wander after many things most of which are not needful nor natural 451. Consider that the often Tilling and Dunging of Land especially with Soil that proceeds from variety of Creatures both Dead and Living do as it were suffocate or wound the pure falniteral Virtues and sweet Qualities of such Earth and in all particulars endues the Fruits with those Ranciâ— Properties which the Dung did in it self contain and convey thereunto 452. The like holds Good in the Human Earth or Nature and indeed in a far higher Degree for all Foods do as it were consist of Body and Soul that is of a gross and of a spirituous Property the First answers to our Bodies and the finer or spiritous Parts to our Spirits and each from each receives its Aliment respectively for from clean Meats and Drinks is generated well tempred Blood and of the goodness of that the Spirits depends in a great measure the Dispositions Inclinations Words Works and Actions for their Essences do not depart 453. Great are the Powers of Meats and Drinks which if understood together with the secret Sympathetical Operation of Things Men would more desire and endeavour after mean simple Food and Drinks than they do 454. Temperance is a Divine Gift and the Foundation of all Wisdom and right Knowing is within a Mans Self 455. Sobriety and Self-Denial do always fortifie the observers thereof against many Evils and prepares the Mind to be the Temple of God 456. All the Prophets and Holy Seers as Moses and Elias who through Temperance and the great benefit of clean Foods Moses could guide his Body as if he had been a Spirit and made his Face to shine 457. Those that would preserve the Body and Mind in Health ought by simple Innocent Meats and Drinks preserve their Spirits potent which cannot be done but by Temperance and Cleanness 458. The Prophet Daniel and his Companions was sensible of the great Power and good Virtue of clean Meats and Drinks when they were threatned with the Kings Displeasure if they would not Eat of the various sorts of Meats that came from the Kings Table but they contented themselves with Fruits and Grains and pure Water for Drink 459. Was not the Sobriety and Cleanness of the Racobites well pleasing to the Lord in that they had Faithfully observed the Commandment of their Fathers as to Moderation that Ionadah should never want a Man to stand before the Lord. 460. Did not the Prophet Iohn content himself with Locust and wild Honey which our Saviour Christ saith That there was not a greater Prophet Born of a Woman 461. And Iames the Brother of our Saviour was eminent for his Sobriety and Abstinence as Eusebius Reports He Eat no Flesh Drank no Wine nor strong Drink and wore no Woollen Garments 462. Was not the Mother of Sampson commanded by the Angel of the Lord to abstain from Wine and strong Drink during the time of her being with Child and so was Sampson her Son who the Lord indued with great Strength which continued with him so long as he observed the Rules of Temperance and Simplicity 463. Temperance Cleanness and Abstinence have wonderful Power to preserve both Soul and Body none can be sensible of the excellent Virtues thereof but such only as live in the practice 464. Some of the Wise Antients have delivered it as a Maxim That none could understand God and his Works and enjoy perfect Health of the Body and Mind but those that abstain from Flesh Wine and Vices 465. Know for a Truth that there is no other way to preserve the most pure friendly principle of God in Man but only by Temperance Cleanness Gentleness and to avoid Passions 466. For the Divine Light and Guide of Mankind cannot nor will not endure any kind of Violence or Oppression without great prejudice it is in its own Nature so tender gentle meek and friendly all Passions Cares Perturbations violent motions of the Body Covetousness Intemperance in Meats or Drinks either in quality or quantity robust Imployments evil Communications or too often visiting the Shades of Venus or any other irregular motion either of the Body or Mind do powerfully oppress violate keep under and hinder the operation of this bonus Genius or good Principle of Gods Love and Light which is the true quallifier and moderator of the harsh dark or evil Nature in all Things as well as in Man 467. The very same is to be understood in all Vegitatives Animals and Minerals the Virtue and good Power in every thing is so meek friendly and aimable that it will not endure any harsh motion or violent Operation without manifest prejudice as is most clear in all preparations both of Food and Physick the best Properties in all Things do suffer first by reason of its Meakness 468. It is very easie in all preparations of Food and Physick to evaporate suffocate or wound the good Virtues in a thing and increase harshness but very haâ—d and difficult to advance the Divine Principle or Properties and on the other side abate or moderate the dark harsh Properties 469. For the harsh Bitterness or dark Form are the Root viz. the first and last in all Things therefore the strong fixed power of the Salts property cannot be destroyed in any thing being a branch of the Original as witness Lott's Wife being precipitated into a Pillar of Salt that is into the original dark Principle for she looked back that is into the Root 470 But the Sons property or Holy Light which is generated out and from all the Powers of the Father do shine back into all the Powers of the Father and enlighten them that they become joyful which is the Holy Glance or Light or Divine Principle and good Power in all Things which Mankind ought to have regard unto and to chuse unto himself all those things that stands in the nearest Affinity with it 471. This principle as is said before is mild meek and most full of all Virtue and Divine Power therefore all things both in the Animal Vegitable and Mineral Kingdom that stand in their quallifying and operation nearest equallity and are most simple meek and friendly all such Things are the nearest and most agreeing to this Divine thing in Man 472. For this very Cause the Holy Prophets and Philosophers in all Ages have so much recommended the most innocent simple Meats Drinks Exercises Imployments and Communications for all such things stands nearest unto the simple meek Principle of Gods Love in Mans Heart and they do powerfully stir up and increase their likeness both in the Body Soul and Spirit and have far greater power to excite the good than the unseeing can apprehend the like is to be understood of their contraries Good begets Goodness and Vertue and the Evil begets Evilness and Vice 473. Consider the great care and trouble Men do take in the getting of Money even to the hazard of Body and Soul which when obtained do very frequently
Strangers but Love and do good even to thy Enemies for otherwise thou doest but usurp not deserve the Name of a Christian 11. Lye not for Gain nor never let Interest so byass thy Understanding and Mind as Justice cannot stand upright 12. Give the Lord Praises for all things because he is the Fountain of all things 13. Boast not of thy own Acts though thou dost exceed in Arts or Sciences but consider whatever thou canst do more then thy Neighbour is the Gift of the Lord and not thine be not therefore proud of that which is none of thy own 14. Know that Satisfaction is the greatest Riches and Content the only thing that makes Men Happy 15. A little supports Natures Wants but the whole World cannot satisfie a Wantons Desires 16. Think not therefore those only Happy that have great Possessions for as little supplies the real Necessities of a King as of a Begger 17. Riches and Honour will not satisfie the Mind and Soul of Man because there is no simile between them every thing must have its own Food or else that groans and dies that which is Incorporeal must have Incorporeal Food 18. For as the wants of Nature cannot be enlarged equal to Mens Riches so neither can their Pleasures be augmented without doing Nature an injury 19. Riches are commonly snares therefore rather to be shunned then greedly sought after except it be to do good and to support â—he poor and needy 20. What advantage is it for a Man to be worth 10000 l. per Annum except he could Eat and Drink proportionably and lengthen â—ut all sensible Pleasures accordingly and if he could it would but make him the more a Beast and render him uncapable of enjoying the true Pleasures in this World and Eternity 21. Therefore always entertain in thy Microcosmical Castle those three grand Friends of Mankind Humility Patience and Temperance 22. Whenever you Eat or Drink Do it saith Wisdom in Remembrance of me that is fear my Name and submit to the guidance of my Spirit who will teach the Sons of Wisdom all things necessary 23. Desire not variety of Meats nor Drinks for fear the Soul be overwhelmed in the dark Clouds of Wrath and Sorrow 24. Eat not to dullness for that is a token of Gluttony and a forerunner of Diseases 25. Delight not in Meats and Drinks that are too strong for Nature but always let Nature be stronger then your Food 26. Prolong not the Pleasures of the Palat by improper mixtures or wanton Sauces beyond the necessities of the Stomach for whatsoever is superfluously received is a burden to Nature and the Seed-Plot of Diseases 27. Eat not before your former Food be concocted if you would avoid Crudities and varieties of Distempers 28. Moderate Fasting is a most excellent Physician both for the Body and Mind 29. Do not Eat or Drink any thing that is hotter then your Blood except in a Physical way for fear lest you infect the Fountain of Life with a Scorbutick Humour 30. Apply your selves to Wisdom that you may find out the right proportion of Meats and Drinks and observe weight and measure in both 31. Observe proper times of Eating viz. 8 or 9 in the morning and 3 or 4 afternoon 32. Let your Food be simple and Drinks innocent and learn of Wisdom and Experience how to prepare them aright 33. Delight not your selves with ill Customs rather suspect all that you see commonly practised for the multitude is the Master of Errors and the Tutor of Fools 34. Moderate Hunger cleanseth all the Vessels of the Stomach makes the Spirits brisk and puts new thoughts into the Soul rendring a Man fit to give the Lord Thanks for all his Blessings 35. Remember that in all your preparations of Food that you preserve the most subtle Essential parts for after the gross Body is opened and digested the purer Spiritual Vertues are on the Wing and apt to evaporate and will suffer violence if Care be not taken 36. Note that all Meats and Drinks do awaken nourish and beget their similes in the Body and their Essences never depart but are Incorporated and become Essential 37. For the Blood Spirit Sences Dispositions Inclinations and whole Complexion of the Body and Faculties of the Soul becomes better or worse according to the Nature Simplicity or the Contrary of Meats and Drinks which is most clear and manifest in the Milk of Cows Butter Cheese Flesh and Herbs the Goodness and the Contrary is according to the Food and all Herbage as the Land is better or worse and Compost laid thereon 38. Observe to take Food proper for every Season for Winter requires stronger harder and more drier Food than the Summer as also more Succulent the Spring Foods of a middle Nature in the Summer let your Foods be light of digestion as various sorts of Milk Meats Gruels Herbs Bread and Butter Bread and Oyl Bread and Raisons and the like and have a care of your Health in August September and November especially as to quantity and quality for then is most danger of Sickness and Surfeits 39. Refrain at all times such Foods as cannot be procured without violence and oppression 40. For know that all the inferior Creatures when hurt do cry and send forth their Complaints to their Maker or grand Fountain whence they proceeded 41. Be not insensible that every Creature doth bear the Image of the great Creator according to the Nature of each and that he is the Vital Power in all things 42. Therefore let none take pleasure to offer violence to that Life lest he awaken the fierce wrath and bring danger to his own Soul 43. But let Mercy and Compassion dwell plentifully in your Hearts that you may be comprehended in the friendly Principle of Gods Love and Holy Light 44. Be a friend to every thing that 's Good and then every thing will be a friend to thee and co-operate for thy good and welfare 45. Refrain all manner of Robustick Sports and Plays for fear of being precipitated into wrath and violence 46. Give no place to Idleness but use Lawful and Innocent Exercises 47. Forbear Riding except it be on necessity but use Walking and going on Foot for such Exercises do propagate Health Strength and Agility of Body and Mind 48. Refrain Hunting Hawking Shooting and all violent oppressive Exercises and instead thereof spend your spare time in Gardening Planting and Cultivating the Earth which will afford both an innocent Pleasure and Profit to Body and Mind 49. Lend not an Ear to Tale-bearers nor please your selves with the Company of Backbiters for they are great Evils and hard to be Cured 50. By Abstinency a Man can extinguish Exorbitant Desires as a raging Fire is abated by withdrawing of Fuel 51. Therefore when your Inclinations leads you to any Evil or that which is contrary to Reason and Temperance put a period forthwith thereunto by a firm Resolution and Promise not to communicate with such things
