_Eating_ is one of the lowest actions of our lives; it is common to us with mere _animals_: yet we see that the piety of all the ages of the world, has turned this _ordinary_ action of the animal life, into a _piety_ to God, by making every meal to begin and end with devotion. *We see yet some _remains_ of this custom in most Christian families; some such _little formality_ as shews you, that people used to call upon God at the beginning and end of their meals. But indeed it is generally now so performed, as to look more like a mockery upon devotion, than any solemn application of the mind unto God. In one house you may perhaps see the _head_ of the family just pulling off his hat; in another half getting up from his _seat_; another shall, it may be, proceed so far, as to make as if he said _something_: but however, these _little attempts_ are the remains of some devotion that was formerly used at such times, and are proofs that religion has formerly belonged to this part of _common life_. But to such a pass are we now come, that tho’ the custom is still preserved, yet we can hardly bear with him, that seems to perform it with any degree of _seriousness_, and look upon it as a sign of a _fanatical_ temper, if a man has not done it as soon as he begins. I would not be thought to plead for the necessity of _long prayers_ at these times; but thus much I think may be said, that if prayer is proper at these times, we ought to use such _words_ as should shew, that we _solemnly_ appeal to God for such graces and blessings as are proper to the occasion; otherwise the mock-ceremony, instead of blessing our victuals, does but accustom us to trifle with devotion, and give us a habit of being unaffected with our prayers. ♦17. If every _head_ of a family would, at the return of every meal, make a _solemn adoration_ of God, in such a decent manner as becomes a devout mind, it would be very likely to teach him, that _swearing_, _sensuality_, _gluttony_, and _loose_ discourse, were very improper at those meals, which were to begin and end with devotion. ♦ Number 16 omitted in text. And if in these days of general corruption, this part of devotion is fallen into a _mock-ceremony_, it must be imputed to this, that _sensuality_ and _intemperance_ have got too great power over us, to suffer us to add any devotion to our meals. But thus much must be said, that when we are as pious as _Jews_ and _Heathens_ of all ages have been, we shall think it proper to pray at the beginning and end of our meals. I have appealed to this pious custom of all ages as a proof of the reasonableness of the doctrine of this and the foregoing chapters; that is, as a proof that religion is to be the _rule_ and _measure_ of all the actions of our _ordinary_ life. For surely, if we are not to _eat_, but under such rules of devotion, it must appear, that whatever else we do, must, in its proper way, be done with the same regard to the glory of God.