Memb. 4. Exercise rectified of Body and minde.

To that great inconvenience, which comes on the one side by immoderate and unseasonable exercise, too much solitariness and idleness on the other, must be opposed as an Antidote, a moderate and seasonable use of it, and that both of body and minde, as a most materiall circumstance, much conducing to this cure, and to the generall preservation of our health. The heavens themselves run continually round, the Sun riseth and sets, the Moon increaseth and decreaseth, Stars and Planets keep their constant motions, the aire is still tossed by the winds, the waters eb and flow to their conservation no doubt, to teach us that we should ever be in action.

For which cause Hierom prescribes Rusticus the Monk, that he be alwayes occupied about some business or other, that the Devill do not finde him idle. Seneca would have a man do something, though it be to no purpose. Xenophon wisheth one rather to play at tables, dice, or make a jester of himself (though he might be far better employed) then do nothing.

The Ægyptians of old, and many flourishing Commonwealths since, have enjoyned labour and exercise to all sorts of men, to be of some vocation and calling, and to give an account of their time, to prevent those grievous mischiefes that come by idleness; for as fodder, whip and burthen belong to the asse: so meat, correction and worke unto the servant, Ecclus 33. 23. The Turks injoyn all men whatsoever, of what degree, to be of some trade or other, the grand Signior himself is not excluded.

In our memory (saith Sabellicus) Mahomet the Turke, he that conquered Greece, at that very time when he heard Embassadors of other Princes, did either carve or cut wooden spoones, or frame something upon a table. This present Sultan makes notches for bows. The Jews are most severe in this examination of time. All wel-governed Places, Towns, Families, and every discreet person will be a law unto himself.

But amongst us the badge of gentry is idleness: to be of no calling, not to labour, for that’s derogatory to their birth, to be a meer spectator, a drone, fruges consumere natus, to have no necessary employment to busie himself about in Church and commonwealth (some few governers exempted) but to rise to eat, &c. to spend his dayes in hawking, hunting, &c. and suchlike disports and recreations (which our Casuists tax) are the sole exercise almost and ordinary actions of our Nobility, and in which they are too immoderate.

And thence it comes to pass that in City and country so many grievances of body and mind, and this ferall disease of melancholy so frequently rageth, and now domineers almost all over Europe amongst our great ones. They know not how to spend their times (disports excepted, which are all their business) what to do, or otherwise how to bestow themselves: like our modern Frenchmen that had rather lose a pound of blood in a single combate, then a drop of sweat in any honest labour.

Every man almost hath something or other to employ himself about, some vocation, some trade, but they do all by ministers and servants, ad otia duntaxat se natos existimant, imò ad sui ipsius plerumque & aliorum perniciem, as one freely taxeth such kinde of men, they are all for pastimes, ’tis all their study, all their invention tends to this alone to drive away time, as if they were born some of them to no other ends.

Therefore to correct and avoid these errors and inconveniences, our Divines, Physicians, and Politicians, so much labour, and so seriously exhort; And for this disease in particular, there can be no better cure then continuall business, as Rhasis holds, to have some employment or other, which may set their minde aworke, and distract their cogitations. Riches may not easily be had without labour and industry, nor learning without study, neither can our health be preserved without bodily exercise.

If it be of the body, Guianerius allowes that exercise which is gentle, and still after those ordinary frictions, which must be used every morning. Montaltus cap. 26. and Jason Pratensis use almost the same words, highly commending exercise if it be moderate; a wonderfull help so used, Crato calls it, and a great means to preserve our health, as adding strength to the whole body, increasing naturall heat, by means of which, the nutriment is well concocted in the stomack, liver and veines, few or no crudities left, is happily distributed over all the body.

Besides, it expells excrements by sweat, and other insensible vapours; in so much, that Galen prefers Exercise before all Physick, Rectification of diet, or any regiment in what kinde soever; ’tis Natures Physician. Fulgentius out of Gordonius de conserv. vit. hom. lib. 1. cap. 7. tearmes exercise, a spur of a dull sleepy nature, the comforter of the members, cure of infirmity, death of diseases, destruction of all mischiefes and vices.

The fittest time for exercise, is a little before dinner, a little before supper, or at any time when the body is empty. Montanus consil. 31. prescribes it every morning to his patient, and that as Calenus addes, after he hath done his ordinary needs, rubbed his body, washed his hands and face, combed his head, and gargarized. What kinde of exercise he should use, Galen tells us, lib. 2. & 3. de sanit. tuend. and in what measure, till the body be ready to sweat, and roused up; ad ruborem, some say, non ad sudorum, lest it should dry the body too much;

others injoyn those wholesome businesses, as to dig so long in his garden, to hold the plough, and the like: Some prescribe frequent and violent labour and exercises, as sawing every day, so long together, (epid. 6. Hippocrates confounds them) but that is in some cases, to some peculiar men; the most forbid, and by no means will have it go farther then a beginning sweat, as being perilous if it exceed.