The Young Mans Guide, Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. Of Moderation in the Use of Meat and Drink.
V. BE moderate in all things, more Particularly,
1. In the use of Meats and Drinks.
2. In Sports and Recreations.
3. In the pursuit of worldly wealth, and seeking after riches.
I. Be moderate in the use of Meats and Drinks. Feed for the satisfying thy hunger, and strengthning thy body for the service of God, and not meerly for the pleasing thy fleshly appetite. I deny not but the Lord sometimes gives us liberty to eat and drink, not only for necessity, but also for delight. And I grant it is a blessing from God promised unto the faithful, Joel 2. 26. That they shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied; but it is, that they may take occasion thereby to praise the Name of the Lord for his bounty and goodness. But wilt thou therefore eat to Gluttony, and allow thy self in such intemperance, as will make thee as ready to curse God, as to bless and praise him?
Our Saviour warns his own Disciples, Luke 21. 34. Take heed to your selves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surseiting, and drunkenness. It is observable how he adviseth us to be as watchful against Gluttony, as Drunkenness. Many look upon Drunkenness as an heinous sin; but as for Gluttony, they make no sin of it at all, not considering that a man may offend, and make a Beast of himself by excessive Eating, as by excessive Drinking. The Rich Glutton went to Hell, not for any Drunkenness that we read of, but for Gluttony, Luk. 16. 19.
Therefore, O Young Man, it concerns thee to be watchful over thy self herein. Let not thy Table be an Altar to thy Belly, lest it become a snare to thine heart. Beware of feeding thy Lust, instead of refreshing thy Body. Eat for service, more than for pleasure; to preserve Nature, rather than to pamper the Body. And when thou art feeding thy Body, forget not to refresh thy Soul by meditating of Gods goodness and bounty, and Christs sweetness, who is the Bread of Life.
That thou mayst be the more watchful against this intemperance, consider the manifold mischiefs which usually accompany the same.
1. It is exceeding hurtful to the body, filling it with crudities, noysom humours, and dangerous obstructions, the Mother of most diseases. If thou wouldst enjoy an active healthful body, rise always from the Table with an Appetite. But oh the folly of many men, who for a short delight, which lasteth no longer than the meat is swallowing down, do endure many hours grievances, through the oppression of the Stomach, and pain of the Head! yea, oftentimes dangerous Surfeits, which hazard life it self. What pity is there to such who will sell their healths, and their ease, for a few Meals! let them smart for it, their sickness may cure them of a worse disease.
2. It dulletb the Wit, infatuateth the Mind, emasculateth the Soul, and the powers thereof; quencheth and devoureth the vigour of the Spirits, whereby a man is often made fit for nothing, but to be a Sleeper, or an idle Drone. Is this thy thankfulness for the bounty of the Lord to thee, to make such use of it, that thou art good for just nothing?
3. It is a great incentive to Lust; when men … provision for the flesh, they soon fulfil the lusts there…, Rom. 13. 14. Forbear to pamper nature, lest it pr…ve wanton and impetuous.
4. I would ask such as give up themselves to the satisfying their carnal appetite, making their Bellies their Gods, whether they do not think, that they must one day answer for the good Creatures of God which they have vainly consumed? If they make any question thereof, hearken to what the Wise Man speaketh, Eccles. 11. 9. Rejoyce, O Young Man, in thy Youth, and let thine heart chear thee in the days of thy Youth: but know thou, that for all these things, God will bring thee into Iudgment. As if he had said, Take thy course, O Young Man, give up thy self to thy Lusts, and please thy sensual appetite, eat, drink, be merry; but know, thou shalt one day full dearly answer for the same.