Part 6

Had not Exercise been absolutely necessary for our Well-being, Nature would not have made the Body so proper for it, by giving such an Activity to the Limbs, and such a Pliancy to every Part, as necessarily produce those Compressions, Extensions, Contortions, Dilatations, and all other Kind of Motions that are necessary for the Preservation of such a System of Tubes and Glands as has been before mentioned.

And that we might not want Inducements to engage us in such an Exercise of the Body as is proper for its Welfare, it is so ordered, that nothing valuable can be procur'd without it. Not to mention Riches and Honour, even Food and Raiment are not to be come at without the Toil of the Hands, and Sweat of the Brows.

Providence furnishes us with Materials, but expects we should work them up ourselves. The Earth must be labour'd before it gives Encrease; and when it is forced into its several Products, how many Hands must they pass thro' before they are fit for Use? Manufactures, Trade, and Agriculture naturally employ more than nineteen Parts of the Species in twenty; and as for those who are not obliged to labour, by the Condition in which they are born, they are more miserable than the rest of Mankind, unless they indulge themselves in that voluntary Labour call'd Exercise, of which there is no Kind I would so recommend to both Sexes, as that of Rideing; as there is none that conduces so much to Health, and is every Way accommodated to the Body. Dr. Sydenham is very lavish in its Praises, and if you would learn the mechanical Effects of it described at length, you may find it learnedly treated of by Dr. Fuller, in a late Treatise, intituled, Medicina Gymnastica, or, The Power of Exercise. And here Mr. Dryden:

The first Physicians by Debauch were made; Excess began, and Sloth sustain'd the Trade. By Chase our long-liv'd Fathers earn'd their Food, Toil strung the Nerves, and purified the Blood; But we their Sons, a pamper'd Race of Men, Are dwindled down to threescore Years and ten. Better to hunt in Fields for Health unbought, Than fee the Doctor for a nauseous Draught. The Wise for Cure on Exercise depend; God never made his Work for Man to mend.

General MAXIMS FOR HEALTH: OR, RULES to preserve the Body to a good old Age.

It is not good to eat too much, or fast too long, or do any thing else that is preternatural.

II.

Whoever eats or drinks too much, will be sick.

III.

If thou art dull and heavy after Meat, it's a Sign thou hast exceeded the due Measure, for Meat and Drink ought to refresh the Body, and make it chearful, not to dull and oppress it.

IV.

If thou findest those ill Symptoms, consider whether too much Meat or Drink occasions it, or both, and abate by little and little, 'till thou findest the Inconveniency remov'd.

Pass not immediately from a disorder'd Life, to a strict and precise Life, but by degrees abate the Excess, for ill Customs arrive by degrees, and so must be wore off.

VI.

As to the Quality of the Food, if the Body be of a healthful Constitution, and the Meat does thee no Harm, it matters little what it is; but all Sorts must be avoided that does Prejudice, though it please the Taste never so much.

VII.

After Diet is obtain'd, the Appetite will require no more than Nature hath need of, it will desire as Nature desires.

VIII.

Old Men can fast easily; Men of ripe Age can fast almost as much, but young People and Children can hardly fast at all.

IX.

Let ancient People eat Panada, made of Bread, and Flesh Broth, which is of light Digestion; an Egg now and then will do well.

Growing Persons have a great deal of Natural Heat, which requires a great deal of Nourishment, else the Body will pine.

XI.

It must be examin'd what Sort of Persons ought to feed once or twice a Day, more or less; Allowance being always made to the Person, to the Season of the Year, to the Place where one lives, and to Custom.

XII.

The more you feed foul Bodies, the more you hurt your selves.

XIII.

He that studies much, ought not to eat so much as those that work hard, his Digestion being not so good.