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 [Page 2] Invented, was for Medi [...]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 Body, both in the Sack and [Page 3] also in the Sugar, are destroved, and there doth remain, as is said before, on­ly a fierce harsh Brimstony Spirit, void of all the wholsome Qualities Sack and Sugar did contain; for the Volatile Spi­rit or Tincture, is the Essential Life of every thing, and its the maintainer of its Colour, Smell and Taste. Now these pure Spirits will not endure any violent Heat or harsh Fire, but through the fiery heat, and want of the free Egress and Regre is of the Air, they presently be­come Suffocated, and then the sweet Balsamick Body is turned sour; for this sweet Balsamick Body is the pleasant Hab tation of the Volatile Spirit, and this pure Spirit is the true Life of that Bal­samick Body; they are inseparable Companions, the one cannot subsist without the other; destroy either, and both die.

Therefore all such Spirits so drawn, do lose their Balsamick Body with all their Cordial Virtues and Tinctures, put what Herbs or Liquors you will into such Furnaces, they are presently Plun­dered of their natural Colour, and run off white, whereby it appears, that this common way of Distillation destroys [Page 4] the pure Natural Virtues and Tincture, for from the Tincture proceeds all the Variety of Colours, both in Vegetables, Minerals, and Animals, so that such Spirits do only contain a harsh fierce fiery Nature, and for that Reason, if they be frequently Drunk, do Prey upon the Natural Heat, and by degrees wea­ken it, destroying the very Life of Na­ture, by way of Simile: for every Like works upon its likeness, whence it comes to pass, that in those who addict them­selves to the drinking of these high Fiery or Brimstony Spirit, their Natu­ral Heat grows cold and feeble, and their App [...]tites are weakened, they de­stoying the Power of the Digestive Fa­culty of the Stomach, so that many such People after Eating, are forced to Drink a Dram to help Concoction; all other Drinks proving too cold for them, which constrains them to continue Seop­ing of such Liquor; a sad Remedy, when we go about to help a mischief by en­creasing the application of the same ill means which first occacsioned it; for these wrathful Spirit, have awakened the Central Heat, which is the Root of Nature, that ought not to have been a­wakened [Page 5] or kindled, for if the Central Heat be stirred up by any unnatural Meats or Drinks, or other violence done to Nature, then presently follows the Consumption of the Radical Moisture, and the pure Spirits and lively Tinctures become Suffocated, wherein consists the Essential Life of Nature. And as in the before-mentioned Example, the pure Spirit and Balsamick Body in Sack will not endure these cruel harsh Sulphurous Fires, where the Air hath not its sree In­fluence, but presently becomes suffocated, or destroy'd, & the most pleasant sweetness thereof turned into a Stink, so neither will the Radical Spirits and pure Oyl in the Body, endure those Sulphurous Flames, and fierce Spirits, without su­staining the like prejudice; for that pure Vertue or Essential Principle, which the Lord in the Creation endued every thing with (which is the true Life there­of,) will not endure any violent Motion or harsh Fire to touch them; especi­ally if the circulation of the Air be wanting, as it is in all such Distillations, for these Spirits are are so pure and sub­tle, that when any Injury is offered to them, they either evaporate or become [Page 6] suffocated; for this Essential Powder or pure Life, is the Moderator or Friendly Quality in all Minerals, Vegetables and Animals, which doth mix and quali­fie the harsh Fiery dark Principal, and does allay and moderate the cruel harsh Nature of the dark Fire, as does plain­ly appear in all the fore-mentioned Li­quors, and also in Charcoal, for before the Sack, or any Balsamick Liquor, was put in the Still and drawn off, those ve­ry same fiery harsh Sulphurous Spirits were essentially in the Wine, or what­ever else it be, for it is the Root of Na­ture, and the Original to every Life, but being mixed or incorporated with the Balsamick Body and pure Spirit, the fiery fierce Sulphurous Spirit is thereby swallowed up, and as it were hid and moderated; for in what thing soever the pure Balsamick Body is predominant, there this dark furious Spirit is hid or captivated; an Example whereof we have in Sugar, where when the sweet Balsamick Body is potent, there also this fiery Sulphurus Spirit is strong, but not manifest; but as soon as this Es­sential Spirit and Balsamick Body are separated or destroyed, this dark fiery [Page 7] Brimstony Spirit appears in its own form, and becomes like a mad furious Devil in Nature, its cloathing being the dark Fire; for this Spirit hath lost its Sweet Water or Friendly Life in its Separa­tion, which before did qualifie its harsh fierce Fire, it also loseth its pure Colour, or bright native Shine, because the Es­sential Oyl is consumed, in that Sepa­ration, so that there doth remain no true Life nor Light in it, but being set on Fire, its Flame is of a dim Brimstony colour, which demonstrates that the dark wrathful Properties of Saturn and Mars, and their fierce Fires are predomi­nate in all such Liquors or Spirits.

This is further manifest in Charcoal (as war hinted before) which is made of Wood, but in the making thereof the pure Oyl or sweet Water, which is the Essential Life of the Wood, is suffocated or destroyed, for from that Friendly quality, the Wood had its bright Shine or Flamo, which is of a benevolent refreshing Operation: Now this pure Oyl or Balsamick Body, the Essential Life and Moderator of all harsh fiery dark Fumes or Qualities in the Wood, being suffocated or totally [Page 8] destroyed in the making it, whereby the Original dark Sulphurous Fire be­comes strong and raging, giving greater and stronger Heat than the Fire of Wood, but its Flame is not bright, clear, and refreshing as that of Wood, but it is of dim Brimstony colour, sending forth strong fulsome Fumes and Va­ [...]ours very offensive to the pure Spirits and Health of those that are near it; for having lost its pure Spirits and Oyl of Life, in its making into Charcoal, there does only remain in it, the fierce dark Original Fire, an untamable de­vouring Spirit in Nature; for every Quality in Nature hath power only to kindle and awaken its likeness; there­fore all such things as have lost their pure Spirits and Balsamick Body in the Separation or Preparation, must needs endanger the Health, because they do awaken by Simile their own, or like Poysonous Properties in the Body; and if it were not so, a little Poyson ta­ken into the Body, would not destroy the Life; but Poy [...]ons taken in, do by Simile joyn or incorporate themselves with the Internal Poyson or Destructive Principle in the Body, which before laid [Page 9] hid, or as a Man may say, was mode [...]ted or captivated by the sweet Body and pure Spirits, even as the fiery Spi­rits of Brandy are in Sack or Sugar; but so soon as the outward Poyson that is taken in, Incorporates it self with the inward 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 dar [...] Brimstony Spirit is set at l [...]berty, which before the Separation, the Balsamick Body and pure Spirits did qualifie and [Page 10] 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 [Page 11] Sugar you will to Brandy, Ramm, or a­ny other Distilled Spirits, they will con­tinue a strong Fire, void of Mo [...]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 [Page 12] 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 [...]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 [Page 13] 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 [...]is [Page 14] 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 [...]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 [Page 15] 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 fl [...]ous can lie a Bed, or sit by the Fire. O then how excellent are the ways of Temperance and Sobriety! They free the Body from pain, and the Mind from perturbations, sweeten­ing all God's Blessings, and giving the opportunity of time, which being well employ'd, affords many benefits both to the Body and Mind; for what ad­vantage is it if a Man possess the whole World, if his Body be full of pain through Intemperance, which for the most part, no less affecteth and indispos­eth the Mind.

[Page 16] 5. Brandy, Rumm, and all strong Spi­rituous Drinks are far more dangerous in hot Climates and Countries than they are in cold, and do sooner there de­stroy the Health, though they be bad in both, except taken in a Physical way; I know this is contrary to the Vulgar Notion, but it is agreeable to Truth, Experience and Reason; for in hot Cli­mates the Natural Heat is not so strong by reason of the forcible Influences of the Sun, which do powerfully exhale the Radical Moistrue, open the Pores, and too violently evaporate the Spirits by continual Sweatings, which dulls the edge of the Appetite, weakening the Digestive Faculty of th [...] [...]tomach, whereby the inclination to drink is in­creased, for which reason many desire hot Spiritual Drinks, because they find a present Refreshment, for all such Drinks do powerfully awaken the In­ternal Spirit by simile, and make Men quick, lively and brisk, during the time of their Operation; which is but for a moment, but after wards they find them­selves heavy, dull, and indispesed, and their Stomach seeble, cold, and raw, which does in [...]ce [...]dd that do acc [...]sto [...] [Page 17] themselves to such Drinks, To take a Hare of the same Dog, (as their Phrase is) and so they drink more, and are con­tinually the more weakened, for all such fiery strong Drinks do not only Prey on the Natural Spirits, but also too violently do evaporate them. The very same Operation have all strong Drinks, as Wine and the like, if Tem­perance be wanting, but not so violent­ly as the former. Therefore in hot Climates there ought to be double the Care and Temperance in Meats, Drinks and Exercises, as in Cold, of which the Natives of most hot Countries might be our Examples; for they do for the most part live very temperately, their Drink being generally Water, or Wineallay'd with Water, their Food mean, or more simple than ours, whereby they are better preserv'd in Health; for the Con­stitutions of all People in hot Climates are weaker, or at leastwise not so able to endure great Meals of Food, and su­perfluous drinking of strong Drinks, as they are in cold. For cold Countries make Men hardy, strong, and able to endure Intemperance, for which cause it is observed that most of the Northern [Page 18] Climates are very Intemperate in drink­ing and eating, and in hot they are the contrary. And therefore our English are much Distemper'd, and many die when they Travel into the West and East Indies, because they take wrong measures, continuing the same disorder and intemperance as they did in their own Country, or rather encreasing it, which Nature cannot bear without ma­nisest prejudice.

6. It is to be noted, that those that do accustom themselves to the fre­quent drinking of the forementioned fiery Spiritual Drinks in all the Plan­tations in the West Indies, and also the common-eating of Salt-Fish and Flesh, which are all great Extr [...]ams, do there­by become very obnoxious to the dry Belly-ach, or Griping of the Guts, Drop­sies and the Gout, for all such Food and Drink does violently stir up and consume the Natural Heat and Moisture, where­the digestive Faculty of the Stomach is rendered unable to Concoct or make any perfect Separation, either of the Food or Drink, which oppresses the whole Body, whence are generated Evil Iui [...]es that fall into the Joynts, infeebling and [Page 19] torturing them, and this is the Origi­nal of the Gout in other Complexions, these Disorders consume the Airy Flesh of the Bones, taking away their Natu­ral Strength and Vigour, so that they languish away by degrees, and these you call Consumptions, in others for want of Heat and Moisture, the Excrement in the Bowels is contracted into so hard a Substance, that it cannot pass, and there is hardly a Medicine found that will cure it, this is that which the Learned call the Illiacal Passion, and the Vulgar, The Plague in the Guts, being one of the most tormenting Diseases in the World. And in other Bodies the Central Heat being wasted by such unfit Meats and Drinks, so that great part of the Food turns into a Flux of Humours, both Windy and Watry, which swell the lower parts of the Body, and this is the Generation of your Dropsies; but as God is always good, and his Hand-Maid Nature, an indulgent Mother, so they have as it were, chalk'd out the Means, and prescribed a Diet whereby these Diseases may be prevented, would Men but be so wise as to observe and fol­low it; for all hot Climates do furnish [Page 20] the Natives with wonderful Variety and Plenty of Herbs and Fruits, far ex­ceeding cold Countries therein, both in quantity and quality; for in those hot Regions, the Sun hath greater power to prepare all such things: And if our English would but accustom themselves to such harmless natural simple Foods and moderate Drinks, the foremen­tioned Distempers would hardly be known.

7. It is also to be noted, and much to be pitied, that of late years many Eng­lish Women have betaken themselves to the drinking of Brandy and other Spirits, and have invented the Black-Cherry-Brandy which is in great esteem, so that she is no body that hath not a Bottle of it stand at her Elbow, or if ever so little Qualm or Disorder be on the Sto­mach, or perhaps meerly fancied, then away to the Brandy-Bottle; so that when such People come to be sick, which most of them are very subject unto, the Physiciaus do not know what to Adni­nister, they having in their Health used themselves to such high fiery drinks, that their Cordials seem like Water to them: Besides, there are many fatal [Page 21] inconveniencies attend the Female Sex, more than than the Male, in drinking such Drinks; most of which are not so proper to be publickly mentioned in this place, and therefore I shall forbear, but some I cannot but instance in; and though perhaps some Women too much addicted to the Delights of the Bottle, may be offended with me for telling them the Truth, and endeavouring to wean them from the Beloved Dram, yet to do them good, I shall venter the Hail-shot of their Tongues, and hope they will in time grow so wise, as not to indulge a foolish sottish humour, when it tends apparently to destroy, not only their own Healths, and short­ning of their Lives, but likewise entails Diseases and Destruction on their poor Innocent Children; for it is not only against the Feminine Nature to drink strong Drinks, but also Destructive to the Generation of Mankind; it makes them Masculine and Robustick, filling them with Fury and Madness, and ma­ny other Indecencies, which are no less pernicious than shameful in a Woman. lt also Distempers them by causing Fumes and Vapours to fly into the Head, ge­nerating [Page 22] Wind in abundance. There­fore the Wise Antients did account it a Crime for Women to drink strong Drink or Wine, tho' their Countries did afford Wine in abundance; and good reason they had, for the whole preser­vation of Mankind resides chiefly in the Temperance and Government of the Women; if they are Intemperate, the Radix of Men is corrupted; are we not like to have very Fine, Hopeful, Heal­thy Children, when the Mother by ex­cessive Pampering her unweildy Carcass, has contracted more Diseases than an Hospital? Or when they are put out to some Drunken Nurse, that instead of affording them wholsome Natural Milk, Suckles them up with the unconcocted Dregs of that Brandy with which she daily overcharges her filthy Stomach?

