Health's Grand Preservative: OR THE women's best Doctor.  
A TREATISE, Showing the Nature and Operation of Brandy, Rumm, Rack, and other distilled Spirits, and the ill consequences of men's, but especially of women's drinking such pernicious Liquors and smoking Tobacco.  
As likewise, Of the immoderate Eating of Flesh without a due observation of Time, or Nature of the Creature which hath proved very destructive to the Health of many.  
Together, With a Rational Discourse of the Excellency of Herbs, highly approved of by our Ancestors 〈◊〉 former times. And the Reasons why Men now so much desire Flesh more than other Food.  
A Work highly fit to be perused and observed by all that Love their Health, and particularly necessary to the Female Sex, on whose good or ill Constitution the Health and Strength, or Sickness and weakness of all Posterity does in a more especial manner depend.  
By THO. TRYON.  
London, Printed for the Author, and are to be sold by Lang Curtis near Fleet-Bridge, 1682.   

Health's Grand Preservative: OR THE women's best Doctor, etc.  

CHAP. I.  
Of the Nature and Operation of Brandy, Rumm, and Rack, which of late years are become as common Drinks amongst many as Beer and Ale, not only in England, but also in all the West-Indies where the English inhabit, and of the evil consequences that do attend the Drinkers thereof.  
BRandy, R●mm, Rack, and other distilled Spirits, are all very pernicious and hurtful to the Health of the Body, if not sparingly taken on extraordinary occasions in a Physi●●● way; for the Intention of all such Chemical preparations, when first Inrooted, was for Medicinal uses, and not to be used as Common drink, as of late years indiscreetly they are, to the destruction of many Thousands, the frequent use of them contracting such 〈◊〉 and stubborn Disease's, as for the most part are incurable.  
1. All such Spirits as are drawn by common Distillable, through those cruel Sulphurous Fires, where the Air hath not its free egress and regress, their 〈…〉 har●h fiery Spirit or Brandy. The same you shall have if you distil Sugar, only it yields a stronger Spirit, for the more Balsamic the Body of any thing is, the stronger and fiercer is its Spirit, when that Balsamic body and the pure Volatile Spirits are destroyed or separated from it. Now here you will see, that the Volatile Spirit and 〈◊〉 Cordial 〈◊〉 or Body, both in the Sack and also in the Sugar, are destroyed, and there doth remain, as is said before, only a fierce harsh Brimstony Spirit, void of all the wholesome qualities Sack and Sugar did contain; for the Volatile Spirit or Tincture is the Essential Life of every thing, and its the maintainer of its Colour, Smell, and T●st. Now these pure Spirits will not endure any violent Heat or harsh Fire, but through the fiery heat, and want of the free Egress and Regress of the Air, they presently become Suffocated, and then the sweet Balsamic body is turned sour; for this sweet Balsamic body is the pleasant Habitation of the Volatile Spirit, and this pure Spirit is the true Life of that Balsamic body; they are inseparable Companions, the one cannot subsist without the other; destroy either, and both Dye.  
Therefore all such Spirits so drawn, do loose their Balsamic body with all their Cordial Virtues and Tinctures, put what Herbs or Liquours you will into such Furnaces, they are presently P●●ndeted of their Natural Colour, and run off white, whereby it appears, that this Common way of Distillation destroys the pure Natural Virtues and Tincture, for from the Tincture proceeds all the Variety of Colours, both in Vegetables, Minerals, and Animals, so that such Spirits do only contain a harsh fier●e Fiery Nature, and for that reason, if they be frequently Drink, do ●rey upon the Natural Heat, and by degrees weaken it, destroying the very Life of Nature, by way of Simile; for every Like works upon its likeness, whence it comes to pass, that in those who addict themselves to the Drinking of these high Fiery or Brimstony Spirits, their Natural heat grows cold and Feeble, and their Appetites are weakened, they destroying the Power of the Digestive Faculty of the Stomach, so that many such People after Eating are forced to Drink a Dram to help concoction; all other Drinks proving too cold for them, which constrains them to continue ●ooping of such Liquor; a sad Remedy, when we go about to help a mischief by increasing the application of the same ill means which first occasioned it● for these wrathful Spirits have awakened the Central Heat, which is the Root of Nature, that ought not to have been awakened or kindled, for if the Central Heat be stired up by any unnatural Meats or Drinks, or other violence done to Nature, then presently follows the Consumption of the Radical Moisture, and the pure Spirits and Lively Tinctures become Suffocated, wherein consists the Essential Life of Nature. And as in the before mentioned Example, the pure Spirit and Balsamic body in Sack will not endure those cruel harsh Sulphurous Fires, where the Air hath not its free Influence, but presently becomes Suffocated or destroyed, and the most pleasant Sweetness thereof turned into a Stink, so neither will the Radical Spirits and pure Oil in the Body, endure those Sulphurous Flames, and Fierce Spirits, without sustaining the like prejudice; for that pure Virtue or Essential Principal, which the Lord in the Creation endued every thing with, (which is the true Life thereof,) will not endure any violent motion or harsh Fire to touch them; especially if the circulation of the Air be wanting, as it is in all such Distillations, for these Spirits are so pure and subtle, that when any Injury is offered to them, they either evaporate or become suffocated; for this Essential Powder or pure Life, is the moderator or Friendly Quality in all Minerals, Vegetables and Animals, which doth mix and Qualify the harsh Fiery dark Principal, and does allay and moderate the cruel harsh Nature of the Dark-Fire, as does plainly appear in all the forementioned Liquors, and also in Charcoal, for before the Sack or any Balsamic Liquor, was put into the Still and drawn off, those very same Fiery harsh sulphurous Spirits were essentially in the Wine, or whatever else it be, for it is the Root of Nature, and the Original to every Life, but being mixed or incorporated with the Balsamic body and pure spirit, the fiery fierce sulphurous spirit is thereby swallowed up, and as it were hid and moderated; for in what thing soever the pure Balsamic body is predominant, there this dark furious spirit is hid or captivated; an Example whereof we have in Sugar, where when the sweet Balsamic body is potent, there also this fiery sulphurous Spirit is strong, but not manifest; but as soon as this Essential Spirit and Balsamic body are separated or destroyed, this dark Fiery Brimstonie Spirit appears in its own form, and becomes like a Mad furious Devil in Nature, its clothing being the Dark-Fire; for this Spirit hath lost its Sweat Water or Friendly Life in its Separation, which before did Qualify its harsh Fierce Fire, it also looseth its pure Colour, or bright native Shine, because the Essential Oil is consumed, in that Separation, so that there doth remain no true Life nor Light in it, but being set on Fire, its Flame ●s of a 〈…〉 that the dark wrathful Properties of Sat●●● and Mars, and their Fierce Fires are predominant in all such 〈◊〉 or Spirits.  
