For thou hast power of life and death: thou leadest to the gates of hell, and bringest up again.
For the ungodly, that denied to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thine arm: with strange rains, hails, and showers, were they persecuted, that they could not avoid, for through fire were they consumed.
Instead whereof thou feddest thine own people with angels’ food, and didst send them, from heaven, bread prepared without their labour, able to content every man’s delight, and agreeing to every taste.
For thy sustenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children, and serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man’s liking.
For the creature that serveth thee, who art the Maker, increaseth his strength against the unrighteous for their [[140]]punishment, and abateth his strength for the benefit of such as put their trust in thee.
Therefore even then was it altered into all fashions, and was obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all things, according to the desire of them that had need:
That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovest, might know that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth man: but that it is thy word, which preserveth them that put their trust in thee.
For that which was not destroyed of the fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam, soon melted away:
That it might be known, that we must prevent the sun to give thee thanks, and at the dayspring pray unto thee.” [[141]]