of Butter and less of Cheese 503. Bread Water and Flower without any farther preparation Bread and Milk Herbs and Bread Fruit and Bread are the most useful and necessary Foods which are ready at hand and may be obtained by every one with little labour of Body or trouble of Mind 504. All Men ought to consider that the chief cause of all Diseases and Unhealthiness to young and old is for want of Government and Wisdom and the desiring those things that are out of the ways of simple Nature 505. There are not many Diseases where Men walk in Natures Path and avoid Compositions and as much as in them lies fiery Preparations 506. The more Men imitates Nature the nearer they come to their first State of Innocency and thereby obtain Health of Body and vigor of Mind 507. An Example of this we have in all Animals or Beasts who continue in that pure Law they were made in and placed under how Healthy most of them are when Men do not render them otherwise by Oppression and Disorders 508. Keep therefore O Man unto thy Heavenly Guide that the Lord hath placed in the very Center of thy Heart turn thy Eyes inward and learn Wisdom this Divine Spark and holy Son of Light if obeyed in the Life thereof will readily shew and teach Man all things both for Divine and Human that are necessary for this Life and that which is to come 309. Study thy self for that worthy thing in thee cannot be known nor its Voice distinguished from other Voices but only by Self-denial Sobriety and Cleanness in the practise of Silence alone leaning on the Shoulders of none but only thy beloved Jesus 510. Remember that the true pleasure of Temperance and the many benefits that follow Sobriety cannot be imagined by those that lives Riotous Lives so neither can the sweet Influences thereof be enjoyed without self-denial and some trouble to old Adam 511. If thou wilt know God and the sweet Influences of his good Spirit in thy own Soul then thou must live as it were alone for there is but little Company in the ways of Virtue and Self-denial 512. There is nothing does make Men more sensible of Gods Blessings then Temperance and Cleanness in Meats Drinks Imployments and Communications 513. How ready are the sober of Mind to give the Lord Thanks for his Mercies and how sweet is every mean thing 514. Temperance is endued with Divine Power it fits the Mind for the Worship of God their Beds are easie their sleep sound not subject to Indispositions nor molested with Fevers their Heads are not dulled with Fumes nor their Stomachs oppressed with fainting Fits or windy griping Humours they rise as fresh as the morning Sun and are fit for the Exercises both of the Body and Mind their Radical moisture flowes freely through every part like a pleasant Gale of Wind which moderates the Centeral Fires that they burn not too violently This excellent State of Body and Mind is not attainable without the fear of the Lord and self denial which are the first steps to all true Wisdom both Spiritual and Natural The Benefits of Temperance and Mischiefs of the contrary Vice 1. TEmperance is the True way or Royal Road to Peace and Happiness both in this World and the World to come for without no Man can observe the Law of God and Nature 2. Temperance freeth the Body from Labour and Danger and the Soul from Cares Passions and disquieting perturbations 3. Temperance makes all Men rich for it administers Content and gives length of Days Health and a sound Mind which whosoever enjoys cannot be said to be poor 4. Temperance cuts off vain Thoughts and Imaginations and all extravagant Desires as it were in the very Bud which continually wounds the Soul and Body of the Intemperate 5. Temperance wisheth no ill to its Neighbor but is a friend to every thing that is innocent and good 6. Temperance is a perfect Cure or prevention of many cruel Diseases both of the Body and Mind 7. Temperance is a sure support to all needy Families if she be entertained and her voice obeyed 8. Temperance makes Harmony in the worst of Times and deadest of Trading because she furnishes all her followers with what Need and Nature requireth nor does any thing render a Man more like his Creator 9. Temperance is a true Guide to Mans ways cleanseth the inward Parts from uncleanness and makes the Eye or Spirit of the Soul to see with an Intellectual Sight like its Creator who maketh his Sun to shine both on the Just and Unjust 10. Temperance is a glance of the Divine Power which denies Selfhood and teach those that follow her voice to Love all Gods Creation as God Loved Man 11. Temperance envieth nothing nor coveteth no Mans Goods but is a fâ—iend unto all avoiding Strife Contention Controversies Oppressions Violences and Manslaughter 12. Temperance is the firmest and best Establishment of or in all Governments for she teacheth Man to Love and adore their Creator Know themselves and to have an awful Respect to their Neighbors and whole Creation of God's wonderful Creatures 13. Temperance considereth all things prohibiting no Creature that Freedom and Priviledges that their Creator hath bounteously given them by thâ— grand Law and Charter of Nature 14. Temperance knows what that Glorious Liberty is the Great Apostle speaks of that the whole Creation groans to be delivered into and by its sweet influences attracts all things that are capable unto that pure Fountain 15. Temperance illuminates the Soul and makes Mens Reasons Divine 16. On the contrary Intemperance is the greatest Evil on Earth because the Seed-plot of all other Evils and most unlike our Blessed Creator for the superfluous Man wants all things but God wants nothing 17. Intemperance wounds the Body with Diseases and the Soul with Ignorance and Blindness perpetually perplexing the latter with greedy Desires and the former with needless Toils 18. Intemperance hood-winks the Soul so that it cannot distinguish between what is good and profitable and the contrary thereby obstructing and violating the Way and Law of God in Nature 19. Intemperance is the Original of all evil and vain Imaginations it makes Men turn Rebels and imbroils the World with Plots and Wars that they may gratifie their own unbridled Lusts. 20. Intemperance causeth Children in the secrets of their Hearts to wish for the death of their Parents that they may enjoy their Estates Married People to desire the death of their Yoak-fellows that they may get others with more Money or that are more young and handsom to please their wantonness 21. Intemperance persuades Men to Marry old diseased and deformed Women which does neither agree with their Age and Tempers nor can answer the end for which Marrying was ordained by God which is one of the greatest Evils under the Sun because they Sin against Nature and the Light of their Understandings 22. Intemperance makes Men more unnatural than
Wisdom's Dictates OR APHORISMS RULES Physical Moral and Divine For Preserving the Health of the Body and the Peace of the Mind fit to be regarded and practised by all that would enjoy the Blessings of the present and future World To which is added A BILL of FARE OF Seventy five Noble Dishes of Excellent Food far exceeding those made of Fish or Flesh which Banquet I present to the Sons of Wisdom or such as shall decline that depraved Custom of Eating Flesh and Blood By THO. TRYON Student in Physick and Author of Pythagoraâ—'s Mystick Philosophy Revived wherein the Mysteries of Dreams Visions Angels and Spirits are unfolded and their secret Communications to Mankind LONDON Printed for Tho. Salusbury at the Sign of the Temple near Temple-Bar in Fleetstreet 1691. THE AUTHOR TO THE READER WISHETH Health and a Sound Mind AS I have on several Occasions endeavoured to Recommend those most necessary Vertues Temperance and Sobriety to the practice of Men and to inform them according to that Talent I have received from the meer Grace and free Bounty of the Lord of the things that appertain to their peace so though many of these Aphorisms or the Substance of several of them may be found occasionally dispersed in several of our Writings yet â— thought it might not be unuseful to some to present them altogether and hope by the Blessing of the most High these plain short Meâ—entoes may yield some Fruit to those that shall â—â—ruse them if they come prepared with Minds to receive Truth in the Love thereof and practice what their own Consciences cannot but inform them is their Duty For this is the method our Saviour prescribeth his Disciples to come to the right knowledge of Divinâ— Truths viz. by the doing of Gods Will He that does my Fathers Will saith he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or no he is a true Christian indeed not he that is only Book taught but he that is God taught he that hath an Vnction from the Holy One as the Apostle calleth it that teacheth him all things I confess Ink and Paper can never make us Christians can never beget a new Nature or a living Principle in us can never form Christ or any true Notions of Spiritual things in our Hearts the Gospel that new Law which Christ delivered to the World it is not meerly a Letter without us but a quickening Spirit within us Rules Maxims or Directions could never yet of themselves beget the least Glimps of true Heavenly Light the least Sap of saving Knowledge in any Heart all this is but the Grabling of the poor dark Spirit of Man after Truth to find it out with his own endeavours and to feel it with his own cold and benumm'd Hands Words and Syllaâ—bles which are but dead things and â—annot possibly convey the living Notions of Heavenâ—â— Truths to us The secret misteries of a Divine Life of a meer Nature cannot be truly understood except the Soul be kindled from within and awakened into the Life of them A Painter that would draw a Rose though he may flourish some likeness of it in Figure and Colour yet can never paint the Scent and Fragrancy or if he could draw a Flame he cannot put a constant heat into his colours All the Skill of Cunning Artisans and Mechanicks cannot put a Principle of Life into the most Exquisite Statue of their making Men and Books may propound some Directions to us that may set us in such a way of Life and Practice as in which we shall at least find it within our selves and be experimentally acquainted with it but they cannot teach us Virtue like a Mechanick Art or Trade no no there is a Spirit in Man and the Inspiration of the Almigthy giveth this Vnderstanding but we shall not meet with this Spirit any where though it be near to every one but in the way of Obedience therefore whatever Rules or Advices thou meetest with here of the truth of which thou art convinced immediately up and be doing put in practice and continue therein with Constancy and Resolution and then thou shalt be able to taste and feel and witness the Excellency thereof not from any Words but from the Evidence of their own Souls and so become capable and disposed to entertain the rest and other more sublime Virtues Despise not the Rules for promoting Health and Temperance the ways of God and Nature are plain and simple but mighty in operation and effects the Body is as an Instrument to the Soul and being out of tune no harmony can be expected in the Microcosm The Curious may expect these Axioms should be more methodically placed but as I wrote them down as they sprang up in my Mind so I have observed Pofies That a careless mixture makes the whole more pleasant to the Eye and Radolent then if every sort of Flowers and fragrant Herbs were put together by themselves Read and practice turn thy Eyes inwards and wait at Wisdom's Gates separate thy self from the Ways of the Multitude and the Lord from whom alone proceeds every good and perfect Gift give thee understanding in all things Farewel Wisdom's Dictates OR APHORISMS Physical Moral and Divine c. 1. THe first step to Wisdom is to know thy self the Consummation of it to know God thy Creator 2. Nature is the Art of God or that Distinct property wherewith he hath endued every thing in the Universe 3. There is not a greater Note of Folly then to be Ignorant of the true Value and Knowledge of the Things that are 4. Therefore follow not the Opinions of the Vulgar for they generally slight and despise things precious and excellent and admire things vile and pernitious 5. Take not the Name of thy Creator in thy Mouth except thou hast some inward sence of His wonderful Power Virtue Strength Beauty and Majesty and that He is thee all the sustainer and preserver of thy self and all Beings 6. Honour not the Sepulchres of the Saints and Wise Ancients and at the same time Stone the present Prophets that appear in the same Spirit of Wisdom 7. Imprison thy Tongue lest it imprison thee Nature knows it was an unruly Member and therefore barrocadoed it in with Teeth and for one Mouth gave us two Eyes two Ears two Hands to teach us that our Business should be to see and hear and do good Actions rather then only to talk of Wisdom and Goodness and the Heart to remain in the harsh Fire and under the operation of the divided forms of Nature 8. 'T is not Words but Things not Names but Reason not Resemblances but Realities not Sublimeties but Simplicities that the Sons of Truth doth seek after 9. Seek not the splendid Drudgeries or High Places and Offices of this World for they often draw the Soul into Perdition and the Body into Distempers 10. Entertain Charity and seek Peace with all Men and be helpful to thy Friends and kind to
