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But howsoeuer it is necessary that we be alwayes in this state of Christi∣an liberty, and haue the knowledge and acknowledgement of it habitually in vs; yet not that we should, euery time we eate, particularly meditate of
all these things; onely it is sufficient, that hauing this Charter of our liber∣ty in our keeping, we bring it out as oft as wee haue occasion, especially when our right vnto the creatures is called into question, either by the de∣uill, the world or our owne flesh. And that acknowledging God to bee the Author of all these blessings which we receiue, who not onely giueth them vnto vs, but also all their vertue and power, whereby they become effectuall for our nourishment, we doe take them not chiefly as our owne prouision, but at his hands as his gracious gifts, which cannot nourish vs by their owne vertue, but as he inableth them heereunto by his blessing. In which regard it is necessary, that before we receiue the creatures, we doe in the next place sanctifie them vnto our vse by prayer and thanksgi∣uing, crauing Gods blessing vpon our meates and drinkes, that being thereby made effectuall for our nourishment, we may in the strength of them doe him more diligent and faithfull seruice. For to this end God hath created our meates and drinkes, that they should bee receiued with thankes∣giuing of them which beleeue and know the truth, as the Apostle teacheth vs, seeing euery creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be receiued with thankesgiuing; for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer. And this hath beene the practice of the faithfull in all ages. So we reade that the people would not eate before Samuel came, because he did first blesse the sacrifice, and afterwards they did eate that were bidden. And the Apostle Paul, though he were among Heathens, Infidels, and common souldiers, yet before he falleth to meate with them, gaue thankes vnto the onely true God in the presence of them all. And this also was the ordinary and con∣stant custome of our Sauiour Christ himselfe, which was the reason why the two disciples knew him by his blessing of the bread, before he brake it and gaue it vnto them. Which examples that we may imitate, let vs con∣sider that no creature hath vertue and power in it selfe to nourish vs, vn∣lesse 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 Gods mouth, that is, that speciall and powerfull word, whereby he appoin∣teth 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 waste away in our iniquity. Yea, if the Lord curse his blessings for our vn∣gratitude, 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
earnest repentance. Among others he penitently confessed, that this pu∣nishment was iustly inflicted vpon him for his abuse of Gods good crea∣tures, especially because he would neither of himselfe, nor by the perswa∣sion 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 in∣gratitude; and earnestly desired that hee might bee an example vnto all men in this fearefull iudgement, that they might escape the like by shun∣ning 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. Nei∣ther let any man here say, that all this might proceede from some naturall causes, and that there might be some such like reason giuen of it, as of that disease which Physicians call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, when one bitten by a mad dog, feareth the water, like the dog that did bite him. For howsoeuer it was an example strange and wonderfull, yet doe I not say nor thinke, that any thing in it was supernaturall and miraculous. But let vs not for this cause neglect to make an holy vse of it, in auoyding this sinne, which God by this fearefull iudgement brought home to this poore mans conscience, vnlesse we would proclaime, that nothing but miracles can affect vs. For howsoeuer God bringeth these things to passe by naturall causes, yet be∣cause they are so farre out of the ordinary course of nature, and doe so rarely happen; and seeing by a speciall prouidence, God causeth a concur∣rence of seldome meeting causes; that they may produce such strange effects after a wonderfull and vnwonted manner; such examples should not bee much lesse effectuall to worke vpon our hearts and consciences, then miracles themselues, seeing they are purposely sent of God for this end. And as God may iustly for our vnthankefulnesse vtterly depriue vs of the vse of his creatures; so doth he often in their vse turne his blessings in∣to curses, making them through our abuse the causes of all diseases, yea of death it selfe, as common experience sheweth; yea, he may iustly cause the least bit of meate or crum of bread to choake in stead of nourishing vs, the which also hath sometime happened. Againe, let vs consider that it is brutish and swinish vngratitude, if when God openeth his hand, and filleth vs with plenty of his good pleasure, we doe not by the eye of faith looke vp to the Author of all our good, to render vnto him thankes for all his blessings; yea, heerein we shall be much worse then beasts, in that diuers of them ac∣knowledge their masters, and recompence their care and cost, by their profitable labour, according to that of the Prophet, The Oxe knoweth his owner, and the Asse his masters crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
1. Tim. 4. 3, 4, 5.
1. Sam. 9. 13.
Act. 27. 34, 35. Mark. 6. 41. Matth. 26. 26. Luk. 24. 30, 31.
Matth. 4. 4.
Leuit. 26. 26. Ezech. 4. 16, 17. & 5. 16.
Dios••or. l▪ 7. c. 2.
Psal. 114 27, 28. & 145▪ 16.
Esa. 1. 3.