The Nature of Women will not bear Excess in Meats and Drinks, as Mens will, without manifest danger to their Healths, and also to the Health of their Children; most Windy Diseases both in Women and Children, being caused by their Intemperance both in quantity and quality, They overcharging their Nature with Food containing too much Nourish­ment, [Page 23] and Drinks that are too strong. This is chiefly observable amongst Wan­ton Citizens and the Richer sort of Peo­ple, who pay dearly for the Lickerishness of their Palats, by the Diseases that thence arise, they being much more Distem­pered than the Ordinary pains-taking People. I confess their are hardly any Women in the World so Intemperate and such great Lovers of there Bellies as the English, nor is there any Nation more subject to Variety of Diseases; and therefore they are afflicted with di­vers Distempers, which Women in o­ther Countries know nothing of. And as our Children are generally weak, Peuling, Rickety, and Sickly, so the occasion thereof is too evident, since they are almost made Gluttons from the very Cradle, their Mothers gorging and feeding them till they loath their Victuals, and often cast it up again; and when they have been Cramming all day, the good Woman entertains her Gossips with Stories, what a little Sto­mach her Child has, and that she can get it to eat nothing, and She wonders how it lives, and indeed so she may, but for a quite contrary reason, for this oppres­sing [Page 24] Nature with Excess in Youth, is not only the cause of the Death of many, but in others it sows such Seeds, and lays foundations for Distempers, that they can scarce out-grow them, also many Women out of the like foolish fondness, give their Children strong Drink, which is very destructive to their Health.

Nor is it become unfrequent, for Women not only to drink Brandy, but also to smoak Tobacco; which two things have a great affinity, Tobacco being an Herb of Mars, and its Poysonous ful­some attractive Nature from Saturn; the common use of it in Pipes is very injurious to all sorts of People, but more especially to the Female bex, ex­cept it be taken very sparingly in a Phy­sical way, for some watery and windy Diseases, but the usual taking of it destroys the Physical Vertues and Ope­ration thereof; only the daily Smoak­ing it may be profitable to Gluttons, and those that Eat and Drink to Super­fluity of Rich Food and strong Drink, and live idle lives, for such want Eva­cuations, but Exercise and Tempe­rance were much better for their Health.

[Page 25] Tobacco and Brandy are certainly ut­ter Enemies to Women, and also to their Children, for their Spirits and Balsamick Body, whence their true Life shines, is more volatile and tender than Mens, and their Natural Heat is not so strong, for this cause Women cannot bear or endure any extreams, either in Meats, Drinks, or Exercises, without manifest danger to their Healths, they being generally more sanguine than Men, and their Central Heat weaker, there­fare all kind of inequality makes deeper Impression on them, and they are sooner moved to all kinds of Passions: for Women in their Radix are compounded more of the sweet Friendly Sanguine Nature, their Dignifica [...]ion being chief­ly from the Element of Water, but the Root of Mens Nature is from the strong might of the Fire. And for the same cause Women are more Chaste than Men, and of colder Natures, tho' ma­ny Men do believe the contrary, but they are greatly mistaken in this parti­cular, having no true understanding of Nature; they have judged thus hardly of Women, because many of them are [Page 26] so easily drawn into inconveniencies by the pretended Friendship of Men, but I do affirm, that their being so easily overcome, is not from their unchaste desires, but chiefly from their Friendly Courteous Efleminate Natures, being of a yielding Temper, which is essen­tially in the Root of their Lives, and when a Man has once awakened in them the Love-string, which is quickly done, he may command them as he pleases; now finding them comply, they imagine that of them which they find in themselves: Not but that some Wo­men are as unchaste as Men; but then such, through the Power of their de­praved Free-Wills and Wanton Imagi­nations, have forced Nature out of her simple Innocent ways, compelling her often to do that which she perfectly loaths.

The wise Antients understanding this Nature and Constitution of Women, and considering that the whole welfare and health of Mankind depended chief­ly on their Temperance and Discreet Conduct, did therefore direct them to an higher degree of Temperance, and [Page 27] thought it requisite, and so absolutely necessary, that both the drink alotted for Women in most Countries, was, and is to this day pure Water, and their Food as Innocent and Natural; they eat Flesh sparingly, living much on raw and boiled Herbs, Fruits and Greens, which is a most sublime Diet. And by this means their Women and Children are not afflicted with such a number of cruel Diseases. There is no Country in the World where their Children and young People are so gene­rally subject to the Small Pox, Kings-Evil, Joynt-Aches, and many Leperous and languishing Diseases; how many of them yearly die with Convulsions and Windy Distempers, which gene­rally they receive from their Mothers? How many Miseries and aking Hearts do Women endure with their sickly Children? And what Women are free from Vapors and Windy Diseases, Faint­ing Fits, weak Joynts and Backs, their Blood corrupted, breaking out in small spots in the Flesh of several colours, their Stomach cold, and their Natural heat not able to digest their Food with­out [Page 28] a Dram, &c? For all which Evils, there is no Remedy so long as our Women do continue the frequent Eating of fat gross Flesh (without Herbs) and other sweet high prepared Food, and drinking strong Liquors, as Brandy, &c. and taking To­bacco; for these things do continually heat the whole Body, thereby awaken­ing the Central heat, which is very in­jurious to Women, for it presently sends Fumes and Vapours into the Head, and the fierce Fires with venemous Par­ticles do penetrate the whole Body, drying up, and consuming the pleasant, moist, cool, airy Vapours, suffocating the pure Spirits, which otherwise would replenish the whole Body and sharpen the Appetite; it also dulls the Senses, and possesses the Blood with a sharp fret­ting humour, and hinders its free Cir­culation, causing the pure natural Spi­rits, whose habitation is in the Blood, to become impure, whence arises a ge­neral indisposition over the whole Body. Therefore all that love their own Health, or the good of their Children, ought to refrain such hurtful Food, and learn to know, that Brandy, Tobacco, and all such things, are to be taken [Page 29] sparingly, and no otherwise than as Peo­ple take Physick.

CAAP. II.
Of Flesh, and its Operation in the Body, and also on the Senses. That the continual eating thereof, with­out the due distinction of proper Times and Seasons, does darken the Spirits, and distempers Na­ture. Likewise of the Exellency of Herbs, Fruits, and their inward Operation on the Body and Mind.

THE eating of Flesh was not allow­ed or practised in the first and purer Ages, when Men gave themselves to the Study of Wisdom, viz. To the Knowledge of themselves, and were partakers of God's Secrets in Divine and Humane things, and enjoy'd Health and long Life, drawn out to the Age of many hundred years. For thus [Page 30] the Holy Scripiure tells us, Gen. 1. The Lord said, Behold! I have given to you every Herb bearing Seed, which is upon the Face of all the Earth, and every Tree in which it the Fruit of a Tree yielding Seed, to you it shall be for Meat. And in another place it is said, Flesh with the Blood there­of, you shall not eat. It is not said, That the Lord made all Creatures for Man to eat, as I have heard many affirm, but he made them for his own Glory and Eternal Honour, and for the manifestati­on of his Wonders, and that Men should have Dominion over all Creatures and Created things, which Man hath lost by suffering his desires and imaginations to enter into the Bestial Nature, which does by degrees captivate the Noble parts in Men. But the Wise Ancients for divers Ages of the World, did know but little of the variety of Flesh and strong Drinks, or of compounded Dishes of twenty sorts of things, most of them of disagreeing Natures: No, their Food was simple and natural, easie to be procured without oppression to themselves, or to any of God's Crea­tures, as Herbs, Fruits and Grains, and pure Water for drink, which things are [Page 31] endued with a most simple Nature and Operation, which neither dulleth the Head by Fumes, nor stupifies the Senses by Surplusage of Nourishment, but be­ing well prepared, and eaten moderate­ly, do nourish by way of Simile its like qualities in the Body, being of lighter digestion, and of a more Airy Opera­tion than Flesh, being also void of all Inclinations, Senses, or Passions of Love or Hate, whose Original is more clean and nearer the Unity in Nature; therefore the Philosophical Antients in former Ages, incouraged the eating of Herbs, Fruits and Grains, but on the contrary, made Laws against the com­mon eating of Flesh without distinction. The Great and most Illuminated Prophet Moses did not admit the Children of Israel to eat any Flesh during their forty years March through the Wilderness: 'Tis true, when the People did Murmur, the Lord being provoked, gave them Flesh in his Wrath, and afterwards when they were admitted to eat Flesh, it was with such distinctions, and with so many circumstances as could not be performed, but by abundance of la­bour and trouble, and other inconve­niencies, [Page 32] by which Laws and Observa­tions many of God's Creatures became of little or no use in the Creation, as Swine and the like, if indeed they had only been made for Men to eat. But the Lord never commanded his People in any Age to abstain from any thing, but it was always for their preservation; for Abstinence, Cleanness, and Sobrie­ty in Meats, Drinks, Exercises, and Communications, do work wonderful Effects, and have a Sympathetical Ope­ration both in the Body and Senses, rendering the Observers thereof Health­ful, with brisk powerful Spirits, watch­ful, prndent, of good forecast, able to give Council, and for matters of Learning, they do easily grow to an Excellency in the knowledge of them­selves, and in all other things whereun­to they do apply themselves. And as for Prayers, Meditations and Contem­plations, they do perform them with great Facility, Pleasure and Spiritual delight, being always fresh in their Minds, and free from Diseases in their Bodies.

By this way of Sobriety, Cleanness and Temeperance, many of the An­tients [Page 33] became admirable both in Divine and Humane Wisdom; 'tis well known how Scrupulously the Pythagoreans (one of the most Learned and Mysterious of all the Sects of Gentile Philosophers) abstained from Flesh. The Divine Writer and great Prophet Moses, testi­fies that God made Man in his own I­mage; and that he should have Domi­nion over all things or Creatures, not that he should eat all things, or hurt himself by devouring them, nor suffer his desires to enter into them, nor theirs into him, for Man is a Prince in this World, and in him is contained the true Nature of all the inferior Crea­tures; for it it were not so, he could not be their Prince, nor be sustained by them. And tho' Man was made grea­ter than other Creature that is visible, and to be Lord over all, yet neverthe­less he having a Simile with the Nature of all things, is thereby rendered capa­ble to be wrought on by every inferior thing he shall suffer his desires to enter into, and by degrees he is liable to be­come captivated unto that thing, be it either good or or evil; for every like (as I told you before) works on and [Page 34] awakens its likeness; This was the rea­son why Moses commanded that unclean Beasts should not be eaten, that the Humane Nature might not mix or in­corporate in it self the Beastial quali­ties; for every indvidual Man has essen­tially in him the true Natures and Es­sences of all the Beasts of the Field, and Fishes of the Sea, as also of all Herbs and Fruits, Stones and Mi­nerals, and whasoever else can be thought of; for it this were not so, then Man would not be subject to be wrought on by all, neitheir would the various sorts of food agree with him or nourish him.

The wise Antients understanding this, and that every thing had power to attract unto it self such matter out of all things, as is capable to nourish its own Body, therefore in those days the eating of Flesh was not in such Repu­tation as of late years it hath been; especially as it is in England, who do make it their chief Food; all Vegeta­bles and Fruits being in themselves of a clean simple Nature and Operation, which being well prepared and tempe­rately eaten, have only power to wa­ken [Page 35] their Similies in the Body and Sen­ses as foresaid. But on the contrary, all Beasts, especially unclean Beasts, are endu [...]d with all kind of Beastial Pas­sions, as Anger, Revenge, Covetous­ness, Love and Hate, which Dispositions and Passions of the Flesh, but especial­ly the Blood, doth retain after such Ani­mals are killed; and for that reason it was, that the Blood of all sorts of Beasts was so strictly forbidden, for the essential Spirits dwell in the Blood, and in the Blood and Spirits lie hid all the Dispositions and Inclinations the Crea­ture was endued withal, and therefore all sorts of Flesh that were permitted to be eaten, were to be well purged from the Blood. And also this same Blood was either to be consumed by Fire, or an hole made in the Earth and the Blood cast into it and covered, that the wrath­ful Spirits and Vapours thereof might not defile the Air, which is continually breathed into our Bodies; for when any Creature is killed, the great pain and a­gony they endure, does so powerfully a­waken the Center of the wrathful Fire, and also the internal Poysons which are the Root of every Life, that the said fierce [Page 36] Poysonous Spirits seize the Blood on their right Fountain of Preservation, so that the Blood does not only contain all the Natural Dispositions, Passions and Inclinations, but also the awaken­ed Poysons and irritated Spirits which were violently stirred up by Death's stroke. For when the Natural Life is in danger (the continuation of which is so sweet unto all Creatures, and they do so unwillingly part with it, especially when the Creature is in perfect health, and strength) what a strange fear and dread must needs attend the Creature in this condition? And how strongly and violently are all the Centers and Powers of Nature stirred up? And then are awakened the revengful Spi­rits, which do contain the Blood, for that is their Habitation, which in this Agonous condition does often spread it self through the whole Body, and makes the Flesh look red, but this is generally drawn back again by the drawing away of the Blood where the wound is made. Now if this Blood be exposed to the open Air, these fiery dark wrathful Spirits do by degrees evaporate and in­corporate themselves with the Air, and so defiles it, and renders it pernicious.

