re the Text, does couple the Text to the
foregoing verse, and sews them close together."

I shall not trouble you, Sir, with the rest: being much after this witty
rate, and to as much purpose.

But we will go on, if you please, Sir! to [3] the cunning _Observations,
Doctrines, and Inferences_ that are commonly made and raised from places
of Scripture.

One takes that for his Text, _Psalm_ lxviii. 3, _But let the righteous be
glad_. From whence, he raises this doctrine, that "there is a Spirit of
Singularity in the Saints of GOD: but let the righteous--" a doctrine, I
will warrant him! of his own raising; it being not very easy for anybody
to prevent him!

Another, he takes that of _Isaiah_ xli. 14, 15, _Fear not, thou worm
JACOB_! &c.... _thou shalt thresh the mountains._ Whence he observes that
"the worm JACOB was a threshing worm!"

Another, that of _Genesis_ xliv. 1. _And he commanded the Steward of the
house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can
carry_: and makes this note from the words.

That "great sacks and many sacks will hold more than few sacks
and little ones. For look," says he, "how they came prepared with
sacks and beasts, so they were sent back with corn! The greater,
and the more sacks they had prepared, the more corn they carry
away! if they had prepared but small sacks, and a few; they had
carried away the less!"

Verily, and indeed extraordinarily true!

Another, he falls upon that of _Isaiah_ lviii. 5, _Is it such a fast that
I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his
head like a bulrush?_ The Observation is that "Repentance for an hour, or
a day, is not worth a bulrush!" And, there, I think, he hit the business!

But of these, Sir, I can shew you a whole book full, in a treatise called
_Flames and Discoveries_, consisting of very notable and extraordinary
things which the inquisitive Author had privately observed and
discovered, upon reading the Evangelists; as for example:

Upon reading that of _St. John_, chapter ii. verse 15, _And when
he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of
the Temple_; this prying Divine makes these discoveries, "I
discover," says he, "in the first place, that in the Church or
Temple, a scourge may be made, _And when he had made a scourge_.
Secondly, that it may be made use of, _he drove them all out of
the Temple_." And it was a