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
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
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-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
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
observe the necessary Rules of Temperance how careful then ought Mothers and Nurses to be in ordering their Children A great part of the Children that die especially in Towns and Cities is occasioned either by the Intemperance of their Mothers during the time they go with Child or afterwards by their unnatural and badly prepared Food and suffering them to eat to excess also by their keeping of them too warm and too close from the Air and lapping of them up in several Double Clothes and Swathes so tight that a Man may write on them and then puting them into warm Beds and covering them up close If a strong Man was so bound up he could not endure it without great injury unto his Health Besides the Window-Curtains are drawn and also the Curtains about the Bed by which means the Air becomes so hot and sulphurous that it causes great Disorders to attend both the Mothers and the Children This ill Kind of Management does also cause such a Tenderness both in the Mother and the Child that on every small occasion they are liable and apt to get Colds and divers other Distempers Also Women have the entire Management of all things that concern our Healths during the whole time of our Lives they prepare and dress our Food and order all things in our Houses both for Bed and Board There is not one Man of a hundred that understands or takes any notice whether his Food be well prepared or not and if his Bed stinks he is used to it and so counts it all well Mens Time and Study is chiefly taken up about getting a Livelihood and providing things necessary for themselves and Families so that there is not one among a thousand that understands any thing what belongs to the Preservation of his Health Whatever the Women do and say touching the Preparation of Food and other ordering of Families for Health most Men believe not making the least scruple or question of the truth thereof And well they may For the chiefest Doctors of our Times do bow before them and are altogether as subject to the Rules and Directions of Women as other Men. Where are your Doctors that teach Men Sobriety in their Lives or the proper and natural way of preparing Meats fit for the Stomach Which of them adviseth against the evil Custom of keeping their Chambers so over hot when People are sick and in the time of Womens lying in Child-bed Why do they not advise them not to have their Curtains so close drawn both before their Windows anâ— Beds insomuch that they are often times in a manner suffocated for want of the fresh Air For I affirm That all sorts of People that do keep their Beds let the occasion be what it will have ten-fold more need of the refreshing Influences of the Air than others that are up For the Bed being much hotter than a Man's Garments are when he is up the thin refreshing moist Vapâ—urs that do penetrate the whole Body more powerfully when a Man is up are thereby hindered This is one chief Reason why a Man cannot digest a Supper so well in Bed as if he sits up All Men know that the Bed destroys Appâ—tice If a Man go to Bed aâ— Eight a Clock and lies till Eight in the Morning he shall not be hungry but it he goes to Bed at the same time and rises at Four in the Morning though he sâ—s still without Action yet by Eight he shall have a good Stomach to eat and drink so great is the power of the Air For when a Man is up his Body is cool and the pure Spirâ—s and thin moist Vapours of the Air have power to penetrate the Body which Element the Body sucks in like a Spunge thorow the Pores and this doe not only cool and refresh â—he Spirits and the whole Body but also powerfully strengthens the Action of the Stomach But I pity the young Children most who are so tender and of so delicate a Nature both in their Body and Spirits that every Disorder does wound them to the very Heart Nothing is more grateful and refreshing to them than the pleasant Air It comforts their Spirits and cauâ—eth a free Circulation of the Blood and Radical Moisture begets Appetite and makes them grow in Strength But on the contrary hot sulphurous Airs with great Fires and warm Clothing do not only hinder the Circulation of the Blood but suffocate the Spirits and destroy the Appetite causing an unnatural Heat to possess the whole Body whence does proceed various Disorders and Diseases making them to cry and be very froward Also close Bindings and over-warm Clothings and thick hot Airs do oft in weak-spirited Children cause Convulsions Vapours and Fumes to fly into the Head sometimes occasioning Vomitting which People call Windy Diseases Again the Food of most Children of late years is so enriched with West and East-India Ingredients that is with Sugar and Spices that thereby their Food becomes so hot in Operation that it does not only breed too much Nourishment which generates Obstructions and Stoppages but it heats the Body drying up and consuming the Radical Moisture and infecting the Blood with a sharp fretting Humour which in some Complexions and Constitutions causeth languishing Diseases contracting the Breast and Vessels of the Stomach and hindering the Passages of the Spirits so that the Joynts and Nerves become weak and feeble In others with the help of bad Diet and other Uncleanliness does cause Botches Boils and various sorts of Leprous Diseases Also many that have wherewithal will frequently give their Children Sack strong Drinks and fat Meats as long as they will eat which is abominable and absolutely contrary to the Nature of Children There are a hundred other Disorders and Intemperances that many Mothers and ignorant Nurses affect their Children with which I have no room in this place to discourse of Therefore I commend unto the Women Milk that is raw only made so hot as the Mothers or Nurses Milk is when the Child socks it and sometimes Milk and Flower boyled together giving it the Châ—ld about tâ—e warmness of Breast-milk and indeed neither Children nor others others ought to eat any Food hotter Also no Children ought to drink any kind of strong Drink I could commend Water as the most wholesom but it being contrary to our Custom ordinary Beer may do well or rather small Ale If Women did understand but the hundredth part of the Evils and Diseases those indulging and intemperate Ways do bring both to themselves and Children they would quickly be of my mind which I never expect They are too wise CHAP. III. A short Discourse of thâ— Pain in the TEETH Shewing from what Cause it does chiefly proceed and also how to prâ—vâ—nt it THE terrible Pains and Diseases of the Teeth do chiefly proceed from two Causes The first is from certain filthy Phlegmy Matter which the Stomach and Vessels do continually breathe and send forth which does lodge
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
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
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