A20762:1024
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
A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helps enabling & the reasons persuading unto it the impediments hindering the practise of it, and the best means to remove them whereunto are added divers prayers and a treatise of carnal security by John Douname Bachelor in Divinity and minister of Gods Word.A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.
London: printed by Felix Kingstone and William Stansby for Ed, 1622
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. Sect. 6 That we must be temperate and moderate, in respect of the quantity of our meats and drinks.
§. Sect. 6 That we must be temperate and moderate, in respect of the quantity of our meates and drinkes.
But especially our temperance and Christian moderation must show it self in our eating and drinking, and that both in respect of the quantity and also the quality of our food. First, for the quantity, our care must be, that we at least ordinarily eat and drink no more then is fit for the sufficing of nature, and the preserving of our health and strength. For howsoever some may lawfully have their tables thoroughly furnished, yet none may rise from them with full and glutted bellies; though our cups with Davids, may be filled till they run over, yet the overflow must not be into our own bellies, and much less mount so high as to our heads, but like Solomons cisterns, they must have their waste into the streets, and 1serve as fountains to water and refresh the thirsty lands. Though it be a blessing of God promised unto the faithful, that they shall eat in plenty, and ⟨p. 285⟩2be satisfied, that they may take occasion thereby to praise the name of the Lord for all his bounty and goodness; yet it is a fearful curse and heavy judgement, to be given over unto our own carnal appetite, and a grievous sin to mind so our bellies, as that we take more care and pains to please them, then to please God; which is to be a right belly-god indeed, to be transformed from men to beasts, who are led more by their sense and appetite, then by reason and Religion, and have their gluttonous paunch the chief state of their souls, and not in their head and heart; herein like as Clemens compareth them to the sea-Ass, which only among all other