[Page 37] The very same is to be understood in all other Uncleannesses; and these are the chief Reasons why the Prophet Mo­ses commanded the Blood either to be burnt on the Altar, or buried in the Earth, tho' there doth remain somewhat more to be said, why he commanded the Blood to be consumed on the Altar by Fire, which I shall forbear, and speak of it in its proper place; for those fie­ry wrathful Spirits that do evaporate themselves into the Air, being continu­ally breathed into the Body by such Peo­ple as do communicate near such places, as Slaughter-Houses, and the like, and more especially those that are of killing Imployments, those awakened wrath­ful Spirits do enter them, and power­fully incorporate themselves with their Similies; for this cause all Butchers and others, that do use such Trades, are more fierce and cruel, sooner mo­ved to Wrath than others; killing is as easie and familar to them as Plowing the Land is to the Husbandman; and in a word, they are far more inclined to violence than Men of other Imploy­ments are.

[Page 38] The same is to be understood in all other Trades, and also in Communica­tions, as those that are brought up and have their Conversasions amongst Hor­ses, are not most of them Robustick, Proud, Bold and Surly, like the Crea­tures they Communicate with; the same is likewise to be understood in many other hard working rough Trades and Imployments; are not most of them rash, head-strong, scarce endued with common Humanity? There is nothing so good, or so bad, but Man is capable of being captivated to it; from this ground it is that weak Inclinations, that a Man in himself is hardly sensible of, may either by Imployments or Com­munications be made strong, which is one Reason why Mens Inclinations and their Love and Hate alters and chan­ges, according to time, place, business, and communication, as some Men have declared, that they did not fear being overcome with Drink, Women, or the like Evils, becaue at that time they found no Inclinations to such things, nevertheless, Time, Opportu­nity, Communications, and other Cir­cumstances concurring, many of them [Page 39] have been overcome by those Vices they so little stood in fear of, though also Astrologick Configurations, and Influ­ences have a share in altering and chang­ing Mens Inclinations, and more espe­cially when other causes concur: For this cause the most prudent in all Ages have advised all Men to avoid evil oc­casions, and the Apostle Paul saith, That Evil Communication corrupts good Manners, the truth of which no Man will or can deny. Now if Imploy­ments, Communications, Labours, Words, and all kind of outward busi­ness, have so great power of changing and altering Dispositions and Inclina­tions, increasing them, and the contra­ry, how can we imagine but Meats and Drinks received into the Body, will have the same or greater Power and Operation, as those that feed much on unclean Elesh, as on Swine, and that have their Conversation amongst Ani­mals, are not many of them much like those Creatures, of sottish, dull, heavy, sordid Dispositions, yet subtle and cunning in a Bestial way? And on the contrary, those that drink Wine, and feed on the highest Food, have not they [Page 40] Spirits accordingly? Also those whose Conversation is amongst Men, as Citi­zens and Merchants; have they not higher and greater Spirits, being more tractable and humane, fair and ingenious in all their Dealings, and Conversa­tions? For all things have sympatheti­cil Operation, whether it be Imploy­ments, Meats, Drinks or Communica­tions, every thing does secretly awa­ken its like property, which do often captivate the Spirit of a Man before he is sensible of it, being ignorant of the Nature and sympathetical Operation all things have with his own Nature. 'Tis true, most Men believe that evil Company corrupts Manner, and will acknowledge that some sorts of Im­ployments do by degrees dispose People to Inhumanity, Violence and Cruelty; but if you tell them there is the same possibility and greater in Meats, to vary not only Mens Bodies, but also their Inclinations and Minds, they shall laugh at it as a ridiculous Dream, though in Truth it is a most certain Truth, and daily Experience (if we would but [...]ear her Voice) bears Witness unto it. Why did Moses prohibit his People the [Page 41] eating of Swines Flesh, seeing Swine are not serviceable unto Mankind any other way, but by being killed and eaten; and besides, a Swine is a Creature, that being well ordered, becomes as whole­some Nourishment, as some other Ani­mals that are counted clean, though there is somewhat to be said against the grossness of that sort of Flesh; but the chief thing the Spirit of God in that great Prophet regarded, was, no doubt, the Spirit of that Creature whose ori­ginal and predominant quality stands in the dark wrath of Nature, which is manisested by their shapes, cri [...]s, and tones, which Spirit the humane Nature ought not to joyn it self unto, lest it partakes of its Nature, Every thing having power to joyn its self with its likeness, and to strengthen its own pro­perty, Doth not Wine and strong Drink precipitate Men into Fury and Madness by Simile? That is, the Spirits in Wine do incorporate themselves with the natural Spirits, and violently awaken them, making them burn too fierce, which sets Nature into a Rage, awaken­ing the Central Spirits till all parts of the Body burn like Fire, till the Oyl be [Page 42] consumed, and Nature begins to lan­guish, becoming dull, heavy, and stu­pid. The very same Operation have all Food in the Body, and on the Spi­rits and Senses, but more slowly and hidden; for great meals of Food makes dull when first eaten, for all the time Nature is a digesting, and making se­paration, (which is four, five, or six hours a doing) and then Nature begins to be brisk and lightsome; for what the Stomach and Natural Heat do per­form, as to Fermentation and Separa­tion with the Food, is done to Natures Hand by Art in all sorts of strong Drinks; therefore all such fermented strong Drinks have a present Opera­tion, but let Drink be ever so strong, if it have not passed through Fermen­tation and Separation, it will lie heavy on the Stomach, and send dark and dul­ling fumes into the Head, if a quantity be drunk: Therefore great Meals of strong rich Food, do endanger the Health more than proportionable drink­ing of strong Drinks, especially in hot Countries, and in Summer time in colder Climates. That Dispositions and In­clinations are chang'd and alter'd by [Page 43] Food, may further appear in all or most unclean Creatures, are they not made much fiercer, if raw flesh and blood be given them, their wrathful unclean Nature being thereby enraged and made stronger? And is not the ve­ry flesh of those Creatures Men feed on, altered either for the better or worse, according to the nature of their Food; what a vast difference shall there be as to the goodness or badness, wholesom­ness, or unwholesomeness of the Milk of the very same Cow, when she feeds upon fresh delicate Grass, Herbs, and Flowers, and when she is kept on course Brewers Grains, or the like? The Ele­ments of Man's Body and natural Spi­rits are compounded of the same matter as other Creatures, are, and in respects, subject to the same or like alterations; only the Holy Light and Grace of God, which enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World, if obeyed, is sufficient to subdue most natural In­clinations, and to keep them within the bounds of Temperance; indeed this Gift is the only power by which a Man may overcome the Evil and deny himself.

[Page 44] 2. Flesh is not so clean a Food as Herbs, Seeds and Fruits, for all forts of Animals are subject to various Pas­sions, but on the contrary, all or most Vegetables have a more simple and in­nocent Original, therefore their Ope­ration on the Body and Senses is as sim­ple, having no power to awaken any property in the Body, but what is like themselves. Furthermore we see that no Creatures that are clean will eat Flesh, except they be taught it, and brought to it by degrees; on the other side, all such Animals as naturally will eat Flesh, are by all means counted un­clean, as Dogs, Cats, Bears, Wolves, Foxes, and many others, both in the Sea and Land, and most Men will avoid the eating of such Creatures, as being un­clean in the Root of their Natures. Therefore they desire such Food as hath affinity with them, for every Creature rejoyceth in its likeness. The Prophet Moses well understood this, when he commanded that unclean Creatures and Blood should not be eaten, because the Blood (as is mentioned before) doth not only contain the Spirits, but the very Humour, Dispositions and Inclinations [Page 45] of the Creature, therefore it was to be killed and dressed after such a manner, by which the Blood and superfluous mat­ter was extinguished, and if Flesh should now be prepared after their way, we should not account it to have half the Vertue as it hath in our way of prepara­tion. Indeed the way of killing and pre­paring of Flesh and Fish, that the Law­giver prescribed to his People, was to cleanse the Flesh from all Blood in which stand the Spirits, and all the Disposi­tions and Inclinations of the Creature lie hid. By this means the Uniting of the Bestial Nature with the Human, was in a great measure prevented; and for no other reason all unclean Beasts, Fowls and Fishes were so severely for­bidden. All Created things have but one only Ground and Original. Every particular Creature contains the true Nature and Properties of the whole, only the qualities are in several degrees, one having one quality strong, and a­nother the Center, For in every Crea­ture one of the forms or properties do carry the upward Dominion, and other qualities lye as it were hid, but some times do manifest themselves, but that [Page 46] property which is weakest may be awa­kened and made strong by its Simile, as often comes to pass.

From this very ground proceeds all Sympathy and Antipathy, Concord and Discord in this World. For all those whose predominate qualities stand near­est, and have affinity to each other, such are friendly one to another, but those whose predominate Properties have Antipathy each to other, such slight one another, and if the Grace and Holy Light of God do not restrain them, they are very apt to speak Evil and Backbite one another. The same is to be under­stood in the Divine Principle of God's Love, those that through the Blessing and Favour of the Lord have, ob­tained the Holy Gifts of the Spirit, be it more or less, all such People have af­finity and bear good will each to other; except the false Prophet's Opinion get in amongst them, which is a Ravening Wolf. Every thing rejoyceth in its likeness, and the contrary in its death, therefore it is highly convenient, for every man to consider the Variety and the Possibility of its own Nature, and that in himself is contained the true [Page 47] Nature of every thing in the visible and invisible World, and that he bears a Simile with all things, and is both ca­pable and liable to be drawn either to Vice or Vertue by every thing he joyns himself to, whether Meats, Drinks, Communications, or whatever else a Man suffers his Will or Desires to run out after, or enter into, the same thing hath power to awaken its like­ness, and for this cause all the Wise Men and Prophets have advised to Cleanness and Sobriety, and to the rea­ding of Good Mens Books, which do stir up the good Faculties in the Soul, for all Books do bear the Image and Spi­rits of him that wrote them, and so by Simile do awaken the like Spirit and Desire; and so on the contrary, if young or old give themselves to the reading of Plays or Books of Romances, they will powerfully awaken by Simile the vain wanton Nature, which before lay as it were hid: Therefore it was said in the Revelations, Come out from amongst them, and be ye separated, lest you partake of their Evils.

3. The Reason why most People love and so much desire Flesh more than ei­ther [Page 48] Herbs, Fruits or Grains, is not be­cause it doth afford either better Nou­rishment, or is pleasanter to the Pallate or Stomach, but it chiefly is because Man is departed in his Mind and desires from the 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 stir [...]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 [Page 49] 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 P [...]ssio [...], carry the power [Page 50] 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 [Page 51] 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 [...]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 [Page 52] 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 [Page 54] 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 Nourish [...]nt. For, River-water hath the advantage of running through various sorts of Earth, by which it sucks into it self a fat, oyly, and saline Quality, which the Surface of the Earth does plentifully afford; which also is the cause of all Vegitation, and the lovely Green Colour, which all Vegetables are cloth'd with, does arise from this Saline Quality. For these Reasons, River-water will Brew, Boil, and Wash, and it is more profitable in all Uses in Houswifery, than Spring or Pump-water, and far wholesomer for Men and Beasts to drink. Also your Vessel in which your Food is boiled, ought to be uncovered all the time it boils; for if the Air have not its free egress and regress, the pure Spirits in the Food become as it were suffocated, and then the Food so prepared becomes dull and heavy; for the Air is the Essen­tial Life of the Spirit; and all Food that hath not plenty of Water, and the free Influences of the Air, in its Preparati­on, [Page 55] does certainly lose its natural Co­lour, with the pure Smell and Taste: For if those three Qualities be not pre­served in all Preparations of Food, then the genuine Vertue and lively Tinctutes are in part lost. The same is to be ob­served in all Physical Operations. And if the above-mentioned Order be not observed, then the Food is not so plea­sant to the Palate, nor so easie of Con­coction; it lies heavy in the Stomach, dulling and stupifying the Senses; it ge­nerates a gross Nourishment, and bad Blood, whence does proceed many Dis­eases: Whereas if the above-mentioned Rules be observed, and your Fire quick, that your Food do not stand still, or cease from boiling, till it be sufficient­ly done, the Effects are contrary. It is also much better the Food should be a little under-prepared, than too much: For when the gross phlegmatick Body of any Food is by Preparation digested, then presently the lively spirituous Qua­lity is set at liberty, whence does pro­ceed a most pleasant Smell and Taste; which pleasant Quality, before the Pre­paration, lay hid or captivated in the Body of Phlegm; but so soon as this [Page 56] Phlegmatick Body is in part d [...]troye [...], the Spirit becomes Volatile; and then, if the Preparation be continued, those pure Spirits do either become suffoca­ted, or evaporate; and then the sweet Balsamick Body turns as it were sowr. For these Reasons, all sorts of Food, either over-prepared, or twice prepa­red, are of a strong fulsome taste and smell; as all Meats heat again, and also Pottages, and all such things, do ob­struct Nature, and generate many Dis­eases. But if the forementioned Rules be observed, the Food so prepared is not only more pleasant to the Palate, but far lighter of Digestion, and breeds better Blood. For that Universal Di­stemper (the Scurvy) which reigns so much in England, is chiefly caused by Food ill prepared, and the eating of too much Flesh, and Fat things, especially in the improper Seasons of the Year, viz. from Iuly to the last of November. In this Season the Sun, which is the true Life and Power of all things, de­clines; and all sorts of Herbage▪ which is the Food of all Beasts that are gene­rally eaten, doth the same: The Grass all this Season is fraught with a gross [Page 57] Phlegmatick Matter; besides, it is a fainty hot time; the Air, which is the Cherishing Life of all things, is more gross, and full of Humidity, than all o­ther times of the Year; the Spirits of all sorts of Creatures are also weak, and on any Accidents are quickly wounded, or evaporated, more especially those Beasts that come from remote Parts to great Cities. Besides, it is then the principal time of their Generating, which renders them unclean. Are not the People tenfold as sickly in this Sea­son, and double the number die, than they do at other times? Also you may observe, That the Rots amongst Sheep, and Murrains that attend other Beasts, are all or most of them in this Season: Therefore all sorts of People ought to be more careful of their Health, both in Exercises, Meats, and Drink, that they do not exceed either in quantity, nor eat things that are improper in qua­lity. This is the time that all Shep­herds, and also those that are Drivers of Horses, and indeed all that have the Government of Cattel, ought to have and use double the Prudence in the Ma­nagement of them, than at other Sea­sons [Page 58] of the Year, as I have more large­ly discoursed in a small Treatise, of the [...]servation of Sheep from the Rot, and Horses from Surfeits.

