Luke 21:34-35 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life… I. I will attempt to show you THE EVILS AND MISCHIEF OF THESE SINS WHICH OUR SAVIOUR HERE CAUTIONS US AGAINST. Be it known to you, then, that miserable are the effects and fruits of these vices. Gluttony and greediness drove our first parents out of Paradise. They tell us that Heliogabalus used to bring his parasites into dining-rooms that had deceitful floors, and thence they fell and were destroyed. This is but an emblem of the ruin which attends those who are addicted to immoderate eating and drinking. Besides what I have said already, I will farther show you the pernicious effects of this luxurious practice in these five particulars. 1. This vice is generally fatal to men's estates, as the wise man observes, and therefore dissuades from this folly (Proverbs 23:20, 21). 2. How unspeakably pernicious is this sin to the body as well as the estate! 3. This sin is injurious not only to the body of man, but to his mind and soul, his better and move refined part. Its operations are stifled and choked, its faculties are rendered dull and useless, and the excellent spirit which was made to look up to heaven bows down to the earth, becomes gross and carnal, and is plunged into dirt and mire. 4. Luxurious eating and drinking are the nurses of wantonness and uncleanness. 5. Contempt and disgrace are the just reward of luxury. II. I am to lay down CERTAIN RULES AND DIRECTIONS WHEREBY YOU MAY ORDER YOURSELVES ARIGHT IN THE USE OF THE PLEASURES OF MEAT AND DRINK. These are things natural and necessary, and therefore lawful and innocent in themselves. 1. Offend not as to quantity; eat and drink no more than what is requisite. Nature is content with slender provision, and Christianity maintains the same moderation. 2. Offend not as to quality, that is, be not over-curious in the choice of your meats and drinks. 3. Desire not to fare more costly than is agreeable to your condition. 4. Be careful that you spend not too much time in eating and drinking. 5. (And which is near a-kin to the former rule) Make it not your grand business to eat and drink. 6. Then these bodily refreshments of meat and drink are lawful and commendable, when they are accompanied with charity towards the needy. 7. Let your eating and drinking be attended not only with charity, but with all other testimonies of religion and serving God. Among the pagans their tables were sacred. It should be much more so among Christians, that is, we should make them serviceable to virtue, and to the promoting of our own and others' spiritual good. III. I will propound to you some HELPS AND ASSISTANCES. 1. That you may not offend God by the extravagant use of meats and drinks, begin within, and strive to check your undue appetites there. Intemperance and luxury begin at the heart; stifle it there. 2. You may be helped in the discharge of the duty which I have been treating of, by understanding your. selves aright, by considering your excellent nature and make. 3. To antidote you against this immoderation in meats and drinks, think seriously of the dreadful judgments of God which attend this sin (see Isaiah 5:11; Amos 6:1, etc.). 4. Think of death and judgment, and the serious consideration of these will be serviceable to check you in your intemperate courses. (John Edwards, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. |
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