its Followers the ways of Wisdom and Virtue 176. The third Principle or Property is the Spirit of this World whence do arise and proceed all mixed thoughts words and works which are both good and evil but when this Spirit is joined to the first Original Principle or harsh Fire then all is poysoned and such are subject to all vain idle Jesting Jearing Scoffing mixed with all kinds of Wantonness and wicked Discourses as also such as are between Jest and Earnest and all Plays and Games and whatsoever do tend to Vanity and Lenity but more especially as is said before when such shall be joined to the Principle of Wrath then such become of evil cunning Natures and subtle Inclinations having two Faces viz. Good with the Good and Evil with the Evil and are of very pernitious Dispositions whosoever is found in this fault as many 1000 are it goes very hard with them and their Souls are beset with a great company of Enemies both within and without 177. So that every Man doth speak from a threefold Spirit or Property and which soever hath gained the Dominion that forms his Words but the Will is the Primum Mobile and governs the Principle and therefore in which soever it immerseth it self that Property obtains the highest degree in the Thoughts Words and Works for this cause Men can at one and the same time Smile and Frown be angry with one and friends with another and be offended at one thing and not at another but some Men do suffer their Desires and Wills to enter so deeply into the first principle of fire in their Passions that they are angry with all the World and all things they have to do with all their Fires are so poisonous and fierce 178. The ground and true cause of this every one ought to Learn and be sensible of and to call all his Desires into the Second Principle for as a Mans chiefest Enemies are those of his own House and his greatest Friends dwels also in himself 179. Therefore learn thy self the operations of thy own Nature and follow the middle way and good Genius for that will never lead thee to Evil but to all Good and make thee a friend to God thy Self and thy Neighbours 180. The proper way to obtain this great Good and high Calling is Separation and Self-denial to follow the voice of Wisdom and not regard the Multitude nor their Customs 181. For every degree of Separation and Self-denial does teach Men some Virtue and true Knowledge and prompt the Intellect to some new or excellent Notion in Gods own way 182. The continual pressing on in Self-denial and Temperance does not only strengthen the Soul but it attracteth the Angels and the sweet Influences of Orion and the Pleiades and all the Heavenly Host. 183. For as Christ saith the Angels of God do mightily rejoyce at the Repentance and Return of a Sinner 184. Fear not therefore but separate thy self from all Beastiality and Sensual Apetites both in Meats Drinks Words and Works 185. Hearken unto Wisdom in this Matter for she will lead thee into the secret Chambers where there is no noise of the Crowd nor of the Oppressions of Egypt 186. Sometimes if thy genius lead thee deny thy self of all things that proceed from the Animal Life as Wisdom shall direct thee viz. from Flesh Fish Butter Cheese Milk Eggs and the like and live on Bread only and simple and harmless Gruels and let no Considerations of what others will think hinder thy perseverance therein 187. But when Wisdom gives thee leave then return to thy ordinary Food as Bread and Butter Cheese Milk Eggs and the like 188. Such separation from the Animal Beastial and Savage Nature and all Foods that proceed from thence and to be contented with innocent Vegitations do increase both Humility and Humanity and make the Body clean chaste and healthy 189. Talk no longer of self-denial and separation but enter into it in good earnest for the Lord has perpetual regard to the Souls that are warm in their Affections and real 190. Awake awake all you that sleep in Uncleanness Gluttony and Intemperance or else do not dare to call your selves any longer Christians 191. For the true Life of a Christian consists in Love Mercy Purity and Separation from Evil and mortification of Lusts and Self-denial 192. And whosoever doth with Faith Earnestness and Prayer to the Lord for his assistance and continue in the paths of Vertue and separation from Evil shall be happy in this World and Crowned with Eternal Bliss Amen 193. The reason why most Men fear to dye is because they have not obeyed God and lived in simple Natures Path. 194. Whereas he that lives in the simple Law of God and Nature is not only freed from common fears but Death it self is nâ—t terrible unto him 195. Sin against God and his Law in Nature cannot be past by except Men repent and acknowledge and forsake them 196. Sin against Men are blotted out no other way but by Repentance Retalliation and Acknowledgement for that is the great Law of God in Nature 197. Be at Peace with all Men and Creatures and all things shall have Unity and Peace with thee 198. Be free and speak the Words of Soundness that thy Companions may not go away untaught 199. Get proper Furnitures against the day of Death that thou mayest be defeâ—â—ed against the Evil Genus 200. Forget not that the good 〈◊〉 of the Lord are Ministring Spirits read◠〈◊〉 assist all that fear him and deny them 〈◊〉 oâ— the Worldly Vanities 201. They accompany them by day and visit them by night and manifest the mysteries both of God and Nature 202. But Evil Angels are always ready and prompts Men to Evil and powerfully draws thereunto by simily for every like begets its likeness both in the Good and Evil. 203. Be serious and consider the nature of thy Dreams and Visions of the Night and from what Property they take their Birth so mayest thou Judge what Genus attends thee and also what Property has the upper dominion in thy Soul 204. There is an hidden mystery in all things and nothing comes by chance as some vainly imagine since therefore there is a Cause for every thing eye the Mystery 205. Consider thine own high Graduation how that thou art the Image of God 206. Therefore believe that Wisdom can and is able to teach thee all things convenient and suitable to thy Degree 207. Be vigilent in the Study of thy self and the mysteries of thine own Nature and thou shalt as certainly obtain Wisdom as a young Man shall a common Trade if he do incline and take pains therein 208. For all things are brought to maturity through desire and seeking the Will being able when strong to make something where nothing is 209. Consider the great Mystery of thy Soul that Eternal Fire the Original of Thoughts and the innumerable company of Imaginations which can penetrate all
Art thou a Man of an Estate remember that thou art but Gods Stewart therefore do good to the Needy and let thy Farms such a Pennyworth that thy Tenants may comfortably live and pay thy Rent with chearfulness of Heart so will their Souls bless thee and thou shalt be rich both in Time and Eternity 249. Art thou a Husbandman or Farmer then shew mercy and compassion to all thy Servants and also to thy Beasts by whose Labour thou art sustained and thy Fields shall be fruitful for Mercy powerfully attracts the Divine Bounty and sweet Influences of God and his Handmaid Nature 250. Art thou an Heir or dost thou Inherit an Estate gotten by thy Forefathers by Wars and Manslaughter or any other kind of Injustice Fraud or Violence remember Gehuzie's Leprosie sticks thereunto and the Curse is near thee wherefore do not rest nor call it thy Right before thou hast made Retalliation or Restitution either to those from whom it was taken or if they were not known then by giving most part of it to the Poor seeing it is the effects of Violence and the utter ruine of many Hundreds of poor distressed People that never offended thee nor thy Forefathers fail not to make satisfaction 251. Maids and Women that are subject to Fumes Vapours and Headach will do well to forbear most sorts of fat Succulent Foods or of hard Concoction and particularly all baked Foods as Pudding Pye Crust and likewise strong hard stale or bitter Drinks 252. Sudden Frights Surprizes Excess of Joy Fear Love Hate Sorrow are very injurious to them 253. If your Stomachs be obstructed or furred eat Bread and Water-gruel sometimes with Herbs without Butter Sugar or Fruit or skimm'd Milk and Bread which will carry the offending Matter downwards and disburden Nature 254. Nothing hurts Nature more then too great a quantity of Food for it powerfully â—â—â—ds fumes up into the Head and generates 〈◊〉 in all the Body so do all Foods preperâ—d by Fire if eaten hot 255. Accustom your self to eat cold Foods espâ—câ—â—lly in moderate Seasons 256. All sorts of Wines are pernicious to the Female Sex except allayed with Water and yet more mischievous are all Brandies or other Spirituous Liquors made by Distillation 257. For all Women should remember that their Natural Heats are much weaker then Mens and therefore they ought to use double the Care and Temperance in the Conduct of their Lives as to Meats and Drinks Passions and Exercises and the like 258. The same Rules Mothers and Nurses ought to observe in their Diet for Children if they would have them healthy 259. Observe that all Foods contain three forms properties or qualities viz. a strong harsh poysonous Fire either cold or hot which in all things is the Root of Life and Motion 2dly A most pure friendly property which is sweet Oyly and Balsamick a Moderater or an allayer of all harshness and astringency 3dly A phlegmy gross Body which do cover hide or contain in its Bowels the other two the Holy Trinity is manifested in all the three Kingdoms of the Human Nature which is a most wonderful Mystery 260. But in some things or Foods the Fathers property in the Fire is most potent and then such are of a harsh bitter hot or poysonous Spirit and phlegmatick Body and of strong gross taste and smell subject to Corruption and therefore such Foods ought in a special manner to be avoided and of that fort are most Flesh and Fish as having lost all its pure Vertues and Spirits by Deaths baneful Stroke 261. For since every sort of Food begets its likeness and awakens respectively their own properties in the Body Spirits and Soul their essences never departs but incorporates themselves with the Lifes Spirits therefore all innocent simple Foods as Herbs Seeds Grains and Fruits do best suit and agree with harmless innocent People 262. All inclinations to Meats and Drinks do arise from that property that is most strongly awakened or has got the chief dominion in the Lifes Spirit 263. Thus all Beasts desires a Food proportionable to their Natures as Dogs Bears Lyons one sort and Cowes and Horses another 264. The same is to be understood in Men every thing does naturally and powerfully though as it were in an insensible way attract unto it self such Food or Matter as is capable to nourish its own Body therefore it is said by the Illuminated Moses that Adam and Eve were betrayed by eating and undoubtedly if Adam had continued in Innocency then innocent Food would have satisfied him 265. Can any thing be more unjust or unreasonable not to do as thou desirest to be done unto thou desirest the Lord to forgive thee then do thou the like to thy Neighbour 266. Thou desirest to enjoy thy peace and freedom in the worship of God then deny not thy Neighbour the like Priviledges 267. Consider that thou hast but a little while to live in this World and that there must be an account given of all things 268. Think what it is to lie on thy Death-Bed when all the pleasure of Life withdraw themselves and bid thee Eternally adieu 269. Then thou wilt be left alone though thou wert Lord over millions nor can any force of Armed Men defend thee from that Mortal Stroke 270. When all thy Acquaintance shall fly from thee as if they were frighted and then thou must pass into the Melancholy Shades and enter upon unchangeable Eternity where none of thy great Men or Lovers can help thee 271. Fear thy Creator therefore and do good in this time of thy Pilgrimage that thou mayest have Treasures in the World to come for none can help thee but only the great Iehovah 272. Wait at the Altar of the Lord and pray that he would open the Gates of Wisdom unto thee 273. For Wisdom and Understanding is in the secret Chamber and not amongst the Multitude 274. Remember that God is to be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth therefore let not forms or outward modes of Worship make divisions between thee and thy Neighbour provided he be a good Man that is one that fears God and loves his Neighbour and doth good for evil 275. Be not offended because another Man is not like thee for God is not offended at such unlikeness but our making our selves unlike him by Sin who hath made no two things altogether alike in the World and we are all the works of his Hands 276. And most true it is that the Lord hath made all Men to differ and vary as much in their Minds Inclinations Dispositions and Understandings as in their outward face of Body or Compleâ—iâ—n 277. Give 〈◊〉 allowance to all People that are 〈…〉 and educated amongst Turks 〈◊〉 or other Religions that are strange to 〈◊〉 considering that if thou hadst been educated there thou wouldst have been as they and 〈◊〉 otherwise 278. Therefore without despising or hateing them bless God that he hath more mercifully disposed of thee under greater