There are three Marks by which eve­ry one may know whether the Flesh be good. The first is by its pure White and brisk Red Colour, when Raw. The second is by its continuing its firm­ness, being plump or swelled when boil­ed, having a brisk and lively Taste, and that after eating it feels easie and pleasant in the Stomach. The third is, by its taking Salt well; for if your Flesh be free from Heat and Surfeits, and not over-fed, which charge [...] the body with gross Phlegm; as also, if it be not kept longer after it is killed (as indeed it ought not) than it be thought to be cold, before it is salted; all such Flesh will take Salt greedily, and it will not only keep longer from Putrifaction, but it will eat much sweeter, and breed better Nourishment. For, if any sort of Cattel be over-fed, surfeited, or any other Inconveniency attends them, and they be killed before they have recover­ed themselves of those Injuries; or if it le in August, September, or October, this [Page 59] Flesh will not take Salt so well as the former, neither will the Saltpreserve it half so long from Corruption. Also as it is before-mentioned, if Flesh [...] kept too long after it be killed, such Flesh will not receive Salt into it, as o­ther will, which is salted as soon as it is cold: For by keeping it does certainly lose its pure Spirituous Quality, so that the Body becomes heavy, gross, and dull. Does not the Life and Spirits of most sorts of Food waste and evapor [...]te by keeping, if there be not a proper way of Preservation used? If Flesh, by any Inconveniences, have lost its pure lively Spirits and Vertue, Salt then hath no power to preserve such Flesh from Putrifaction: For Salt cannot preserve the Body from Corruption, but by ver­tue of the pure subtil Spirits, which are a pleasant Habitation for the Salt to in­corporate it self with: For Salt will not preserve Flesh from Putrifaction, any longer than the Vertue and Power of the Spirit does continue, as it does appear by all salted Flesh and Fish: For through length of time the Spirits be­come either suffocated, or evaporated, and then it presently falls into Purti­faction: [Page 60] And yet this same Flesh does still contine Salt; for Salt does not destroy and p [...]ge the Flesh from its Corruption, but incorporates it self with the Essential Spirits, and those two do as it were tye or hold the cor­rupt part Captive, till the Spirit and Life of the Flesh be spent or wasted, and then the Flesh falls into Putrifaction, which cannot be recovered, either by salting, or any other Art, to its first state: But if the Salt had purged or de­stroyed the Humidity and gross part, then there would have been no Room nor Matter for Putrifaction, and then it would have continued firm and found, as many other things do, which are freed from that gross humid Matter from which Putrifaction does proceed. Therefore Flesh is naturally the most unclean of all Food, is being of a gross Phlegmatick Nature; and if Care be [...] taken, Order and Temperance observed in the Eater, it generates a­b [...]ndance of crude and noxious Hu­mours.

2. Cleanness in Houses, especially in Beds, is a great Preserver of Health. [Page 61] Now Beds for the most part stand in Corners of Chambers, and being pon­derous close Substances, the refreshing Influences of the Air have no power to penetrate or destroy the gross Humidi­ty that all such Places contract, where the Air hath not its free egress and re­gress. In these shady dull Places Beds are continued for many Years, and hardly see the Sun or Elements. Be­sides, Beds suck in and receive all sorts of pernicious Exc [...]ements that are breathed forth by the Sweating of vari­ous sorts of People, which have Le­prous and Languishing Diseases, which lie and die on them: The Beds, I say, receive all these several Vapours and Spirits, and the same Beds are often continued for several Generations, without changing the Feathers, until the Ticks be rotten. Besides, we have many Feathers that are Imported from several Countries, which are the Dri­vings of old Beds, the Uncleanness whereof is not considered. As to the Nature of Feathers, they are of a strong, hot, fulsom Quality: For, Fowls, of all Creatures, are for the most part the hottest; and their Feathers contain the [Page 62] fame Nature: Therefore the constant lying on soft Feather-beds, does not only over-heat the Back and Reins, weakning the Joints and Nerves; but they have power also not only to re­ceive but retain all evil Vapours and Ex­crements that proceed from, and are breathed forth by various Diseased Peo­ple. Hence it comes to pass, that sun­dry Distempers are transferred from one to another, by lying upon or in such Beds, which Distempers do secret­ly steal on a Man by Degrees, so that he cannot imagine whence the disorder proceeds, or what the Cause thereof should be. But I would not have the Reader mistake me; all People are not subject to get Diseases this way; There are some whose Constitutions are strong, and their Natural Heat and Spi­rits are vigorous and lively, by the Power and Vertue whereof they with­stand and repel all such evil Vapours and Scents as do proceed from such Beds when a Man is hot and sweats in them, that they have no power to seize the Spirit: But, on the contrary, when such People shall lie on such Beds, whose Natural Heat is weak, their Spirits few, [Page 63] and whose Central Heat is not able to withstand or repel those Vapours and Scents which such Beds send forth when a Man is hot in them, this last sort of People are subject to receive Injuries, and contract Diseases: For those evil Vapours do powerfully penetrate the whole Body; and if they are not with­stood by the Central Heat and Power of the Spirits, then these evil Vapours do seize the Spirits, and incorporate them­selves with their Likenesses: For eve­ry particular thing does sensibly and powerfully seek out its Likeness, and wheresoever it find, its Simile, it hath power to incorporate, and become es­sential. These are the chief Reasons why one Man gets Diseases by lying with Diseased Persons, and in unclean Beds, and others not. It is a general Custom, when Men go abroad or tra­vel, to desire clean Sheets, imagining them to be a sufficient Bulwark to de­fend them from the pernicious Fumes and Vapours of old stale Beds; but it is too short. For, it is certain, that most or all Beds do perfectly stink, not only those in Inns and Houses of Entertain­ment, but others: Not but that every [Page 64] ones Bed does smell indifferent well to himself; but when he lies in a strange Bed, let a Man but put his Nose into the Bed when he is thoroughly hot, and hardly any Common Vault is like it.

Now this sort of Uncleanness, which does proceed from old Beds, is not on­ly the greatest, but also the most inju­rious to the Health and Preservation of Mankind, and the least Care is taken to prevent it: Every one that can, will have plentiful Changes both of Linne [...] and Woollen Garments; for if they have not, Experience does shaw, that the Excrements and Breathings of the Body will generate Vermin. Also do not most People take Care that their Furnitures are daily br [...]shed and rubbed, and their very Floors washed, as though they were to eat their Food on them▪ But all this while they lie on Beds that have not been changed, or hardly air­ed, in several Years. Let any indiffe­rent Person judge, which is most plea­su [...]able and healthful, to have a clean Floor to tread on, which c [...]sts many hard days Labour to keep so, and is dirtied in a Moments time; or to have [Page 65] a clean sweet Bed to lie on. There is no Comparison to be made, the dif­ference is so great; the one being es­sential either to Health or Sickness, the other an indifferent thing. If there was but the tenth part of the Care ta­ken to keep Beds clean and sweet, as there is of Cloathing and Furniture, then there would be no matter for the getting of Diseases, nor for the Genera­tion of Bugs. I would have all House­wifes, and others, consider the Reasons of these things. Are not Lice, that troublesome Vermin, bred from the breathings of the Body, for want of often Change both of Linnen and Woolen? and will not Fleas breed from the very Dust of Chambers where People lie? Also any Woollen that hath been used about Beds, although the cold Winter hath destroyed them, yet if these Clothes lie in any close place, where the Air hath not its free egress and regress, these very Gar­ments will generate Fleas the Sum­mer following: But if these Clothes had been used about Men and Women, they would never have bred Fleas: for there is no matter of Element in Wooll [Page 66] or Cloth for the Generation of such Creatures; but Wooll, Cloth, Furs, and Hair, are chiefly the Element of Moths, and sometimes of small Worms; that is, if such things are kept in places where the refreshing Influences of the Air have not their free egress: For all such places do contract great store of Moisture, which, when hot Weather comes, causeth Putrifaction, whence all such Vermin do proceed. But if those things be in daily use, and exposed to the open Element, they never breed a­ny Vermin: So that the Generation of those things are generally caused by Acciden [...]s; not but that there is mat­ter in the Radixes of such things for the Generation of such Vermin.

3. From the pernicous Smells and putrified Vapours that do proceed from old Beds, are generated the Vermin called Bugs, (of which, neither the Ancients, nor the Modern Writers of this Age, have taken any Notice) ac­cording to the Degrees of Uncleanness, Nature of the Excrements, and the Closeness of places where Beds stand: for some Peoples Excrements are not [Page 67] so unclean as others: Also in all close places, especially in Cities and great Towns, the Spirits and thin Vapours of the Air are suffocated, which makes the same Air Sulphurous and Humid, whence does pro [...]ed Putrifaction. Therefore it is not to be thought a ge­neral Rule, That all old Beds should breed Bugs, as some (who are ignorant of the Operations of Nature) will be apt to say, If one Bed do breed them, why not all? No, it is according to the Nature of the Uncleanness, and other Accidents that do happen; for where (as is said be­fore) the thin pure Air, with the re­freshing Influences of the Sun and Ele­ments, have their free egress and re­gress, all such Matter is destroyed whence such Vermin is produced. The Original of these Creatures called Bugs is from Putrifaction, occasioned by stinking Scents and Vapours which do proceed from the Bodies and Nature of Men and Women, and the mixing or incorporating of these Vapours with moist and sulphurous Airs: For where there is no Heat nor Humidity, there can begin no Putrifaction. Therefore all that have attributed the Generation [Page 68] of this Vermin to Wood, as Bedsteads, and the like, are grosly mistaken in the Productions of Nature; for there is no Matter in Wood that can generate such a Vermin, it being productive on­ly, or chiefly of two Creatures in Eng­land, viz. of Wood-Lice and a small Worm. These Wood-Lice, are never generated but in places where the Sun and Air have not their free Influences, so that there is store of Humidity con­tracted; and when the Sun comes to such Degrees of the Zodiack, this Creature is generated, which is of as different a Nature from Bugs, as sweet Wood is from a stinking Bed. Also Wood does breed a certain small Worm, but never till, the Salts Nature and Power is decayed through length of time; then the Air enters it, which does presently cause it to contract a h [...] ­mid Quality, from whence proceeds Putrifaction, whereof, when the Sun is Powerful, this Worm is bred, But so long as Wood continues sound, and is kept dry, the Air having its free In­fluences on it, I affirm, That no sort of Wood ever breeds any kind of Vermin.

[Page 69] 4. There are many also that attribute the Generation of this Creature to Hogs Hair, which being mixed with Lime, and Houses Plaistered with it, does occasion (say they) the Generation of Bugs. Now it is most certain, that there is no possibility in Nature for this Pro­duction; for no kind of Hair ever breeds any living Creature, except it be put into Water or Mud when the Sun is powerful, and then this Creature, thus generated, retains its first Species, viz. a Hair, with a live Head, which was its Element from whence it proceeded; but if you take it out of the Water, it presently dies: so also it doth when the Sun declines in heat, as most [...]orts of Vermin that are bred through Heat and Moisture do. But Hair being mixed with Lime, all Matter of Generation is thereby total­ly destroyed: For Lime does chiefly contain a harsh, fiery, keen, sharp, coroding quality; it is so sharp, that it does destroy all Life, and is as con­trary to it, as Light is to Darkness; the predominant quality in it is the Salts Nature, from which no living Creature can be produced. Besides, if there were never so much Mater in [Page 70] Hair for the Generation of such Ver­min, Lime would destroy it; for in Lime there is only a Sal-nitral fiery Vertue.

5. If the Reasons before-mentioned be not sufficient to convince the Ignorant of their erroneous Opinions in this par­ticular, then I hope the following one will, which is more familiar to every one. It hath never been krown, that this troublesome Vermin was ever seen in Ware-houses, Kitchins, Parlors, Dining rooms, or any places were Beds have never been, except they have by accident been brought into such Rooms or Ware-houses, by Furniture of Cham­bers that have been troubled with them, though all such places have the same Funiture as Chambers, except Beds.

6. From the same Substance or Mat­ter whence Bugs are bred, is also occa­sioned the Generation of many nasty Diseases in the Blood; so that the de­struction of the Matter that breeds them, is of greater consequence than most People are sensible of; And if these following Rules be observed, I [Page 71] dare affirm, That the Generation of Bugs will cease, and also many other Inconveniencies and Distempers, that are got by this sort of Uncleanness, will be avoided.

