Question 111

But are they promised?

Yes. My God shall supply all your wants,^b

Should we therefore pray for them?

Yes. O that thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast,^c

And should we only pray for a competency of them?

Yes. Feed me with food convenient for me,^e

But above all should we entreat God’s blessing upon them?

Yes. And it came to pass as he sat at meat with them, he took bread and blessed it, and gave to them,^f

And are they then like to be most comfortable to us?

Yes. For every creature is sanctified by the word of God and prayer,^g

And yet submissively?

Yes. If he say, I have no delight in thee; behold here I am, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him,ⁱ

Should our prayers be attended with suitable endeavours?

Yes. For thou hast eat the labour of thine hands,^j

And should we pray for others as well as ourselves?

Yes. Forget not the congregation of the poor,^k

And not the bread of deceit?

No. For, though the bread of deceit is sweet to a man, yet afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel,^m

Nor the bread of oppression?

No. For God shall break in pieces the oppressor,ⁿ

Nor the bread of idleness?

No. For ’tis said of the virtuous woman, that she eateth not the bread of idleness,^o

But above all, must we pray for the bread of our souls?

Yes. Lord, evermore give us this bread,^p

But doth it forbid a prudent thoughtfulness?

No. Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways—she provideth her meat in the summer,^r

Doth it teach us to cast all our care upon God?

Yes. For he careth for us,^s

And to look to him for success in our several callings?

Yes. Establish thou the work of our hands upon us,^t

And to ascribe all our prosperity to him?

Yes. Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth,^u