cold with Bread but in the Winter warm it 17. Take a pint of Ale or good Beer sweeten it with Sugar then put it on the Fire make it boiling hot but not boil then take one or two Eggs beat them with a little Water then brew them well with your hot sweetened Ale or Beer this is a noble comforting sort of Food or rather a rich Cordial which do wonderfully replenish Nature with both dry and moist nourishment 18. Rice and Water boiled and buttered is a fâ—iendly Food and easie of Concoction and affords a good nourishment 19. Rice and Milk is also a noble Food affording a subâ—tantial nourishment especially if you put Sugar in it and remember in what Spoon-meats soever you put Butter let no Sugar come and where you put Sugar let no Butter be 20. An Egg or two beaten and brewed in a pint of raw Milk as they call it either cold or warm according to the season of the year is a Noble substantial Food affording a most excellent Nourishment the frequent eating thereof prevents the generation of sower windy Humors which are the original of many cruel Diseases more especially in Women and Children and gives all good healthy Complexion 21. Milk made boiling hot and then thickned with Eggs is a brave substantial Food of a frienly mild Nature and Operation agreeable to most or all People 22. There is also made of Milk several other sorts of Food viz. Cheescakes Custards VVhitepots all which are much of one Nature and Operation they nourish much and are substantial but are not to be eaten too frequently 23. Spinnage boiled or stewed and butteeed and eaten with Bread makes a brave cleansing Food easie of Concoction and generates good Blood and sweetens the Humors moves and opens Obstructions 24. Spinnage and the young buds of Colworts boiled in plenty of good VVater with a quick brisk Fire and eaten only with Bread Butter and Salt is fine pleasant delightful Food affording a good clean nourishment 25. Spinnage boilnd with the sound tops of Mint and Balm seasoned with Salt and Butter and eaten with Bread makes a Noble Dish of a warming Quality and gives great satisfaction to 〈◊〉 â—tomach affording an excellent nourishâ—â—â—t 26. Spinnage Endive and young Parsley boiled and eaten with Bread Butter and Salt iâ— a brave friendly exhillerating Food generating good Blood and fine brisk Spirits cleanseth the Passages and loosens the Belly 27. Boiled Cabbedge Collyflowers and Collworts being eaten with Butter Vinegar Salt and Bread the last of the 3 being the best for they loosen the Belly purge by Urine and are easie of Concoction but remember that you boil them in plenty of good Water with a quick Fire and not too much which is to be observed in all the preparations of Herbs and Grains 28. Asparagus boiled and eaten with Bread Butter and Salt is a most delicious Food they afford a clean nourishment and are friendly to the Stomach opens Obstructions loosens the Belly and powerfully purges by Urine 29 Artichokes boiled and eaten with Bread Butter and Salt are an excellent Food and generates a substantial nourishment a Man may make a noble Meal of them 30. Green Beans boiled and eaten with Salt Butter and Bread is a most pleasant Food they gently open the Belly affording a good nourishment if you eat temperately of them for they are an entising Food Let all People subject to windy Diseases eat them sparingly 31. French or Kidney Beans boiled in plenty of Water with a brisk Fire and eaten with Bread Butter and Salt makes a brave delightful Dish of Food of a cleansing opening nature and operation they purge by Urine and gently open the Belly affording a good nourishment provided they are eaten temperately which is chiefly to be regarded in all green Foods 32. Green Pease boiled and seasoned with 〈◊〉 and Butter and eaten with Bread makes a 〈◊〉 pleasant Dish of Food their nourishment is 〈◊〉 strong they are windy if not sparingly eaten 33. Dry Pease being boiled in plenty of good soft Water being seasoned with Salt and Butter makes a substantial Dish of Food and affords a strong nourishment and are good for all strong labouring Men. 34. Boiled Turnips makes a very good Dish of Food being seasoned with Salt Butter and eaten with Bread especially for all young People they open and cleanse the Passages and are easie of digestion and may with safety be eaten plentifully their colour declares their excellent Vertues 35. Parsnips boiled in plenty of good Water seasoned with Salt Vinegar Butter and Mustard makes a brave substantial hearty Dish of Food and are friendly to most Constitutions 36. Carrats boiled and seasoned with Salt and Butter and eaten with good Bread is a fine Dish of Food very pleasant and wholesom and are of easie Concoction the deep red are the best 37. Roasted or boiled Potatoes eaten with Butter Salt and Vinegar makes a pleasant Dish 〈◊〉 Food very grateful to the Stomach and are â—asie of digestion now and then a Meal of them â—â—may do well 38. Apple-Dumplins eaten with Butter or Butter and Sugar hath the first place of most sorts of