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BEside the scripture, which is as Paradise, the Garden of God, where••n growe all maner of trees bearing fruit for the sustenta∣tion of the soule of man, wee haue other pa∣stures wherin we are to feed, to wit, the crea∣tures, and the actions of god. The creatures serue for the vse & sustētatiō, as of the body:
so also of the soule, the which may clearly see in them the goodnesse power and wise∣dome of God, and so bee stirred vppe to loue and prayse GOD. Hee shall see the wonderfull power of god, by the which the heauens and the earth were created, the one in continuall motion, the other vnmoue∣ble: he shall see the wisedome of God in framing euery creature so curiously, in re∣gard of the workemanship, in contriuing euerie part so fitly, in regard of the naturall vse of it, as no witte or imagination of man can come neare, or almost imitate. With these Meditations, the holie men of God haue continuallye fedde their soules. Psalm. 8.4. VVhen I beholde the heauens the worke of thy hands, the Sunne and the Moone which thou hast created. VVhat is man that thou shouldest vouchsafe him this honour, to be the Lord of these, to haue the fish in the Sea, the beastes of the fielde, at his commaundement. Hitherto the Scrip∣ture dooth often sende vs, to learne the doctrine of Gods prouidence, who if hee decke the Lillies of the field: if hee feede the Rauens, Luke 12.24. yea, the yong Rauens not able to shift for themselues, howe much more will hee giue to his ser∣uaunts all needfull and good things, yea,
diligence and care in prouiding for our selues. Pro. 6.6. Sluggard go to the Emmet, yea, whatsoeuer beside is needfull to be knowne and practised by vs.. For so wee are to ac∣count the whole worlde, and all the crea∣tures therein contayned, to bee euen as a storehouse of soode: wherein as car∣nall men do fill and fatte their bellyes with that infinite varietie of creatures, which GOD hath made: so the spirituall man may haue euen for the taking vp, all man∣ner of spirituall instruction, consolation, and edifycation. For if the heathen, who haue no spirituall eyes, wherewith to see, can obserue the power and goodnesse of God in these creatures, as wee are taught Rom. 1. how much more shall the spirituall man find in this feeld plentifull food for the feeding of the soule.