The devils banquet described in four sermons [brace], 1. The banquet propounded, begun, 2.…The deuills banket described in foure sermons [brace], 1. The banket propounded, begunne, 2.…

2. The way to get out the juice of Balm from Gods word, is by cutting it: skilful division of it,¹ which S. Paul calls [Greek or Hebrew], ⁱrightly dividing the word of truth. It is true that Gods word is, panis vitae, the bread of life: but whiles it is in the whole loaf, many cannot help themselves: it is needful for children to have it cut to them in pieces. Though the Spice unbroken be sweet and excellent, yet doth it then treble the savour in delicacy, when it is pounded in a Mortar. All the Balm-tree is medicinal, yet the effectual working is better helped, by cutting the stock, by taking out the juice, and by distributing to every man a portion, according to the proportion of his wants. With no less heedfulness must the word ⟨p. 284⟩be divided; that some may receive it gentle and mollifying, and others as a sharper ingredient. As there is a double composition in men, pride and humility: so there must be a double disposition in preaching the word, of meekness, of terror. Aaron's Bells must be wisely rung: sometimes the Treble of Mercy; sometimes the Tenor of Judgement; sometimes the Counter-tenor of Reproof; and often the Mean of Exhortation. There is no less discretion required to application, then to explication. As Physicians prescribe their Medicines by drams or ounces, according to the Patients strength or weakness. So Divines must feed some with milk, others with stronger meat. The learned should have deeper points, the simple plainer principles. How easy is it for many a weak stomach to surfeit even on the food of life! (though the fault lies not in any superfluity of the word, but in the deficiency of his understanding.) The absence of sobriety in the speaker is more intolerable then in the hearer. The people must take such meat as their Cooks dress to them. Let none of Eli's Sons slubber up the Lords Sacrifice or Service. Let not good Balm be marred by a fusty vessel. Seasonable discretion must attend upon sound knowledge. Wisdom without Wit is meat without salt: W•t without Wisdom is salt without meat. Some Wells are so deep, that a man can draw no water out of them; these bury their gifts in the grave of sullen silence. Some are shallow pits, that run so long open mouth, till their Springs are quite dry: whiles they wl be prius Doctores, quam discipuli, Masters that never were Scholars;