The duty of self-denial briefly opened and urged. By Thomas Watson, minister of the…

6. A Christian must deny his appetite. The sensitive appetite is sick of a bulimy, it cries give, give^*. St. Paul did beat ⟨p. 24⟩down his Body, 1 Cor. 9.27^*. Such a proportion only is to be taken for the recruiting of Nature, as may help forward Gods service.—In licitis perimus — More are hurt by excess in lawful things, then by meddling with unlawful. As more are killed by Wine than Poison. Many make their Belly their god, Phil. 3.19. And to this god, they pour drink-offerings. Clemens Alexandrinus writes of a Fish whose heart is in its belly: An emblem of epicures whose heart is in their Belly, they are devoted to sensualness. Excess in meat or drink clouds the mind, chokes good affections, provokes lust. The rankest weeds grow out of the fattest soil. Intemperancy shortens life; as too much Oil extinguisheth the Lamp. Many dig their own graves with their teeth^*. Christ cautioned his Apostles, Luke 21.34. Take heed to your selves, lest at any time ⟨p. 25⟩your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness. Seneca could say, he was born to higher things than to be a slave to his Body^*. What a shame is it that the Soul, that princely thing which sways the sceptre of Reason, and is a-kin to the Angels, should be enslaved to the brutish part! Deny the sinful cravings of the flesh. What hath God given conscience for, but to be a golden Bridle, to check the inordinacy of the Appetite?

6. A Christian must deny his appetite. The sensitive appetite is sick of a boulimy, it cries give, give