A little with God's blessing goes far. [ XLVI]
IT was a good saying of that poor woman,* 1.1 in the Book of Martyrs, who being threatned to have but a little bread one day, and a little water on the next; re∣plyed, * 1.2 If you take away my meat, God, I hope, will take away my hunger: If God give but a little, he can make that little serve the turn, and then enough is as good as a feast. Well then, is thy provision small? thy appetite shall be lesse. Is there but a little meal in the barrell, a little oyl in the cruse? God will make it hold out. Is that little coorse,* 1.3 and none of the finest? Brown bread and the Gospell (said Mr. Greenham) is good chear;* 1.4 and indeed, Brown bread, and the blessing of God, is a rich banquet. It is not the greatnesse and daintinesse of the fare,* 1.5 nor the cloathing in soft raiment, but God's good blessing that doth nourish and strengthen the body of man. God makes bread to be a staff and a stay to satiate the righteous man, when the wicked may have the staff broken to them,* 1.6 but the ••••ay taken away; they eat, and are not satisfied; they drink, but their thirst is nothing at all quenched.