A Christian Library, Chapter 42
CHAP. XLII.
But you will aske me, from what must we save?
I answer, from Riot, Luxury, Drunkenness, Gam…ng, and such like sinfull expences, by which men waste and lavish that which might suffice many others besides themselves. Yea, that sordid sinne of drunkennesse, besides robbing the poor, hath brought a multitude of rich men to poverty, and poor men to beggery.
Secondly, from Banquetting and feasting, wherein at the least, one of these three spots of unthrift…nesse is commonly seen: Excesse of frequency, excesse of plenty, or excesse of delicacy. With some feasters it is alwayes Holiday, never considering that the Rich man in the Gospell is not so much branded for feasting sumptuously, as for feasting sumptuously every day. Others, though they feast their friends but seldome; yet when they do, they resemble Isa…cius Angelus, whose usuall feasts did so exceed in abundance and quantity of provision, that they were said to be nothing else but a mountaine of loav…s, a forrest of wild beasts, a sea of fishes, and an Ocean of win….
Thirdly, others are so for delicacy, that like Phil…xenus that Bell… god, they think that sweetest, that is dearest. It is a horrible pride th… is practised by many now adayes, even meane ones, they scorne for sooth that any Butchers meat should be admit… their Table when the feast it. The true rule of Feasts and Banquets seem… to be dead wit… our Forefathers, whose dishes for so…t, number, price, and servin… out, was inferiour to our sawce, insomuch that lesse then the rever…sion might suffice the whole company, though they suffer the poor t… starve, who might be well …ed with the superfluity thereof. Tantu… luxuries potuit suadere malorum.
Fourthly, much might be saved, out of what men spend lavishly it Apparrell and Rayment. For many spend so much in the number, matter, and making of their Garments, that they have little left to be li…berall withall. The French proverb, that Silke quenches the fire of the Kitchen, is not more tarte then true. How many ruffle it in silke, tha… are scarce able to pay for wool? Yea, some can carry whole Mannors upon their backs, heads, feet, and fingers, what hospitality then can be expected from such?
Fifthly, much might be spared of what is lavishly spent in keeping of Coaches. As Oh! the fearfull Pride, Atheisme, contempt of Gods Word, and want of compassion to Christs poor members; that is manifested in, and the sad account that men have to give even for this abhominable excess. I dare say, many within these few years, have and do keepe Coaches, who can remember the time, that they or their Fathers would have been glad to be kept in an Almes-house. And who spend more in one yeare upon this Lordly vanity, then they do in twenty yeares upon these works of mercy.
I know it is lawfull enough for many to keep them: but if they can afford to spend forty pounds a yeare in keeping of a Coach, meerly for pompe and pleasure, and cannot afford halfe so much to keep thousands from starving in these hard times, wherein not one in two all the land over, can get sufficient meate for their bellies, or cloaths to their backs, or fire in their ho…ses if they have any; certainly they can never look to be set at Christs right hand, and to heare that joyfull sentence, C…me ye blessed, Matth. 2….