This is further 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉, (as was hinted before) which is made of Wood, but in the making thereof the pure Oil or sweet Water, which is the Essential Life of the Wood, is suffocated or destroyed, for from that Friendly Quality, the Wood had its bright Shine or Fl●●e, which is of a Benevolent refreshing operations Now this pure Oil or Balsamic body, is the Essential Life and moderator of all harsh Fiery dark Fumes or Qualitys in the Wood, which being suffocated or totally destroyed in the making it, whereby the Original dark Sulphurous Fire becomes strong and raging, giving greater and stronger Heat than the Fire of Wood, but its Flame is not bright, clear, and refreshing as that of Wood, but it is of a dimn B●●●●ony colour, sending 〈◊〉 strong fulsome Fumes and Vapours very offesive to the pure Spirits and Health of those that are near it; for having lo●t its pure Spirits and Oil of Life, in its making into Charcoal, there does only remain in it, the Fierce dark original Fire, an untameable devouring Spirit in Nature; for every Quality in Nature hath power only to kindle and awaken its likeness; therefore all such things as have lost their pure Spirits and Balsamic body in the Separation or preparation▪ must needs Endanger the Health, because they do awaken by Simile their own, or like Poisonous Properties in the Body; and if it were not so, a little Poison taken into the Body, would not destroy the Life; but Poisons taken in, do by Simile join or Incorporate themselves with the Internal Poison or destructive Principal in the Body, which before laid hid, or as a Man may say, was moderated or Captivated by the sweet Body and pure Spirits, even as the Fiery Spirits of Brandy are in Sack or Sugar; but so soon as the outward Poison that is taken in, Incorporates itself with the inward Poison in the Body, it does so powerfully Strengthen and awaken it, that in a moment it overcomes the pure Oil of L●fe, and the pure Spirits become Suffocated, and then the Natural Life is a● an end, for every property in Nature (both in the Evil and also in the good) does with highest diligence see●● out its likeness, and wheresoever it findeth its Simile, there it joys Forces and 〈…〉 welfare of the Body.  
Nor is it otherwise in all sorts of Food and other Drinks, if the pure Virtue thereof be Separated or any way destroyed, for then forthwith the dark Brimstony-Spirit is set at Liberty, which before the Separation, the Balsamic body and pure Spirits did Qualify and hold Captive, that it could not mannifest itsself in its own Nature, but being Separated from the good Properties and Friendly Principal, this dark Fiery Sulphurous Spirit, becomes of a Furious Nature and Operation, endeavouring to bring all in Subjection to itself; Therefore such Liquors or Spirits frequently taken, b●●h up the Radical moisture and Natural Heat, and are greedy devourers of the Sweet Oil in the Body, whence proceeds General Obstructions, Crude Windy humours, Consumptions, unnatural Heats and Flushings, Loss of Appetite, Retchings to Vo●●it, and many other disorders; And if those of the Female Sex take to Drink such Spirits, as of late years they do too frequently, the Evils are doubled ●nto them.  
2. In all the before mentioned Spirits that have passed through those cruel harsh Fires where the Air hath not its free Egress and Regress, the pure Spirit and sweet Body is totally destroyed, which is the●Root of Motion and Fermentation; therefore such Spirits will not work or Ferment as all other Drinks and Liquors will, even Water itself; but you may put what quantity of Sugar you will to Brandy, Rumm, or any other Distilled Spirits, they will continue a strong Fire, void of Motion or Fermentation; this doth further declare that all the good Principals and Ver●●es are destroyed by the preparation, and that there remains only a strong fixed Fire, which has its uses in Physic, as is mentioned before, but not otherwise.  
3. Such Spirits being frequently Drunk do generate various Diseases, according to each Man's Nature and Constitution, and the Climate whether hot or cold, for they do powerfully Prey upon the Natural Heat, consuming the sweet Oil and pur● Spirits; for the Balsamic body and pure Spirits of all such Liquors being destroyed, in the preparation, they become an Extre●●, which Nature in its simplicity hates, and for this cause such Liquors cannot Administer any proper or Agreeable Nourishment to the Body, or to the pure Spirits, it cannot give that which it hath not, it hath only power to awaken the Central Heat o● Fire, which ought not to have been kindled; and this it doth by a Simpathetical operation, for all Meats and Drinks have power in the Body to awaken and strengthen their likeness; for this reason all Wisemen skilled in the Mysteries of Nature have commended Simple Meats and Drinks, because most such things are as it were equal in their parts, having no mannifest Quality that does predominate Violently over the other, but yet contains a sufficient Nourishment for the Body, and also for the Spirit● For Meats and Drinks ought to be equal in their parts, the Spirit ought not to be Separated from the Body, nor the Body from the Spirit, but both aught to be Administered together; For the Body without the Spirit is of a gross heavy dull or dead Nature, and the Spirit without the Body is too Violent and Fiery, but the Health of Man's Body and Mind, doth chiefly consist in the equality of both; do not all Meats and Drinks wherein any Quality or Property of Nature is extreme (whether it be in Virtue, or harmfulness) if not sparingly taken, certainly discompose the Harmony both of the Body and mind? for every Quality begets its likeness, and so on the contrary, Concord and Harmony are maintained by their Likenesses; if there be not a Sympathetical agreement between the Stomach and the Meats and Drinks, both in Quality and Quantity, the unity and Concord of the Properties of Nature are immediately broken, whence proceeds various Diseases according to the Degrees of the Disorder.  
