[423] Juvenum virtus est, nihil nimis. Socrat.
[424] Venter præcepta non audit. Senec.
[425] If you will not take this counsel, at least use after meat to set before your guests a bason and a feather, or a provang to vomit it up again, that you may show some mercy to their bodies, if you will show none to their souls.
[426] A sensualist craving to be admitted of Cato among his familiars, Cato answered him, I cannot live with one whose palate is wiser than his brain. Eras.
[427] The old fashion in countrymen's houses was not amiss, where the story of this rich glutton and Lazarus was wont to be painted over their tables on their walls.
[428] 1 Cor. viii. 9; Lev. xix. 14; Rom. xiv. 13; xi. 9; Rev. ii. 14.
[429] See 1 Cor. vi. 13. Qui Christum desiderat, et illo pane vescitur, non curat magnopere quàm de pretiosis cibis stercus conficiat. Hieron. Epist. ad Paul.
[430] Nihil tam æque tibi proderit ad temperantiam, quam frequens cogitatio brevis ævi, et incerti: Quicquid facis respice mortem. Senec.
[431] Luke vi. 25, "Woe to you that are full! for ye shall hunger."
[432] Temperantiam exigit philosophia, non pœnam. Senec.
[433] Et non solum hæc seculares viri, sed et ipse grex Domini ejusque pastores, qui exemplo esse omni plebi debuerint, ebrietate quam plurimi quasi vino madidi torpebant resoluti, et animositatum tumore, jurgiorum contentione, invidiæ rapacibus ungulis, indiscreto boni malique judicio carpebantur. Gildas.
[434] Why Gregory set up wakes, and church-ales, and meetings on holidays in England, you may see lib. x. Regist. Ep. 71. in policy to win the heathens: Qui boves solent multos in sacrificio dæmonum occidere, debet his etiam de hac re aliqua solemnitas immutari, ut die dedicationis vel natalitiis martyrum, tabernacula sibi circa easdem ecclesias, quæ ex fanis commutatæ sunt, de ramis arborum faciant, et religiosis conviviis solennitatem celebrent. Nec diabolo jam animalia immolent, sed ad laudem Dei in usu suo animalia occidant, et donatori omnium de satietate sua gratias agant, &c. But do christians need this as heathens did, when we see the sad effects of such riotings? Lege Acost. 1. iii. c. 34.
[435] Prov. xiii. 23; xiv. 21; xxi. 13; xxx. 14; xxii. 9; xxviii. 27.
[436] Diogenes begging of a prodigal, asked a pound of him, when he asked but a penny of the next, Because, saith he, I may oft receive of them, but God knows whether ever I shall have more of him. Laert. in Diog. Prov. xxviii. 19.
[437] John xiv. 15; 1 John v. 2, 3.
[438] And a shame to thy family: as it is said that Cicero's son proved a drunkard, to whom he directed his book De Officiis: which is made his father's reproach.
[439] Of drunken priests I am loth to speak: but pray such to read Isa. lii. 12; xxviii. 7; Mic. ii. 11; 1 Tim. iii. 3, 8; Isa. lvi. 11, 12; Lev. x. 9; Jer. xxxv.; Ezek. xliv. 21; Matt. xxiv. 49; 1 Thess. v. 7; Gal. v. 21.
[440] See Prov. xxiii. 29-33.
[441] Est certa et constans plurimorum sententia, frustra Indos christianam religionem doceri, quamdiu pestifera isthæc consuetudo inerti nostrorum dissimulatione retinetur saith Acosta speaking of drunkenness, l. 3. c. 22. p. 336.
[442] Leg. Jos. Acostam de procur. Indor. salut. l. 3. c. 21, 22.
[443] Gluttons, and drunkards, and lustful sensualists, are prepared for atheism, infidelity, and any impious conceit. For their wits are buried in the dunghill of their guts, and drowned in the excrementitious humidity of their brains: (ubi oculus siccus clarus intellectus:) and the vapours and fumes of their boiling lusts do so intoxicate and cloud their brains, that they have little use of their reason except to contrive the service of their guts and lusts. Lege Basilii Homil. in Ebriet. et Lux. Vide ipse ex taberna duos semi captos vino egressos, vix oboli causa, se mutuo uno eodemque gladio confecisse; et quidem extracto his e percusso corpore, præ alterum feriendi furore: itaque momento temporis ambo exanimes corruerunt. Jos. Acosta de proc. Ind. salut. l. 3. c. 21. p. 332.
[444] Bibendi consuetudo auget aviditatem. Plin. Perinde est vinolentiam bibendo velle sedare, atque ignem materia apposita pergere extingere: nam quod naturæ appetitioni datur moderatum est, at vitiosa et preter naturam libido, nullo expletur. Acosta ub. sup.
[445] Id sane magno Christianis opprobio est, Ingam Regem barbarum et idolis deditum ab ebrietate subditos sibi populos cohibuisse; nostros vero quos oportebat mores quoque perditos emendare, temulentiæ incrementa tanta fecisse. Acosta l. 3. c. 21.
[446] He is happiest that needeth least of any creature, and not he that hath most. Socrates said it was proper to God only to need nothing, but those that came nearest to God in this were the happiest men.
[447] 1 Thess. v. 7, "They that are drunken, are drunken in the night."
[448] Deut. xxiii. 17; Prov. xxiii. 27; v. 3, 5; vii. 5-7; vi. 13-15; xxii. 14; Eccles. vii. 26; Gen. xxxviii. 24.