Object. But, you will say, I shall be thought niggardly or sordid, and reproached behind my back, if my table be so fitted to the temperate and abstinent.
Answ. This is the pleading of pride for gluttony; rather than you will be talked against by belly-gods, or ignorant, fleshly people, you will sin against God, and prepare a feast or sacrifice for Bacchus or Venus. The ancient christians were torn with beasts, because they would not cast a little frankincense into the fire on the altar of an idol; and will you feed so many idol bellies so liberally to avoid their censure? Did not I tell you, that gulosity is an irrational vice? Good and temperate persons will speak well of you for it; and do you more regard the judgment and esteem of belly-gods?[426]
Object. But it is not only riotous, luxurious persons that I mean; I have no such at my table; but it will be the matter of obloquy even to good people, and those that are sober.
Answ. I told you some measure of gluttony is become a common sin; and many are tainted with it through custom, that otherwise are good and sober: but shall they therefore be left as uncurable? or shall they make all others as bad as they? And must we all commit that sin, which some sober people are grown to favour? You bear their censures about different opinions in religion, and other matters of difference; and why not here? The deluded quakers may be witnesses against you, that while they run into the contrary extreme, can bear the deepest censures of all the world about them. And cannot you for honest temperance and sobriety, bear the censures of some distempered or guilty persons that are of another mind; certainly in this they are no temperate persons, when they plead for excess, and the baits of sensuality and intemperance.
2. For variety also, make not your table unnecessarily a snare: have no greater variety, than the weakness of stomachs, or variety of appetites doth require. Unnecessary variety and pleasantness of meats, are the devil's great instruments to draw men to gluttony: (and I would wish no good people to be his cooks or caterers:) when the very brutish appetite itself begins to say of one dish, I have enough, then comes another to tempt it unto more excess, and another after that to more. All this that I have said, I have the concurrent judgment of physicians in, who condemn fulness and variety, as the great enemies of health, and nurseries of diseases. And is not the concurrent judgment of physicians more valuable about matters of health, than your private opinions, or appetites? yet when sickness requireth variety, it is necessary.
3. Sit not too long at meat: for beside the sin of wasting time, it is but the way to tice down a little and a little more: and he that would be temperate, if he sat but a quarter of an hour, (which is ordinarily enough,) will exceed when he hath the temptation of half an hour (which is enough for the entertainment of strangers); much more when you must sit out an hour (which is too much of all conscience): though greedy eating is not good, yet sober feeding may satisfy nature in a little time.
4. See that your provisions be not more costly than is necessary: though I know there must be a difference allowed for persons and times, yet see that no cost be bestowed unnecessarily; and let sober reason, and not pride and gluttony, judge of the necessity: we commonly call him the rich glutton, Luke xvi. that fared sumptuously every day; it is not said that he did eat any more than other men, but that he fared sumptuously.[427] You cannot answer it comfortably to God, to lay that out upon the belly, which might do more good another way: it is a horrid sin to spend such store of wealth unnecessarily upon the belly, as is ordinarily done. The cheapest diet (cæteris paribus) must be preferred.
Object. But the scandal of covetousness must be avoided as well as gluttony. Folks will say, that all this is done merely from a miserable, worldly mind.
Answ. 1. It is easier to bear that censure than the displeasure of God. 2. No scandal must be avoided by sin; it is a scandal taken and not given. 3. With temperate persons your excess is much more scandalous. 4. I will teach you a cure for this in the next direction.
Object. But what if I set variety and plenty on my table? May not men choose whether they will eat too much? Do you think men are swine, that know not when they have enough?