First, You are to destroy all Press-Bed­steads which stand in corners of Rooms, being made up with Boards so close, that the Air cannot penctrate or dry up and consume the moist sulphurous Vapours that are contracted. These sorts of Beds that stand so, are apt to have them more than others. Also you are to set your other sorts of Beds as near as you can in the most Airy places of your Rooms, exposing them to the Air the most part of the day, with your Chamber-Windows open, that the Air may freely pass, which is the most excellent Element, that does sweeten all things, and prevents Putri­faction. In the Night also you ought not to have your Window-Curtains drawn, nor your Curtains that are a­bout your Beds; for it hinders the sweet refreshing Influences of the Air, so that the Air of all close places be­comes of a hot sulphurous Nature and Operation; the thin pure Vapours, [Page 72] which do wonderfully refesh Nature, are as it were suffocated: And this pre­venting the Influences of the Air, is in an especial manner observable, when People are sick, or out of order; as though the sweet pleasant Air had been the cause of their Disease; such Rooms being so very close, with great fires in them, that if a healthy Person do but continue three or four hours in them, the fulsom Steams and thick Vapours will much disorder him, and take away the edge of his Appetite: And if so, what will the Operation be on those Spi­rits who are weak and disordered with Distempers.

What is more pleasant and healthful than good Air? It chears and comforts the Spirits, it opens the Passages of the Joynts and Nerves; it purifies the Blood, creates an Appetite, increasing Strength and Vigour: But, on the contrary, hot, thick, sulphurous Airs do not only obstruct the passages of the Spirits, but suffocate them, loading the Joynts and Nerves with evil Juices, whereby the Limbs and Members become full of pain, causing a general tenderness to possess the whole Body, and destroy­ing [Page 73] the Appetite, and the power of the Digestive Faculty in the Stomach. Also, do not all Houses and Places grow musty, and contract too great store of Moisture, if the Air be any way prevented, by Window-shutters, or the like, that it cannot have its free egress and regress? Therefore mode­rate Cloathing, hard Beds, Houses that stand so as that the pleasant B [...]iezes of Wind may air and refresh them, and also Houses that are full of Windows, are to be preferr'd; for where the Air hath not its free Influences, the Spirit becomes dull and heav [...], this being the true Life of the Spirit in everything.

7. Now the certain Means and Way not only to prevent the Generation of this Vermin, but also to preserve Health and Strength, are Straw, or rather Chaff-Beds, with Ticks of Canvas, and Quilts made of Wooll or Flocks, to lay on them; which certainly is the most easie and pleasant Lodging that can be invented: and a little Custom will make it appear friendly to Nature, and in every respect far be­yond the softest Feather-Beds, on which, when a Man lies down, he sinks [Page 74] into them, as into an hole, with Banks rising on each side of him; especially if two lie together, when first they go to Bed they lie close, and after a little time, when they begin to be hot or sweat, they are generally willing to lie a little further off, that they may cool themselves, but cannot do it without great difficulty and trouble, by reason of the softness of the Bed, and those Banks that rise on each side. Besides, such soft Fea [...]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 Quil [...]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 [Page 75] the immoderate Evacuat [...]ons by Sweating, and keeping the Body in a temperate Heat. B [...]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, nex [...] 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 Heal [...]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 co [...]ain. Also Feathers do c [...]tainly contain an [Page 76] unclean putrified Matter, that hath a near Affinity with the Nature of Bugs; and therefore Feather-Beds are more apt to bre [...]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 Chas [...], 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 [Page 77] 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 p [...]i­cious Steams, which often b [...]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 stin [...]: 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 Impressio [...]s, [Page 78] 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 [...]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, [Page 79] 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 notfit [...]o be discoursed of in [Page 80] 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 [Page 81] 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, [Page 82] 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 Child­bed? Why do they not advise them not to have their Curtains so close drawn, both before their Windows an [...] 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, [Page 83] 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 Va­p [...]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 App [...]tice, If a Man go to Bed a [...] 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 s [...]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 Spir [...]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 [...]he Spirits and the whole Body, but also powerfully strengthens the Action of the Stomach.

[Page 84] 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 cau [...]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, [Page 85] 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 [Page 86] 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 Ch [...]ld about t [...]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 th [...] Pain in the TEETH, Shewing from what Cause it does chiefly proceed, and also how to pr [...]v [...]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 or center in the Mouth, especially b [...]tween the Teeth, and on the Gums, and some People having fouler Stomachs than o­thers, such do breathe forth very sowr, stinky, phlegmy Matter, which does not only increase the Pain, but causeth the Teeth to b [...]come loose and rotten: And for what of continual cleansing and washing, those breathings and this phlegmy Matter turns to Purifaction, which does eat away the Gums, as though Worms had eaten them: And this De [...]ect is generally attributed to the Disease called the Scurvey: but it is [Page 88] a mistake: The Cause is chiefly, as is mentioned before, from the Stomach, or for want of Cleansings.

2. This Distemper of the Teeth and Gums does also proceed from the vari­ous sorts of Meats and Drinks, and more especially from the continual eat­ing of Flesh, and fat sweet things, com­pounded of various things of disagree­ing Natures, which do not only obstruct the Stomach, but fur and fo [...]l the Mouth, part thereof remaining upon the Gums, and between the Teeth. For all such things do quickly turn to Putri­faction, which does by degrees corrupt both the Teeth and Gums. Besides, our Beds take up near half the time of our Lives, which time the Body is not only without motion, butt he Bed and Cover­ings do keep it much hotter than the Day-Garments, especially of those that draw the Curtains of their Windows & Beds so close, that the pure Spirits and thin refreshing Vapours of the Air, are hindered of having their free egress and regress, which does dull & flatten the action of the Stomach; and this is the chief Cause why suppers lie hard in the [Page 89] Stomach, and require more than double the time for perfect Concoction, than the same Food does when a Man is up, and in the open Air: For this Element, if it hath its free Influences, is sucked in, as by Spunges, through all the Pores of the Body, and does wonderfully re­fresh, comfort, open, and cleanse all the parts, having power to assist and help Concoction: But hot, dull, thick Airs do destroy the Action of the Sto­mach, and as it were suffocate the pure Spirits, drying up and consuming the Radical Moisture. Therefore the Night does foul the Mouth more than the Day, furring it with a gross slimy Matter, especially those that have foul Stomachs, are in Years, which ought to be well cleansed every morning.

3. Whatsoever are the Disorders in the Body, the Mouth doth always par­take of them, besides the Evils that the variety of Food, and the improper mix­tures of Flesh and Fish, and many other things, which do foul and hurt both the Teeth and Gums. When any Person is disordered with inward Diseases, does not the Mouth quickly complain [Page 90] of the Evils thereof? This very few do consider in time.

4. It is to be noted, that most Peo­ple do attribute the Diseases of the Teeth to Colds, and Rheumes, and o­ther outward Accidents. It is true, out­ward Accidents will further thi [...]Disease, but then there must be Matter before hand, otherwise outward Colds can have no power to cause this pain. The same is to be understood in all Stop­pages of the Breast, and other Obstru­ctions, as Coughs, and the like. For, if any part be obstructed, or there be Matter for Distemper, then, on every small occasion of outward Colds, or the like Accidents, Nature complains. If your Teeth and Gums be sound, and free from this Ma [...]ter, take what Colds you will, and your Teeth will never com­plain, as daily Experience doth shew. For all outward Colds, and o [...]her Ac­cidents of the like Nature, have no power to seise any part of the Body, except first there be some inward De­fect or I [...]fi [...]mity: Suppose the Teeth be defective, then the Disease falls on that part; or if it be the Head, Eyes, [Page 91] Breast, Back, or any other Part or Member of the Body, that is obstruct­ed, the Evil is felt in that Part. There­fore if the Mouth be kept clean by con­tinual Washings, it will prevent all Matter which may cause Putrifaction; and then Colds, and the like Accidents, will have no power to seise this Part, or cause this terrible pain. Even so it is in all other parts of the B [...]dy. If Temperance and Sobriety be observed in Meats, Drinks, and Exercises, with other Circumstances belonging to Health, then Stoppages, Coughs, Colds, and other Obstructions, would not be so frequent on every small occasion: For Temperance has an inward Power and Operation, and does as it were cut off Diseases in the very Bud, prevent­ing the Generation of Matter whence Distempers do proceed, increasing the Radical Moisture, and making the Spi­rits lively, brisk and powerful, able to withstand all outward Colds, and other Casualties of the like Nature.

5. There are many various things, of divers Natures, prescribed by Phy­sicians, and others, as Washes to pre­serve [Page 92] the Teeth and Gums; but most of them, if not all, to little or no pur­pose, as daily Experience teaches: For all high, sharp Salts, and things of a sowr or keen Nature, do rather cause the Teeth to perish, than the contrary; as do all hot Spirits, be they what they will: Many have destroyed their Teeth by the frequent use of such things, and it hath hardly ever been known that any such things have ever cured or pre­vented the aking Pains of the Teeth, but Water only. Many Examples I could mention, if it were convenient. Physicians, and other, do daily pre­scribe such things for the Cure and Prevention of this Disease of the Teeth, which most of them do know by Ex­perience can do no good, but rather the contrary: But when People come to them, they must give them something for their Money; for Interest and Igno­rance have more affinity with this sort of People, than Virtue and the true Knowledge of the Nature of things. Most certain it is, that the Shepherd and Husbandman do know far better how to prepare their Meat for their Cattel, and also how to preserve them [Page 93] from Disorders, than many Physicians do their Food or Physick: and a Man shall understand more by conversing with some of this sort of Peo­ple, than with the Learned: For the Shepherd and Husbandman under­stand something of Nature; but most of the Learned are departed from the simple ways of God in Nature, putting out their own Eyes, and then boasting what Wonders they can see with other Mens: They have invented many words to hide the Truth for the Unearned, that they may get the greater esteem. This has chiefly been done to advance Pride and Interest; so that the Divine Eye is departed from many of them, who never make any Inspection into the true Nature of things, being contented to take other Mens words, let it be right or wrong, as long as they have Authority and Law on their sides, wherefore should they trouble their weak Heads?

6. The best and most sure way to prevent the Diseases and Pains in the Teeth and Gums, is every Morning to wash your Mouth with a [...] the least ten [Page 94] or twelve Mouthfuls of pure Water, cold from the Spring or River, and so again after Dinner 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 wi [...]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 C [...]ildren two or three times a day; and also to [Page 95] cause their Children to swallow down a little Water, which will be very re­freshing to their Stomachs: For Milk does Naturally foul and [...]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 t [...]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 E [...]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 [Page 96] trample under foot thos [...] 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 puri­ [...]i [...]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 [...]ad Effects whereof so many Thousands of Poor Creatures Shiver and Pine, and [...]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 [Page 98] 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^••.

Nay, below the Bridge, Hundreds dal [...]y pass; The River Humber (as I am credibly informed) where 'tis 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 [Page 99] 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 b [...]lieve there is something in it, and that it may not be unfit for a Wi [...]e and Modest. Man to S [...]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 fore [...]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, [Page 100] 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 tells us of a Winter so hard, That the River Tyber [Page 101] was frozen over, a matter very strange in such a Climate as Italy. In the Year 1234. the Adriatick Sea was so frozen, that the Venetians went over the Ice thereof with Carts. Zon [...]rus assures us that in the Reign of that Emperor Con­stantine (who for a nasty Reason in his Christning, was called Copronimus) a­bout the Year 750. the Pontick Sea was so Congealed, that People for many Miles travelled it on foot: And Horses and Carts loaden, passed over the Fre­tum, or narrow part of it; but with­al he adds, that the Summer following was so excessive hot and dry, that great Rivers and most Fountains were wholly dry'd up, and People and Cattel perish­ed for want of Water. In the Year 821. the greatest Rivers of Europe, as the Rhine, the Danubius, the Elb, and the Sein, were so incrusted with Ice, that for the space of above 30 days, Carriages free­ly passed along on them, as on the Land.

But to look nearer home—In the Year of our Lord 1365. and 49th year of K. Edward the 3d, A Frost lasted from the midst of September to the Month of April; but though so tedious, the Cold was nothing so intense or violent as [Page 102] now. In the 15th Year of the Reign of K. Henry the Eighth, after great Rains and Winds, there followed so sore a Frost, that many died for cold, and some lost Fingers, some Toes, and many their Nails: (I follow the very words of Sir R. Baker, fol. 297.) The same Author tells us. That in the Se­venth Year of Q. Elizabeth, on the 21. of December, began a Frost so extream, that on New-Years-Day Even, People passed over the Thames on foot, some plaid at Foot-Ball, some shot at Pricks, as if it had been firm ground; yet this great Frost, the third of Ianuary at Night, began to Thaw; and by the fifth day, there was no Ice to be seen, but great Inundations followed.

In the Year 1609. (which 'tis not impossible, but some living might re­member, being but 74 Years ago) a Frost began in December, which conti­nued till April following, with such violence, that the Thames was so fro­zen, that Carts loaden were frequent­ly driven over it, most Fowls and Birds were destroyed. In the Year 1637. was another Frost, which rendred the Thames passable; so in the Year 1664. imme­diately followed by the Great Sickness; [Page 103] and the like towards the latter end of the Year, 1676.

Some of the Consequences of these Extream Frosts, I have mentioned, more I might, all are not convenient; those that consult Chronology, may ea [...]ily sa­tisfie themselves,; a Man may soon err in assigning Effects to such or such par­ticular Causes, or adapting Events to Signnificators; Modesty is the first Les­son in Wisdoms School. Therefore as we have been studious in matter of Fact, past; but sparing as to Sequels; so we shall retain the same becoming tenderness as to Futures; wherein we shall steer our Course rather by the Guidance of Nature in her usual Ope­rations here below, than by curious Researches into remoter Influential Causes above; though not neglecting them neither, for the Universe is Intire, Harmonical, and Sympath [...]tical; and he that does not competently understand the right Tone of the whole, and the true Key of every part, will make but bad Musick wherever he lays his Clum­sy Fingers.

