[This idea is said to have been stolen by Sterne from George Herbert, who wrote, To a close-shorn sheep God gives wind by measure, (see his Jacula Prudentum;) and he is said to have translated it from Henri Etienne (Henry Stephens 2nd.) Virgil instructs us to Feed the lambs at the setting of the sun, when cool vesper tempers the air.Georgics, Book III. Line 336.]
May He, who gives the rain to pour, And wings the blast to blaw, Protect thee frae the driving showr, The bitter frost and snaw. Burns.To a Posthumous Child.
The Father, who is holy, wise, and pure, Suffers the hypocrite or atheous priest To tread his sacred courts, and minister About his altar, handling holy things, Praying or vowing; and vouchsafed his voice To Balaam reprobate, a prophet yet inspird. Milton.Paradise Regained, Book I., near the end.
From God derived, to God by nature joind, We act the dictates of his mighty mind: And though the priests are mute and temples still, God never wants a voice to speak his will. Rowe.Lucanus, Book IX. Line 980.
Let no presuming impious railer tax Creative wisdom, as if aught was formd In vain, Shall little haughty ignorance pronounce His works unwise, of which the smallest part Exceeds the narrow vision of her mind? Thomson.Summer.
God never meant that man should scale the heavens By strides of human wisdomin his works, Though wondrous; He commands us in his Word To seek him rather where his mercy shines. Cowper.The Task, Book III. Line 221.
As sure as Gods in Gloucestershire. A saying originating from the number and riches of the religious houses in this county; said to be double in number and value to those founded in any other in England. Grose.Page 174.
God defend the right! Lucan.Pharsalia, Book II. Line 807. Shakespeare.Loves Labour Lost, Act I. Scene 1; King Henry VI., Part II. Act II. Scene 3; King Richard II., Act I. Scene 3, and Act III. Scene 2; Merry Wives of Windsor, Act III. Scene 1; and King John, Act II. Scene 1, for similar passages.