Puddings they are easie of Concoction and afford a friendly nourishment 39. Plain Dumplins made very small viz. with with good Flower Milk Eggs and a little Butter mixed or work'd up in them and made thin like small Cakes about as large as a Crown Piece and put into boiling Water which will be boiled in a little time this is a noble substantial Food very sweet and pleasant of a warming nature of an easie friendly operation 40. Plain Puddings made with Eggs Flower and Milk well boiled and buttered makes a firm Food agreeable to the Stomach being eaten temperately is both wholesom and healthy 41. Boiled Dumplins made only with Flower Milk or Water with a little Ginger which is the best Spice for Puddings with Yeast or Barm and when done buttered is a very good wholesom Food and of easie digestion of this alone a Man may now and then make a good Meal 42. Boiled Puddings made with Flower Milk and Eggs and Raisons or Currans and buttered makes a pleasant Food and a Man may now and then give himself the liberty to make a Meal thereof without prejudice 43. There are also several sorts of light Puddings made of Bread and various sorts of ingredients which are pleasant to the Pallat and not ungrateful to the Stomach if sparingly eaten 44. Rice Puddings both plain and made of Fruit which for the most part are a pleasant sort of Food easie of digestion and may be freely eaten 45. There are also several of Baked Puddings which to most young People are delightful they afford a good strong nourishment and are best for such as labour 46. Apple-pies made with Fruit that is neither too green or unripe nor too old or far spent are a very good Food especially for young People they afford a good nourishment and are friendly to
Nature 47. Pear-pies being full ripe makes a fine gentle friendly Food of easie Concoction 48. Rhedishes and Bread and Butter is a very good Food and a Man may now and then make a good Meal thereof this affords a substantial nourishment far exceeding a Flesh Dinner 49. Parsley and Bread and Butter makes a noble exhillerating Food agreeable to Nature nothing more friendly to the Stomach breeds good Blood and fine Spirits 50. Sorrel and Bread and Butter makes a brave brisk Food easie and quick of digestion cleanseth the Stomach and opens the Belly and generates good Blood 51. Balm and Bread and Butter makes an excellent Food of a chearing warming Quality no sort of Food makes a better Nourishment 52. Sage and Bread and Butter makes excellent Food affords a good nourishment its particular operation is it warms the Stomach and expels Wind. 53. Milk Pottage viz. half Milk and half Water mix it and put it on your Fire when boiling hot then take it off the Fire and brew it with some Oatmeal ready tempered or mixed with a spoonful of cold Water or Milk season it with Salt and eaten with Bread makes a very good substantial Food affording a good nourishment agreeable to the Stomach But remember that it be made thin and full half Water otherwise it will be heavy on the Stomach especially if it be for weakly Consumptive People 54. There is also a brave sort of Food made of Wheat and Milk called Furmity some make it plain and others add Fruit to it the plain is the best but they are both very good affording a firm substantial nourishment of a mild friendly operation the frequent use of this is a grand enemy to the generation of sower windy Humours 55. Boiled Wheat buttered is a noble Dish and with this alone a Man may make a better and more satisfactory Meal than with Princely variety it affords a sweet friendly and most agreeable nourishment easie of concoction and generates fine thin Blood 56. Take good white Pease boil them when near done add green Sage and Onions cut small then season it with Salt and Butter but in the Winter when green Sage is not good then take that which is dried according to our Directions in The Way to Health long Life and Happiness which is to be preferred before green This is a brave strong substantial Pottage very grateful to the Pallate and agreeable to the Stomach 57. Directions to make several sorts of Herb Pottage viz. Take what quantity you please of good Water make it boiling hot then have your Herb or Herbs ready washed not cut as the usual custom is put them into your boiling hot Water let your Vessel continue on the Fire till your Liquor begins to boil then take it off the Fire and let your Herbs remain in your boiling Liquor 2 or 3 minutes after which take your Herbs out then brew your hot Infusion with a little small ground Oatmeal which you must have ready tempered with a spoonful or two of cold Water adding Salt and Butter to it which ought to be brewed with your Oatmeal This Pottage or Gruel you may eat with Bread or without as you find most agreeable to your Stomach All Herb Pottages made after this method are far more commendable for all good purposes than that made the common and usual way for the hot Liquor in a moments time draws forth all the fine spirituous mild friendly opening