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

§. Sect. 8 Of moderation in respect of the quality of our meats.

§. Sect. 8 Of moderation in respect of the quality of our meates.

In respect of the quality of our meats and drinks, Christian temperance and moderation must be used, in bridling our appetite and taste, that they do not licourously long after, at least in our ordinary diet, such as ¹are curious and costly, dainty and delicious, which was the sin of the rich Glutton, who in the parable was condemned unto hell, and tormented in that part wherein he had chiefly offended. For howsoever it is lawful for all men at some times to feed upon the choicest of the creatures, if the cost exceed not their state and means, and if they be not much affected, but come into their way without any great care or trouble; and though it be lawful at all times for those that are weak and sickly, ²and cannot safely eat courser and and ordinary meats, to provide, if they be able, such dainties and meats of good nourishment and easy concoction, as will agree with their stomachs; yet for those that are healthy and strong, it is not lawful that they should, with the rich Glutton, every day fare deliciously, nor convenient, though it were lawful, ⟨p. 288⟩to do it often and ordinarily, seeing he who will do all that is lawful, ³will within awhile do also that which is unlawful; he that will walk upon the brink, is still in danger of falling into the water, though yet he be upon firm ground; and he that will stretch his desires to the extreme borders of virtue, is within one step of vice, the which was typically implied at the giving of the Law, where the Lord forbiddeth the people, not only to come into the Mount, but also to touch the borders of it. And therefore if we would shun intemperance in diet which is utterly unlawful, we must moderate our appetite even about those things which are lawful; and avoid carefully all means that tend unto it. Among which, one of the chiefest is delicacy of meats, which draweth on the appetite unto excess, with the strong Cable of bewitching delight. And not much less dangerous are pleasant sauces curiously cooked; both which are to be ordinarily shunned of all who would be temperate in their diet. For as we cannot attain unto Justice by coveting much wealth, nor unto temperance by the means of intemperance; so neither (as one saith) can we be