The combat between Christ and the Devil displayedThe combat betvveene Christ and the Diuell displayed

The use. First, hereby we are taught to consider aright of all creatures whereby our life is preserved, as meat, drink, apparel &c. and that is thus, besides the bodily sustenance of the creature, we must labour to see a further matter, even the blessing of God in the creature proceeding from his word, decree and appointment, whereby it is made fit and able to yield sustenance and nourishment. The Scripture calleth this the ^aStaff of bread, and so it is indeed, for as an aged and impotent man falleth to the ground if his staff be plucked from him, so the best creature that serves for our use, without Gods blessing becomes fruitless unto us. This, reason may teach us, for how should that thing of it self preserve and further life, which in it self is void of life? And how should that give heat and warmness to our bodies, which of it self is void of heat? let us therefore confess that it is not the substance of food that doth refresh us, nor the matter of our raiment that keeps us warm, but the blessing of him that by his word hath ordained them for these ends, if he withdraw his blessing, the staff and ^bstay is gone; men may eat (as Haggai ^csaith) but they shall not have enough; they may drink, and yet not be filled; they may cloth themselves, and not be warm; It is Gods blessing that makes Gods creatures do us good: how else should it come to pass, that the poor mans child which is barely clad, and homely fed, should be as healthful, comely, and well liking as the child of a Prince, but that God blesseth aswell the homely food of the poor, as the dainty fare of the richest.

The vse. First, heereby we are taught to consider aright of all creatures whereby our life is preserued, as meat, drinke, apparell &c. and that is thus, besides the bodily sustenance of the creature, we must labour to see a further matter, euen the blessing of God in the creature proceeding from his word, decree and appointment, whereby it is made fit and able to yeeld sustenance and nourishment. The Scripture calleth this the ^aStaffe of bread, and so it is indeed, for as an aged and impotent man falleth to the ground if his staffe be plucked from him, so the best creature that serues for our vse, without Gods blessing becomes fruitlesse vnto vs. This, reason may teach vs, for how should that thing of it selfe preserue and further life, which in it selfe is void of life? And how should that giue heat and warmnesse to our bodies, which of it selfe is void of heate? let vs therefore confesse that it is not the substance of foode that doth refresh vs, nor the matter of our raiment that keeps vs warme, but the blessing of him that by his word hath ordained them for these ends, if he withdraw his blessing, the staffe and