cleansing Vertues and leaves the more gross raw or crude quality behind even as the first hot Liquor put on Malt does attract the best and most spiritual Vertues and strength of the Malt for in most or all Infusions the fine spirituous qualities separate and do first give themselves forth into any proper Minstruum or Liquor 58. Smallage makes a Pottage or Gruel of a cleansing quality it purifies the Blood opens Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen this Pottage alone eaten twice a day is an effectual Remedy against all Consumptive Humours 59. Sellary does also make a brave Physical Pottage it warms and comforts the Spirits affords a good nourishment and is an admirable Remedy against windy sower Humours 60. Leek Pottage is not only good Food but it is also profitable against all Obstructions of the Uâ—iters and is good against short windedness and other Obstructions of the Breast and affords a good clean nourishment 61. Onion Pottage this eaten with good Bread Butter and Salt makes a brave Meal of it self it is also good against difficult breathing 62. Garlick Pottage is chiefly good for full Bodied Corpulent People and such as are troubled with Coughs the Stone and Gravel 63. Parsley Pottage warms the Stomach chears the Spirits and is very agreeable to the Stomach being eaten with Bread Butter and Salt a Man may make a very good Meal thereof 64. Mint makes a noble exhillerating Pottage the frequent eating thereof does not only prevent windy Humours in the Passages but it mightily strengthens the Retentive Faculty of the Stomach 65. Balm makes a Pottage of a warming comforting quality and is a gallant Food affording excellent nourishment this alone makes a noble Meal to the highest satisfaction of the Stomach 66. Water-Cresses made into Pottage being eaten with Bread Butter and Salt is not only a good Food but the frequent use thereof cleanseth the Blood and prevents Fumes and Vapours from flying into the Crown 67. Sweet Charwel makes an excellent Pottage being eaten with Bread Butter and Salt is not only a brave Food but it warms cold Stomachs and is a friend to the Lungs 68. Take Currans boil them in your Water when almost done mix a little small Oatmeal with 2 spoonfulls of cold Water stir it in and let it boil a little when done season it with Salt adding Sugar to it this eaten with Bread makes a good Meal You may add Butter as most good Housewives do but I must tell them that it makes it heavy on the Stomach and apt to send Fumes into the Head 69. Boil your Raisins in Water as is mentioned before of Currans when almost done then stir your tempered Oatmeal in and let it boil a small time when done add Salt Sugar and Bread you may add Butter especially if the Eaters thereof be strong working People This Pottage affords much nourishment and a Man may sometimes make a very good Meal of this alone 70. Take Raisins Currans and a few Pruanâ— boil them in good Water when near done thicken it with white Bread adding Spice Sugar Butter and Salt This is a rich Pottage affording a great nourishment and therefore it must be eaten the more sparingly 71. A piece of good Bread and a Pint of good Ale or Beer makes a very galant Meal it warms the Stomach is easie of digestion generates good Blood and it has a quick and pleasant operation 72. Bread and half a Pint of good Canary Wine a Man may make a noble and most delightful Meal even to the highest
Sweet in which Sugar Spices or Spanish Fruits are mixed 93. Be strangers to the East and West-India Commodities as Nutmegs Cloves Mace Cinnamon Ginger and the like 94. Keep your self as â—â—ch as may be from eating fat succulent Food 95. Refrain also Foods in which many things of contrary Natures are mixed or compounded 96. Be careful the quantity of your Food be not too great for most of this Complexion are free Eaters and for the most part the pleasure of the Palate in Eating and Drinking does continue many degrees beyond the necessity of Nature 97. Refrain eating of Eggs and rich Broths but eat freely of all mean simple Foods as Water-gruel Herbs Bread and the like also Milk as it comes from the Cow but Flesh Cheese Butter and the like be sparing in 98. Apple-Pies where there is no Butter in the Crust is a good Food eaten with Butter 99. Flower and Water Flower and Milk Flower and Milk and Water prepared as we have taught in the Good Houswife made a Doctor are excellent Foods 100. Many sorts of Herbs in their seasons if mixed and prepared as we have Taught are very suitable Foods 101. Bread and good Drink eaten alone without either Butter Cheese or Flesh is a most excellent Food as also all moist cooling Foods are proper for all People but more especially for this Complexion and young People in general 102. But remember to eat dry Food once a day especially in Winter for then the Air is moist and subject to Humidity 103. In the heat of Summer eat Gruels and other Spoon-meats as frequently as you will it hurts not 104 For in that Season the Natural Heat is not so potent as