Light and Means of Knowledge 279. God loveth and preserveth all his Creatures do tâ—ou imitate him 280. God is no respecter of Persons endeavour to be like him 281. Be sober and patient and then be assured that all things shall work together for thy good 282. Endeavour to keep thy Instrument in Tune that thy hidden Lute may Harmonize both in the Day and in the Night 283. Temperance generates good Blood and fine Spirits whence proceeds calm and equal Inclinations and Dispositions with good Words and Works 284. It is the very foundation of all Virtue and the parent of Humanity and Charity it attracts the good out of all Things and potently resists the Evil. 285. It is the Mother of Pity Compassion and Mercy gives the opportunity of time and mature Consideration opposing all Passions and irregular Inclinations 286. It is the only Friend of Charity and Enemy of Wantonness the Nurse of Plenty and the very radix of a sound and healthy Generation 287. It eases the Body from hard and sore Labours the Mind from carking Cares and Perturbations 288. It makes the Poor Man Rich and enables the Rich to employ their Substance to the Ends for which God intrusted them therewith 289. As it was Intemperance that shut the Gates of Paradice against Man so Temperance and Order are the only Keys that opens them and establisheth him again in Innocence and well-Doing 290. For Temperance brings Man again near unto his first Innocent Estate and fits him to live again in the Garden of Pleasure amongst the innocent Herbs and Fruits and prepares him for the Consummation of Happiness in the Coelestial Paradice 291. Know for a certainty that no Man can understand and see into the Mysteries of the outward Principle or the Nature of Things but only by the inward Eye and Gift of God 292. For can any know the true Nature and Operation of any one Thing but by a continued Practise and Experience thereof 293. For Example Wouldst thou know the true Virtue and particular Operation of Bread then Eat that only for a Month with Drink viz. Ale 294. Wouldst thou take Food in a Physical way to open and cleanse thy Body and its Passages or to prevent or help great Costiveness or hard binding of the Body Bread and Drink only for 3 or 4 Weeks will bravely cleanse and open some Bodies 295. Bread and boiled Herbs of various sorts Eaten only with Salt without Butter will do the same in others for they open and loosen the Belly more powerfully than the former 298. Bread and raw Milk Eaten for a Month or Oyl and Bread will do it in some People 297. Bread and Raisons Eaten for a Week two or three without other Foods will effect it in others 298. Therefore let every one make Trial what agrees best with his particular Constitution and follow the same for some competent time that he may judge not rashly but from Experience 299. There is nothing in the World can do us good but God and therefore give up thy Will unto the guidence of his Holy Spirit 300. Should Hell its self shoot all its Fiery Darts against us if our Wills be Right that is if it be informed by and conformed unto the Divine Will they then can do us no hurt 301. God will not hurt us nor wicked Men nor Devils cannot hurt us if we will nothing but Gods Will. 302. Therefore by imbracing the Holy Principle and hearkning to the Voice of Wisdom walking in the Paths of Innocency with Temperance Sobriety Purity and doing all the Good we can to all and avoiding Evil and Violence to any of the Creation Let us endeavour to have our Wills enlarged to the extent of Gods own Will and give way unto the Influences of his Holy Spirit so shall we escape the Snares of the Evil one and pass with safety through the Evil day enjoying Happiness both here and hereafter 303. No Man can stand in a certain State of Virtue except the Soul thorough Divine Sight and the power of the Will re-enter and continue in the Centre whence it proceeded 304. The Soul is sprung from the Father of all Beings and the true Spirit of the Soul from Gods Word and Holy Will in the second Principle or Sons Property and therefore its real Establishment must be in its first Ground viz. In the second Principle of Light and Love without being Centered there iâ— runs to and through in mere uncertainty and spends its days altogether in Vanity and Vexation 305. The true cause of all Violence and Oppression is also of all Strife and fierce disputing about God and his Will and Worship is because Mens Understandings hath departed from its right Center and the Properties of his Soul are entred into Discord and Inequality viz. from the guidance of Godâ— Word into the Beastial Life where the Wilâ— and all the Imaginations through the Sence do act in Self-Lust and Creaturely Speculation without Divine sight 306. Understand that the human Life and all Things in this visible Universe is an out-flowing of the great Power of God therefore the Soul ought to re-enter and continuâ— in the Divine Principle of Gods Light and Love and not enter with its Will into Beastiallity for if it do it presently looseth the Divine Sight and Power and Self-Knowledge gets the Dominion which do darken the truâ— Pearl of Understanding 307. Self-hood and outward Learning cannot see into nor apprehend the Divine Mysteries neither material nor immaterial Beings the first being but the out-flowing forming or Figure of the last nor can the outward Reason with all its Learning and Philosophy comprehend them until the Soul and Will do re-enter into the Divine out-flowing Will of the Lord which makes all Things manifest 308. Whatsoever imagineth or willeth contrary to the Holy Principle or Word that made all Things such are captivated in the Babilonical Reasoning part and cannot see into the intrinsick value of any Thing 309. The Soul of Man hath its Original from the Lord and is therefore Immortal and Everlasting and for this Cause it cannot rest or 〈◊〉 satisfied without injoying him though it were possest of or vested with the greatest Treasures of this World and the more it 〈◊〉 seeks for Satisfaction in the Things of 〈◊〉 World the further it is off from its true Mother and the necessary State of Regeneration 310. Strife and Contention about Religion and the Divine Mysteries are for the most part unprofitable and proceeds from Self-Perceptibility 311. For there cannot be any Comprehension true Understanding or Knowledge of God nor a Mans own Nature except Man do with earnestness enter in Self-Denial which is the right Path that leads towards the new Birth 312. Reason must forsake its Self and live no longer in Contention but sink down into the Center out of which it is departed that so it may be a Dwelling or Temple for God wherein the Divine Will and friendly Love of God worketh
and governeth all things 313. That happy Man that doth live in and under the Divine Will and is governed by the Light and Love of Jesus Christ hath no strife about nor in Religion because in all things he hath resigned his Will unto Gods Will Countenances and Commends that which is good in all Men let their Form or Worship or Religion be what it will 314. Let no outward Opinion Form or Ceremony separate thee from having Union with thy Neighbour nor Meats nor Drinks nor any thing but Evil. 315. For there is nothing Recommends Man unto his Maker but Obedience to the Requirements of his Holy Spirit or Divine Principle of his Light and Love which leads all its Followers into Innocency and Concord 316. God is Love and he that loveth not his Neighbour whom he daily Communicates with cannot love God as the Scriptures of Truth do testify for Man is Gods Image 317. Remember that whatsoever Offence or Evil thou dost to thy Neighbour is also a Sin against God 318. There is no outward Religion or Form of Worship has power to reinvest Man again in his first Original State but only Faith in the Lord Jesus Love Humility and Obedience unto the Commands of the Lord and a peaceable innocent walking with his Neighbour 319. Therefore when thou considerest the varieties of Religion and Forms that Men do worship God in be sure to embrace that which tends most to the Glory of God and the good of thy Fellow Creatures and which most exalts Innocency and Well-doing for God will not be Invoked with Lip-service only and outward Ceremonies most of which hides the purer Pearl in the Rubbish of Formality and Hypocrisie 320. Above all things entertain and nourish good Thoughts for serious Thoughts and Meditations concerning our holy Creator are fed and increased by Divine Power and Understanding and kindles the Life of Love so that it longeth and continually hungreth after God and the teachings of his Spirit 321. Christ is the true Touchstone to the knowledge of things Divine and the Corner Stone to all Spiritual Buildings consider therefore in all thy ways whether thy Words and Actions do enter out of Love into Love and whether the Peace of God which passeth all Understanding be sought and desired 322. Remember that all Strife about the Divine Will of God whereby Men do despise one another though it may cover it self with a Mantle of Zeal doth yet in truth proceed from Self-hood and Pride for the Wrath of Man worketh not the Righteousness of God 323. Such Disputations and Contentions do generally or for the most part arise from outward Reasonings vain Imaginations and Custom for if Men dwelleth in Innocency and willeth with his Creator what need he dispute about that which he enjoys and possesseth 324. Men ought in friendly sort to confer together and offer one another their Gifts and refined Knowledge in Love to try all things and hold fast that which is good and not to stand so stiff in their own Opinions as if they could not Err. 325. Man ought to consider what a mighty strong Enemy he hath within himself which continually suggesteth strange Thoughts and Apprehensions concerning God and his Will which often occasions Men to insult over one another whence Sects Parties and Factions about Religious Matters do arise 326. He that contends furiously about Religion 't is to be feared has no true Religion at all and that will force others to bow to his poor narrow Thoughts touching such sublime Mysteries gives a great sign that he neither knows God Nature nor himself nor has felt the Operation of the Divine Dove like Spirit of Peace in his Mind 327. 'T is certain all these Reasonings Disputes and Contentions about the differing Modes of Religion and outward Formalities must be left behind us like Elisha's Hair Mantle in the Wilderness of this World and the Will and all the properties of the Soul and Life must turn it self again unto God out of whom it proceeded and forsake all vain Imaginations and Lusts or else he can never come to the Divine and Beautifying Vision 328. Remember also that all such Strife and Alterations about the Testaments of Christ do arise in Mans Heart for want of Love and the Divine sight or skill in the Heavenly Mysteries which cannot be any otherwise obtained but only by turning the Will and Thoughts unto God by Temperance and Self-denial Innocency and Regeneration which is the true Eye-salve that clears the inward sight of the Understanding 329. As the great Eye of the Material World or Sun doth with its glorious friendly Beams and sweet Influences penetrate all outward Things and Bodies and fills them with its good Vertues whereby they are generated grow and increase and become useful and most pleasant The like but in a more sublime and mysterious manner is to be understood of the holy Spirit and Light of Jesus Christ viz. he animateth cherishes and governs all that doth resign their Wills unto his Sovereign Government over both Soul and Body and all Evil Inclinations and by its friendly and gracious Influences makes them grow and become pleasant Fruit in the Paradise of God and a right Branch on the good Vine in which Heavenly State God and Man are united and God dwells in this Spiritualized Man as the Sun dwelleth by its Influences in Fruits and Plants and maketh them fragrant and ripe for glory 330. For as the Material Heavens and Caelestial Bodies do by their Influences penetrate this gross lower World and all things therein giving them vertue and power so Christ penetrates the Converted Soul by his inward ruling power and resisteth the vain Lusts Wrath Violence and all other Evils that the Earthly Man is subject to 331. A Christian in all his ways must have three Guides Truth Charity and Wisdom Truth to go before him Charity and Wisdom on either side if any of the three be absent he wanders out of the way or stumbles You shall see some do hurt by following even Truths uncharitably and others whilst they would salve up a dangerous Error with Love have failed in their Wisdom and offended against Justice A Charitable Untruth and an Uncharitable Truth and an unwise management of Truth or Love are all to be avoided by him that would go with a right foot in the narrow way 332. Of making many Books there is no end saith the Wise Man but above all others Books of Quarrels and Controversies are apt to have no end for number as well as no good end or scope and effect upon either the Writers or the Readers 333. In all Disputes look how much there is of Passion so much there of is nothing to the purpose the eager Contenders raiseth such dust as puts out his own Eyes whilst he think to choke the Party he opposeth 334. Such violent Contemners works as for the most part they begin their Clamors without cause so they manage them without either Reason