This every one ought to understand, or else they may unadvisedly lay heavier Burdens than Nature can bear; for most Diseases are generated through surplusage of Nourishment. For unto weak heats there ought to be administered a proportionable Food, but stronger heats will admit of stronger Foods and greater quantity, which all persons might know, if they would but observe the operation of their own Natures; for no Health nor Harmony can be continued where the parts do disagree amongst themselves. What Harmony can the most skilful Master of Music make, if the strings of his Instrument be some too sharp, and others too flat; even so it is in the Elements of the Body, and also in the Mind.  
4. For Man is the most Beautiful and Perfectest of all God's Creation, and his Image, called by the Ancients, the lesser world; for in him is contained the true Nature and Properties of all Elements, Numbers, Weights, and Measures, therefore man is both capable of, and liable to receive all Impressions, and to be influenced by all things he communicates with, or joins himself unto, as all sorts of Meats, Drinks, Employments, Communications, and what ever else he suffers his will or desires to enter into, the same things have power respectively to awaken their Similes, therefore all 〈◊〉 are perilous to the Health: If Men and Women were but sensible of the danger, and terrible Diseases that are contracted by the frequent eating and drinking of those things that are unequal in themselves, as Brandy, Rumm and other Spirituous Drinks and high prepared Foods, they would not so eagerly desire them. Do not all or most that do accustom themselves to such things quickly spoil their Healths? Nature is Simple and Innocent, and the Simplicity thereof cannot be continued, but by Sobriety and Temperance in Meats and Drinks that are Simple and harmless, which will not only gratify Nature, but contribute both due and moist Nourishment, far beyond all lushions Fat, compounded Dishes of the Richest Food, and Spirituous Drinks, as it appears by many hundreds of Poor People who are constrained by pure necessity, not by Wisdom, to Live for the most part on Simple Food and mean Drinks, their Labour hard, Clothing thin, open Air, cold Houses, small Fires, hard Beds, standing on Earthen Floors; by all which means, they are not only preserved in better Health, but also enabled to endure Labour with more ease and pleasure, than the Intemperately Superfluous can lie a Bed or sit by the Fire. O then how excellent are the ways of Temperance and Sobriety! they free the Body from pain, and the mind from perturbations, sweetening all God's Blessings, and giving the opportunity of time, which being well Employed, affords many benefits both to the Body and Mind; for what advantage is it if a Man possess the whole World, if his Body be full of pain through Intemperance, which for the most part no less affecteth and indisposeth the Mind.  
5. Brandy, Rumm and all strong Spirituous Drinks are far more dangerous in hot Climates and Countries than they are in cold, and do sooner there destroy the Health, though they be bad in both, except taken in a Physical way; I know this is contrary to the Vulgar Notion, but it is agreeable to Truth, Experience and reason; for in hot Climates the Natural Heat is not so strong by reason of the forcible Influences of the Sun, which do powerfully exhale the Radical moisture, open the pores, and too violently evaporate the Spirits by continual Sweatings, which dulls the edge of the Appetite, weakening the Digestive Faculty of the Stomach, whereby the Inclination to Drink is increased, for which reason many desire hot Spiritual Drinks, because they find a present refreshment, for all such Drinks do powerfully awaken the Internal Spirits by Simile, and make Men quick, lively and brisk, during the ●●me of their Operation, which is but for a moment, afterwards they find themselves heavy, dull, and indisposed, and their Stomach feeble, cold, and raw, which does entice all that do accustom themselves to such Drinks, to take a Hair of the same Dog (as their Phrase is) and so they Drink more, and are continually the more weakened, for all such Fiery strong Drinks do not only Prey on the Natural Spirits, but also too violently do evaporate them. The very same Operation have all strong Drinks, as Wine and the like, if Temperance be wanting, but not so violently as the former. Therefore in hot Climates there ought to be double the Care and Temperance in Meats, Drinks and Exercises, as in Cold; of which the Natives of most hot Countries might be our Examples; for they do for the most part Live very Temperately, their Drink being generally Water, or Wine allayed with Water, their Food mean, or more Simple than ours, whereby they are better preserved in Health; for the Constitutions of all People in hot Climates are weaker, or at leastwise not so able to endure great Meals of Food, and Superfluous Drinking of strong Drinks, as they are in cold. For cold Countries make Men hardy, strong, and able to endure Intemperance, for which cause it is observed that most of the Northern Climates are very Intemperate in Drinking and Eating, and in Hit, they are the contrary. And therefore our English are much Distempered and many Dye when they Travel into the West and East-Indies, because they take wrong measures, continuing the same disorder and Intemperance as they did in their own Country, or rather increasing it, which Nature cannot bear without manifest prejudice.  
6. It is to be noted that those that do acoustome themselves to the frequent Drinking of the forementioned Fiery Spiritual Drinks in all the Plantations in the West-Indies, and also the Common eating of Saltfish and Flesh, which are all great Extremes, do thereby become very obnoxious to the dry Belly-Ache, or Griping of the Guts, Dropsies and the Gout, for all such Food and Drink does violently stir up and consume the Natural Heat and moisture, whereby the Digestive Faculty of the Stomach is rendered unable to Concoct or make any perfect Separation, either of the Food or Drink, which oppresses the whole Body, whence are generated Evil juices that fall into the Joints, Enfeebling and Torturing them, and this is the Original of the Gout in other Comp●●●●ons, these disorders consumed the a●ry Flesh of the Bones, taking away their natural Strength and vigour, so that they Languish away by degrees, and these you call Consumptions, in others for want of Heat and moisture, the excrement in the Bowels is Contracted into so hard a Substance, that it cannot pass, and there is hadly a Medicine found that will Cure it, this is that which the Learned call the Iliacal Passion, and the Vulgar, The Plague in the Guts, being one of the most Tormenting Diseases in the World. And in other Bodies the Central Heat being wasted by such unfit Meats and Drinks, so that great part of the Food turns into a Flux of Humours, both Windy and Watery, which swell the lower parts of the Body, and this is the Generation of your Dropsies; but as God is always good, and his Handmaid Nature an Indulgent Mother, so they have as it were chalked out the Means, and prescribed a Diet whereby these Diseases may be prevented, would Men but be so wise as to observe and follow it; for all hot Climates do furnish the Natives with wonderful variety and plenty of Herbs and Fruits, far exceeding cold Countries therein, both in quantity and quality; for in those hot Regions, the Sun hath greater power to prepare all such things: And if our English would but accustom their selves to such harmless natural simple Foods and moderate Drinks, the forementioned distempers would hardly be known.  
