A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

1 The body distempered with meat is Gluttony, with drink, is Drunkenness.

1 The body distempered with meat is Gluttony, with drink, is Drunkennesse.

Now a man may sin in Gluttony, and Drunkenness, or Intemperancy, either when his appetite is carried to an unfit object, as,

1. When a man hath a longing desire to those things which are hurtful unto him, as if by the Physician Wine be forbidden, or salt meats to some bodies, yet there is a lust in mens natures to affect these; it was a lust of intemperancy in the old Law, to desire after any unclean meats forbidden, Lev. 8. and God reproves it, Isa. 65.4. they lusted after Swines flesh, and abominable things, so that though a man exceed not in the measure, yet in the object, this is intemperance, such a lust was that in our first Parents, Gen. 3.6. here was lusting after a meat forbidden, because she saw it was fair.

1. When a man hath a longing desire to those things which are hurtfull unto him, as if by the Physician Wine be forbidden, or salt meats to some bodies, yet there is a lust in mens natures to affect these; it was a lust of intemperancy in the old Law, to desire after any unclean meats forbidden, Lev. 8. and God reproves it, Isa. 65.4. they lusted after Swines flesh, and abominable things, so that though a man exceed not in the measure, yet in the object, this is intemperance, such a lust was that in our first Parents, Gen. 3.6. here was lusting after a meat forbidden, because she saw it was faire.

1 Beyond health, when it is not for strength, Eccl. 10.16, 17. it is a lust forbid to eat in the morning excessively, and glut themselves, this is beyond the strength of the body; the same may be said of drinks in excessive manner, Luke 21.34. when the Lungs and Liver are distempered and inflamed, and health hurt, Prov. 23.26. this is an excess.

1 Beyond health, when it is not for strength, Eccl. 10.16, 17. it is a lust forbid to eat in the morning excessively, and glut themselves, this is beyond the strength of the body; the same may be said of drinks in excessive manner, Luke 21.34. when the Lungs and Liver are distempered and inflamed, and health hurt, Prov. 23.26. this is an excesse.

2 When we covet meats and drinks beyond the measure of our estate, when we lust above our means, Prov. 23.20, 21. when by costly meat and drink he weakens his estate, Prov. 21.17. if a man be given to costly fare he shall surely come to poverty.

3 A man may exceed, when he exceeds the measure of due order, when they compel men to eat and drink more than willingly they would.

3 A man may exceed, when he exceeds the measure of due order, when they compell men to eat and drink more than willingly they would.

4 When we exceed the bounds of reason, when we so eat and drink that we forget our business, and reason is quite disturbed, as Lot was so drunk that he defiled his Daughters, Gen. 19.33, 35. and Noah was so far drunk that he could not cover his nakedness; in Lot, his reason was wholly taken away, in Noah partly; and now whether reason be disturbed in part, or in whole, it is a lust of the flesh.

4 When we exceed the bounds of reason, when we so eat and drink that we forget our businesse, and reason is quite disturbed, as Lot was so drunk that he defiled his Daughters, Gen. 19.33, 35. and Noah was so far drunk that he could not cover his nakednesse; in Lot, his reason was wholly taken away, in Noah partly; and now whether reason be disturbed in part, or in whole, it is a lust of the flesh.

5 He may exceed the bounds of his Calling; when he eats or drinks so much as makes him unfit for his Calling, this is a lust of the flesh that hinders either our general or particular Calling, Luke 21.34. and for particular Calling we read, Exod. 32. They ate and drank, and rose up to play; so that the meat and drink that should strengthen a man, utterly disables him to follow his Calling.

5 He may exceed the bounds of his Calling; when he eats or drinks so much as makes him unfit for his Calling, this is a lust of the flesh that hinders either our generall or particular Calling, Luke 21.34. and for particular Calling we read, Exod. 32. They ate and dranke, and rose up to play; so that the meat and drink that should strengthen a man, utterly disables him to follow his Calling.

3. If we be carried to meat and drink with no other end but to eat, and drink, and satisfy our appetite, this is a lust of the flesh, a satisfying of the flesh, and looking no further than to serve the body, this is oft the failing of many that abhor Gluttony and Drunkenness, yet ask them why they eat and drink, it is only to satisfy their appetite, this is only to fulfil the lusts of the flesh, Col. 2. ult. 1 Cor. 10.31. Whether ye eat or drink, do all to the glory of God; therefore not only to please Nature, but to make you fit for Gods service, either in your general or particular callings. Let this be the last end of all your meat and drink, to glorify God, to make you more cheerful and strong about the business God calls you to, not that it is a sin to satisfy the appetite, for God hath not made the appetite frustrate, and it is of God to be hungry and thirsty, and we may cheer our bodies, but we must not terminate all this in eating and drinking, for then it is a lust of the flesh, Gen. 27.3, 4. Go and take thy Bow, and take some Venison, and make me savoury meat, such as my soul loveth, What, did he only look to please his appetite? no, but that I may eat and bless thee, that being refreshed by thy provision, I may be ⟨p. 126⟩strengthened to bless thee, a lively Pattern for all Christians so to eat savoury meat, as that we may be fitted for prophecy if God call, fit to pray if God call, fit to hear, fit for any duty God shall call us to, and not to make us more dull and heavy.

