370 CHRISTIAN MORALITY. ties. Theone is necessary to give us a capacity to perform, and the other proper to render the performance chearful and delight- ful to us, and to intermingle our labour with such innocent de- lights as may awaken our thankfulness to the bounty of our Creator. 'Thence it will follow, that the rich are allowedto furnish their tables with a variety of pleasing and grateful food; and that feasts designed for chearful enjoyment of our friends, are by no means forbidden by the light of reason, or of scripture : For we gain vigour for action,,by- having the spirits raised and exhile- rated. But it will follow also, that when we have our choice of what we shall eat or drink, we ought to determine notmerely by pleasure and appetite, nor feed till we are unfit fór service. if we know, or have a good.guess beforehand, that this cup, or this dish, will render us unfit 'for the proper business of the day, or incapable of the several duties we are called to ; yet if, for . the sake of mere sensuality, we venture upon it, God will number it among our sins against the light of nature. Those ends there-. fore for which God bath ordained our various food, both in his creation and in his providence, namely, the support of nature, and its refreshment ; let these be our designs in eating, and give rules for our determinationwhat food we should partake of. It must be granted indeed, that a sickly person may be in- dulged in more solicitude about food, andmay make it a matter of more distinguishing choice than 'persons vigorous and healthy. But then the great end must still be kept in the eye, that is, the recovery of strength for future service, where they aremuch cut off from present work : For neither the sick nor the healthy, should live for the sake of eating, but both should eat for the sake of living andworking. Now if the light'of nature requires such purity and tempe.. rance, how much more cloth the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ oblige us to it ? I. It is the command of our Redeemer, as that we take heed of surfeitingand drunkenness,lest our hearts at any time be overcharged' with them ; Luke xxi. 34. And 'what charge dotlt the holy apostle give, Epli. v. 18. Be not drunkenwith wine, wherein is excess, but be ye filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs. Do not be so indulgent to your palate and your glass, as to let excess of wine overtake you, lest you christians should do as heathens have done, and break out into irregular songs, and licentious or profane mirth; but seek rather the largest influences of the blessed Spirit, and give sacred loose to a devoutframe : Breakout into dïvine psalms or songs; comfort yourselves, and edify your neighbours thereby. InRoas. xiü. 13, 14. St. Paul advises us
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