradle their Mothers gorging and feeding them till they loath their Victuals and often cast it up again and when they have been Cramming all day the good Woman entertains her Gossips with Stories what a little Stomach her Child has and that she can get it to eat nothing and She wonders how it lives and indeed so she may but for a quite contrary reason for this oppressing Nature with Excess in Youth is not only the cause of the Death of many but in others it sows such Seeds and lays foundations for Distempers that they can scarce out-grow them also many Women out of the like foolish fondness give their Children strong Drink which is very destructive to their Health Nor is it become unfrequent for Women not only to drink Brandy but also to smoak Tobacco which two things have a great affinity Tobacco being an Herb of Mars and its Poysonous fulsome attractive Nature from Saturn the common use of it in Pipes is very injurious to all sorts of People but more especially to the Female bex except it be taken very sparingly in a Physical way for some watery and windy Diseases but the usual taking of it destroys the Physical Vertues and Operation thereof only the daily Smoaking it may be profitable to Gluttons and those that Eat and Drink to Superfluity of Rich Food and strong Drink and live idle lives for such want Evacuations but Exercise and Temperance were much better for their Health Tobacco and Brandy are certainly utter Enemies to Women and also to their Children for their Spirits and Balsamick Body whence their true Life shines is more volatile and tender than Mens and their Natural Heat is not so strong for this cause Women cannot bear or endure any extreams either in Meats Drinks or Exercises without manifest danger to their Healths they being generally more sanguine than Men and their Central Heat weaker therefare all kind of inequality makes deeper Impression on them and they are sooner moved to all kinds of Passions for Women in their Radix are compounded more of the sweet Friendly Sanguine Nature their Dignificaâ—ion being chiefly from the Element of Water but the Root of Mens Nature is from the strong might of the Fire And for the same cause Women are more Chaste than Men and of colder Natures tho' many Men do believe the contrary but they are greatly mistaken in this particular having no true understanding of Nature they have judged thus hardly of Women because many of them are so easily drawn into inconveniencies by the pretended Friendship of Men but I do affirm that their being so easily overcome is not from their unchaste desires but chiefly from their Friendly Courteous Efleminate Natures being of a yielding Temper which is essentially in the Root of their Lives and when a Man has once awakened in them the Love-string which is quickly done he may command them as he pleases now finding them comply they imagine that of them which they find in themselves Not but that some Women are as unchaste as Men but then such through the Power of their depraved Free-Wills and Wanton Imaginations have forced Nature out of her simple Innocent ways compelling her often to do that which she perfectly loaths The wise Antients understanding this Nature and Constitution of Women and considering that the whole welfare and health of Mankind depended chiefly on their Temperance and Discreet Conduct did therefore direct them to an higher degree of Temperance and thought it requisite and so absolutely necessary that both the drink alotted for Women in most Countries was and is to this day pure Water and their Food as Innocent and Natural they eat Flesh sparingly living much on raw and boiled Herbs Fruits and Greens which is a most sublime Diet. And by this means their Women and Children are not afflicted with such a number of cruel Diseases There is no Country in the World where their Children and young People are so generally subject to the Small Pox Kings-Evil Joynt-Aches and many Leperous and languishing Diseases how many of them yearly die with Convulsions and Windy Distempers which generally they receive from their Mothers How many Miseries and aking Hearts do Women endure with their sickly Children And what Women are free from Vapors and Windy Diseases Fainting Fits weak Joynts and Backs their Blood corrupted breaking out in small spots in the Flesh of several colours their Stomach cold and their Natural heat not able to digest their Food without a Dram c For all which Evils there is no Remedy so long as our Women do continue the frequent Eating of fat gross Flesh without Herbs and other sweet high prepared Food and drinking strong Liquors as Brandy c. and taking Tobacco for these things do continually heat the whole Body thereby awakening the Central heat which is very injurious to Women for it presently sends Fumes and Vapours into the Head and the fierce Fires with venemous Particles do penetrate the whole Body drying up and consuming the pleasant moist cool airy Vapours suffocating the pure Spirits which otherwise would replenish the whole Body and sharpen the Appetite it also dulls the Senses and possesses the Blood with a sharp fretting humour and hinders
