of the rage to be denied. io9 quality or quantity ? Take it not, touch it not, meerly upon that account : but enquire whether it tend to the flrengthening and fitting your bodies or minds for the fervice ofGod : and if fo, cake it; if not, let alone. If your appetite had rather have Wine then Beer, or firong Beer then fmall, take it not meerly upon that account : Ifyour appetite would fa;n have one cup more, when nature hath as much as is profitable, deny ay. appetite. It your appetite would fain be rafting of any thing that is not for your health, deny that appetite. If it would fain have one bit more,wuen you have as much before as is wholefom or ufeful to you, deny that appetite : Or elfe you are guilty offleA p/eafiiT, and plain Gluttony.. Qefl. But is it not lawful at afeafi to tafle ofanother difb, or eat another bit , when. I think that. nature. needs no more r what perplexities then willyoncall men into,to know jolt howmany mor- 114 they mayear ? Anfiv. It is gluttony and no better to take the creatures of God in vain, and facrifice them to a devouring throat, which fhould be ufedonly for his fervice. That which is a mans old.. mate end is hisGod. What would you have plainer then ex- prefs words of Scripture, that tell you that whether you eat or drink, it muff beall to theglory of God, 1 Cor. 10. 3 I. and that the fleshly do make their bellies their Gods ? Phil. 3. 18. And thereforewhen you have taken as much as fuiteth with your end, the fervice and glory ofGod, you mull not take more for another end, the pleafingof your flefhly defires. But for the fcruples that you mention, about the juft proportion, we need not be difquieted with them For God hath given us fufficient means to dire us, to knowwhat is for our good, and what is fuperfluous ' and it is our duty in an even and conflant way to life our Reafon and keep as neer the due proportion as we can; and when we know that this is our defire and endeavour, it were a fin againft God to trouble our felves with continual or milers fcruples or fears, left we do exceed or mifs the rule. For what can wedo more, then go according to the bell skill we have, and if for want of skill we fhould a little millake, it is pardoned with the reft`ofour daily infirmities ; and to trouble and dif1raci our felves with caufelefs fears, would more unfit. us. P 3 or
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