7. It is also to be noted, and much to be pitied, that of late years many English Women have betaken themselves to the drinking of Brandy and other Spirits, and have invented the Black-Cherry Brandy which is in great Esteem, so that she is no body that hath not a Bottle of it stand at her ●lbow, or if ever so little Qualm or disorder be on the Stomach, or perhaps merely fancied, then away to the Brandy Bottle; so that when such people come to be Sick, which most of them are very sub●●ct unto, the Physicians do not know what to Administer, they having in their Health used themselves to such high ●●ery drinks, that their Cordials seem like water to them: Besides, there are many fatal inconveniencies attend the Female Sex more than the Male in drinking such drinks, most of which are not so proper to be publicly mentioned in this place, and therefore I shall forbear, but some I cannot but instance in; and though perhaps some Women too much addicted to the Delights of the Bottle, may be offended with me for telling them the Truth, and endeavouring to wean them from the Beloved Dra●●, yet to do them good, I shall venture the Hail-shot of their Tongues, and hope they will in t●me grow so wise, as not to indulge a foolish so●tish humour, when it ●ends apparently to destroy, not only their own healths, and shortening of their Lives, but likewise In●alls diseases and destruction on their poor Innocent Children; for it is not only against the Feminine Nature to drink strong Drinks, but also destructive to the Generation of Mankind; It makes them Masculine and Robustick, filling them with Fury and Madness, and many other Indecencies, which are no less pernicious than shameful in a Woman. It also Distempers them by causing Fumes and Vapours to Fly into the Head, generating Wind in abundance. Therefore the Wise Ancients did account it a Crime for Women to Drink strong Drink or Wine, though their Countries did afford Wine in abundance; and good reason they had, for the whole preservation of Mankind resides chiefly in the Temperance and Government of the Women; if they are Intemperate, the Radix of Men is corrupted; are we not like to have very Fine, Hopeful, Healthy Children, when the Mother by excessive Pampering her unwieldy Carcase, has Contracted more Diseases than an Hospital? or when they are put out to some Drunken Nurse, that instead of affording them wholesome Natural Milk, Suckles them up with the unconcocted dregs of that Brandy with which she daily overcharges her filthy Stomach?  
The Nature of Women will not bear Excess in Meats and Drinks, as men's will, without mannifest danger to their Healths, and also to the Health of their Children; most Windy Diseases both in Women and Children, being caused by their Intemperance both in quantity and quality. They overcharging their Nature with Food containing too much Nourishment, and Drinks that are too strong. This is chiefly observable amongst wanton Citizens and the Richer sort of People, who pay dearly for the Lickerishness of their Palates, by the Diseases that thence arise, they being much more Distempered then the ordinary Painstaking People. I confess there are hardly any Women in the World so Intemperate and such great Lovers of their Bells as the English, no● is there any Nation more Subject to variety of Diseases; and therefore they are afflicted with divers Distempers, which Women in other Countries know nothing of. And as our Children are generally weak, puling, Rickety, and Sickly, so the occasion thereof is too evident, since they are almost made Gluttons from the very Cradle, their Mother's gorging and Feeding them till they loathe their Victuals, and often cast it up again; and when they have been Cramming all day, the good Woman entertains her Gossips with Stories, what a little Stomach her Child has, and that she can get it to eat nothing, and She wonders how it Lives, and indeed so she may, but for a quite contrary reason, for this oppressing Nature with Excess in ●●●uth, is not only the cause of the Death of many, but in others ●●●ows such Seeds, and lays Foundations for Distempers, that they 〈◊〉 scarce ever out-grow them, also many Women out of the like ●●olish Fondness give their Children strong Drink which is very ●●structive to their Health.  
Nor is it become unfrequent, for Women not only to Drink ●●andy but also to Smoak Tobacco, which two things have a great ●●finity, Tobacco being an Herb of Mars and Saturn, it hath its ●●ery Quality from Mars, and its Poisonous fulsome attractive ●●ature from Saturn; the common use of it in Pipes is very Injurious to all sorts of People, but more especially to the Female Sex, except it be taken very sparingly in a Physical way, for some ●atery and windy Diseases, but the usual taking of it destroys the physical virtues and Operation thereof; only the daily Smoking 〈◊〉 may be profitable to Gluttons, and those that Eat and Drink to superfluity of Rich Food and strong Drink, and live Idle Lives, 〈◊〉 such want Evacuations, but Exercise and Temperance were ●uch better for their Health.  
Tobacco and Brandy are certainly utter Enemies to Women ●nd also to their Children, for their Spirits and Balsamic Body, 〈◊〉 hence their true Life Shines, is more volatile and tender then men's, and their natural Heat is not so strong, for this cause Women cannot bear or endure any extremes, either in Meats, Drinks, or Exercises, without mannifest danger to their Healths, they being generally more Sanguine than Men, and their Central Heat ●eaker, therefore all kind of Inequality makes deeper Impression ●n them, and they are sooner moved to all kinds of Passions: ●or Women in their Radix are Compounded more of the sweet friendly Sanguine Nature, their dignification being chiefly from ●he Element of Water, but the Root of men's Nature is from the strong might of the Fire. And for the same cause Women are more chaste than Men, and of colder Natures, though many Men do believe the contrary, but they are greatly mistaken in this particular, having no true understanding of Nature; they have ●udged thus hardly of Women, because many of them are so easily drawn into inconveniencies by the pretended friendship of Men, but I do affirm, that their being so easily overcome, is not from their unchaste desires, but chiefly from their Friendly Courteous effeminate Natures, being of a yielding Temper, which is essentially in the Root of their Lives, and when a Man has once awakened in them the Love-String, which is quickly done, he may comm●● them as he pleases; now finding them comply, they imagine th● of them which they find in themselves: Not but that some W●● men are as Unchaste as Men, but then such, through the powered their depraved Free-wills and wanton Imaginations, have forc●● Nature out of her simple Innocent ways, compelling her often 〈◊〉 do that which she perfectly loath●.  