First then I say, This Extremity of Cold Presages many Calamities and E­vils to attend Mankind, and the rest [Page 104] of their Fellow-Creatures; for as the Innocent Inhabitants of the Air, or expanded Suburbs of Heaven, viz. Birds and Fowls, are endangered by the Ele­ments denying their usual Benefits and Provisions (wherein another fourth part of the Creation, viz. Fishes, are some­what concern'd) so degraded Man, ta­king advantage of this Cruel Weather, does for Profit, or Pleasure, or Vanity, destroy many thousands of them: Now this great Destruction of them, is but a Forerunner of Mortality amongst Creatures of greater value, and even of Men themselves. Would you know the reason? I told you but now, Uni­versal Nature is Sympathetical.

2dly. This Immoderate Cold locks up the Pores of Mens Bodies, and drives the Natural Heat more Central, which occasions great Appetite and Draught, whence follows much and excessive Eating and Drinking of Gross, Fat, Succulent Foods, and strong Drinks; in all that have wherewithal to procure them; which the voracious desires do at present seem able to bear and digest, yet really Nature is not able to do it, and so by degrees there are Seeds sown and Foundations laid for Diseases. On the [Page 105] other hand, amongst the Poor, necessi­ty of Feeding on unfit and unusual Vi­ands, for their support at present, or defect of due Nourishment, must to them do as much mischief; For want is as great (though I think not so common) an Enemy to Nature, as Superfluity; the way to prevent these mischiefs, is, for the Rich to observe Sobriety and Temperance, and for the Poor to use Discretion in their Diet, for a pint of Milk with a quarter of a pint of Water, thickened with one Spoonful of Flower, and heated just to Boyling, and then putting into it a few Crums of Bread, (all which will not cost above a Penny) shall give any Person as Nourishing a Meal as the best Surloyn of Beef or Capon. I mention not this to prevent Benevolences towards the Poor, which all that are able are bound to afford, but only to Advise them how to supply themselves when they meet not with o­ther Accomodations, but find Rich Mens Charity more frozen than the Thames.

3dly. This Excessive Frost condenses the Air, and renders it Sulphurous and Unhealthy, especially in such Cities as London, where Sea-Coals are generally [Page 106] used for Firing, and most People (espe­cially Women) creep close to those ful­som Fires, without using themselves to proper Exercises, whereby their Blood stagnates, and becomes thick and foul, whence are Generated the Scurvey, stoppages of the Breast, Coughs and Shortness of Breath; the ill effects whereof will more manifest themselves next Spring and Summer.

4thly. This Disharmony and Inequa­lity of the Elements, portends a dry hot Summer to ensue, for all Extreams (as before observed) produce their Con­traries, which will not only encrease Distempers, but I fear some Epidemi­cal Disease, and it is also a Forerunner of Dearth and Scarcity, and the latter, is the more to be apprehended, because we have had several Plentiful and Fruit. ful Years, and very few of us (scarce any) have improved them to that end, for which they were given us by the Lord, and his Hand-Maid Nature; but most that abound in Plenty, have gratified their Lusts and Passions, and such as have not had wherewith to com­mit the same Intemperances in Act, have done it in their Wills and Desires; and [Page 107] shall not our God visit us for these and other crying Abominations, daily exhal­ed from our polluted Streets and Dwel­lings? I will not take upon me to a­ver a Plague or Scarcity shall be the next Year, Iehov [...]h the All-Wise, is the Limiter of Times and Seasons for ex­traordinary Judgments: But I may say, that probably, according to the Prospect of Natural Causes, such Ca­lamities seem not far off, and 'twill concern every Man living to prepare for it.

[Page 108] But to proceed. Great and no less Just are the Cries of the Poor, in such a sharp and pinching Season as this; for few of them have the Opportnity, or at least the Prudence and Fore-sight, to lay up any thing to support them in Necessitous Times, How many thou­sands of very many Trades about this Populous Cities, and elsewhere, can­not now possibly follow their Callings, or get any thing whereby to sustain themselves and Perishing Families with Bread? And can you, whom God has but intrusted with Plentiful Estates, gorge your selves with over-charged Tables even to a Surfeit, and Riot with Exces­sive Bottles of Wine, whilst your Bre­thren thus languish and die for want of Necessaries? Can you but think that God at such a Juncture calls upon you for his Quit-Rent, out of those vast Re­venu [...]s which you hold meerly by the Tenure of his free and undeserved Gift?

Great and truly Royal has our Gra­cious Soveraigns Bounty and Charity shew'd it self on this occasion, as well by bestowing a Considerable Summ Himself, as Commanding the Officers [Page 109] of every Parish to importune the Cha­rity of all able Inhabitants.

Pursuant to this Great and Generous Example, Methinks all you that are Loyal Subjects, and would be thought good Christians, should be forward to Contribute to the Common Necessities; and what if you should resolve for one Day in a Week, (at least during such a hard time) to restrain your selves from large Eating and Set Meals, and whol­ly on that Day forbear Bibbing of Wine and Strong Liquors (I dare promise you, it shall be never the worse for your Health, but the better, as also for your Business) and Imploy what you so Save, in Charitable Uses to the Relief of the Poor? Such a thing has been done on a worse occasion within our Memory, and therefore is not impracticable. By this only means within Londons Bills of Mor­tality, might easily be raised Twenty Thousand Pounds a Week for the Poor; and no Man a Farthing the worse, but even in his Estate the better (and much more in his Health, which is more Va­luable than the greatest Estate in Chri­stendom) for without dispute there are within that Circuit more than an Hun­dred [Page 110] Thousand Families, whose Din­ners each day cost them (one with ano­ther) more than Three Shillings each, I mean E [...]tra [...]agantly, in Flesh, Fowls or Fish, when a little Bread and Cheese, Milk or the like, might as well (nay I am sure would better) for once at least in a Week, supply Nature: Now One Hundred Thousand Three Shillings is Fifteen Thousand Pound; and then 'tis not to be doubted (since in this Age ge­nerally more is spent in Drink, than Victuals) but that there are above One Hundred Thousand Persons that daily lavish away above Twelve Pence a day in Wine, Brandy, Ale, or some strong Liquors, which they forbearing but for one day in a week, and bestowing as aforesaid, thereby might be raised [...] Thousand Pounds more, and so in the whole Twenty Thousand Pounds a week, which justly distributed, would bravely supply Fourscore Thousand Fa­milies, at Five Shillings a week a piece, or afford an Hundred and Threescore Thousand Poor People Half a Crown a piece every week. And will you suffer such a number of Souls to Perish, for want, rather than abridge your [Page 111] Wanton Palates, and Insatia [...]e Paunches of unnecessary, nay pernicious Danties, one only day in a week? Look up, thou So [...]tish Epicure, that Denyest it; and call thy self Christian hence forward, if thou Darest.

CHAP. V.
Christmas-Contemplations: Or, some Considerations touching the due keeping of that Solemn Festi­val. As likewise of several Ir­regularities therein too frequently Practised.

AT this time when most People supersede themselves from the common Drudgery of Business; and yet too many are far worse imployed than in the ordinary Duties of their Call­ings; I thought I could scarce better spend a few [...] hours, than in se­rious [...] on that Subject, and drawing up some [...] Remarks that may [...] of such [...] them to [Page 112] Repentance and Amendment, who have already (perhaps rather through Inad­vertency, and Compliance with vain Custom, than any wilful depravity) been guilty thereof.

In this Disquisition my thoughts have chiefly Centered on three Particulars.

1. The Grounds and Proper End of keeping this Festival.

2. The Abuses and Prophanations thereof.

3. Some Directions how better to ob­serve it for the future.

Though I do not find any express Precept in the Evangelical or Apostol [...]l Writings, for the Observation of this, or any other stated Festivals; yet since in the Old Testament, the like were In­stituted by God himself, and since great Deliverances require expressions of more than ordinary Gratitude, and signal Mercies deserve to be Celebrated with perpetual Commemorations, I am far from that narrow morose hu­mour of condemning simply, the set­ting [Page 113] apart this time to the happy Re­membrance of the most unspeakable Loving Kindness that God ever did, or indeed could do the sinful World; but since 'tis requir'd that all things be done to Edification, and that he that keepeth a day, should keep it to the Lord, I would wish it might be kept in some Respect suitable to the Dignity of the Occasion.

It is taken for granted by most pro­fessing the Christian Name, that at, or about this Season of the Year, the e­ver Blessed Creator of all things, of his Infinite Goodness and Clemency, in pursuance of that Gracious Promise, That the Seed of the Woman should [...]break the Serpents Head, was Pleased to send his Well Beloved Son, the Principle of Light and Love, into the World, to be manifested in the Humane Nature; that thereby, and by his Excellent Do­ctrine and Perfect Example, and espe­cially his most Meritorious Passion, that he might put the Sons and Daughters of Men into a Capacity of escaping that fierce Wrath and Condemnation, which they had justly rendred themselves ob­noxious unto.

[Page 114] Now if we would rightly Comme­morate this mighty Mercy and glorious Work, (so profound and abstruse, that the very Angels are said to be desirous to pry and penetrate thereinto, as a matter of the greatest Wisdom and Wonder, how can it be more fitly done, than by serious Reflections on the Woful D [...]gene­ra [...]y of Man, whereby he that was made little lower than the Angels, had by Transgression depressed himself far be­low the Beasts that perish? How better, than by admiring Infinite Divine Love in sending of Christ, and his exceeding readiness for the loss of Man, to un­dertake that Blessed Work; so as to de­scend from the Regions of Glory, and Cloath himself in our vile Flesh, and suffer all kind of Indignities? And par­ticularly should not we be affected with the mean and lowly manner of his Ap­pearance, the Meekness, Temperance, Purity, and Patience of his whole Life and Death; and heartily endeavour to imitate him therein. For,

Tho' he was the Maker, and conse­quently the Owner and Sovereign Lord of the World, yet he came into it in the form of a Servant. Not according [Page 115] to the vain Expectations of the Iews, or Fashions of Haughty Princes. His Blessed Mother and Reputed Father were Persons but of mean Condition, as to outward Splendor; nor could they, after a weary Journey, get room in the Inn. The Grandeur of this Apostu­mated World did not agree with the Humble Regenerating Power and Son of God; for Man had much more E­stranged himself from his Ancient State, than the Beasts had done from theirs; for they continued still under the Gui­dance of their Original Law, and there­fore void of Offence; but Man, who was made to live in and under the Son's Holy Innocent Power, entered with his harsh Will into Wrath, Fierceness, Op­pression, Cruelty, Violence, and all kinds of Intemperance and Devilishness, far beyond any thing of Beastiality; there­fore Divine Goodness was pleased to be as it were at first an Inmate with, or Companion to the Innocent Bruits; and that the poor Carpenter's Spouse, his Blessed Virgin Mother, should be Delive­red of the King of Glory in a Stall or Stable, where she had no stately Rooms Hung with Arras, or Cloth of Tissue; [Page 116] No Damask Curtains, nor Gaudy Quilts, nor Down Beds, nor Delicate Fine Lin­nen; nor a Confectioners Shop of Va­riety of Sweet Meats; nor was she Ac­commodated with a multitude of Nur­ses, Rockers, or Tenders; or furnisht with Wines or costly Cordials, the In­ventions of Splendid Luxury, rather than Assistants of Natural Necessity.

This Blessed amongst Women, had in all probability, no better Bed than might be made of Hay or Straw, since her Sacred Babe was contented with a Manger for his Cradle; how mean and poor and despicable does this appear to Eyes meerly Humane, when compar'd with the Gallantry, Magnificence, vast Preparations, numerous Attendants, and all kind of Excess, now common­ly practis'd on such occasions! Yet will all or most Men confess with their Mouths, That this Meek and Humble President was used by the Lord to draw Man back out of Pride, Wrath and Vanity, into Regeneration, Self denial, and his Antient Innocent Estate; But notwithstanding all such Verbal acknow­ledgments, I must, (if we may judge of Trees by their Fruits) take leave to [Page 117] tell them, That they do utter Lyes in Hypocrisy; and that they do not in their Hearts believe it, because all their Practises are Diametrically opposite thereunto; as was manifest by King Herod, who was a Prince in the Wrath, and all such ever did, do, and will use all their utmost Subtilty and Diligence to destroy and kill the Humble, Low­ly, Meek Child of Love and Light, which is the true Regenerating Power of God.

Again, The Declaration or Mani­festation of this Blessed Birth was made by Troops of Angels to certain Shep­herds, as they were tending their Flocks in the Field; who are a sort of People regarded by the Pride and Grandeur of the World, as mean, base and con­temptible, unmeet for the Conversa­tion of Persons of Quality. And why to such is the happy News first Com­municated? Was it not because such Persons do live nearer to, and more under the Government of the Holy Power and Divine Light? For have not all the Great and Wonderful Overt res and gled Tidings of Salvation been principally made to, and in poor low­ly minded Men and Women? There­fore [Page 118] our Lord gives his Father thanks, that he had hid the Holy Mysteries from the High and the Learned, and had reveal­ed them unto Babes. And suitable to such Objects, all the Manifestations of God, and Teachings of good Men, have been in an humble Child-like way, both their Doctrine and Practice being to lead People into Humility, Temperance, Cleanness, Self-denial, and Resignation, which are true Paths of Regeneration. Consider these things, O all you that vainly live in the outward Observation of days and times, and yet neglect and despite the true Ends and Offices of such Celebrations, lest you be [...]ound like those Hypocrites of old, who pretended to honour the Sepulchres of the Holy An­tients, but were ready to stone all such as lived in the Spirit and Practise of their Virtues.

