Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

First, That there be no evil, no poison in them; for first, evil words corrupt good manners, if in our ordinary talk there must be no evil, much less when a man stands in Gods stead. And besides, they belly God in them, for he spake them not. Gods words are pabulum animarum, the food of souls. Now such as the meat is, such is the complexion: so what food the soul feeds on, such is the temper of it, if on wholesome food, a good heart, if on unwholesome, an evil heart.

First, That there be no evil, no poyson in them; for first, evil words corrupt good manners, if in our ordinary talk there must be no evil, much less when a man stands in Gods stead. And besides, they bely God in them, for he spake them not. Gods words are pabulum animarum, the food of souls. Now such as the meat is, such is the complection: so what food the soul feeds on, such is the temper of it, if on wholesome food, a good heart, if on unwholesome, an evil heart.

Secondly, They must be such, as are not only pleasing to the palate, and delightful to the taste, as some Sermons that are neatly made, which like music tickle the ears for the present, but leave no fruit behind them: but they must be good for substance.

Secondly, They must be such, as are not onely pleasing to the pallat, and delightful to the taste, as some Sermons that are neatly made, which like musick tickle the ears for the present, but leave no fruit behinde them: but they must be good for substance.

Thirdly, They may be such as go down to the Stomach, and yet not breed good blood; and that is when the wo•d is delivered in vain Philosophy, and in pythanology; for these breed windy and flatulent humours, whereas the words of ministers ought to be such as the holy Ghost speaks, they must be full of spirit, and full of power.