The wise Ancients understanding this Nature and Constitution 〈◊〉 Women, and considering that the whole welfare and health of Man kind depended chiefly on their Temperance and discreet Conduc● did therefore direct them to an higher degree of Temperance, an● thought it requisite, and so absolutely necessary, that both the drin● allotted for Women in most Countries, was, and is to this day 〈◊〉 Water, and their Food as Innocent and Natural; they eat Fle●● sparingly, living much on raw and boiled Herbs, Fruits and Grai● which is a most sublime Diet. And by this means their Women an● Children are not afflicted with such a number of cruel Diseas● There is no Country in the World where there Children and You●● people are so generally subject to the small Pox, Kings-Evil, Join● Aches, and many Leprous and languishing Diseases; how many 〈◊〉 them yearly Die with Convulsions and Windy D●●stempers, which ge● nerally they receive from their Mothers? How many miseries an● aching hearts do Women endure with their Sickly Children? an● what Woman is free from Vapours and Windy Diseases, fainting Fits, weak Joints and Backs, their Blood corrupted, breaking out 〈◊〉 small Spots in the Flesh of several colours, their Stomach cold, and their Natural heat not able to digest their Food without a Dram● etc. For all which Evils, there is no Remedy so long as our Wome● do continue the frequent Eating of fat gross Flesh (without Herbs and other sweet high prepared Food, and drinking strong Liquours as Brandy, etc. and taking Tobacco, for these things do continually heat the whole Body, thereby awakening the Central heat, which is very injurious to Women, for it presently sends sums and vapours into the Head, and the fierce Fires with venomous Particles do penetrate the whole Body, drying up, and consuming the pleasant moist cool Airy Vapours, suffocating the pure Spirits, which otherwise would replenish the whole Body and sharpen the Appetite; it also dulls the Senses, and possesses the Blood with a sharp fretting Humour, and hinders its free Circulation, causing the pure natural Spirits, whose habitation is in the Blood, to become impure, whence ar●ses a general indisposition over the whole Body. Therefore all that Love their own Health, or the good of their Children, aught to ●e●rain such hurtful Food, and learn to know, that Brandy, Tobacco, and all such things, are to be taken sparingly and no otherwise than as people take Physic.   

CHAP. II.  
Of Flesh, and its operation in the Body, and also on the Senses. That the continual Eating thereof without due distinction of proper Times and Seasons, does darken the Spirits, and distempers Nature. Likewise of the excellency of Herbs, Fruits, and their inward operation on the Body and Mind.  
THe eating of Flesh was not allowed or practised in the first and purer Ages, when Men gave themselves to the Study of Wisdom, viz. To the knowledge of themselves, and were partakers of God's secrets in Divine and Humane things, and enjoyed Health and long Life drawn out to the Age of many hundred years. For thus the Holy Scripture tells us, Gen. 1. The Lord said, behold! I have given to you every Herb bearing Seed, which is upon the face of all the Earth, and every Tree in which is the fruit of a Tree yielding Seed, to you it shall be for Meat. And in another place it is said, Flesh with the Blood thereof, you shall not eat. It is not said, That the Lord made all Creatures for Man to Eat, as I have heard many affirm, but he made them for his own Glory and eternal Honour, and for the manifestation of his Wonders, and that Men should have Dominion over all Creatures and created things, which Man hath lost by suffering his desires and imaginations to enter into the Bestial nature, which do by degrees captivate the Noble parts in Men. But the wise Ancients for divers Ages of the World, did know but little of the variety of Flesh and strong Drinks, or of compounded Dishes of 20 sorts of things, most of them of disagreeing Natures: No, their Food was simple and natural, easy to be procured without oppression to themselves or to any of God's Creatures, as Herbs, Fruits and Grains, and pure water for drink, which things are endued with a most simple nature and operation, which neither du●leth the Head by fumes, nor stup●●●s the Senses by surplusage of nourishment, but being well prepared and eaten moderately, do nourish by way of Simile its like qualities in the Body, being of lighter digestion, and of a more A●ery operation than Flesh, being also void of all Inclinations, Senses, or passions of Love or Ha●e, whose original is more clean and nearer the unity in nature; therefore the Philosophical Ancients in former ages encouraged the eating of Herbs, Fruits and Grains, but on the contrary, made Laws against the common eating of Flesh without distinction, The great and most illuminated Prophet Moses did not admit the Children of Israel to eat any Flesh during their forty years' March through the Wilderness: 'Tis true, when the people did Murmur, the Lord being provoked, gave them Flesh in his Wrath, and afterwards when they were admitted to eat Flesh, it was with such distinctions, and with so many circumstances as could not be performed but by abundance of labour and trouble, and other inconveniencies, by which Laws and observations many of God's Creatures became of little or no use in the Creation, as Swine and the like, if indeed they had only been made for Men to eat. But the Lord never commanded his People in any Age to abstain from any thing, but it was always for their preservation; for Abstinence● Cleanness, and Sobriety in Meats, Drinks, Exercises, and Communications, do work wonderful Effects, and have a sympathetical operation both on the Body and Senses, rendering the observers thereof Healthful, with brisk powerful Spirits, watchful, prudent, of good forecast, able to give Council, and for matters of Learning, they do easily grow to an excellency in the knowledge of themselves, and in all other things whereunto they do apply themselves And as for Prayers, Medi●ations and Contemplations, they do perform them with great Facility, Pleasure and Spiritual delight, being always fresh in their minds, and free from Diseases in their Bodies.  