or Charity every Mote in their Antagonist is a Beam every misinterpretable though innocent Expression Heresie or Blasphemy against Holy Scripture or a Doctrine of Devils 335. On the contrary every Argument or Text they themselves use though never so miserably wrested is invincible like the Sword of Goliah there is none like it Thus they please themselves and seek not Truth but the Triumph of a supposed Victory 336. The great art and too common practise of these Book-worms these Gnawers of other Mens harmless Papers is to pass over and neglect what they cannot but acknowledge is good and fit to be put in practice in a Mans Writings and to hunt and lie at catch for someting that may admit of a quarrel or be rendred odious to the People as being contrary to their common Customs and Apprehensions Thus like some sort of troublesom Flies they delight on Sores and Ulcers and if they cannot find faults will make them 337. He that Disputes about Things he doth not understand nor has any Experience of 't is no wonder if he often mistakes and fathers false Notions on him he writes against if he Combat his own Dreams instead of his Adversaries Centiments and brings unconcluding Arguments to prove insignificant Premises 338. Wise Men will consider their own and other Mens time then to waste it in tedious Replies to such Clamorous Invectives and can be silent though Lovers of Strife will not let them be quiet 339. Therefore delight not your self with the Writings or Reading of Contentious Books for God and the Divine Principle of Love is not in the Thunder or the Whirlwind but in the soft and still Voice besides every Book do bear the Image and Spirit of him that wrote it and therefore such Books of Controversies and all Romance Lewd Writings do according to their respective Natures excite the Readers to Animosity and Vanity 340. He that takes his Liberty in what he may shall Repent him how much more when he runs out into what he should not You shall never know a since Christian Repenting of having taken too little Worldly Delights the first Course in all Earthly Enjoyments and Pleasures is to rest with an appetite and be satisfied with a little 341. Nothing is more absurd then that Epicurean Resolution Let us Eat and Drink for to morrow we shall dye as if we were made only for the Paunch yet certainly there was never any Natural Man found savor in that Meat which he knows should be his last we should rather say Let us fast and pray to morrow we shall dye for to what purpose is the Body strengthened that it may perish whose greater strength makes our Death the more painful and violent no Man bestows a costly Roof on a ruinous Tenement that Mans end is both easie and happy whom Death finds with a weak Body and a strong Soul 342. Affection in superfluity is in all things a sign of Weakness as in Words he that useth Circumlocutions to express himself shews want of Memory and proper-Speech and much talk argues a Brain feeble and distempered What good can any Earthly thing yield us besides its use And what is it but vanity to affect that which does us no good And what use is in that which is superfluous it is a great skill to know how little is enough and great Wisdom to care for no more then self-denial with the limits thereof 343. Christianity is an easie Yoke and a hard one easie to bear when once taken up in good earnest and once accustomed to it but the Heart requires much labour e're it can be induced to stoop under it yet finds as much Contentment when it hath stooped Men are apt to think Religion severity but the sincere Christian knows whose Slave he was till he entred into this Service and that no Bondage can be so miserable as the casting off these sacred Bands 344. Long Acquaintance as it maketh those things that are irksom to seem less irksom so it makes good things which at first were unpleasant delightful There is no Evil of Pain nor any Moral good Action that is not hard at first Continuance of pain which might seem to weary us is many times a kind of Remedy or abatement of Weariness and the practise of good as it profiteth so it pleaseth he that is a stranger to Good and Evil finds both of them troublesom God therefore doth well for us whilst he Exerciseth with long Afflictions and we do well to our selves whilst we continually busie our selves in good Exercises 345. Each day is a new Life and an Abridgement of the whole Spend every day therefore as if thou countedst it thy first and thy last as if thou didst begin to live but then and shouldst live no longer after it 346. It is no small Commendations to manage a little well he is a good Wagoner that can turn in a narrow Room to live contentedly in abundance is the Praise of the Estate not the Person Let us therefore study to give a good Account of that little which God lends us rather then turmoile our selves to make it more 347. It may seem a Paradox but it is a Truth that a Wise Christian hath no Enemies many hate and wrong him but he loves all Men and all profits him those that profess to Love him pleasure him with the Comfort of their Society and Mutual Reflection of Friendship those that profess hatred make him more weary of his ways shews him faults in himself which his Friends would either not have espied or not censured as the worst doing Good to him though against their wills so he again doth good to them voluntarily with all his Heart 348. To do Evil for Evil as Ioab to Abner is sinful weakness to do Good for Good as Ahashuerus to Mordecai is but Natural Justice to do Evil is for Good as Iudas to Christ Unthankfulness and Villany only to do Good for Evil agrees with and is peculiar to Christian Profession and what greater work of Friendship then to do Good for Evil if Men will not be my Friends in Love I will endeavour to make them my Friends per force in a good use of their causeless Quarrels and Hatred 349. Riches Beauty Honour Strength or any other Worldly good that we have enjoyed and is past do but grieve us that which is present doth not satisfie that which may be hoped for as future is altogether uncertain what folly or madness then is it to trust to any of them 350. He that knows not God knows nothing and he that loves not God knows him not for he is so Sweet and infinitely Lovely and whosoever knows him cannot but affect him the little Love of God therefore that is in the World argues the great Ignorance even of those that profess most Knowledge 351. The Proud Man hath no God the Envious Man hath no Neighbour the Angry Man hath not himself now what can that Man have that hath
wonderful Beings in the intellectual internal World of which this outward is but a Similitude and the reason why we cannot comprehend or see the Angels is because our outward Eyes are Earthy and not sublime enough to perceive Spiritual Essences every Eye sees no farther then into its own radix 391. Note that the Sence Sees Hears Smells Tastes and Feels all visible and sensual and elimental Things as being its Mother whence these sensual Powers have proceeded 392. But the Eye of the good Mind or Spirit of the Soul when it is not beclouded by the forementioned sensual Properties and grosser Elements Sees Smells Tastes Feels and Hears the Intellectual and Angelical Beings 393. And therefore in time of Sleep when the outward gross Sences and Properties are stilled or as a Man may properly say Dead then the good Genius and Holy Angels have more freer recourse and communication with the Soul and Intellects and does reveal and foretell wonderful Things in Dreams which when the Body and Sences are awake they cannot do because their gross and external Eliments and Sences are powerful and do predominate and hide the intellectual Pearl 394. Nothing is a greater Magnet to attract good Angels and the communication of pure Spirits then Innocency and the Child-like Nature therefore it is said by our Saviour of Children Their Angels behold that Face of the Father 395. It was a witty and true Speech of the obscure Philosopher Heraclitus that all Men awake are in one common World but when we sleep each Man goes into a several World by himself which thô it be but a World of Fancies as to the outward Eliments and Sences nevertheless it is the true Image of the Little World which is in every Mans Heart for the Imaginations when the Sences are asleep do not only shew the present State of each Man's Soul and what Property do carry the upper Dominion but also what our Dispositions Complexions and Inclinations are waking and as many in their Dreams reveal those their Secrets to others which they would never have done awake so all may and do discover to themselves in their Sleep those Secret Inclinations which after much searching they could not have found out waking therefore we need not doubt but as God heretofore hath taught future things in Dreams so still he teacheth the present estate of the Heart this way some Dreams 't is true are from our Selves vain and idle like our selves others are Divine which teach us Good or moves us to Good and others Devilish which sollicits us to Evil for Man is fall'n into the Good and Evil Nature therefore let the Night teach us what we are and the Day what we should be so shall neither Night nor Day be spent unprofitably 396. Entertain Innocency and be not weary of well-doing but daily endeavour to increase in Self-denial Abstemiousness Temperance and Purity and to moderate the fierce wrathful Spirit by the Lambs Nature for light and darkness are near unto every Man 397. The evil Nature and wrathful Spirit cannot be any otherwise overcome but by the sweet friendly Nature and predominancy of the love and light of God in Jesus Christ for nothing can make the Wrath of the Father to bow but only the inshining light and satisfaction of the Son 398. But when Man gives himself up into the intire government of the Divine Principle or Gospel of the Son of God then is fulfilled that of Isaiah the Prophet the Wolf and the Lamb shall Feed together and the Lyon Eat Hay like an Ox and there is no killing or devouring no violence or oppression in all the Holy Mountain 399. All immoderations are Enemies as to Health so to Peace he that desires more wants as much as he that has nothing the Drunken-man is as Thirsty as the Sweating Traveller settle therefore thy Mind in Perswasion of the worthlessness of all outward Things hanker not after that which it may be thou canst never obtain and art sure not long to enjoy 400. A sincere Christian for the sweet Fruit he bares to God and Man is compared to the noblest of all Plants the Vine now as the most generous Vine if it be not Pruned runs out into many superfluous Branches and are apt like Ephraim of old to wax wanton if not cut short of their Desires and Pruned with Afflictions if it be Painful to Bleed 't is worse to Wither 't is better we should be Pruned to grow then cut up to burn 401. As there is one common end to all good Men to wit Salvation and one Author of it viz. Christ so there is but one way to it that is to say doing well and suffering evil bare and forbear abstain and sustain is the proper Motto of a Christian. 402. He that would obtain the Gift of Concord must content himself with mean Things for simplicity both in Meats Drinks Cloaths Houses Furniture Imployments Words and Works have a near affinity with the friendly Principle of Gods Love in Man 403. All things both Corporeal and Incorporeal do powerfully and sympathetically attract and incorporate with its likeness therefore mind well what thou joynest thy self unto 404. None can know nor understand the mystical and powerful Operations of God in both the inward and outward Nature of Things but such as abandon the ways of the many and enter with their Wills into the one 405. Remember thou dost Pennance when thou hast committed any Sin against God by abstaining from such things that was the occasion of the Evil. 406. That which thou seest the multitude so eagerly persue do thou do the contrary 407. When thou huntest oppressest or killest any of the Inferior Creatures which makes them Cry Sigh and Groan Consider from what Principle or Properties in thee such violent fierce Inclinations arise whether from the Right or Left hand of God 408. When any Creature is hurt it sends up its Sighs and Groans to its Creator even as Men do under Oppression every Creature flies unto his Fountain for safeguard from whence it proceeded for he is their Life and Well-being if any think otherwise the Truth is hid from their Eyes 409. Consider Death or the parting of the Body from the Soul and how unwilling all Creatures are to come unto that point The mercifull shall find mercy saith our Prophet 410. Look and behold the Sun the Glorious Eye of the World whose Beams and Living power is equally friendly unto all things whether they be Good or Evil as the Scriptures of Truth do testifie The Sun shines on the Iust and Vnjust imitate â—â—is Glorious Body Envy dwelleth not in the Tabernacle of the Lord. 411. There is not any thing that Man can do that is well-pleasing to his Maker if Unity and Concord be wanting 412. Mans Fall was his suffering Discord and Inequality to enter into his Soul and it is his Fall to this day but his Regeneration is Unity and Concord 413. Stand still and cease from Evil