For in the second place, Let us consi­der after what sort this Solemnity is kept now a days by the generallity of those that profess themselves Christians: Is it not become a matter of meer For­mality amongst such as would be count­ted the Best, and of Debanchery amongst the most of them? Rather as a Feast to B [...]chus, or some Gluttonous Pagan Idol; [Page 119] than as a Sober Religious Commemora­tion of the Incarnation of the Holy and Blessed Iesus? As if to Honour Christ's Birth, were to Renounce all the Funda­mental Rules of Christianity? For what Exc [...]ss of Riot, Un [...]leanness, Prophaneness, Intemperancies in Meats, Drinks, Words and Works, with all kind of Superfluity of Naughtiness, do the greater number of People not com­mit in these days▪ which yet they call Holy) to the Ruine of their Souls, Bo­dies and Estates, without so much as gi­ving themselves the leisure once to think or consider why the Pious An­t [...]ents thought it convenient they should be Celebrated? Since no doubt it was, in the beginning, performed with great Devotion, Sobriety, Prayer, and Works of Mercy, not of Riot and Superflui­ty. Whereas now how few are there amongst us, who esteem our selves good Christians, yet do not at this very Season, more than any other time, let loose the Reins to all Licentiousness? Pampering our Bodies to the S [...]arving of our Souls, [...]ating to superfluity, if not to Sur [...]eit; and drinking to Ex [...]ess, if not down-right Drunkenness? En­taining [Page 120] our selves (like the rich Glut­ton in the Gospel) with Tables not on­ly full-spread, but over-charg'd with heaps of high rich compounded Foods, and variety of strong Cordial Drinks; whilst multitudes of our poor Neigh­bours want Bread, and almost all the Necessaries of Humane Life.

We may flatter our selves with Hos­pitality and Charity, but generally it is either misplac'd or ill measur'd; be­stow'd on Objects that need it not, or in such a vast Profusion at once, as alto­gether abates its value, and renders it much more a Crime than a Virtue, and rather a Temptation than a Relief.

Is it not a frequent Custom to Invite the Rich, and such as can Invite you again; which He for whose sake you keep this time, does expresly forbid? And if a Great Man, or one you hope to get by, comes to your House to trifle away precious time in vain Discourses, Play, or lewd Games, will you not Treat him in a Courteous manner, with the choifest Foods and Liquors you can get, and think you have not made him Welcome, or discharg'd the part of a free House [...]keeper, if you do not per­suade [Page 121] him to Eat and Drink beyond the Power, as well as Necessities of Nature? 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 [Page 122] 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 Mo­n [...]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; [Page 123] 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 [...]o all, and to distribute to the Needy, the Fatherless, and the [Page 124] 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 Sobri [...]ty, Temperance, Cleanness and Order, in Meats and Drinks, which will not only make them more able to [Page 125] 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 a [...]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 [Page 126] 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.

[Page 127] 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 Lord thanks and humble acknowledgments for the least of his Mercies, because they see, feel, and taste the most pleasant Operation of the Divine Hand in all things; their Bodies are both sustained and delighted with the coursest Fare, their Minds satis­fied, their Beds easie, their Sleep sound; they are not tortured with Gouts, nor drowned with Dropsies, nor burnt up with Feavers; their Heads are not dul­led with Fumes, nor their Stomachs oppressed with fainting fits, nor windy griping humours; but they rise fresh as the Morning-Sun, and chearful as the early Lark, soaring aloft towards [Page 128] Heaven; and on the Wings of Love and Gratitude, chaunt forth Anthems of Praise to their adorable Creator.

For they are equally fit for Exercises either Corporeal or Spiritual; their Fountain of Life, Natures Balsamick Oyl, the Radical Moisture flows freely thro' every part, like a pleasant breeze of Wind that moderates the Central Fires, that they burn not too violently. For these reasons the Wise and Prudent in all Ages have zealously courted Tem­perance, Abstinence, and Cleanness, as their best Guides and Companions; they abate extravagant desires, because a small matter will suffice a regular Ap­petite; they resist Pride, Covetous­ness, and Vain-glory, and are the only Friends or proper Nurses to Charity. They punish not the Body with exces­sive Labour, and at the same time ease the Mind of distracting Cares; for what need they scrape, contend, or take thought for much, when they know how little will fully and comforta­bly supply all their real wants?

To do good and Communicate of those Gifts which God has intrusted us with, is one of the most fundamental Precepts [Page 129] in the Gospel, since nothing renders us more like our Maker; for he gives all things freely, and receives nothing, And likewise the same does naturally and by simpathy attract the sweet In­fluences of the Coelestial Bodies, the Vertues all Elements, with the well­wishes and hearty Prayers not only of the Poor and Needy, but of all good Men; which have a Secret yet power­ful Influence on the Souls and Spirits of People so well disposed, and to obtain Blessing on their Persons and Families.

3. Therefore, let all that would ob­serve Solemn Times, or Feasts, ob­serve them to the Lord, viz. with serious pious Meditations, Holy Conferences, Humility, Temperance, and Alms­deeds; and at such Seasons especially, to avoid Gluttony, Riot, Drunkenness, Excess, Superfluity, and Prophaneness; and not to sacrifice so many thousands of innocent Creatures to their inordi­nate Lusts, or ravenous Desires, as now commonly they do; which perhaps ought the rather to be regarded and a­voided, since God's Manifestation of his Holy Son of Light, seems to have been in Love and Mercy to the whole [Page 130] World; not only unto Man, but like­wise in some respects, to the rest of the under-graduated Creatures; for the Everlasting Gospel (or Divine Power of God in his Son) was and is to be Preached unto every Creature under Heaven, as the Angel has it in the Revelations; for this Act of Grace, though some obtain greater Priviledges by it than others, was Universal; and though the Crea­tures were become subject unto Vanity by Man's Degeneration and Fall, yet they shall again receive that State of Vnity and Pleasure, which they should have enjoyed, if Man had continued in his first Estate; and therefore the Apostle aith, The whole Creation groans to be de­livered into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God. That is, to be freed from those Oppressions, Violences and Mise­ries, they now suffer under Man's fierce­ness and Tyranny; for so far as Man is truly Redeemed from the wrathful fierce Spirit, so far he freeth all Crea­tures under his Government. And therefore the Scripture saith, The Righ­terous Man is merciful to his Beast. And let us flatter our selves as we please, these Extravagancies and Violences to [Page 131] innocent Creatures▪ the spilling of their Blood, and eating so continually of their Carcasses; does both awaken and strengthen the Fountain of Wrath within us, and will certainly in due time draw down a Retaliation of Ven­geance.

This we see every day in part fulfil­led; for are not our Helioga [...]alus's, our mighty Devourers, that continually gorge their Paunches with the Flesh of their fellow Animals, severely punisht for their Gluttony and Cruelty, by a mul­titude of torturing Diseases, as Gouts, Dropsies, Consumptions, &c. And not only so, but when the Evil grows gene­rally predominant, it is Chastized by some Epidemical Judgment, or Pesti­lence. I pretend not to Prophecy, nor would amuse People with vain Threats; but this I may modestly say, That if we look back into History, we shall rarely find but the Plague hath visited the City of London, more or less in the Circle of every twenty years. And if it hath now been free twenty two years, we may perhaps assign the Nature Causs thereof to the great Fire, which purged its stench and pollutions, and that no­ble [Page 132] open way of Rebuilding, whereby the whole City is become much more sweet and delightsome, and the parti­cular Houses more Airy and Pleasant, rendring the whole much more whol­some to the Inhabitants; this may de­fer, but will not I fear, be able altoge­ther to prevent the returns of sweeping Sicknesses; and if we regard the Course of Nature, and especially the Sins and Provocations of People stirring up the Divine Wrath, I am very apt to fear some such terrible Visitation within these two, three, or four years next at farthest; but in this I am not positive, for God draws his destroying Sword at his own appointed times; however the Caution can do no hurt, to admonish all Persons of each Sex, Age, and Condi­tion, to Repent and amend their Lives, lest they be snatcht away suddenly, and there be none to deliver.

Which that they may do, and lay up Treasures in Heaven, by being liberal to the Poor on Earth; I do again with all earnestness exhort them to Sobriety, Temperance, and Works of Mercy: And that this may be the more regular­ly performed, I shall propose an easie [Page 133] Method, which each Person may encrease or diminish as to the proportion of Alms set down, according to their re­spective Circumstances, provided they bestow freely, as in the Presence of God, what they can spare, without any real Injury to their Family.

Since 'tis a custom amongst most Men, especially Traders in Cities and Towns, at this time to cast up their Stocks, to see how God has blessed them for the year past, as to their Profits or Losses, it would be highly convenient, if for every Pound, it shall upon the Ballance appear that they have gain'd, to give at least Six Pence to the Poor, or other good Uses (as towards the Edu­cation of poor Children, which is the Foundation of good Government and Order) and as for Gentlemen and Per­sons of great Estates, whose Revenues come in without Labour of their own, to allow, for every Hundred Pounds per Annum, one Shilling in the Pound; and Farmers or Renters of Land, to give Three Pence for every Pound they have gained in the foregoing Year. And other Men of great Real or Personal Estates, which have been partly got­ten [Page 134] by Oppression or Violence, or af­ter great hazards at Sea, where others have deeply suffered, but more espe­cially in cases of Estates acquir'd by Man-Slaughter (though priviledg'd by Worldly Custom and Laws) for every Hundred Pounds per Annum, or its e­quivalent in Money or Goods, to give Fifteen Pounds per Cent, that is, Three Shillings in the Pound. For though I cannot allow that uncharitable Proverb, That every very Rich Man is either an un­just Man himself, or the Son of one. Yet I must joyn with that other,

And I know no better Conveyance or Security to Intail them, than by Works of Mercy, and Alms [...] giving, which are the likeliest Expedients to Antidote a­gainst the secret Canker, and give your Posterity a lasting Title, and obtain a Blessing thereon, and upon all other your Lawful Endeavours, for want of which, how often do we see vast E­states blasted, and suddenly transferred to new Owners, and the most moyling Industry defeated.

[Page 135] Nor would it be of small Advantage both to the Health of the Body, and the good of the Soul, for Persons of Estates, at least such whose Callings are not Laborious, to set apart a Fasting-Day once a Weeek, or at least to eat meaner Foods then, than ordinary; and to appropriate the Expences there­by saved, to Charitable uses, viz. To the Relief of the Poor (to whom he that giveth, lendeth to the Lord, a Deb­tor that will never prove Bankrupt) as likewise towards the maintaining of useful [...] Schools, Hospitals for the Aged, Lame, or Diseased; for the amendment of publick Bridges, or High-Ways; or the Planting of Common Walks of Fruit, or other Trees; and many other Accommodations (especially in the Country) that would be both Orna­mental, Delightful, and Profitable; and of far more Advantage and Ho­nour, than what is now profusely squan­dred away in wanton superfluity, that opposes all Christianity and Moral Ver­tue.

This is somewhat of that which I thought fit to remind the stupid World of, on this occasion; wherein let my [Page 136] Good Will at least be accepted, though some of my Notions should happen not to be approved; for he that contradicts inveterate Customs, though never so un­reasonable or impious, may justly ex­pect to meet with Censure, Opposition, and perhaps Derision. But I am long since Arm'd against such rude Attacques, being conscious of no other Aim than the discharge of my Duty, and to per­suade Men to be really, what they no­minally profess themselves, viz. Di­sciples and Followers of IESVS CHRIST; in whose Service I am,

CHAP. VI.
Good News for the Poor, and better for the Rich, &c.

WAR is ever at the best, even to those that are most successful, a very disastrous Calamity. And what through the Judgment of God, the mis­fortune of our Publick Affairs, and the present Discouragement of Trade, the Cries of the Poor are exceedingly raised in this Nation, and are like to be a great deal more, without the the In­terposition of some preventing Relief. I would not say any thing that should give Offence; but it cannot be unknown that many hundred of Families in and about this City, suffer extreamly upon that account. 'Tis therefore that I propose this easie and convenient Me­thod of raising Fifteen or Twenty Thousand Pounds per Week towards the supplying those that really want: Re­trenching the Luxurious Superstuities of those that abound: And teaching those whose Extravagance would carry [Page 138] their Inclinations beyond their Ability, the Art of good Husbandry. Which things effectually pursued and practised, would be unconceivably beneficial as well to the Rich as the Poor, and in a great measure engage a Blessing from God Almighty upon our Publick and Private Undertakings. 'Tis the best use we can make of Heavens Liberali­ty, and will assuredly stand us instead, if Providence should be pleas'd to turn up the Reverse of our Condition. 'Tis making the Lord of the whole Earth our Debtor, and laying an Obligation upon him of seeing us repaid, since he that gives to the Poor, lends to the Lord. This indeed is laying up for a Wet Day, and securing a Treasure that no Body can rob us of. No Man alive is exempt from accidents and Casualties, where­by it becomes of important Concern­ment to be prepared for them.