and Supper swallowing down a Mouthful of Water after each Washing for there is no sort of Liquor in the World to pure clean as Water and nothing doth cleanse and free the Teeth and Gums from that foul Matter which does proceed from the Breathings and Purgings of the Stomach and from the various sorts of Food so well as Water The use of other Washes is to little or no purpose but whosoever do constantly wash their Mouths wiâ—h Water as is before mentioned shall find an essential Remedy All hard Rubbing and Picking of the Teeth ought by any means to be avoided for that is injurious to them Also whensoever you find your Mouth foul or subject to be slimy as sometimes it will more than an at others according to the good or evil state of the Stomach though it be not after eating at all such times you ought to wash your Mouth This Rule all Mothers and Nurses ought to observe washing the Mouths of their Câ—ildren two or three times a day and also to cause their Children to swallow down a little Water which will be very refreshing to their Stomachs For Milk does Naturally foul and â—ur the Mouth and Teeth and if they be not kept clean by continual Washing it causes the breeding of Childrens Teeth to be the more painful to tâ—em 7. To keep your Teeth white one of the best things is a iece of a China Dish or a piece of a fine Dutch Earthen Dish made into fine Power and the Teeth rubbed with it 8. Few there be that understand or consider the excellent Vertues of Water it being an Eâ—ement of a mild and cleansing Nature and Operation Friendly unto all things and of Universal Use But because it is so common and so easily procured I am afraid that many People will be like Naaman the Syrian when the Prophet Elisha advised him to wash seven times in the River of Jordan to cure his Leprosie it being the Ignorance and folly of most People to admire those things they do not know and on the other side to despise and trample under foot thosâ— Things and Mysteries they do know which the Learned in all Ages have taken notice of For should some People know what Apothecaries and other give them they would depise the Physick and have but little respect for their Doctor All Housewives do know that no sort of Liquor be it what it will will cleanse and sweeten their Vessels but only Water all other Liquors leaving a sowr stinking Quality bekind them which will quickly cause Putrifaction But Water in its own Nature is clean and pure not only for all Uses in Housewifery and the Preservation of Health but the Saints and Holy Men of God have highly esteemed this Element by using it in the Exterior Acts of Divine Worship as having a Simile with the Eternal Water of Life that does puriâ—iâ—s and cleanse the Soul from sin CHAP. IV. Observations on the Frost An. 1683. THE present Wonderful Frost which is the General Theme of Discourse and under the â—ad Effects whereof so many Thousands of Poor Creatures Shiver and Pine and â—anguish began about the midst of December 1683. at first by mean and ordinary Degrees but towards Christmas became very sharp The Week of Ianuary the River of Thames was so frozen that People began to Walk over On Monday Ianuary the 7th on the Change of the Moon in Aquary there were Expectations and some likelihood of a Thaw but presently after it Froze more violently and on the 10th and 11th in the Morning a Coach Plyed between the Temple and the Old Barge-House yet towards Night the 11th the Moon having been in Opposition to Iupiter it Thaw'd a little and the 12th and 13th was fine Gentle Weather yet not much Thawing the Wind continuing still at North East On the 13th it Froze again briskly till the 17th when a great Snow fell the 18th high most sharp and piercing Winds and on 23d the Air was more severely piercing than ever and more Snow fell and being the first day of the Term Coaches ply'd at the Temple-stairs and carry'd the Lawyers to Westminster on the Ice and thence forwards the same continued and whole Streets of Sheds every where built on the Thames Thousands Passing Buying Selling Drinking and Revelling I wish I could not say on the Lord's Day too and most sorts of Trades-shops on the Ice and amongst the rest a Printing-House there Erected Balls Baited and Thousands of Spectators all which still continues at the Writing hereof being Ianuary the 29th 168 â—â— Nay below the Bridge Hundreds dalâ—y pass The River Humber as I am credibly informed where 't is several Miles broad is Frozen over and vast Flakes of Ice are seen floating in the Downs of divers Miles in length and proportionable breadth As for Coelestial Causes of this Unusual Coldness though undoubtedly they were not wanting for God generally Governs Inferiors by Superiors yet I find not that any of our Common Pretenders had the least Apprehension or gave any Hints thereof Not that I wholly Explode Astrology I bâ—lieve there is something in it and that it may not be unfit for a Wiâ—e and Modest. Man to Sâ—udy But our Annual Prognosticators are generally Men of little Learning and less Philosophy and what is worse many times very irregular in their Lives the God of Purity who Communicates his Secrets to those that fear him Illuminates not Debauchees Sordid Flatterers and Time-servers whose whole end is to make a Noise and Cheat People of their Money with the knowledge of Supernal Mysteries nor can it be expected That those who neither know things past by History nor take notice of things Present by any steady Judicious Observation should yet foreâ—ee things to come Whether from any of the late Tripple Conjunctions of the two Superior Planets Saturn and Iupiter or from some of the late unusual frequent Comets particularly the last in August 1682. which in twenty days with a Rapid motion making its appearance in Leo hurried through all the Signs Virgo and Libra and disappear'd in Scorpio A Sagacious Artist might not have given some Items of this strange Weather I will not determine But if Comets be only according to Aristotles Notion which I question hot and dry Exhalations drawn up from the Earth it would not be difficult to Judge that severe Colds should ensue here below For Extreams in Nature if they are not Causes are at least Fore-Runners of their Contraries Nor have there wanted grand Configurations of the Superior Bodies during the time of this violent Frost as a Trine of the Sun and Iupiter an Opposition of Saturn and Mars But leaving the Disquisition of these to the Curious having not room to inlarge here upon them I hasten to satisfie the Common Reader with an Historical Review of former Occurrences of this kind which may check that Vulgar Cry of Ignorance That Never O never was known the like Livy in his fifth Book
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