A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

These things premised, I come to speak of Sobriety in the use of Meats and Drinks. I join them both together, because Grace is exercised in the Restraint of both. Christians! as we are your Remembrancers to God, so we must be God's Remembrancers to you, and every part of Conversation falls under some Rule of Religion. The Apostle saith, 1 Pet. 1.15. As he that hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation; in every Point, and every Affair of Life; and therefore eating and drinking being one part of human Conversation, it is necessary to give you some Directions. It is very familiar with Men to miscarry by Appetite, more familiar with Man than with Beasts. There is no Beast but Swine will over-eat themselves, they know their stint and measure: But, Lord, how far is Man fallen! Nature is not only blind in point of Worship, but weak in point of Appetite. The Relics of Inordinacy are in the Regenerate. The holiest Men had need of Caution, as Christ saith to his Disciples, Take heed and beware that your Hearts be not over-charged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness, Luke 21.34. And the Apostle bids Timothy to flee youthful Lusts, to be chaste and pure as he was, 2 Tim. 2.22. Flee also youthful Lusts, but follow after Righteousness, Faith, Charity, Peace with them that call on the Lord with a pure Heart. Yea, those that are wisest and ⟨p. 73⟩most accomplished, many times are swallowed up in this Gulf. Who would have thought that Adam and Eve, endowed with the Image of God, should have miscarried by Appetite, by eating? or that Solomon, who had such large Gifts and Knowledge from the Cedar to the Hyssop, should miscarry by Women? and that Persons of excellent Abilities, are many times of a riotous Conversation? Certainly we are weakest where we think our selves strong. When the upper part of the Soul is sufficiently fortified with Counsel and Knowledge, the Devil dare not assault us in point of Error; but then he draws us away by Appetite, and the Baits of the Flesh; and therefore we had need speak of Sobriety in Meats and Drinks.

These things premised, I come to speak of Sobriety in the use of Meats and Drinks. I join them both together, because Grace is exercised in the Restraint of both. Christians! as we are your Remembrancers to God, so we must be God's Remembrancers to you, and every part of Conversation falls under some Rule of Religion. The Apostle saith,