Chap, 19 about our Bodies. 189 Quelt.' why fhould we he fo careful of the health of our bodies? A,fu. Becaufe of all earthly things it is themelt precious : without health of the body the minde will have much adoe tomaintain its liberty, and Ifa- bility : the diforder of the humours of the body dilfurb the minde, and make it fro.vard ; yea, fo:netimes reafon is quite-over turned by reafonof fanecor- poral indifpoütion. Quefh By what means then may thehealth of our bodies bepr_ferved ? Anfw. Efpecially by three three things. t . Serenity of mind. z. A fober diet.- 3. Exercife. Quell. How is ferenity ofmuscle a means to prefervebodilyhealth. Anfw. Serenity of minde, and health ofthe body preferve one another : But the minde is a more powerful agent upon the body, then thebody up- on the mind. A chearftil Ipirit keeps the body healthful, whereas frequent excefhive fits ofcholler, and deep fidneffe , fowre the whole 'naffs: of blood, and poifon the fountain of animal fpirirs, whereby the body lofes its lively colour, andgood pli`ht, and droops into a- lingring confumption, Proo.5z.ZS. Heavineff' un th: heart makes it floop, Prov./ 5.13. Byfurrow of heart thefpirit is broken; andon the contrary, `Prov.17.2Z. Amit ry beast cloth good lek a medicine ; and toget this merry heart the Wife man ádvifes us to keep our mindes in a mild temper. Prov. II. 17. The merciful man doth good to his ownfoul , but he that es cruel troublsher o'wt feel»: And the body thus pre- ferved inhealth by the ferenity of the ,mind, pays him readily for that good office : for the minde is kept in tranquillity by the goodconfirution of the body. . ueft. How is a fober diet a meaner to prefrve the health of the body ? - Anfw. As there isnothing that wears the body , and fets the minde out of frame fomuch as intemperance in diet : and truely not only fuch as glut them- felves with meat anddrink, but generally all that live plentifully , eat and drink toomuch, and confound in their flomacksyoomany various ingredients, giving to naturemore then it needs , andmore then it candifÇenfe with;which fuperiuïty, that efpecially of the third cgncoelion, turns into ill humours , whence various difeafes arebred, anliverable to the variety of our cùhes, as in theCommon-wealth idle perfons,anduieleffe fouldiers are they that flit up (e- ditions, and trouble theState. Then natural heat, which ferves to the nutritive faculty , bring put to an o- ver great labour,wears awaybefore the time ; and the fpirits ferving to make the pot boilebelow, lease the intelleEfual part ill ,ferved in the upper roome : and that overplus of nourilh:nentgrowing to pride of brood , breeds no bet- ter effe& in the foul then to (well the appetite , and to provoke it to rebellion againfl the reafon : whereas ifwe would bring our ferves CO a more iimple, and (paring diet , bothour bodies and mindes would enjoy a better health : The fewer vapours the belly fends to the brains , befides what are necenary , the clearer is the skie in that upper region : the belt rule therefore for fuch as leaf} plentifully, is to fall frequently :Mott facknrlles in their beginnings, maybe cured by this abliinence. weft. But what fhould they do that ufefparino diet? Anfw They fhould allow themfelves fome feafons for good cheere. Indeed it oppréfleth fuck Whole ordinary meales are fo many fealls : but it renews the vigour of thofe that ufe it feldome : wine is given by God to makegldthe heart of man, Pfal. toç. 15. Prov. 31.6. It'sof fingular vertue to charm cares: A-draught or twoextraordinary,n-hen she mind isdeje&ed with crofies, will put uponaenans bulneffes a fmoother and calmer face. Quef. Flow doh exercife conduce to the health ofthebody ? Anfw
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=