[Page 139] There are at this time thousands of very many Trades in and about this Po­pulous City, that have little or no Work at their Callings, whereby to support themselves, and supply their perishing Families with Bread. And can those whom God hath intrusted with plentiful Estates, gorge themselves with overcharged Tables, even to a Surfeit, and Riot in Excess of Wine, forgetting the Afflictions of Ioseph, whilst their Brethren languish, and al­most die for want of Necessaries? Do they not think that God at such a time calls upon them for his Quit-Rent, out of those vast Revenues that they hold meerly by the Tenure of his Bounty? Shall the Heavenly Magnificence be so extensive towards them, and theirs Con­tracted towards their Brethren? His Majesty has already shewn us the way, and as I am informed, given large De­monstrations of his Charity and Com­passion. How Honourable would it be then for such who would be esteemed good Christians and Loyal Subjects, to follow a Generous and Royal Example? One would think this should Encourage them to be willing to Contribute freely [Page 140] to the Relieving the Common Necessi­ty, and Succouring those who labour under the Burden of insupportable Di­stress and Want. Which they might do with the greatest Ease and least Dammage imaginable. As for Exam­ple,

Let us resolve, one Day in the Week at least, during the deadness of Trade, and dearness of Corn, to refrain from large Eating, retrench the Superfluous Exorbitance of our Tables, abstain from our Customary Excess, of Wine and strong Drinks (I dare promise it would be never the worse for our Health, but much the better, and like­wise for our Business) and what we so save, Employ in Charitable Uses for the Service of the Poor. By this only means, within the Bills of Mortality, might easily be raised Twenty Thou­sand Pounds per Week, and no Man a Farthing the worse, but infinitely the better both in his Estate and his Health, which is more valuable than the greatest Estate in Christendom.

There are without Dispute, within the above-mentioned Circuit, near an Hundred Thousand Families, whose [Page 141] Dinners one with another cost them Three Shillings a day, I mean extrava­gantly in Fish, Flesh, Fowl, strong Beer, Ale, Wine, &c. when a little Pap, Pulp or Grewel would do much better. Or if they like not that, Bread, Butter, Cheese, Milk, &c. I am sure will supply Natures wants in all things needful, if People would be so wise as not suffer false Opinion, and that grand Tyrant Custom, to Enslave both their Souls and Bodies.

Now an Hundred Thousand Shillings is Fifteen Thousand Pounds: And then it is not to be doubted, but generally more is spent in Drink than Victuals. There are more than an Hundred Thou­sand Persons that lavish away daily a­bove Twelve Pence in Wine, Brandy, and other strong Liquors; which Ex­pence if forborn but one day in a Week, and bestow'd as aforesaid, would amount to Five Thousand Pounds more, which makes in the whole, Twenty Thousand Pounds per Week, and this justly di­stributed, would supply Eighty Thou­sand Families at Five Shillings per Week a piece.

[Page 142] Or otherwise the one half might be imploy'd in the Maintenance of Three­score Thousand Families, and the other half to build Schools and Hospitals for the Education of the poor Children and Orphans, and other Miserable People, Thousands being destroyed yearly for want of Food and other Conveniencies of Life.

And can we now suffer such a number of poor Souls to perish for want, ra­ther than abridge and deny our Palates and insatiate Paunches, some unnecessa­ry, nay pernicious Danties, only one day in a Week? Let us then no longer make a God of our Bellies, but endea­vour to deserve our Saviour's Eulogy, I was an hungry, and you gave me Meat.

Now considering the great Scarcity and Dearness of Corn, and other Pro­visions, whereby the Families of Poor People, especially those out of Imploy­ment, are become very pressing and de­plorable: I count it no worthless Ser­vice to the Publick, to inform the World of the Benefit and Cheapness of Dressing and Eating of Corn Food, with the Variety of their Preparations, as they are very wholsom and salutife­rously [Page 143] used in many Countries, where they they have very little of any sort of other Diet.

For this is to be noted, that the Flower of Wheat, Bar [...]ey, Oats, or any other Grain, made into Paps or Gruels, by a little boyling, doth not on­ly advance them in quantity and strength, but it renders them more a­greeable to the Stomach, their Dige­stion is more easie and more nutrimental. And a Man may live as well, if not bet­ter, with a half, or third quantity of Flower so prepared, than even with baked Bread: that is, with half a Pound of Wheat or Oa [...]meal Flower made in­to Pap with Water, than with a pound of like Flower made into Bread. And this Pap will support both Health and Strength to a higher degree, making a Man more brisk and lively, free from Drought and Heat, or any other Ob­structions, eating a small quantity of Bread with the Pap, or between whiles.

For the first Invention of Bread was not intended to be ea [...]en alone, but with fat Foods as a good Sauce or In­gredient to mix with, drink up, or allay the Oyliness of such things, and [Page 144] to render them more apt for Separation and Digestion. For all Fat or Oyly Bodies furr the Passages, and obstruct the Stomach, and are extream heavy and hard to be divided. By which means, in all Countries where People feed much on fat succulent Foods, the common Distempers are Feavers, Gout, Stone, Gravel and Wind, all which are occasion'd by the Oyliness and Greasi­ness of their Foods, and too great a quantity, which naturally generates thick cloddy Blood, dull and impure Spirits, which hinder the Circulation of them both: And Experience teaches that in the Eastern Country, where Peo­ple live much on Corn Food, those cruel Distempers are hardly known.

Now it is to be observed, that all Flowe [...]s in their own Nature, if eaten [...]ry are very stopping, but when they are diluted and prepared with a proper quantity of Water, they become of ano [...]ther Operation and Nature, as is manifest in all Gruels, Paps and Spoon­mea [...]s made thereof.

When the Flower of any Corn is made into a strong Paste or Dough, wi [...]h a small quan [...]ity of Water, and bak'd [Page 145] in the sulphurous fierce heat of the Oven, the moisture being too small in quantity for the Sal-nitral Vertues or Oyly Spirituous qualities to soak or im­bib [...] themselves in, the strong nutritive Powers, or gellius glewy qualities, which is the band of Nature, are by the predominancy of the Heat broken as a Man would break a Stick in sunder.

Therefore Bread will not thicken when put into Milk, Water, &c. and boyled, but easily separate, and not at all incorporate and become one Body with the Water, as Flower will, before it is baked. So that the making Flower into Bread, by baking of it, doth not consume the quantity, but the natural quality of Corn also: and too frequent­ly eaten alone will obstruct the Stomach and all the subservient Vessels.

'Tis true indeed, Bread as it is ge­nerally eaten, is a very good thing, and of great use, tho' in it self but of little Nourishment, however being eaten with fat Food it mightily helps Concoction: But Flower when dress'd after the fore­mentioned method, affords the most Nourishment, especially if there be good Pot Herbs added. But if you would [Page 146] divert and gratifie the Stomach with a dryer and harder sort of Food, which Nature sometimes loves, make the Flower into small Dumplins, so called, but little bigger than Crown pieces, put them into boyling Water, and let them boyl quick; they will presently be done.

This sort of boyled Bread does not only afford more and better Nourish­ment, but is pleasanter to the Palate, and more satisfactory to the Stomach. This may be called boyled Bread, and is best without Salt, or any other In­gredient. Therefore Flower properly diluted and prepared, best agrees with the Eaters; if it be the most part of your Food, then thick is best: Howe­ver thin is very healthful between whiles. But such as live upon solid fat Food, their Gruels ought to be thin, which will better cleanse the Vessels of the Stomach and Ureters, preserve Nature, and prevent the Generation of the Stone, &c. and Rickets in Children.

Now Fish, Flesh, &c. are loaded with a gross Phlegmatick Body, and the fre­quent eating thereof cannot but af­fect the Eater with the like Qualities. [Page 147] As is manifest from those Cattle that feed on green Food, as Grass, &c. Are not such Beasts less able to travel and la­bour, and is not their Flesh more gross, apter to putrifie, and Salt it self will not preserve it from Corruption? On the contrary, such Beasts as feed on Corn, Hay, &c. which are dry, they are not only strong and able to endure Labour and Travel, but their Flesh is more firm and substantial, and durable when salted, than the former.

We deceive our selves if we judge that Flesh hath much Nourishment, be­cause it hath much Juice or Matter: By the same reason, Grass would have more good Nourishment and Strength in it than Corn: But the more gross Matter and Phlegmatick Juices any thing is loaded with, the weaker and fainter that thing is, and consequently more subject to decay, and distemper the Spirits, being but few, and those that are dull, Cloudy and impure. So that upon the whole matter, Flesh, Fish, and Fowl, &c. cannot have the Preheminence of Foods: Neither are they indued with so much, nor so good Nourishment as Corn Foods. But [Page 148] 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 worse [...] 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 [Page 149] 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 s [...]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 [Page 150] 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 spiri [...]uous and warming, the last Cold, Phlegmatick and Gross, and harder of Concoction.

'Tis 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 [Page 151] 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 Corp [...] adue, and the whole Mass becomes a lump of a sad Melancholick Nature and Operation; what Notions soever some have to the contrary.

CHAP. VI.
A Humble Proposal to the Honou­rable Sir Thomas Lane, Lord Major, the Court of Aldermen, Merchants, Citizens, &c. of the City of London, for the Erecting of Twenty Free Schools in the Poor Parishes in and about the said City, for the Education of Poor Children, whose Parents are not able to pay for their Schooling.

MAY it please your Lordship, and the rest of the Honourable Gen­tlemen, to whom this Proposal is Ad­dressed, to take into your Serious Consideration, the Deplorable▪ Estate and Condition of many Poor Children, that for want of Means to give them timely and proper Education, in order to their being Instructed in the Methods of Vertue and true Religion, are suffe­red to play away about the Streets the only Seasons of their Lives for Know­ledge and Improvement, in Idle, Vain, & [Page 157] Sinful Sports and Pastimes. In vain do your Lordship, and the other Magi­states, so strenuously and commendably labour to Reform Mankind, by sup­pressing and correcting grown and ad­dult Wickedness, while by the Con­nivance and Toleration of this ungodly Practise, the Seeds of Vice, like so ma­ny Hydra's Heads, grow upon your Hands, still furnishing you with new Matters of hopeless and unsuccessful Toyl and Vexation: For by this Idle squandering away their time, they learn all kind of Lewdness, Swearing, Ly­ing, Stealing, Impudence, and Dissi­mulation, which being then so timely and deeply Imprinted upon their Souls, all the Punishment in the World can hardly ever return them afterwards: Good Manners, Temperance, Order, and proper Learning, are the Stays and Supports of all good Government, which (if due care were taken) might as easily and cheaply be Planted, as the forementioned Vices; whereby in short time the World would be much better in general, and the Magistracy in par­ticular be discharged of abundance of ungratefulness and trouble. Now since [Page 158] the laying a sure and lasting Foundation of Vertue and Honesty is the Noblest and most Extensive Charity imaginable, we cannot allow our selves to doubt of your Lordships Concurrence with the incouragement of so Lawful and Bene­ficial a Proposal: And we are bold to affirm, that your Lordship cannot be­gin your Government, from whence the whole City justly expects so much Happiness and Advantage, under the Influences of a more Blessed and Au­spicious Omen.

It is therefore Humbly Proposed, That Twenty Schools, viz. Ten for Boys and Ten for Girls, be erected, which will require a Hundred and Twenty Pound per Annum one with ano­ther, for their Maintenance, with their proper Tutors, Masters, &c. each Pa­rish or P [...]ecinct, building their School-Houses at their own proper Charge, low Houses, all one Floor, fifty Foot in length, and twenty five in breadth, with Chimneys, and other necessary Convenienc [...]es. Now twenty Schools at a Hundred and Twenty Pound per Annum each, must have a Settlement of [Page 159] Land of Two Thousand Five Hundred Pound per Annum, which might easily be raised by a voluntary Contribution; for it is not to be doubted, but there are within the Circuit of the Bills of Mortality, more than a Hundred Thou­sand Persons that are able, without prejudice, to give Ten Shillings each (that is) one with another, which would amount to Fifty Thousand Pound Ster­ling, which being well laid out, would Purchase in Land Two Thousand Five Hundred Pound per Annum, and better; but if any alledge they cannot conve­niently spare such a Sum as Ten Shil­lings it is proposed that there be a gene­ral Fasting Day for Six Weeks, from all sorts of Costly Foods, and strong Drinks, one Day only in each Week, which by a modest Computation, would raise Ten Thousand Pound per Week; that is, in the whole Sixty Thousand Pound, and no particular Person or Family one Penny the worse, which also without doubt would be mightily increased eve­ry Year by the Gifts and Liberality of Charitable People, that d [...]op off the Stage of this World into Eternity.

[Page 160] As an Enforcement of what is Pro­posed, give me leave to tell you, That this Charity is not given to Strangers, but to preserve and maintain our own Posterity or Off spring, even our own Children, two thirds whereof, if no [...] more, within the Compass and Revo­lution of Thirty or Fourty Years, by some private Misfortunes, or publick Calamities and Alterations of State, come to extream Poverty and Straits. For it is reasonably supposed, That Thirty Years s [...]nce there were then in and about London, Forty Thousand Gentlemen, Merchants, Shopkeepers and Tradesmen, worth in Estates from Five Hundred to Ten Thousand Pounds, and these might possibly have three Children each, one with another, which is a Hundred and Twenty Thou­sand, so that at this time it is not to be questioned, if an exact scrutiny be made, and account given of each Man's Off-spring, but that there are now half, or two thirds of these that really want such a piece of Charity as is here pre­posed.

[Page 161] Now if we will but look forward, we may rationally conclude, That Thirty or Forty Years hence, our Children or Grand-Children may be in the like poor Condition; so that Money thus disposed of, as we have proposed, is a far better Security to our Posterity than the Free Land of any particular Person can purchace for them: Besides, you have the Great God's Word, and our Saviour Christ's Promise, to Indempnifie and save you harmless; for he that gives to the poor, lends to the Lord, and there shall be ma­nifold Restitutions made, with the Blessings of this World, and with Life Eternal in the World to come, which is 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 [Page 162] 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 [Page 163] 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 [Page 164] 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,