About Parjimony mtd Prodigality. CHAP. XXI. Cafes abotlt, and DireBions againft Prodigality and finful Wall:efulnels. 1· I. BEcaufe mens carnal interefi and fenfuJltty, is predominant with the greatell put of the world, and therefore governerh them m thetr JUdgement about Duty and Sm, 1t <hence cometh to pafs that W•Jiefulnejiand Pradigality are cafily believed robe faults, fo far as they brmg men to flume or beggery, or apparently crofs the~r own pleafure or cornmodJty: But m other cafes, they are feldome acknowledged to be any fins at all : Yea, all that arc gratifird·by them, account them virtuu, and there is fcarce any fin which is fo commonly commended: Which mufl: needs tend to the increafc of it, and to harden mtn in their imperiitency in it : And verily if covetoufncfs, and felfifhncfs, or poverty did not refirain it in more perfons than true confcience doth, it were like to go for the moO: laudable quality, and to be judged moft merito· Jious of prefcnt praifc and future luppinefs. Therefore in directing you againft this fin, I mull firfi tell you What it it : and then tell you whmin the malignity of it dotb cmfifl: The fidl will .be bell 1 done in the ddinition of ir, and enumeration of the inll:4nces, and ex:arnim.tion of each one of them. 143 9· 2. Direct•l• 1ruly Hnderjland wb.t nwffary frugality, or parjimony , and ji;iful wafteful- Ditell. I• mfs arr. Nect.fJilry frugslity or [pating U, An al1 of fi~tlity, obedience ttnd gratitude, by whiriJ we ufe aU Wh1tnt'~elf~..: OJ!r eftattJ (o faitbfuliy for tiJt chief Owner, fo obediently to our cbiefRttfer, and fo gratefuVy to our chief ry Frugahry 1~? Bemfafror, as that we wafte it not any other way. As we hold our eUates under God, as Owner, Ruler and Benefa[Jor, Co rnufi we devote them to him, and ufc tbcrn for him in each relation : And ChriUian parfimony cannoc be defined by a meer nega– tion of aUive waftefubtt{s, becaufe id/e;ufi it felf, and not ufint, it aright, is real wafiefulnefs. ~· 3. TYaftefidnefs or prodig~lity is that fin ofunfaitl;fulnrfi I difobedience and ingratitude , by 'R'hicb W:.tlle_ru_lnefs tither by aUion or omiffion we mi{-jptnd or wajle fome p11r1 of our eftaiu to tbe injury ofGcd, our Ab- wh:ttH IH. folute Lord) our Ruler and. Bcnifa[Jor: that is, Bejides and againft his intercjt, his command., and bil pltll· fitre and glory, and our ttltimare end. Thefc are true Delinitions of the duty of frugality, and the fin of wajlefulittfi. , 9, 4· ln£1. 1. Ono way of finful wajlefulnefl is, In pampering tht belly in excefl, <uri,jity, or ceftli- Injl. 1 • nefi of meat or drinl;,: Of which I have fpoken Chap, 8, 1om. I· ~efi. J. Are all mfn bound t_o fare ali~e l Or when is it waftefulnefs and exct{s ? ~e(l. 1 • Anfw. This quefiion is anfwcred in the forcfaid Chapter of Glmtony, Par. 4· <fit. I· r. Difiin.. guiili. between mens feveral tempers, arid (\rength, and appetites: 2· And between the refiraint of 1Yant, and the rdlraint ofGods Law. And fo it is thus refolved: I· Such difference in quantiry or quality as mens health, or jfrengtb, and real benefit requircth, may be made, by them that have no want. 2. Whenwant deprivcth the poor of that which would be really for thc1r health , and firength, and benefit, it is not their duty who have no fuch want to conform themfdves co orher mens affi1· ctions : Except when other reafons do require it. 3· But all men arc bound to avoid real excefs in matter, or manner, and curiofiry, and to by out nothing r.erdlrjly on their bellies ; ye;, nothing which they are called to lay out a better way. UnderHand this anfwer and it will fuffice you. 9· S· Infi, 2. Another way of Prodi~ali<y is by needlcfscofily Yifi<S and Entertainments. !Jtjl. 2· ~c(t. 2· What cnft upon Vijits and E1mrtainmtnts i.s rml.1w{ul and prodigal l ~ejl. 2. Anfw. J. Not only all that which bath an ill original, as Prid~ or R1ttery of the rich; and all that hath an ill End, as being mecrly to keep up a carnalunprofitable mterell and cozrefpondency : but a]. fo all that which is excenive in degree. I know yoU wtl.l fay, But thats the difficulty to know when it is excdfivc: It is not altogether impertinent lO fay, when it is above the proportion ofyour own efiate; or the ordinary ufc of thofe ofyour own ranck, or when it plainly tendcth td chcriih glut– tony or cxcefs in others: But thefe anfwers arc no tx•ct {Qlution. I add therefore> that it Is cxccfs wbm a11y tbing is that JVJy expended, which yuu are c.Jl!ed to cxpwd. a;tother wa;·· Objccl. out thi1lravctb it jliU a1 diifioult a1 before. Anfw. when in rational probability a greater guod may be doneby anotiJtr rvay of t:xpenq~, confide· rati.s confiderandis; and agruter good is by tbi.s way neglected, then fou h1d a Clll tO fpend it o::her· wiCe, and. th~cxpence is finful. Objrct. It i1 adoubt whether of two t.orxJs it be amans dttty alrr11y:.s to ch,nft tht gruter. Tttttt t 2 An[w.
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