A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

And these are the duties which we are (as much as conveniently we can) to perform before or at the beginning of our meals. The duties which we are to practise whilst we are eating and drinking, are divers. First our care must be, that we use the creatures of God with temperance and sobriety, so as they may serve for the satisfying of our hunger, and the sustentation and strengthening of our frail nature (which if it be not misguided by our corruption, is in it self content with a little) and not tend to their weakening and disabling unto all good employments; for the feeding and refreshing of our bodies, that they may be fit servants for our souls in all Christian duties, and not the filling and glutting of them, whereby they become till they be emptied, unprofitable burdens to the soul, and good for nothing but sloth and sleep. Now this temperance must show it self in two kinds; first, in our provision; and secondly, in the applying of it to our own use. Our provision of meats and drinks ought not to be over-costly and curious, excessive and superfluous, which becometh not Christians which profess sobriety, but rather heathens, epicures, and belly-gods, who place a great part of their happiness in pampering their flesh with all kinds of voluptuousness. But ordinarily our ⟨p. 284⟩provisions ought to be competent, not excessive and curious; and rather savour of frugality, then of lavish, waste, and prodigal superfluity. Yet that our Christian moderation and frugality may not be pretended and abused of any as a mask, to hide under it, their base and sordid avarice and niggardliness, we are in this temperance of our provisions to observe these cautions. First, that therein we have respect to our place and calling, our means and ability, making our provision for our tables so, as it may be fitting and suitable in these respects; on the one side not exceeding our means, seeing frugality is the nurse and fountain of true bounty, and on the other, that it do not come much short of them, our charge and other necessary expenses being considered. And thus David a King numbereth it among Gods special favours, that he had not only given him sufficient maintenance and convenient food, but had thoroughly furnished his table as beseemed a King, and had not only filled his cup, but caused it also to