and the Good will work forth its own Nature 414. The Good praiseth the Good and Evil exalteth the Evil. 415. All Creatures praiseth God except Man because they have kept his Law 416. The Fire the Air the Earth the Water and all their numerous off-springs do with one voice continually sing Hallalujahs unto their Creator 417. Consider the wonderful variety of Fruits Grains Seeds and Herbs and how they all praise the Lord in silence and thrusts forth their Virtues in Corcord 418. He that delights himself in violence and oppresseth the Creatures dishonoureth his Maker and perverts his way in Nature and makes his Creation groan 419. Consider what the Good is and its Nature and know for a Truth that all Violence and Oppression is as contrary to it as Light is to Darkness 420. Consider the wonderful Power of God and that he hath made all that Man might through all and by all know the Holy Creator and himself whose Image he bears 422. Note that it is the greatest Evil in the World not to know God for he that knoweth not his Maker knoweth not himself 423. He that knoweth God and the things that are becomes Divine whilst he lives in the Body 424. The Soul of Man hath a fiery Original but the Spirit of the Soul is friendly and of a Divine Nature and is that Holy Spark of Light that shines into and enlightens the Soul 425. The Soul being of the Nature of the Father but the Spirit of the Soul is of the Sons Property which does by its bright Beams enlighten the dark Father and by its friendly Influences moderates the fiery harshness of the Soul 426. The Soul thorough the friendly Power of the Divine Principle if it turn its Will thereinto may obtain Regeneration and be made better but worse it cannot 427. The Soul of Man is from that Principle in which God called himself a jealous God and a consuming Fire which thorough Disobedience to the pure Spirit or voice of Wisdom did and do to this day joyn it self with the Evil which Christ came to seek and to Save 428. That which is Divine cannot sin nor consent to any Evil but it is the Soul that hath falâ— and sinned against God viz. The Divine Principle 429. The Soul in its own Nature is fierce whose Ground is from the first Principle but the Spirit of the Soul is its Light or Sun which doth shine back into and replenish its harsh Father a true similitude we have in the outward Fire which is in its Original of a fierce harsh consuming Nature but its Sun which this harshness and fierceness do Generate viz. The Light is of a most pleasant friendly amiable quality and refreshing nature affording a good Essence 430. But if there were not Fire there would be no Light or at least the Light would not be manifest unto its self 431. The happiness of all Souls is to dwell in the Light and to become one with it and not in the Fire or in its own Principle or Nature 432. The true Joy of Man's Soul is to live in the Power of the Light but if there were but one Thing then there could be no manifestation or if there was no Sorrow Joy would not be known unto it self 433. Behold the whole Created Being with the Eyes of Understanding and then thou will see and find a Good and Evil in all things in Animals Vegetables and Minerals Also Sweet Sowerness Light and Darkness Heaven and Hell Father and Son which two grand Fountains do continually contend in each Thing and Creature for Victory which since the Fall of the Angels and Man the evil Properties or Principle have gotten the upper Dominion which do mightily hide or captivate all the friendly Paradisical Virtues in each Creature and Thing 434. Seeing then that all things have an Evil and Good in them how necessary is it for Men to joyn or choose the things that are most innocent and fâ—eest from the wrath or fierceness in Meats in Drinks Words and Works because the Essences of each Thing do in a secret and most powerful manner by simile incorporate with the Human Nature and according to their Natures increase and strengthen their like Properties 435. Hearken therefore unto the Divine Principle which is the Light of all Souls and the true living Virtue in all Things 436. The Soul of Man is liable to be made Evil by many things viz. by Sorrow Grief Pleasure Pain and many more But to be made Good but by one viz. The Holy Light and Love of Jesus Christ. 437. Also by Meats Drinks Communications Words and Works which do darken and put the Eye of the Mind out 438. The Divine Principle or Holy Light is the pure sweet friendly Power and Essential Virtue in all things especially in the Human Nature but thorough Sin most hid or captivated it 439. None are made partaker of the true Knowledge of God and his Holy Mysteries in Nature but only such as addict themselves to Innocency and Self-denial 440. Those that see but the least spark of the Good and are made partakers thereof do count the State of Man in this World poor low and miserable 441. He that would know Divine Things and understand the highest Good must as it were hate the Body and all Beastial Inclinations for no Man can equally enjoy both 442. Light and Darkness is set before every Man and as a prise the one is as near as the other and the Will of the Soul is free and which soever it enters into unto that he becomes a Subject 443. Consider the wonderful Power of the Soul if it be enlightned by the true Spirit of Wisdom it can then in the Wisdom do all things as it ought to Gods Praise and its own Comfort 444. Consider that the use of mean simple Meats Drinks Cloathing Household stuff and Furnitures are great friends unto Mens Souls it cuts off Covetousness in the Bud frees the Body from great Labours and Cares also from Suspition Passion Sorrow and most kinds of Evil. 445. For no Man will be so concern'd or angry with his Servant for loosing or breaking a wooden Spoon as for a Silver the like is to be understood in all other things 446. Look not therefore on the Rich and Mighty and what they do but what 's honest and sutable to Natures wants 447. Moderation and meaness in Meats Drinks Cloathing and Furniture will in a manner prevent the many troubles and wants that attends most Families 448. He that does know the true Virtue of mean things will never desire the trouble of getting of the Needles Trifles Nothing being more pleasant than to imitate Nature 449. If thou wouldst enjoy Health and Strength in old Age live soberly in Youth and visit not the shades of Venus too often for the secretly wounds her Lovers with incurable Diseases 450. The Original of most Mans Grief and continual Trouble is his suffering his Will and Desire to
precipitate them into great Evils and many Snares and Diseases 474. O how happy would it be if Men would take but half that pains care and diligence in self-denial and in the innocent simple ways of God and his Law in Nature for the procuring and obtaining the Noble Treasures both of Time and Eternity how knowing seeing hearing tasting and feeling would Men be in the Divine Mysteries to the praise of the Lord and Eternal Comfort of themselves 475. Be not offended or think the worse of right hand way because it is very uneven narrow and but little Company and those that are but poor and mean most or all of them Footmen for the Apostles themselves was forced to leave their Horses and travel on foot after a little entrance into this way 476. Some of the Wise Men when first entred into this Divine Path or Right Hand way have kept their Horses and Coats but such as continued them long was either forced to leave them and go on foot or else turn into the Left Hand way 477. For all the Men and Women that are Travellers in this innocent Path or Way their Cloaths are mean plain simple and of their Natural Colour their Meats and Drinks very simple such as are easily procured 478. In this way there are no Inns nor Ale-Houses but a few poor Cottages their Beds are clean Straw and the most currantest Money that goes amongst those poor People is self-denial and content and their Watch-word is Let all Flesh be silent 479. There are not many Trades amongst them that travel in this way for they need them not because a few things will sustain their wants 480. Most of these Men have each of them two Gardens which they spend their whole time to Manure and Dress one is Internal and the other External the Herbs and Fruits that grows in the Internal do by their blessed Juices and most fragrant Scents replenish and nourish the Soul and the Herbs Fruits and Seeds of the External Garden do not only imploy the Body in that pleasant Labour of dressing and manuring of its Fruits but it also supports it with Food that affords both dry and moist nourishment to the highest degree of Innocency in this World therefore those that enter into this way needs but a little Land and less Money and though every Man must have two Gardens yet he needs buy but one for one is his Eternal Inheritance which ought in an especial manner be looked after and Dressed or else it will be quickly over-run with bitter Herbs and sower harsh Fruit. 481. If thou keepest thy Internal Garden free and clear of those harsh bitter Weeds which are very apt to overspead the good Herbs then it will afford most blessed Fruits which will be Cordials unto the Soul on a Dying Bed and raise the Soul to Eternal Life 482. Let God be thy Teacher and look not outward nor lissen after other Teachers but learn and know the inspoken word of the Lord or the Divine Principle in thy own Soul who is the true Preacher of Life 483. Let that Scripture be fulfilled where the Prophet saith The time shall come when every Man shall be taught of the Lord in the center of their Hearts 484. Learn to know thy Teacher in thy self and then thou wilt need no Houses of Brick Stone Timber or outward Temples to meet for Gods Worship but every Man shall withdraw himself from the noise of Men and worship the Lord alone in the Center of their Souls 485. Above all things learn to know the power and vertue of lowness and silence from Words for when Man ceaseth from speaking then the Lord ariseth and teacheth the Soul the ways of Wisdom 486. The true Worship of the Lord is innocent and simple in the ways of Nature which is his Handmaid 487. Consider and look with an inward Eye into the wonderful variety and great Beauty of the Vegitations of the Earth how pleasant they are to thy inward and outward Eyes and how they all praise their Lord in meekness and silence and bear Fruit to the Creators praise and thy Comfort they grudge not nor grumble when thou usest them for thy necessity 488. Learn by all to know and praise the one only Fountain whence all proceeds and have their Being 489. Withdraw thy self from the many and entertain profound silence and the Lord will arise in the Center of thy Soul and shew thee the Truth which is not seen but felt on the opening of the Intellectual World 490. Know that all Ceremonies Forms Modes and Mediums in Religion the Lord have suffered by reason of weakness and want of true sight in Divine and Human Mysteries 491. As the Saviour of the World faith Not in this Mountain or the other place but the true Worshipperâ— are those that worships the Lord in the inward part of the Heart in loneness and siâ—ence 492. Remember and let it be one principal point of thy unfeigned Religion to desire no more of the things belonging to the Body than is needful and natural for whatsoever is more beclouds the Intellectual powers of the Souls spirit for the Essences of all our Meats and Drinks departs not from us but becomes Essential as is mentioned before 493. The true Religion is for a Man to know God in the Center of his Heart and to obey the Voice of Wisdom and regulate himself in all inward and outward things 494. The Life of a true Christian is to depart from all Intemperance superfluity uncleanness in Meats Drinks Cloathing Imployments and Communication and to withdraw into loneness and Silence and to will as God his Guide wills 495. And remember that he that lives as he ought needs but a few things and those easie to be procured a small Cottage a little Garden a Spade Corn and Water white Garments a little Wood a Straw-Bed which are the most useful and necessary and will support Nature to the highest degree and a little labour and less care will procure them 496. Straw-Hats will serve instead of Beavors and Castors 497. Wooden Shooes instead of Leather for their Journeys are but small 498. White Linnen and Woollen instead of rich Colours for there is no need of rich Garments to cover the outside when the inside is arrayed with Virtue 499. The Fire of Wood supplies the want of Candles made of the Fat of the Beasts no Violence enters into their Tents 500. A little Corn and a few Herbs do bountifully supply Nature with both drie and moist nourishment to full satisfaction there is no need of the trading with Butchers 501. A few Vessels serves their Drinks is brued to their Hands by the preserver of the World A piece of Bread and a spoonful of Oatmeal or Flower mixed with a pint of Spring Water makes a Breakfast or a good Supper 502. Milk as it comes from the Cow is highly esteemed and counted great Food being eaten with good Bread there is but little need
