Ch. XIII. Of Sobriety

Titus his diſciple. Sobriety, Theotime, in the judgment of this great Apoſtle, is neceſſary for youth: and although by this name of ſobriety he comprehends generally the moderation of the heat and impetuoſity of that age, which is naturally carried to an exceſs in all things; nevertheleſs he means alſo particularly moderation in eating and drinking, the contrary of which is very common in youth, and extremely prejudicial to them.

As ſobriety conſiſts in the moderation of eating and drinking, it has two vices to combat with, drunkenneſs and gluttony, both highly prejudicial to youth: for theſe two vices are declared enemies to good breeding, health, vigour of mind, and ſalvation.

There is nothing ſo unſeemly in young men, as to be ſubject to wine or gluttony. Diſcreet perſons have an averſion to this vice, both in themſelves and others.

We ſee by experience how wine and delicious meats prejudice the health, principally of young people; how the exceſs of the one or other cauſes diſtempers and infirmities, which often remain with them all their life, and bring them to their grave before their time; whereas, on the contrary, ſobriety preſerves health and life. In many meats there will be ſickneſs, and greedineſs will turn to choler. By ſurfeiting many have periſhed: but he that is temperate ſhall prolong life.

As for the mind, who is there that does not know how theſe two vices are contrary to it? We daily ſee, that perſons addicted to gluttony become ſtupid, groſs, and carnal, according to the proverb cited by St. Jerome: " A fat belly never produces a " witty mind;" and thoſe who love drink become dull, brutiſh, and incapable of any good.

But as for thy ſalvation, Theotime, it is incredible how theſe two vices are hurtful to it; for beſides the ſins of intemperance, which are committed in the exceſs of eating and drinking, which are in great number, and frequently very enormous, theſe two vices cauſe a vaſt multitude of others; as anger, quarrels, ſwearing, blaſ- blaſpheming, immodeſt diſcourſes, and amongſt others the ſin of impurity, which intemperance enkindles in the heart, and particularly of young men, furniſhing continually new fuel to that fire of immodeſty, which concupiſcence and the heat of that age inceſſantly enflames. " It is very difficult (ſays St. Jerome) to preſerve " chaſtity in the midſt of banquets; and wine joined with youth " makes a double inflammation of pleaſure."

To fly entirely theſe two vices, and to acquire and preſerve ſobriety, you are to obſerve three things in eating and drinking, quantity, quality, and modeſty.

As for the quantity, have a care never to commit any exceſs either in the one or the other, keeping yourſelf always as much as you can within the bounds of ſufficiency and decency. It is the property of carnal and ill-inſtructed minds, to eat without meaſure and rule, and to fill themſelves with meat without any reſtraint.

In the quality there are three things to be avoided; delicious meats, prejudicial to health, and ſuch as provoke impurity, as all hot ſpiced meats, and wine, which St. Jerome ſays, " Is poiſon to " youth, and the firſt means the Devil makes uſe of to tempt them " to uncleanneſs."

As for modeſty in meals, to eat with greedineſs, to devour all the table with one's eyes, to ſeek to pleaſe one's palate, to ſpeak of nothing but ſweet bits, to be the firſt in eating, and the laſt in leaving off, are things abſolutely inconſiſtent with decency and temperance: the wiſe man gives you very oppoſite precepts.

Art thou ſet at a great table? be not the firſt to open thy mouth upon it. Say not: there are many things which are upon it. Stretch not out thy hand firſt, leſt being diſgraced with envy thou be put to confuſion. Be not haſty in a feaſt. Uſe as a frugal man the things that are ſet before thee: leſt if thou eateſt much, thou be hated. Leave off firſt, for manners ſake, and exceed not, leſt thou offend. You muſt pay great attention to theſe precepts of temperance, ſince they come from the Holy Ghoſt himſelf.

In ſhort, Theotime, be careful not to frequent the company of thoſe who are addicted to wine and gluttony; according to the counſel of the ſame wiſe man, fly the places deſtined to that uſe, as taverns: eſpecially if you be inclined to intemperance, uſe all your endeavours to reſtrain and correct it, by calling to mind that he that loves good cheer, ſhall be in want: he that loves wine and fat things ſhall not be rich. He means principally the riches of the mind, which are wiſdom and virtue.

Beſeech God to take away from you all affection to theſe ſenſual and carnal things, which never ſatisfy, and ſerve only to pamper that body, which God will one day deſtroy, and which will become meat for worms: ſuch things render the mind brutiſh, uncapable of reliſhing what is heavenly, and of entertaining ſerious thoughts of ſalvation.