in Winter or Cold weather and therefore the Foods ought not to be so hard and strong but more mild and easier of Concoction 105. Accustom your self to Order and it will become easy 106. Use Exercises that are gentle especially in the Morning before you Eat or Drink for one Hour or two 107. Take example from Wise Men and not from Fools 108. Gaze not on the Multitude but turn thy Eye inward 109. Be diligent and learn the Nature of Things and to know their intrinsick Virtues especially of those Things you Eat and Drink because the Great Creator hath endued all things with a certain Power to beget their Similes in the Body and Mind for the Body and Spirit of every Man is daily Generated made and sustained by those things he Eats and Drinks and their Essences departs not from him which is a point highly to be considered 110. Be your own Cook and trust not a Blind Man to prepare your Food 111. Be able to give a Reason for all you do for Tradition is a blind Guide 112. Esteem not a thing because a Friend did it but learn to have Eyes of your own 113. Say not in your Heart that my Grandfather Father and Mother did so and so and I believe they were as wise as you and therefore I will do so too for such Sayings are Tokens of stubborn and incurable Folly 114. Keep a proper weight and measure in all things 115. Refrain the frequent company of Women especially such as have outlived Shamefac'dness 116. Water is the most kindly and natural Drink especially for all young People 117. Frequent not Alehouses nor Taverns nor let your Voices be heard in any such places except upon urgent occasions 118. Spend your leasure time in Reading good Books for they beget the Image of Virtue in them that peruse them 119. Meditate on the Law of the Lord and the wonderful things that are as you are about your occasions and the good Genius that the Lord hath granted you shall open such Mysteries as you are capable of 120. Be diligent in Exercise spend no time in waste for Idleness is the Mother of many Mischiefs 121. Consider the Heavens the Sun Moon and wonderful variety of Stars all busie in that Motion and comely Order that the Blessed Creator set them in the beginning 122. Look upon the Earth and the vast variety of its product all is in a comly Order every thing putting forth its Virtue in harmony without grudging or envying the beautiful Form of each other 123. Suffer not therefore thy cholerick Fire to burn so furiously but allay it with the sweet Influences of the Waters of Shiâ—ock or the Love and Light of the Lord that enlightneth every one in a Measure 124. Consider that Passion is thy greatest Enemy stand still therefore when thou feelest such Fires begin to kindle and take Wisdom to thy aid 125. Be not too quick in speaking or answering a Question but remember that your Fire burns fierce make a pause therefore that you may Speak and Answer with Wisdom 126. Do not entertain high or proud Thoughts of your Self or your own Doings 127. Despise not thy Inferior for you are both made of one and the same Matter 128. Suffer not dark and melancholy Thoughts to perplex your Soul but consider the Cause and how by Wisdom to prevent and cut them off in the bud 129. Neither be affrighted at terrible Dreams or Visions but consider the Root and what Property of the Sevenfold Nature do carry the upper Dominion in your Complexion and endeavour to moderate it by Wisdom and Order for all such Dreams and Visions arises and proceeds from the dark Root 130. Art thou subject to the Head-ach Vapors or the like then be moderate in Exercise and take such gentle simple Meats both in quantity and quality which may allay such disorders for there is greater power in Food and Drink than most imagine 131. Wound not thy Self with thy own Arrows by imagining Mischiefs which perhaps may never happen nor bring thy Souâ— into Sorrow for that which is above thy powâ—er to help 132. Consider that God doth all things by his wonderful Providence therefore Fight not against him 133. Take not the death of Friends Children and the like too deeply to Heart for it is the Will of God in whose good pleasure are the issues of their own Lives nor canst thou thy self preserve it one Hour but must bow to that Great Hand when thy appointed time is come 134. Moderate thy Passions therefore by Wisdom and sound Reason and suffer not thy Soul to be captivated in the House of Mourning and Sorrow 135. Give off all hard Labours before your Spirits are too much spent or wasted 136. Be cautious how you drink any kind of strong Drink for they are an Enemy to your Constitution and increase Diseases 137. Be content and use your self to all mean and simple Foods as Water-gruel Bread and Butter various sorts of Herbs both boiled and raw sundry sorts of Food made of Milk Fruits Applepies and the like 138. Raw Eggs with Bread is an excellent Food it being the best way of eating them a little use will render them very pleasant 139. Mild Ale and mild Beer are the most simple Drinks except Water which