the worst savage Brutes for they often get Children in the heat of Lust and Drunkenness and then suffer both Mother and Child either to perish or go a begging 23. Intemperance causes Men to Blaspheme their Creator and is the root of Covetousness Murders Pride Vain-glory and every evil Word and Work 24. Intemperance renders the Body a sink of Diseases the Mind a Cage of unclean Thoughts banishes all good Meditations and makes People Desolute and Vile 25. Intemperance causes those of the Female Sex to turn common Prostitutes or makes them Rude Bold Surly and Inhuman for it destroys their curious friendly Human Nature and fits them for hard slavish Imployments which do ill become their Delicate Shapes and loving compassionate Complexions 26. Intemperance as it is the grand Incendiary of Kingdoms and States the main inlet and foundation of all War and publick Bloodshed so it is the Common Barreter that disquiets private Families and sets Neighbors and Friends at variance 27. Intemperance occasions People to venture the Health both of Body and Soul at Land and at Sea to procure such things as do indeed stand us in no real stead when we have got them but rather adds trouble to the Mind and Diseases and Labours to the Body 28. Intemperance is the Mother of Surfeits and Consumptions and the Nurse of most other Diseases so that in the Weekly Bill inâ—tead â—f the numerous Dead Roll of Diseases and Distemâ—â—â—s one might properly enough write Dyed this Week of Intemperance 395 29. Intemperance is a brutish Vice and indeed only the worst sort of Brutes are subject to it for all innocent Creatures can live without either Labour or Preying on their Fellows they are only the wild Savages that cannot subsist either by Labour or without preying upon and eating the Flesh and Blood of their more innocent Fellow-creatures and amongst all the fierce Savages Man is become the worst and uncleanest because he preys upon and is beholding to the inferior Creatures for his Food and Cloathing which is a part of his Curse 30. Intemperate Men are but sinks of Luxury monsters of Impiety burthensom to themselves and intolerable to the rest of the Creation the plague of their own Times and scorn of all Posterity 31. Intemperance invades the Mind and all the Noble Faculties of the Soul nay stupifies the very Sences and renders Men utterly incapable of sublime Penetrations or Spiritual Attainments 32. Intemperance is an Epidemical Contagion which has over-run almost all England and except there be a Revocation we must expect the severe Judgment of God to fall upon us 33. Intemperance is the hospitality of a Brute the Happiness of a Swine and the Civility of a Devil and betrays Mankind into a far worse condition than to be Condemn'd to the Mines or the Gallies 34 Intemperance is the Original of all baneful Customs whilst it promotes and spurs Men on to every sort of Vice to the undoing both of Body and Soul 35. Intemperance is the Grand Obstruction and overtherthrow of all true Religion and Piety for what will that Man pretend to believe or profess or what wickedness will he slick at who makes his Belly his God Post-pones all other Considerations to that of gratifying his Paunch 36 Intemperance is the In-let and cause of all Oppression both to those of their own kind and to all other Creatures as also of eating their Flesh and Blood which do generate unclean and filthy Juices 37. Therefore as Plato wrote over his School Door Let none enter â—â—re that is ignorant of Geometry so you shall find it always Inscrib'd on the Portal of Wisdoms Temple That never any had or shall have admission there but such as had first devoted themselves to a strict and regular Temperance 38. None ought to take care for more than Food and Raiment in this World for the original of all trouble to Mens Souls is a vain desire after Things that are superfluous and yet difficult to be procured Of Cain and Abel and their respective Offerings 1. CAIN was the first Born of Adam which do signifie in the Language of Nature the first Principle of fierce Wrath of the Father 2. Cain brings of the Fruits of the Earth an Offering unto the Lord which was not accepted because it proceeded from and was composed of the Fruits of the bitter Root or the harsh astringent earthy Properties which cannot be accepted or entertained by the Divine or Love Principle 3. Then Cain was Wrath and his Countenance fell which does further denote that the angry Principle predominates in the Lifes Center then the Lord said Why art thou Wrath and thy Countenance fallen if thou doest well shalt thou not be accepted which does sufficiently intimate that Cain's Offering was not Corn of Wine or any of the common Fruits of the outward Principle which in themselves are innocent and harmless but rather of evil uncircumcised Works which were not nor never will be acceptable to the Lord of Love and Innocency 4. Then Cain rose up that is he elevated himself in the fierce harsh wrath as he was in the Field that is in the will'd Nature and flew his Brother Abel viz. the innocent Divine Principle which the wrathful harsh fierce property does still Slay and Murder in the Hearts of all Cain's Children 5. Therefore Moses adds further that after Cain had slain his innocent Brother He departed from the presence of the Lord which could not be as the great Creator is understood in the two grand Principles of Love and Anger because he is the Life the being of all Beings and in every thing but Cain departed out of the presence of the Divine innocent Principle of Love and Light and went into the Land of Nod that is took up his Habitation in the wrathful fierce earthy property and built a City that is he grew strong and powerful in the inward and outward Principles of Wrath and became a great Lord and Master in all Inventions of Building of Cities Trading by Sea Violences Oppressions and most apt in the use of all killing and warlike Weapons for from this Cain-like fierce Spirit do proceed all the great Oppressions and Murthers that are common unto Mankind and always did does and ever will endeavour to domineer over innocent Abel or the principle of Love and Meakness and to keep the whole Earth in Bondage 6. It would be but a symtome of Vanity or Ignorence grosly to conceive that Cain offered Corn Oyl or other external Fruits or that Abel brought Sheep Lambs Calves or the Fat of them their Offerings were the living Powers of their Souls viz. evil and good Works the first were Cain's producing from the harsh earthy fierce wrathfull Principles that had the Government in him the latter were Abel's flowing from the Divine innocent Fountain and each was received of each that is the Holy Fountain of Light and Love kindly entertained Abel's Offering by simile and it was a sweet savour
and more applauded Crafts tend unto but either Violence Oppression and the Destruction of Men or to fraud and Cousenage or to Gluttony Drunkenness Luxury and Effeminacy or to Pride and Vanity 7. What kind of Property or Principle was that in Man which first invented and daily improves the use of Warlike Weapons to kill murther and destroy those of their own Kind as well as oâ—her inferior innocent Creatures that raked into the bowels of Hell for Brimstone Nitre Saltpetre to furnish them with Gunpowder and Studied the Art of Mining and Blowing up their natural Brethren by Hundreds at a blast Did not all such things originally arise from the Bottomless Pit that deep dark poysonous Abyss of Fierceness and Wrath And still from the same horrid Fountain do proceed all new Inventions that tend to the Destruction of Man wherein it may be observed that Christians have been more unhappily Ingenious than those they call Heathens which is much to be lamented though the latter have so far learnt of them that now they are grown no less expert in the mischievous uses of those Inventions and not seldom do therewith plague and destroy the Original Authors 8. From what Principle in Man did the Invention of Ships arise or what real Necessity was there for the same has the most merciful and bounteous Creator planted Man in any Country which does not afford sufficient to supply all the necessities of Nature For Did not those millions that inhabited those vast Regions since called America subsist without the Art of Navigation any further than meer Nature taught them for many Ages before Columbus could boast of discovering a new World how many have been swallowed up by the vast Ocean through means of Seafaring Attempts which seldom had better aim than either to Disquiet Conquer and Roâ— Innocent peaceable People or to obtain such things as are not at all needful but serve only to please the vanity of the multitude and procure Diseases 9. Considering the certain and inevitable danger that attends Navigation we may justly say that all things brought from remote parts by Seâ— are the price of Blood Now if a Prince cause a single Man to be put to Death or one privately kill another or if a Man hang or drown himself here on shoar then what a great deal of trouble it makes amongst the Relations and also the People which indeed when done by the Hands of Justice is much to be lamented that People should live so contrary to Human Society that there should be any kind of cause for killing of Human Creatures but there do daily many thousands expose their Lives in going to Sea to fetch superfluities that serve only to promote Vanity and Diseases and when they loose their Lives and perish through their own Folly and ill Conduct little or no notice is taken of it as in one Storm thousands of Men sink to the bottom of the Sea in their Ships laden with Spices Wines and the like which if they had brought to Land they nor no others could not have sustained their Hunger and Lives one Week but could have done abundance of hurt to the Eaters and Drinkers thereof 10. What Tongue or Pen can express the hazards the horrors the miseries that People expose themselves to in Tempests at Sea and to what purpose to fetch Wanton Men Pearls to hang at the Ears of their more Wanton Mistresses to bring Pepper to strew over our Cucumbers Mangoes for our Mutton or Claret Florence Wine Brandy and a thousand other Strong Liquors to Intoxicate our Gallants and make them spend their Means ruine their Healths shorten their Lives be mad quarrel kill one another and so to be hang'd for 't Certainly did our friendly courteous Women and nice Ladies and others pretending to Piety and Conscience consider all this they would not be so fond of these foreign Need-nots but rather be of David's mind touching the Water his Soldiers procured which he counted the price of Blood and though he had need of it yet he would not receive nor drink it 11. What Principle or Property in Man was it that first invented all Strong Intoxicated Drinks which do chiefly serve to destroy Mens Souls and Bodies Did not he that first invented the making of Wine commit one of the greatest Evils through Drunkenness which is still the grand cause and in-let of Adulteries Whoredom Murders Blasphemies and all kind of Diseases and Oppressions both of Body and Mind whence it is clear that this Invention did proceed from the Bitter Root 12. From whence did and do the daily Inventions Compositions and Preposterous mixtures of Foods proceed which merely serves to stupify the Intellectuals and distemper the Body with incurable Diseases doth not all such pernicious Inventions proceed and arise from the Poysonous Root as also all Plays Games Fine Cloaths Rich Furniture Stately Buildings as Pyramids and a thousand sorts of stately Structures of vast Charge invincible Labour and Hazards to those that build them Will any body say that such things are necessary to the Life and well-being of Man Are they not rather contrary to the Command of our Lord Having Food and Raiment be ye therewith content The Excellency of clean Foods especially of Bread 1. AS a Medicine drives its Qualities from the Ingrediencies as a Building is weak or strong according to the proportion of the materials and good Workmanship in joyning them together So Meats and Drinks whereby Men are nourished and sustained in this mortal State have a far greater Influence and Operation not only on the outward Body and Senses but also on the Intellectual Faculties or Soul than the vulgar does imagine for the Spirit makes all things Essential 2. Bread being the equallest aâ—e cleanest of all Foods as wherein the four Grand Qualities stand at the nearest harmony deserves to be stiled the Staff of Life because it affords a firm clean nourishment and pure Spirits excelling any other particular Food whence the Great Light of the World has honoured it so far as to pronounce it the Symbal of his Body For as the Divine Principle or Human Friendly Nature will incorporate qualifie and allay the out-goings of the harsh wrathful bitter Spirit and bring all into Concord and Equality whereby the inward Sences of the Soul and intellectual Powers taste fâ—el and imbrace each other in Love and Harmony The like is to be understood of Bread it qualifies and allays the Discord and Inequality of all other Foods and so renders it fit for the health of the Body and Mind 3. Bread was the principal Food the Creator ordained for Man after the Fall it having the first place before all other Foods therefore the Lord said In the sweat of thy Brows thou shalt eat thy Bread for all other things that Man needs to feed on can be prepared without Labour or with very little as Herbs Fruits c. but there goes considerable pains to the procuring of Bread and