By this way of Sobriety, Cleanness and Temperance many of the Ancients became admirable both in Divine and humane Wisdom; 'tis well known how Scrupulously the Pythagoreans (one of the most Learned and Mysterious of all the Sects of Gentile Philosophers) abstained from Flesh. The Divine Writer and great Prophet Moses, testifies that God made Man in his own Image● and that he should have Dominion over all things or Creatures, not that he should eat all things, or hurt himself by devouring them, nor suffer his desires to enter into them, nor theirs into him, for Man is a Prince in this World, and in him is contained the true Nature of all the Inferior Creatures; for if it were not so, 〈◊〉 could not be their Prince, nor be sustained by them. And th● Man was made greater than any other Creature that is visible● and to be Lord over all, yet nevertheless he having a Simile with the Nature of all things, is thereby rendered capable to be wrought on by every inferior thing he shall suffer his desires to enter into, and by degrees he is liable to become captivated unto that thing, be it either Good or Evil; for every like (as I told you before) works on and awakens its likeness; This was the reason why Moses commanded that unclean Beasts should not be eaten, that the human Nature might not mix or incorporate in its self the Beastial qualities; for every individual Man has essentially in him the true Natures and Essences of all the Beasts of the Field, and Fishes of the Sea, as also of all Herbs and Fruits, Stones and Minerals, and whatsoever else can be thought of; for if this were not so, then Man would not be subject to be wrought on by all, neither would the various sorts of Food agree with him or nourish him.  
The wise Ancients understanding this, and that every thing had power to attract unto itself such matter out of all things, as is capable to nourish its own Body, therefore in those days the eating of Flesh was not in such Reputation as of late years it hath been; especially as it is in England, who do make it their chief Food, All Vegetables and Fruits being in themselves of a clean Simple Nature and Operation, which being well prepared and temperately eaten, have only power to waken their Similes in the Body and Senses as aforesaid. But on the contrary, all Beasts, especially unclean Beasts, are endued with all kind of Beastial Passions, as Anger, Revenge, Covetuousness, Love and Hate, which dispositions and Passions of the Flesh, but especially the Blood, doth retain after such Animals are Killed; and for that reason it was, that the Blood of all sorts of Beasts was so strictly forbidden, for the Essential Spirits dwell in the Blood, and in the Blood and Spirits lie hid all the dispositions and Inclinations the Creature was endued withal, and therefore all sorts of Flesh that were permitted to be eaten were to be well Purged from the Blood. And also this same Blood was either to be consumed by Fire, or an hole made in the Earth and the Blood cast into it and covered, that the wrathful Spirits and Vapours thereof might not defile the Air, which is continually Breathed into our Bodies; for when any Creature is Killed, the great pain and Agony they endure does so powerfully awaken the Centre of the wrathful Fire, and also the Internal Poisons which are the Root of every Life, that the said Fierce Poisonous Spirits seize the Blood on their right Fountain of pre●rvation, so that the Blood does not only contain all the natural dispositions, passions and Inclinations, but also the awakened Poisons and irritated Spirits which were violently stirred up by Death's stroke. For when the natural Life is in danger (the continuation of which is so sweet unto all Creatures, and they do so unwillingly part with it, especially when the Creature is in perfect Health and Strength) what a strange fear and dread must needs attend the Creature in this condition? and how strongly and violently are all the Centres and Powers of nature stirred up? and than are awakened the revengeful Spirits, which do contain the Blood, for that is their Habitation, which in this Agonous condition does often spread itself through the whole Body, and makes the Flesh look red, but this is generally drawn back again by the drawing away of the Blood where the wound is made. Now if this Blood be exposed to the open Air, these fiery dark wrathful Spirits do by degrees evaporate, and incorporate themselves with the Air, and so defiles it, and renders it pernicious.  
The very same is to be understood in all other Uncleannesses, and these are the chief Reasons why the Prophet Moses commanded the Blood either to be Burnt on the Altar, or Buried in the Earth, though there doth remain somewhat more to be said why he commanded the Blood to be consumed on the Altar by Fire, which I shall forbear, and speak of it in its proper place; for those fiery wrathful Spirits that do evaporate themselves into the Air, being continually breathed into the body by such people as do communicate near such places, as Slaughter-houses, and the like, and more especially those that are of kill Employments, those awakened wratchful Spirits do enter them, and powerfully incorporate themselves with their Similes; for this cause all Butchers and others, that do use such Trades, are more fierce and cruel, sooner moved to wrath than others; killing is as easy and familiar to them as Ploughing the Land is to the Husbandman; and in a word, they are far more inclined to violence than men of other Employments are.  