Art thou a Man of an Estate remember that thou art but Gods Stewart therefore do good to the Needy and let thy Farms such a Pennyworth that thy Tenants may comfortably live and pay thy Rent with chearfulness of Heart so will their Souls bless thee and thou shalt be rich both in Time and Eternity 249. Art thou a Husbandman or Farmer then shew mercy and compassion to all thy Servants and also to thy Beasts by whose Labour thou art sustained and thy Fields shall be fruitful for Mercy powerfully attracts the Divine Bounty and sweet Influences of God and his Handmaid Nature 250. Art thou an Heir or dost thou Inherit an Estate gotten by thy Forefathers by Wars and Manslaughter or any other kind of Injustice Fraud or Violence remember Gehuzie's Leprosie sticks thereunto and the Curse is near thee wherefore do not rest nor call it thy Right before thou hast made Retalliation or Restitution either to those from whom it was taken or if they were not known then by giving most part of it to the Poor seeing it is the effects of Violence and the utter ruine of many Hundreds of poor distressed People that never offended thee nor thy Forefathers fail not to make satisfaction 251. Maids and Women that are subject to Fumes Vapours and Headach will do well to forbear most sorts of fat Succulent Foods or of hard Concoction and particularly all baked Foods as Pudding Pye Crust and likewise strong hard stale or bitter Drinks 252. Sudden Frights Surprizes Excess of Joy Fear Love Hate Sorrow are very injurious to them 253. If your Stomachs be obstructed or furred eat Bread and Water-gruel sometimes with Herbs without Butter Sugar or Fruit or skimm'd Milk and Bread which will carry the offending Matter downwards and disburden Nature 254. Nothing hurts Nature more then too great a quantity of Food for it powerfully â—â—â—ds fumes up into the Head and generates 〈◊〉 in all the Body so do all Foods preperâ—d by Fire if eaten hot 255. Accustom your self to eat cold Foods espâ—câ—â—lly in moderate Seasons 256. All sorts of Wines are pernicious to the Female Sex except allayed with Water and yet more mischievous are all Brandies or other Spirituous Liquors made by Distillation 257. For all Women should remember that their Natural Heats are much weaker then Mens and therefore they ought to use double the Care and Temperance in the Conduct of their Lives as to Meats and Drinks Passions and Exercises and the like 258. The same Rules Mothers and Nurses ought to observe in their Diet for Children if they would have them healthy 259. Observe that all Foods contain three forms properties or qualities viz. a strong harsh poysonous Fire either cold or hot which in all things is the Root of Life and Motion 2dly A most pure friendly property which is sweet Oyly and Balsamick a Moderater or an allayer of all harshness and astringency 3dly A phlegmy gross Body which do cover hide or contain in its Bowels the other two the Holy Trinity is manifested in all the three Kingdoms of the Human Nature which is a most wonderful Mystery 260. But in some things or Foods the Fathers property in the Fire is most potent and then such are of a harsh bitter hot or poysonous Spirit and phlegmatick Body and of strong gross taste and smell subject to Corruption and therefore such Foods ought in a special manner to be avoided and of that fort are most Flesh and Fish as having lost all its pure Vertues and Spirits by Deaths baneful Stroke 261. For since every sort of Food begets its likeness and awakens respectively their own properties in the Body Spirits and Soul their essences never departs but incorporates themselves with the Lifes Spirits therefore all innocent simple Foods as Herbs Seeds Grains and Fruits do best suit and agree with harmless innocent People 262. All inclinations to Meats and Drinks do arise from that property that is most strongly awakened or has got the chief dominion in the Lifes Spirit 263. Thus all Beasts desires a Food proportionable to their Natures as Dogs Bears Lyons one sort and Cowes and Horses another 264. The same is to be understood in Men every thing does naturally and powerfully though as it were in an insensible way attract unto it self such Food or Matter as is capable to nourish its own Body therefore it is said by the Illuminated Moses that Adam and Eve were betrayed by eating and undoubtedly if Adam had continued in Innocency then innocent Food would have satisfied him 265. Can any thing be more unjust or unreasonable not to do as thou desirest to be done unto thou desirest the Lord to forgive thee then do thou the like to thy Neighbour 266. Thou desirest to enjoy thy peace and freedom in the worship of God then deny not thy Neighbour the like Priviledges 267. Consider that thou hast but a little while to live in this World and that there must be an account given of all things 268. Think what it is to lie on thy Death-Bed when all the pleasure of Life withdraw themselves and bid thee Eternally adieu 269. Then thou wilt be left alone though thou wert Lord