The Mode of Taking Food and Drink
THE MODE OF TAKING FOOD AND DRINK. *
When thou takest thy food, think of Him who gives it, namely, God, and whilst thinking of His Name, with the word put the first morsel in thy mouth, thank God for it, and entreat His grace and blessing upon it, that it may be for the health of thy body and mind; then thy drink in the same manner. And upon any other thing or quantity, which thou canst not take with the Name of God in thy mind, entreat His grace and blessing, lest it should prove an injury and a curse to thee. Whilst thou art masticating thy food in the name of God, chew it small and delicately, then swallow, drinking whilst thou swallowest. And whilst thou art drinking in slow and spare draughts, conduct thyself towards God, as at thy food; and let the voice of heart and conscience be manifested in thee, and not heard by any other being than God.
My beloved teacher, prithee, tell me the meaning of the small and delicate mastication of food, and the spare swallowing of drink?
Teacher. The small and delicate mastication involves a
deep meaning, namely, that there should be no belief in, and reception of judgment, or chronicle, or report, or marvel, or opinion, or concern, or faith, or unbelief, without, as it were, chewing, turning, and agitating it small and delicately, scattered and scrutinized, before it be swallowed by the understanding and reason; that inquiry as to what is necessary be made of him who knows about it, in respect of species, and quality, and in respect of what is true or false in it; and that whilst all this takes place, the unutterable Name of God, how it is to be spoken by the mind of man, should be brought to memory and mind. Then what thou hast taken into thy memory and mind, thy reason and understanding, will be to thee a grace and a blessing, good for thyself, and good for all men, and the grace of God's chief blessing will dwell upon thee.