such as live on Animal Foods for great thirst is a kind of a Disease and though such People find Drink very grateful to their Pallates yet afterwards it does not only swell the Body but makes it uneasie and also unfit for Labour which inconveniencies those that live on Vegitables are not subject unto for such Foods being more equal in their parts and easier of concoction and of a middle nature and mild friendly operation having as it were a certain Minstruum of their own does thereby agree with and help the digestive Faculty and being always light and readily separated pass quickly away and cause neither drought nor heat having no occasion to attract or draw the pleasant moisture from the remote parts therefore such as use this Diet do always find themselves brisk light and fuller of life and strength presently after eating than before whereas those that stuff themselves with Flesh Fish and the like are dull heavy and indisposed for a considerable time after eating which is a signal demonstration of the excellency and agreeableness of such Foods with the Stomach and Nature if Reader thou wouldest be assured of the truth of what is said here then go home and practise for there is no other way to be satisfied as for my own part I am never droughthy as those are that eat Flesh yet I can drink freely with pleasure and refreshment the simplicity of such Foods is wonderful delightful to the Pallate as well as the Stomach after a little use and practise far beyond the compositions of Flesh and Fish or any Foods that proceed from the Animal Kingdom 8. By Vegitative Foods I mean all such as are made of Grains of Corn especially of Wheat which is the King of all others as Bread Flowered Water or Pap with Bread in it Gruel Cakes made of various sorts of Flower Gruels with dried Herbs infused or green Herbâ— â—allats with Oyl Sallats with Vinegar Good Ale made with Malt these are the most material Foods the Vegitable Kingdom affords they be not many but they are excellent There are also several sorts of Fruits as Apples Pears Cherries Grapes and the like which may now and then with Bread furnish thee with a Meal but a few will serve thy turn the best use of them is to make them into Drink as Cyder Perry and the like Moreover there are a great number of Roots as Turnips Carrets Parsnips and others but they are not so proper to be eaten by those that live wholly on Vegitations because they are too cold and earthy affording but a small nourishment and not firm besides they are apt to loosen the Body too much on which account they are profitable for those to live on now and then that eat Flesh and other Animal Foods especially such as are subject to Costiveness but then they should live on them and Bread only 2 or 3 days together or so long till they find a change and that they answer the end they do it for and not eat any Butter with them 9. Live on innocent harmless Foods first for the Health of the Soul and the Benefits of Intellectuals and not for the Health of the Body for all Dispositions are made and continued in their full strength and vertue by Meats and Drinks and according to the Nature of them clean or unclean good or evil such are the Desires Inclinations Words and Works 10. Custom hides the truth from all Men in one degree or another and 't is no small part of Piety and Self-denial to overcome the Inveglements thereof especially the usages of those Places and Countries a Man has been bred up in Some general Observations touching the Vanity of Men in contending about Things that are of little use the Constitutions of Men and Women the most savage Beasts and the true Worship 1. THE Spirit of Wisdom leads all her Children into the Universal Temple where there is no Jangling nor Contention about Words and outward Forms of Religion but they all imitate their Creator by doing Good and living Innocently 2. Rejoyce in the Gifts and true Prosperity of thy Neighbor and in so doing thou wilt imitate the Good Angel who rejoyce at the Repentance of a Sinner on the contrary there is no Vice more devilish than Envy 3. Abstract thy Self from the Sensuality of the Multitude which is one true step towards Regeneration for he that needeth but few things approacheth nearer unto his Creator that giveth all things freely and needeth nothing 4. The ways of God and the Observations of his Law are plain and easy but the Inventions and ways of Men are hard and difficult both to the Soul and Body 5. Content not thy Self with the Image or Likeness of Virtue but keep close unto the Universal which will lead thee to the true Mother and then all Strife and Contention will cease to have a Being in thy Soul 6. As Intemperance degrades a Man and renders him worse than the worst of Beasts so no Man is capable of Regeneration so long as he lives in and under the Savage Nature whence the desiring after Evil and the longing imaginationâ— after the eating of Flesh and Blood do arise for what is it that Men should desire to be Regenerated from is it not from Wrath Fierceness Envy Malice Bitterness and doing Evil or the thing one would not be done unto Wherefore does Man call the Beasts of the Forest Wild Ravenous and Cruel Is it not because of their preying upon killing and eating the Blood and Flesh of their fellow Creatures And wherefore does Man esteem himself in a better state or more highly graduated than they If he himself be the fiercest most ravenous and insatiate Creature of Prey in the whole World for he does not only prey upon kill and eat the Flesh of other Creatures but most inhumanly murders and worries those of his own kind which few or none of the Savages of the Wilderness will do Consider therefore O Man Whether whist thou continuest in this State thou art not as bad nay far worse than the fiercest of Beasts 7. Intemperate Desires and the want of Regulating our Affections are the grand In-letâ— and cause of all Domestique and publick Evils for most or all Contentions and Troubles in private Families do thence arise the Master is angry with his Servant because he doth not get so much Money as he would have him the Husband would fain be rid of his Wife because he thinks he could get another with a great Fortune the Wife is discontented and quarrels with the Husband because she hath not so fine Cloaths as some other Neighbors the Mistriss is in Arms like a Fury beating her Maid because she hath broke some Knick-knack which was not worth a Farthing only it cost dear In brief all these Fudes which People have when they Scold Fight go to Law Forswear themselves and act all the Devils parts are generally about needless things and whose Estimation only foolish
Fancy raises to a great price nay if a Man or a Woman have but a rich Garment on and it please God to send a sweet Shower of Rain what Lamentations and Wailings what Discontent and Trouble is the silly Creature in on this occasion and how many foolish wishes will it often cause to the Mind the like is to be understood in all other things that cost much Money or Labour the Silver Tankard is lost what Confusion is all the House in nay the Good resolves to go to the Cunning Man that is as she believes to the Devil to get it again when an honest black Jack wooden Can or a sweet Earthen Mugg would have served their turns full as well to Drink out of and prevented all this Hurly-burly for on the other side there is but little trouble about the loosing or spoiling those things that are easily procured and cost not much Money or Labour it not being the real value intrinsique Virtue or Goodness of a thing that causes this noise and contention amongst Men but the cost and high vulgar Esteem as a piece of good Bread is of a more true Value Virtue and Excellency than Twenty of those Dishes which my Ladies French Cook has been this Fortnight a preparing An ordinary Cloth Coat such as Shepherdâ— and Plow-men wear is of far more use to prevent the injuries of the Elements and to cover Shame for I know no Third use of Cloaths unless it be that which the Devil Taught us viz. Pride then the richest Silk that ever Florence beheld so that it appears the most of our vexations and quarrels are about things that are not useful to Man or at least stand him in very little stead and which he may as well nay better be without for Nature needs but few things and those easily to be procured but if the way of the Lord in Nature be perverted and Man's Soul depraved then the whole World and all the Things and Creatures in it will be too little to satisfie his extravagant Appetite and Desires therefore it is the part of a prudent Man to take more Care and Circumspection in the spending of Money than in the getting because he that spends much hazards both Soul and Body Health and Pleasure 8. Remember to entertain Humanity and to live in the good Port of the World for that is the Sons Property for all Innocency Simplicity Virtue be it in what it will whether in Man Beasts Herbs Grass Fruits or Grains it all proceeds and has its Birth from the Holy Fountain viz. the Divine Word and on the other side all Wrath Bitterness Violence and Poisons arises from the first Principle or dark Root for all things things in this visible World or Being consist of Good and Evil the knowledge of which way is Man's Fall as the Divine Moses saith that the Knowledge of Evil is the doing of it and the Knowledge of Good the practice of Righteousness 9. If a Good and Virtuous Person happen to be amongst Evil Men his very refraining from the Evils they commit althô he say not a Word against what they do but remain in silence does yet Judge and Condemn them to their great disquiet and trouble as having an inward Sence and Feeling that the Good Man's Soul and Spirit does with great Power withstand their Enormities and hence is come that common Proverb that a Sober Man or one that will not commit Outrages and Excess as fast as the rest spoil good Company 10. So if one Man tell any absurd or foolish Story that is filled with Lies he always keeps his Eye fixt on his Fellow or Companion to whom he tells it and if he doth not shew him some sign of his good liking or pleasure by smiling or answering he wil ' quickly be weary of his Talk and be ashamed for thorough an internal Sense and Feeling he perceives himself Judged and Condemned though his Companion say not a Syllable good or bad 11. By this you may perceive that Mans Judge is always near him that is those that live and act in the Good and on the other side those that 〈◊〉 in the Evil condemn and persecute such as live in the Good From this ground all good Christian Doctrine and Books have been opposed because the Foolish and Intemperate have found themselves condemned by them as not living up to what such Books directs unto 12. Pride is the great evil Judge of all Virtue Temperance and Well-doing 13. It is hard to be a practising Philosopher in a Married Estate a Man of a Thousand but a Woman of Ten thousand 14. Women are for the most part harder to be weaned from the pernitious Customs of the World and foolish ways of the Multitude than Men it being rare to any of them to have the deep sight of the Divine and Natural Mysteries for the profound and penetrating does arise from the bright flash of Light which is higher Dignified and the property of Fire more exalted in Men than in Women whence greater abilities for Strength Power Understanding Judgment and Government do arise or proceed Man being a wonderful Creature not much inferior to Angels when his great Fire is tinctured and moderated with the amiable Friendly Light which will temper qualify and allay all the unequal operations of the Great Fire whence in Man all Arts and Cunning do arise if its Holy Council be obeyed 15. Man's high Graduation in the deep original fierce Fire is manifested by his fierceness and cruelty in the use of all warlike Weapons his contentious Humors Fighting and Killing those of his own Kind and all other Creatures because the wrathful Property has got the upper Dominion in the Center of his Heart being mightily augmented by Opinion and Custom by which the principle of Friendlyness and Virtue is as it werâ— wholly captivated that ought to have the Government in each persons Life 16. But as for Women their Dignification is from another Property viz. highly Graduated in the Aimable Sanguine Human soft Nature whence doth arise Tenderness yielding Tempers and great Love exceeding Mans which good Nature would be much more potent in them if the daily noise and practising of Arms Fighting and Killing one another and all other Creatures were not so common and counted lawful for that does mightily increase and excite the wrathful Fire in the Females who by Nature are fearful and hâ—te the fight of Arms Tumults and Combustions 17. But if the Females through Custom do suffer their Wills and Desires to enter into Wrath Fierceness and Cruelty suffering the bridles of Chastity and friendly sanguin Nature to be violated which good property is powerful in them as it were their Radix then such Women become far more Dissolute Cruel Fierce and Inhuman than Man because they have suffered or rather forced their Wills and Desires into the dark root of bitter Fierceness which is a Contrarium to â—heir Composition therefore the Cruelty and â—â—chastity of