over millions nor can any force of Armed Men defend thee from that Mortal Stroke 270. When all thy Acquaintance shall fly from thee as if they were frighted and then thou must pass into the Melancholy Shades and enter upon unchangeable Eternity where none of thy great Men or Lovers can help thee 271. Fear thy Creator therefore and do good in this time of thy Pilgrimage that thou mayest have Treasures in the World to come for none can help thee but only the great Iehovah 272. Wait at the Altar of the Lord and pray that he would open the Gates of Wisdom unto thee 273. For Wisdom and Understanding is in the secret Chamber and not amongst the Multitude 274. Remember that God is to be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth therefore let not forms or outward modes of Worship make divisions between thee and thy Neighbour provided he be a good Man that is one that fears God and loves his Neighbour and doth good for evil 275. Be not offended because another Man is not like thee for God is not offended at such unlikeness but our making our selves unlike him by Sin who hath made no two things altogether alike in the World and we are all the works of his Hands 276. And most true it is that the Lord hath made all Men to differ and vary as much in their Minds Inclinations Dispositions and Understandings as in their outward face of Body or Compleâ—iâ—n 277. Give 〈◊〉 allowance to all People that are 〈…〉 and educated amongst Turks 〈◊〉 or other Religions that are strange to 〈◊〉 considering that if thou hadst been educated there thou wouldst have been as they and 〈◊〉 otherwise 278. Therefore without despising or hateing them bless God that he hath more mercifully disposed of thee under greater
and the Good will work forth its own Nature 414. The Good praiseth the Good and Evil exalteth the Evil. 415. All Creatures praiseth God except Man because they have kept his Law 416. The Fire the Air the Earth the Water and all their numerous off-springs do with one voice continually sing Hallalujahs unto their Creator 417. Consider the wonderful variety of Fruits Grains Seeds and Herbs and how they all praise the Lord in silence and thrusts forth their Virtues in Corcord 418. He that delights himself in violence and oppresseth the Creatures dishonoureth his Maker and perverts his way in Nature and makes his Creation groan 419. Consider what the Good is and its Nature and know for a Truth that all Violence and Oppression is as contrary to it as Light is to Darkness 420. Consider the wonderful Power of God and that he hath made all that Man might through all and by all know the Holy Creator and himself whose Image he bears 422. Note that it is the greatest Evil in the World not to know God for he that knoweth not his Maker knoweth not himself 423. He that knoweth God and the things that are becomes Divine whilst he lives in the Body 424. The Soul of Man hath a fiery Original but the Spirit of the Soul is friendly and of a Divine Nature and is that Holy Spark of Light that shines into and enlightens the Soul 425. The Soul being of the Nature of the Father but the Spirit of the Soul is of the Sons Property which does by its bright Beams enlighten the dark Father and by its friendly Influences moderates the fiery harshness of the Soul 426. The Soul thorough the friendly Power of the Divine Principle if it turn its Will thereinto may obtain Regeneration and be made better but worse it cannot 427. The Soul of Man is from that Principle in which God called himself a jealous God and a consuming Fire which thorough Disobedience to the pure Spirit or voice of Wisdom did and do to this day joyn it self with the Evil which Christ came to seek and to Save 428. That which is Divine cannot sin nor consent to any Evil but it is the Soul that hath falâ— and sinned against God viz. The Divine Principle 429. The Soul in its own Nature is fierce whose Ground is from the first Principle but the Spirit of the Soul is its Light or Sun which doth shine back into and replenish its harsh Father a true similitude we have in the outward Fire which is in its Original of a fierce harsh consuming Nature but its Sun which this harshness and fierceness do Generate viz. The Light is of a most pleasant friendly amiable quality and refreshing nature affording a good Essence 430. But if there were not Fire there would be no Light or at least the Light would not be manifest unto its self 431. The happiness of all Souls is to dwell in the Light and to become one with it and not in the Fire or in its own Principle or Nature 432. The true Joy of Man's Soul is to live in the Power of the Light but if there were but one Thing then there could be no manifestation or if there was no Sorrow Joy would not be known unto it self 433. Behold the whole Created Being with the Eyes of Understanding and then thou will see and find a Good and Evil in all things in Animals Vegetables and Minerals Also Sweet Sowerness Light and Darkness Heaven and Hell Father and Son which two grand