3. If we be carried to meat and drink with no other end but to eat, and drink, and satisfie our appetite, this is a lust of the flesh, a satisfying of the flesh, and looking no further than to serve the body, this is oft the failing of many that abhor Gluttony and Drunkennesse, yet ask them why they eat and drink, it is onely to satisfie their appetite, this is onely to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, Col. 2. ult. 1 Cor. 10.31. Whether ye eat or drinke, doe all to the glory of God; therefore not onely to please Nature, but to make you fit for Gods service, either in your generall or particular callings. Let this be the last end of all your meat and drink, to glorifie God, to make you more chearfull and strong about the businesse God calls you to, not that it is a sin to satisfie the appetite, for God hath not made the appetite frustrate, and it is of God to be hungry and thirsty, and we may chear our bodies, but we must not terminate all this in eating and drinking, for then it is a lust of the flesh,

Thus we see intemperance is a lust of the flesh, and wherein it consists.

Next to that follows incontinency, which is an affection to women, which is inordinate, Mat. 5.28. and that is a lust to be avoided of all; And this lust expresses it self in three kinds.

Next to that follows incontinency, which is an affection to women, which is inordinate, Mat. 5.28. and that is a lust to be avoided of all; And this lust expresses it selfe in three kinds.

1 When it is carried to a wrong object, 2 When it exceeds measure, 3 When it aims not at a right end.

1 When it is carried to a wrong object, 2 When it exceeds measure, 3 When it aimes not at a right end.

For the first, Sometimes the heart is carried to beastly unnatural lusts against nature and order, as with beasts, Lev. 18. secondly, If it be carried to kindred, as when Ammon defiled his Sister Tamer; and this lust lies in carrying it self to a wrong object; thirdly, When it is carried in women to men, or men to women before consent of Parents, though it may be a fit match, yet it must be with consent of Parents, though the Angel prospered Abraham's Servant in his way, yet he durst not ask Rebekah's good-will before he asked the good-will of her Parents.

For the first, Sometimes the heart is carried to beastly unnaturall lusts against nature and order, as with beasts, Lev. 18. secondly, If it be carried to kindred, as when Ammon defiled his Sister Tamer; and this lust lies in carrying it selfe to a wrong object; thirdly, When it is carried in women to men, or men to women before consent of Parents, though it may be a fit match, yet it must be with consent of Parents, though the Angell prospered Abrahams Servant in his way, yet he durst not ask Rebeccahs good-will before he asked the good-will of her Parents.

2 It is a lustful affection in conjugal affection, when it exceeds measure, as when for it he omits his duty to God, or denies his profession; sometimes a man hath a good affection to Religion, but the love of his wife carries him away, Luke 14.26. a man may be so transported to his wife, that he dare not be forward in Religion, lest he displease his wife; and so the wife, least she displease her husband: and this is an inordinate love, when it exceeds measure.

2 It is a lustfull affection in conjugall affection, when it exceeds measure, as when for it he omits his duty to God, or denies his profession; sometimes a man hath a good affection to Religion, but the love of his wife carries him away, Luke 14.26. a man may be so transported to his wife, that he dare not be forward in Religion, lest he displease his wife; and so the wife, least she displease her husband: and this is an inordinate love, when it exceeds measure.

3 It is a lust of the flesh, when they are so transported with affection, that they look at no higher end than marriage it self, to have conjugal affection, 1 Cor. 7.29. the meaning is, let such as have wives look at them not for their own ends, but to be better fitted for Gods service, and bring them nearer to God, and then we so have wives, as if we had them not; every man is to look at his wife, as a Talent sent from God; and therefore he must look to restore it better by twofold at least, that I may say, Lord here is the wife thou gavest me, and I am the more wise, and humble, and gracious; and so Children and Servants, when we affect them only to do our business, and look at no higher end but our selves, this is a lust of the flesh, when in any thing we enjoy, we look no higher but to please our selves therein.

3 It is a lust of the flesh, when they are so transported with affection, that they look at no higher end than marriage it selfe, to have conjugall affection, 1 Cor. 7.29. the meaning is, let such as have wives look at them not for their own ends, but to be better fitted for Gods service, and bring them nearer to God, and then we so have wives, as if we had them not; every man is to look at his wife, as a Talent sent from God; and therefore he must look to restore it better by twofold at least, that I may say, Lord here is the wife thou gavest me, and I am the more wise, and humble, and gracious; and so Children and Servants, when we affect them onely to doe our businesse, and look at no higher end but our selves, this is a lust of the flesh, when in any thing we enjoy, we look no higher but to please our selves therein.