Which examples that we may imitate, let us consider that no creature hath virtue and power in it self to nourish us, unless God that made it, do by his blessing sustain it, and give vigour and strength unto it, that it may be effectual for this use. For as our Saviour saith, Man liveth not by bread only, but by every word which proceedeth out of 1Gods mouth, that is, that special and powerful word, whereby he appointeth and commandeth it to nourish us. And if the Lord do take away the staff of bread, that is, the virtue and strength of it, we shall eat, and not be satisfied, be famished in the middest of our plenty, and even consume and 2waste away in our iniquity. Yea, if the Lord curse his blessings for our ungratitude, we shall either have no power to feed upon them, or in stead of nourishing us, they will be the causes of weakness, sickness, and death it self. Of the former not long since my self, with many others, saw a fearful example, in one whom I visited in his sickness of which he died; whose strength being little abated, and his appetite very good to his meat, would often and earnestly desire to have some brought unto him; but no sooner did it come into his sight, but presently he fell into horrible shaking and trembling, distortions and terrible convulsions of all his parts, so as the bed would scarce hold him whereon he lay; all which presently ceased, as soon as the meat was taken away. And this was done so often, till at length he grew weary of so many attempts in vain, and prepared himself for death, giving unto us all many signs of ⟨p. 282⟩earnest repentance. Among others he penitently confessed, that this punishment was justly inflicted upon him for his abuse of Gods good creatures, especially because he would neither of himself, nor by the persuasion of his friends, give thanks unto God when he received his food, which he conceived to be the cause why now God would not suffer him to have the use of his creatures, which he had so often abused by his gross ingratitude; and earnestly desired that he might be an example unto all men in this fearful judgement, that they might escape the like by shunning his sin. The which being so notorious, I thought fit in this place to insert, though no man is more sparing in such particular relations.
Which examples that we may imitate, let vs consider that no creature hath vertue and power in it selfe to nourish vs, vnlesse God that made it, doe by his blessing sustaine it, and giue vigour and strength vnto it, that it may be effectuall for this vse. For as our Sauiour saith, Man liueth not by bread onely, but by euery word which proceedeth out of 1Gods mouth, that is, that speciall and powerfull word, whereby he appointeth and commandeth it to nourish vs. And if the Lord doe take away the staffe of bread, that is, the vertue and strength of it, we shall eate, and not bee satisfied, be famished in the middest of our plenty, and euen consume and 2waste away in our iniquity. Yea, if the Lord curse his blessings for our vngratitude, we shall either haue no power to feede vpon them, or in stead of nourishing vs, they will be the causes of vveakenesse, sickenesse, and death it selfe. Of the former not long since my selfe, vvith many others, savv a fearefull example, in one vvhom I visited in his sicknesse of vvhich hee died; vvhose strength being little abated, and his appetite very good to his meate, vvould often and earnestly desire to haue some brought vnto him; but no sooner did it come into his sight, but presently hee fell into horrible shaking and trembling, distortions and terrible conuulsions of all his parts, so as the bed vvould scarce hold him vvhereon he lay; all vvhich presently ceased, as soone as the meate vvas taken avvay. And this vvas done so often, till at length he grevv vveary of so many attempts in vaine, and prepared himselfe for death, giuing vnto vs all many signes of ⟨p. 282⟩earnest repentance. Among others he penitently confessed, that this punishment was iustly inflicted vpon him for his abuse of Gods good creatures, especially because he would neither of himselfe, nor by the perswasion of his friends, giue thankes vnto God when hee receiued his food, which he conceiued to be the cause why now God would not suffer him to haue the vse of his creatures, which he had so often abused by his grosse ingratitude; and earnestly desired that hee might bee an example vnto all men in this fearefull iudgement, that they might escape the like by shunning his sinne. The which being so notorious, I thought fit in this place to insert, though no man is more sparing in such particular relations.
- 1Matth. 4. 4.
- 2Levit. 26. 26. Ezech. 4. 16, 17. & 5. 16.Leuit. 26. 26. Ezech. 4. 16, 17. & 5. 16.
