468 The Life of Faith. fluoutly expend. What are the occafions which will juflifie ihme extraordinary cofilinefs, is too long now to explicate. In general, it moil be for Erne end and bcncfi^,tirhich is better han any which might be procured other wife by thatexpence : But pride or appetite are no-jultIfying caufes ofit. It wasfaring fumpti,ocJly which was that carnal Gentlemens fin, in Luke t6. It is fa:d offach, Phil. 3. i S. that their belly is their God ; for theydaily factifice much more to it, than they do to God Many hundred pounds a year, is little enough for many men to`facrifict to their throats. It is fuch a facritiice which Jam :s called), the cberifhing of their hearts as in a day offlaugbrer, James 5. 5. This is the hid treafure which their bellies arefilled with, Pial. 17.14. The rich mans full barns, Luke 12. zo. were but to fill his belly, and pleafe his fill, [Thou haft enough laid up for many years.] For what ? why for cafe, and eating, and drinking, and mirth; They think it is their own, and that they may fpcnd it on themfelves ; but O the terrible account ! As Davidwould not other that to God which (soft him nutbing, 2 Sam. 24. 24. foneither will they offer too cheap a facrifice to their bellies.. But tuft deferveth not much colt : He that is your God, is the God ofothers as well as of you ; and Gareth for them as well as for you; even when he giveth them Ids thanyou : And he giveth it you, that you may. have the tryal, and the honour of giving, it according to his will to them. , It is every mans duty to chufe the cheapeff dyet (and other accommodations) which will but anfwer his lawful ends ;that is, a. His health and welfare: a. And the meet entertainment of otherr, and the avoiding of thofe evils which are greater than the charge. He that loveth his-neighbouras himfe!f, will not fee mul- titudes cold and hungry, while he gratifiethhis own fenfuality with fuperfluities. Though all men arcnot to live at the fame rates, yet all are to obfcrve this common rule of charity and frugality. TheRule given by Paul for apparel, muff be ufed al- fo for ourfood; that women adorn theinfelves with modelt apparel, with thamefaffnefs and fobricty, not with broidered hair, .or gold, or pearls, or coffly array, a:Tim. 2.9. So muff we feed with moderation and fobriety, and not, with too rich and.cofHy,food 6. And
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