The same is to be understood in all other Trades, and also 〈◊〉 Communications● as those that are brought up and have their 〈◊〉 versations amongst Horses, are not most of them Robustick, Pro●● Bold and Surly, like the Creatures they communicate with; th● same is likewise to be understood in many other other hard working rough Trades and Employments; are not most of them rash, head strong, scarce endued with common Humanity. There is nothing so good, or so bad, but Man is capable of being captivated to it from this Ground it is that weak Inclinations, that a Man in himself is hardly sensible of, may either by Employments or Communications be made strong, which is one Reason why men's Inclinations and their Love and Hate altars and changes, according to time, place, business, and communication, as some Men have declared, that they did not fear being overcome with Drink, Women, or th● like Evils, because at that time they found no Inclinations to such things, nevertheless, time, opportunity, communications, and other circumstances concurring, many of them have been overcome by those Vices they so little stood in fear of, though also Astrologick Configurations and Influences have a share in altering and changing men's inclinations, and more especially when other causes concur: For this cause the most prudent in all Ages have advised all Men to avoid evil occasions, and the Apostle Paul saith, That Evil Communication corrupts good Manners, the truth of which no Man will or can deny. Now if Employments, Communications, Labours, Words, and all kind of outward business, have so great power of changing and altering Dispositions and Inclinations, increasing them, and the contrary, how can we imagine but Mea●● and Drinks received into the Body, will have the same or greater power and operation, as those that feed much on unclean Flesh, as on Swine, and that have their conversation amongst Animals, are not many of them much like those Creatures, of so●●ish, dull, heavy, sordid dispositions, yet subtle and cunning in a Beastial way? And on the contrary, those that drink Wine, and feed on the highest food, have not they Spirits accordingly? also those whose Conversation is amongst Men, as Citizens and Merchants; have they not higher and greater Spirits, being more tractable and humane, fair and ingenious in all their dealings and conversations: For all things have a sympathetical operation, whether it be Employments, Meats, Drinks, or Communications, every thing does secretly awaken its like property, which do often captivate the spirit of a Man before he is sensible of it, being ignorant of the nature and sympathetical operation all things have with his own Nature. 'Tis true, most Men believe that evil Company corrupts manners, and will acknowledge that some sorts of Employments do by degrees dispose people to Inhumanity, Violence and Cruelty; but if you tell them there is the same possibility and greater in Meats, to vary not only men's bodies, but also their Inclinations and Minds, they shall Laugh at it as a ridiculous Dream, though in truth it is a most certain Truth, and daily experience (if we would but hear her Voice) bears witness unto it. Why did Moses prohibit his people the eating of Swine's flesh, seeing Swine are not serviceable unto mankind any other way, but by being killed and eaten; and besides, a Swine is a Creature, that being well ordered, becomes as wholesome Nourishment, as some other Animals that are counted clean, though there is somewhat to be said against the grossness of that sort of Flesh; But the chief thing the Spirit of God in that great Prophet regarded, was, no doubt, the Spirit of that ●reature whose original and predominant quality stands in the dark wrath of Nature, which is manifested by their shapes, cries, and tones, which Spirit the h●man nature ought not to join itself unto, lest it partake of its Nature. Every thing having power to join itself with its likeness, and to strengthen its own property. Doth not Wine and strong drink precipitate men into Fury and Madness by simile; that is, the Spirits in Wine do incorporate themselves with the natural Spirits, and violently awaken them, making them burn too fierce, which sets nature into a Rage, awakening the central Spirits till all parts of the body burn like fire till the Oil be consumed, and nature begins to languish, becoming dull, heavy, and stupid. The very same operation have all food in the Body, and on the Spirits and Senses, but more slowly and hidden; for great Meals of Food makes dull when first eaten, for all the time Nature is a digesting, and making separation, (which is 4, 5, or 6 hours a doing) and then Nature begins to be brisk and lightsome; for what the Stomach and natural heat do perform, as to Fermentation and Separation with the Food, is done to Nature's hand by Art in all sorts of strong drinks, therefore all such fermented strong drinks have a present operation, but let drink be ever so strong, if it have not passed through Fermentation and Separations it will lie heavy on the Stomach, and send dark and dulling fumes into the Head if a quantity be drunk: Therefore great Meals of strong rich food do endanger the Health more than proportionable drinking of strong drinks, especially in hot Countries, and in Summer time in colder Climates. That dispositions and inolinations are changed and altered by Food, may further appear in all or most unclean creatures, are they not made much fiercer if raw Flesh and Blood be given them, their wrathful unclean Nature being thereby enraged and made stronger? And is not the very flesh of those Creatures men feed on, altered either for the better or worse, according to the nature of their Food; what a vast difference shall there be as to the goodness or badness, wholsomness or unwholsomness of the Milk of the very same Cow, when she feeds upon fresh delicate Grass, Herbs, and Flowers, and when she is kept on course Brewer's grains or the like? The Elements of Man's body and natural spirits are compounded of the same matter as other Creatures are, and in respects subject to the same or like alterations; only the Holy Light and Grace of God, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the World, if obeyed, is sufficient to subdue most natural Inclinations, and to keep them within the bounds of Temperance; indeed this gift is the only power by which a man may overcome the Evil and deny himself.  
2. Flesh is not so clean a Food as Herbs, Seeds and Fruits, for all sorts of Animals are Subject to various Passions, but on the contrary all or most Vegetables have a more Simple and Innocent Original, therefore their Operation on the Body and Senses is as Simple having no power to awaken any property in the Body but what is like themselves. Furthermore we see that no Creatures that are clean will eat Flesh, except they be taught it, and brought to it by degrees; on the other side, all such Animals as naturally will eat Flesh, are by all means counted unclean, as Dogs, Cats, Bears, Wolves, Foxes and many others both in the Sea and Land, and most Men will avoid the eating of such Creatures, as being unclean in the Root of their Natures. Therefore they desire such Food as hath affinity with them, for every Creature rejoiceth in its likeness. The Prophet Moses well understood this when he commanded that unclean Creatures and Blood should not be eaten, because the Blood (as is mentioned before) doth not only contain the Spirits, but the very Humour, Dispositions and Inclinations of the Creature, therefore it was to be Killed and dressed after such a manner by which the Blood and Superfluous matter was extinguished, and if Flesh should now be prepared after their way, we should not account it to have half the Virtue as it hath in our way of preparation. Indeed the way of Killing and preparing of Flesh and Fish, that the Lawgiver prescribed to his People, was to cleanse the Flesh from all Blood in which stand the Spirits, and all the dispositions and Inclinations of the Creature lie hid. By this means the Uniting of the Bestial Nature with the humane was in a great measure prevented; and for no other reason all unclean Beasts, Fouls and Fishes were so severely forbidden. All Created things have but only Ground and Original. Every particular Creature contains the true Nature and properties of the whole, only the Qualities are in several degrees, one having one Quality strong, and another the Centre. For in every Creature one of the forms or properties do carry the upward Dominion, and the other Qualities lie as it were hid, but some times do manifest themselves, but that property which is weakest may be awakened and made strong by its Simile, as often comes to pass.  
