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.…

Innumerable are the uses of Balm, if we give credit to Phisitians, vel potum, vel inunctum. It strengthens the nerves, it excites and cherisheth the native heat in any part, it succoureth the paralytic, and delayeth the fury of convulsions, &c. And last of all, is the most sovereign help, either to green wounds, or to inveterate ulcers. These, all these, and more then ever was untruly feigned, or truly performed by the Balsam to the body; is spiritually fulfilled in this happy, heavenly, and true intrinsic Balm, Gods word. It heals the sores of the conscience, which either original or actual sin have made in it. It keeps the green wound, (which sorrow for sin cuts in the hart) from rankling the soul to death. This is that Balsam tree, that hath fructum uberrimum, usum saluberrimum, plenteous fruit, profitable use: and is, in a word, both a preservative against, and a restorative from all dangers to a believing Christian. It is not only Physic, but health it self; and hath more virtue, saving virtue, validity of saving virtue, then the tongues of men and Angels can ever sufficiently describe.

Innumerable are the vses of Balme, if wee giue credit to Phisitians, vel potum, vel inunctum. It strengthens the nerues, it excites and cherisheth the natiue heate in any part, it succoureth the paraliticke, and delayeth the fury of convulsions, &c. And last of all, is the most soueragine help, either to greene wounds, or to inueterate vlcers. These, all these, and more then euer was vntruely fained, or truely performed by the Balsame to the body; is spiritually fulfilled in this happy, heauenly, and true intrinsique Balme, Gods word. It heales the sores of the conscience, which either originall or actuall sinne haue made in it. It keepes the greene wound, (which sorrow for sinne cuts in the hart) from ranckling the soule to death. This is that Balsame tree, that hath fructum vberrimum, vsum saluberrimum, plenteous fruit, profitable vse: and is, in a word, both a preseruatiue against, and a restoratiue from all dangers to a beleeuing Christian. It is not onely Phisicke, but health it selfe; and hath more vertue, sauing vertue, validitie of sauing vertue, then the tongues of men and Angels can euer sufficiently describe.

You have here the similitudes. Hear one or two discrepancies of this natural and supernatural Balms. For as no Metaphor should of necessity run like a Coach on four wheels, when to go, like a man, on two sound legs is sufficient; so earthly things compared with heavenly, must look to fall more short, then Linus of Hercules, the shrub of the Cedar, or the lowest Mole-bank of the highest Pyramids.