7 Meditate, how that many a mans Table is made his snare:1 so that through his intemperance and unthankfulness, the meat which should nourish his body, kills him with a surfeit: insomuch, that more are killed with this snare, 2then with the sword. And seeing that since the Curse, 3the use (as of all creatures, so likewise) of meat and drink, is unto us unclean,4 till the same be sanctified by the Word of God and ⟨p. 458⟩Prayer: and that man liveth not by bread only, 5but by the Word of Gods ordinance, and his blessing, which is called the staff of bread: Sit not therefore down to eat, before you pray, and rise not, before you give God thanks. Feed to suffice Nature, yet rise with an appetite: and remember thy poor christian brethren, who suffer hunger, and want those good things wherewith thou dost abound. These things, or some of them premeditated: (if there be not a Samuel present) lift up with all comely reverence,6 thy heart with thy hands and eyes, unto the great Creator and Feeder of all Creatures, and before meat pray unto him thus:
7 Meditate, how that many a mans Table is made his snare:1 so that through his intemperancie and vnthankefulnesse, the meate which should nourish his body, kils him with a surfeit: insomuch, that more are killed vvith this snare, 2then vvith the sword. And seeing that since the Curse, 3the vse (as of all creatures, so likewise) of meat and drinke, is vnto vs vncleane,4 till the same be sanctified by the Word of God and ⟨p. 458⟩Prayer: and that man liueth not by bread onely, 5but by the Word of Gods ordinance, and his blessing, which is called the staffe of bread: Sit not therefore downe to eate, before you pray, and rise not, before you giue God thankes. Feed to suffice Nature, yet rise with an appetite: and remember thy poore christian brethren, who suffer hunger, and want those good things wherwith thou dost abound. These things, or some of them premeditated: (if there be not a Samuel present) lift vp with all comely reuerence,6 thy heart with thy hands and eyes, vnto the great Creator and Feeder of all Creatures, and before meate pray vnto him thus:
- 1Psal. 69.22.
- 2Gen. 3.17. 1 Tim. 4.4.5.
- 3Mat. 4.4. Levit. 26.26Mat. 4.4. Leuit. 26.26
- 4Ezch. 4.16. and 5.16.
- 51 Sam. 9.13. Mat. 14.6. Luke 24.30. 1 Cor. 10.1. Rom. 14.6. 1 Thes. 5.18. Eccle. 10.17 Luke 21.34. Eccle. 31.20 Nehe. 6.10. Amos 6.6.
- 61 Sam. 9.13. Mat. 14.19.