From this very Ground proceeds all Sympathy and Antipathy, concord and discord in this World. For all those whose predominate qualities stand nearest and have affinity each to other, such are Friendly one to another, but those whose predominate Properties have Antipathy each to other, such slight one another, and if the Grace and Holy Light of God do not restrain them, they are very apt to Speak Evil and Backbite one another. The same is to be understood in the Divine Principal of God's Love, those that through the Blessing and Favour of the Lord, have obtained the holy Gifts of the Spirit, be it more or less, all such People have affinity and bear good will each to other; except the false Prophet Opinion gets in amongst them, which is a Ravening Wolf? every thing rejoiceth in its likeness, and the contrary in its Death, therefore it is highly convenient, for every Man to consider the variety and the possibility of his own Nature, and that in himself is contained the true Nature of every thing in the Visible and Invisible World, and that he bears a Simile with all things, and is both capable and liable to be drawn either to Vice or Virtue by every thing he joins himself to, whether Meats, Drinks, Communications, or whatever else a Man suffers his will or desires to run out after or enter into, the same thing hath power to awaken its likeness, and for this cause all the Wisemen and Prophets have advised to cleanness and sobriety, and to the reading of good men's Books, which do stir up the good Faculties in the Soul, for all Books do bear the Image and Spirits of him that Wrote them, and so by simile do awaken the like Spirit and desire; and so on the contrary, if young or old give themselves to the reading of Plays or Books of Romances, they will powerfully awaken by simile the vain wanton Nature, which before lay as it were hid, Therefore it was said in the Revelations, Come out from amongst them, and be ye separated, lest you partake of their Evils.  
3. The Reason why most people love and so much desire Flesh more than either Herbs, Fruits, or Grains, is not because it doth afford either better Nourishment, or is pleasanter to the palate or Stomach, but it chiefly is because Man is departed in his Mind and desires from the Innocent ways of God and Nature, and through his freewill hath awakened the dark wrathful powers in himself, which have more Affinity with the Bestial Nature, than with Herbs or Fruits: For the Beasts are endued with the very same Passions in all respects as Men, if it had not been so, the Commandment had not been so strict against eating of Flesh, for the Radix of Beasts and Men have a greater Affinity, and the more ignorant and sottish people are, the more they desire to eat Flesh, and the more Flesh they eat, the more Sottish, Ignorant, and Brutish they become. Also, the more the dark poisonous wrath of God and Nature is stirred up, and the more it does predominate in Man, the more doth Man desire Food that hath a proportionable Nature. From this very ground it is that some sorts of Creatures esteemed Unclean, (whose predominent quality stands in the wrath of Nature) do so much desire unclean Food, because it hath unity with their Natures; the very same is to be understood of those Creatures which we call clean, they do as much on the contrary desire clean Food, viz. Fruits and Herbs, because such things have the nearest Affinity with their Natures; and if Men had not departed from the Innocent ways of God and Nature, and suffer their Wills to enter into the Wrath and Beastial Nature, they would not so much desire Flesh; for Flesh cannot be eaten without violence done to Nature, for the Lives of all Beasts are as sweet to them, and they as much desire to continue them as Men do, and as unwillingly part with them. And the Groan of these Creatures that suffer Oppression and Pain, do awaken the Wrath in them that do it, which is a certain Retaliation or Reward; for all kind of Cruelty does stir up and awaken the Wrath of God in Nature. And so on the contrary, all Love and Concord does powerfully beget its likeness.  
Doth not every evil word, which does proceed and is form from the Principal of Wrath and Passion, carry the Power of its principal with it, and awaken its Simile in those to whom such words are directed? on the contrary, do not soft and pleasant words pacify wrath by awakening their Simile? every principal and property in Nature must have its own Food, or else it looseth its power and Strength. Mens coveting to eat so much Flesh is too plain a Sign, that they are departed from that Innocent and Simple Life for which they were made, and enured into the contrary; for if the wrath of God in Nature were not awakened beyond its proper degree, and did not predominate over the Simple Innocent Life, than People would no more desire Flesh then our holy Ancestors in the first Ages of the World. It is a token we are in Egypt, when we hanker so much after the fleshpots▪ As long as men were partakers of and followers of the true knowledge of God's works, and lived in the Simple path of Nature, which led to Health and long Life, Herbs and Fruits were in as great esteem as Flesh is now; It was a shame in former Ages for a Man to be seen to buy Flesh, or to have carried it openly in the Streets of Cities, but now the best Citizens count it the contrary, and make nothing to go openly to the Elesh-Markets in their Plush Coats, and load a Porter two or three times a Week, with the Spoils of their Slaughtered Fellow-Creatures; and if a Man comes to their Honses after Dinner, there he may behold a very unpleasant sight, viz. Greasy-Platters, Bloody-Bones, and pieces of Fat Flesh lie up and down the Kitchen, thereby rendered next door to a slaughter House. And this Trade is driven every day in the Week, but more especially on the day they call their Sabbath, though in truth they do not make it so, but rather a day of Feasting, a day wherein they Bury the dead Bodies of Slaughtered Beasts, and a day on which our English Belly-Slaves and Gluttons make their Servants do more work than any other day of the Week, as to dressing of Food. A day likewise whereon most People clothe themselves in all their bravery, and the Women go to Church to take notice who has the Finest clothes and the newest Fashions, etc. but why do I blame the Women, the Men have been the occasion of all this and much more.  
If those of each Sex did hearken to the Voice of God and Nature, they would forsake such sinful Vanities, and not thus seek Death in the Error of their Lives▪ I have drawn the Curtain, and given them a brief view of Nature's School, wherein the Sons of● Wisdom learn to obey her Dictates, and by their prudent Conduct and Temperance, avoid those many torturing diseases of Body, and distracting pertu●bations of Mind, to which the rest of the world necessarily enslave themselves by their perverse ●olly. What I have delivered, is the very Doctrine of Nature, approved by Religion, justified by Reason, and confirmed by Experience; Those that wilfully slight so many Monitors, will scarce deserve Pity in their Misery.   
FINIS