Rule 1: Of All the Benefits of This Life

The first rule, Of all the benefites of this life.

Besides godliness contained in the first table, and righteousness in the second: there is commanded in the whole, sobriety or temperance, which is the moderate and sparing use of all bodily benefits, as of food, apparel, rest and recreation, the which temperance is a means to maintain and increase both the other. Titus 2:11: The grace of God teaches us, to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. (2 Peter 1:6) Join with your virtue knowledge, and with it temperance, and with that, godliness and brotherly love, etc. Which does show, that this sparing use of these benefits is commanded, as a nurse or staff of godliness and righteousness.