Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BT770 .B39 1670

The Life ait./Y. 6. And it is a great aggravation of this fin, to bellow too much ofour time upon it: When thole precious hours are (pent in needles eating and drinking, or fitting at it, which are given us for far greater work. Though no let time can be determined for all men, yet all muff feed as thofe that have 1h 11 nee,: Wary bufinefs upon their hand,which ttayeth for them, and for which it is that they cherifh themlclves : And there- fore let not time pars away in vain, but make hatte to your work, and feednot idlencfs inftead ofdiligence. 7. And the root ofall this mifchief, is, when the hearts of men are jet upon their bellies-; and theirfancies and wits arc flaws unto their appetites : when they are not indif f rent about things indifférent, but make a great matter of it, what they (hall eat, and what they (hall drink, beyond the neceflity or real benefit ofit. When they are troubled if their appetite be butcroft, and they are likecrying children or [wine, that are 41-Contented and complaining if they have not what they would have, and if their bellies arenot full. When they are like the Ifraelires, that wept for f[rfh, Numb. 1 r. 4. Becaufe they Jerve nct the Lord 7« fus, but their own bellies, Rom. 16. 17, 18. But thepoor infpirit, can liveupon a little, and mind the things of the Spirit fomuch, that they are more indifferent to their, ap- petite. And cuttom maketh abftinence and temperance tweet and cafe to them. For a well-I./fedappetite is like well - taught children ; not fo unmannerly, nor craving, nor bawling, nor troublefome,as the gluttons ill-ufed appetite is. It troubles mens minds; and taketh up their thoughts, and commandeth their effates, and devoureth their time, and turneth out God, and all that is holy ; and like a chit¡( in a dropfe, it de .ostreth al,, and is fatisfied with nothing, but encreafeth its fell,. and the difeafe : As ifInch men did live to eat, when the temperate do cat to live. 8 Laftly, It is the height of this fin, when you alto cberifh . t be gulo[ity and excefs of others. When for the Pride of great brou[e- keeping, you caufe others to wafte Gods creatures and. their time; and wallt your eftatcs to fatisfie their luxury, and to procure their vain applaufe, Hab. z. r 5. Wo to him that giveth bisneighbour drink; that putteff thy bottle to him,and make- efi-bim drunken alfo. This is the Fulne[s which is forbiddenof God. N nn 3. Objc4t,'. 4b9

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=