The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

Direct. I. Understand well what sinful Fullness: It is sinful, when it hath any one of these ill conditions.

Direct. I. Understand well what sinful Fulness: It is sinful, when it hath any one of these ill conditions.

1. When you eat or drink more in quantity, than is consistent with the due preservation of your health: or so much as hurteth your health or reason. For the use of food is to fit us for our duty; and therefore that which disableth and unfiteth us, is too much. But here both the present and future must be considered.

2. When you have no higher end in eating and drinking, than the pleasing of your appetite. Be it little or much, it is to be judged of according to its end. A beast hath no other end, because he hath no reason, and so properly hath no end at all▪ But we are bound to eat and drink to the glory of God, and to do all to further us in his service, 1 Cor. 10.31. The appetite may ⟨p. 466⟩be pleased in order to a higher end; that is, 1. So far as it is a true directer what is for our health, and will be best digested: 2. So far as by moderate and seasonable exhilaration, it fitteth us by cheerful alacrity for our duty: and therefore it hath been good mens use to have holy feasts, as well as holy fasts. But the appetite must be restrained and denied, 1. When it is against health: And 2. When it hindereth from duty: Or 3. When it would be the ultimate end of our repast, and there is no higher reason for it, than the appetites delight.