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.…

3. The Balsam tree being wounded too deep dyes: the word of G0D cannot be marred,¹ it may be martyred, and forced to suffer injurious interpretations. The Papists have made, and called, the Scriptures a •ose of wax; and they wring this Nose so hard, that as ^aSolomon says, they force out blood. As Christ once, so his word often is crucified between two Thieves; the Papist on the left hand, the Schismatic on the right. These would ravish the virgin-pureness of the Gospel, and adulterate the beauty of it. They cannot cut, except they cut a pieces; nor distinguish, but they must extinguish. They divide fair, but they leave the Quotient empty. They subdivide, till they bring all to nothing but fractions, but factions. We may observe, that among these, there are as few unifici in the Church, as Munisici in the Common-wealth. They are commonly most miserable men of their purses, most prodigal of their opinions. They divide the Word too plentifully to their turbulent Auditors: they divide their goods too sparingly to poor Christians. There are too many of such ill Logicians, that divide all things, define nothing. As a modern Poet well: Definit Logicus res, non modo dividit;³ at nos Nil definimus, omnia dividimus. These pierce the Balm too deep; not to strain out Juice, but blood; and, in what they are able, to kill it.

3. The Balsame tree being vvounded too deepe dyes: the word of G0D cannot be marred,¹ it may be martyred, and forced to suffer iniurious interpretations. The Papists haue made, and called, the Scriptures a •ose of waxe; and they wring this Nose so hard, that as ^aSolomon sayes, they force out blood. As Christ once, so his word often is crucified betweene two Theeues; the Papist on the left hand, the Schismaticke on the right. These would rauish the virgin-purenesse of the Gospell, and adulterate the beautie of it. They cannot cut, except they cut a pieces; nor distinguish, but they must extinguish. They diuide faire, but they leaue the Quotient emptie. They subdiuide, till they bring all to nothing but fractions, but factions. Wee may obserue, that among these, there are as few vnifici in the Church, as Munisici in the Common-wealth. They are commonly most miserable men of their purses, most prodigall of their opinions. They diuide the Word too plentifully to their turbulent Auditours: they diuide their goods too sparingly to poore Christians. There are too many of such ill Logicians, that diuide all things, define nothing. As a moderne Poet well: Definit Logicus res, non modo diuidit;