Fountains do continually contend in each Thing and Creature for Victory which since the Fall of the Angels and Man the evil Properties or Principle have gotten the upper Dominion which do mightily hide or captivate all the friendly Paradisical Virtues in each Creature and Thing 434. Seeing then that all things have an Evil and Good in them how necessary is it for Men to joyn or choose the things that are most innocent and fâ—eest from the wrath or fierceness in Meats in Drinks Words and Works because the Essences of each Thing do in a secret and most powerful manner by simile incorporate with the Human Nature and according to their Natures increase and strengthen their like Properties 435. Hearken therefore unto the Divine Principle which is the Light of all Souls and the true living Virtue in all Things 436. The Soul of Man is liable to be made Evil by many things viz. by Sorrow Grief Pleasure Pain and many more But to be made Good but by one viz. The Holy Light and Love of Jesus Christ. 437. Also by Meats Drinks Communications Words and Works which do darken and put the Eye of the Mind out 438. The Divine Principle or Holy Light is the pure sweet friendly Power and Essential Virtue in all things especially in the Human Nature but thorough Sin most hid or captivated it 439. None are made partaker of the true Knowledge of God and his Holy Mysteries in Nature but only such as addict themselves to Innocency and Self-denial 440. Those that see but the least spark of the Good and are made partakers thereof do count the State of Man in this World poor low and miserable 441. He that would know Divine Things and understand the highest Good must as it were hate the Body and all Beastial Inclinations for no Man can equally enjoy both 442. Light and Darkness is set before every Man and as a prise the one is as near as the other and the Will of the Soul is free and which soever it enters into unto that he becomes a Subject 443. Consider the wonderful Power of the Soul if it be enlightned by the true Spirit of Wisdom it can then in the Wisdom do all things as it ought to Gods Praise and its own Comfort 444. Consider that the use of mean simple Meats Drinks Cloathing Household stuff and Furnitures are great friends unto Mens Souls it cuts off Covetousness in the Bud frees the Body from great Labours and Cares also from Suspition Passion Sorrow and most kinds of Evil. 445. For no Man will be so concern'd or angry with his Servant for loosing or breaking a wooden Spoon as for a Silver the like is to be understood in all other things 446. Look not therefore on the Rich and Mighty and what they do but what 's honest and sutable to Natures wants 447. Moderation and meaness in Meats Drinks Cloathing and Furniture will in a manner prevent the many troubles and wants that attends most Families 448. He that does know the true Virtue of mean things will never desire the trouble of getting of the Needles Trifles Nothing being more pleasant than to imitate Nature 449. If thou wouldst enjoy Health and Strength in old Age live soberly in Youth and visit not the shades of Venus too often for the secretly wounds her Lovers with incurable Diseases 450. The Original of most Mans Grief and continual Trouble is his suffering his Will and Desire to
the spirit then also the Oyl does with the true spirit become either suffocated or evaporated for this very cause all Herbage that has lost its spirit does neither smell well nor weigh heavy for that fragrant smell proceeds from the Essential spirits and the weight and ponderousness is from the Oyl the very same is to be understood in all Grains as Wheat Barly Rye and the like the true colour also do arise and proceed both from the Essential spirit and Oyly quality 2. Therefore all Vegitative Foods especially such as are made of Corn as Wheat Rye Barly or the like are far more agreeable and harmonial than Flesh and Fish easier of digestion affording a finer livelier and more brisker spirit and less phlegm or gross Juices which the Natural heat and sharp pleasant Minstruum or Runnet of the Stomach can easily digest and send down into the passages and so free the Joynts and other parts of the Body from Inconveniencies This is manifest by External Operations for how quickly will Bread dissolve being put into Water nay the whole dry Corn it self being infused grows soft and tender in a little time but how long may one infuse Flesh Fish Cheese or Butter before they dissolve or grow more tender Vegetative Foods do also keep the Body cool and pleasant preventing Fumes and Vapours from flying into the Head because such Foods do not generate them as all fat Victuals does for their crude obstructive phlegmatick Juices that lodge in the Stomach and Vessels that cause Fumes and Vapours as also Fevers for the principal cause that Fevers are so frequent is that surplusage of matter that proceeds from Intemperance in Foods both in quantity and quality for when People over-charge Nature then the digestive faculty cannot make a perfect separation but the gross Juices does load stop and fur the passages whence is generated thick Blood and impure Spirits so that Nature becomes stagnated which does immediately stir up and awaken the Centerial Fires in all parts of the Body and makes the whole burn with an unnatural heat uneasie and burthensom which is that we call a Fever 4. Therefore in a special manner after full Meals of Flesh or Fish or other fat Foods Men ought to be cautious of drinking too plentifully of strong spirituous Drinks a cup of good Water to most Constitutions has had far better success to carry off a full Meal of such Foods than strong Liquors for good Water is endued with a mild friendly quality of a dissolving dissipating digestive nature and therefore helpâ— Concoction better than Spirituous Drinks as may be gathered from most or all External Operations for Water especially River Water or Spring Water such as will Wash Boil and Brew well will dissolve and dissipate hard Coagulated Bodies sooner than strong Drink or Spirits as Water will dissolve Sugar sooner than Beer Wine or Brandy for in the last especially it will lie a great while before it dissolves 5. Vegetative Foods affords not only the greatest and most vigorous spirits in the Bodies of either Men or Beasts but more fine and innocent free from the seeds of violence passion and inclinations to Beastiality 6. For the forementioned Reasons those that live wholly on Vegitations can drink more strong spirituous Drinks and with far less prejudice than those that live on Flesh and Fish for they will not so soon fume up into their Heads nor so much heat their Bodies finding their Stomachs free from those Crudities and flatulent Juices wherewith the others are pestered and consequently the digestive Property more powerful the Drink is presently dispatched and the grosser parts evaporated by the Uretors without any let or hindrance but the case is otherwise in the Stomachs of such as eat Flesh and fat Foods the truth of this may further appear by Men that do drink much strong Drink after full Meals such will be made drunk before and also sick before those that take the like quantity whose Stomachs are rather empty than full and the latter are in far less danger of Surfets it being seldom known that such that are both great Eaters and great Drinkers too do live long but on the contrary great Drinkers that eat but small quantities of Food do often live to old Age or if a great Eater chance to out-live Youth they seldom but have the Gout from all which it follows that Animal Foods which are for the most part fat are nothing so Excellent or Commendable as Vegitations which none can understand or know but Doctor Experience talk will not convince any Man no not Men of the greatest Reasons Obj. Some will be apt to object and say that it is nonsence to discourse after this manner viz. to affirm that fat Animal Foods are not so good as poor lean Vegitations and Victuals made thereof for we see will they say that fat things are desired by all or most and if Flesh be not fat it is counted worth little because fat is counted to be of a brave healing nourishing Nature and Operation and therefore our Nurses endeavour to make sucking Children to take it even against their Stomachs Answ. To which I answer that I am not ignorant that this is indeed the vulgar Opinion but for that very reason to be suspected nay if you will hearken to the Voice of Wisdom utterly to be expelled for Doctor Experience and that most excellent Phylosopher Right Reason will tell you that it is a grand mistake to think that Vegitations and Foods made thereof though they have not gross greasy qualities as Animal Foodâ— have are therefore to be counted poor lean and of but little Nourishment for are we not every day taught the contrary though not in Man yet in all other Creatures Will not a little cold Grass and dry Hay and especially Corn make several sorts of Beasts fat and that too very firm and substantial And what is your brave Butter and Cheese but the digested Juice of Grass and Vegitations all dried Grains as Wheat Barly Rye and many other sorts are endued with an excellent Spirit and pure Oyl much finer and freer from grossness and phlegm than Flesh or the product of Flesh the Oyl of Grains being as it were vollatile like a Spirit so that when it comes into the Stomach it is brisk and lively most easily separated and digested as being turned into an Unctious substance from whence the fatness of these Creatures that live on Corn does proceed which Unctious quality does also contain a bright lofty exhillerating spirit that makes all such Creatures so strong lively and brisk that they have no need of the fat either of Flesh or Fish The very same would happen to Man if he could content himself with Vegitative Foods and good Drinks made thereof 7. Such as live on Vegitative Foods are hardly ever subject to drought though they can when they eat drink with more pleasure to the Stomach though not so much to the Pallate as