Another thus, "As DEBORAH arose, and went with BARAK to Kadesh; so, if you will go with him, and call in the third verse of the chapters he will shew you the meaning of his Text." Another, he fancies his Text to be extraordinarily like to "an orchard of pomegranates;" or like "St. MATTHEW sitting at the receipt of custom;" or like "the dove that NOAH sent out of the Ark." I believe there are above forty places of Scripture, that have been "like RACHEL and LEAH": and there is one in _Genesis_, as I well remember, that is "like a pair of compasses stradling." And, if I be not much mistaken, there is one, somewhere else, that is "like a man going to Jericho." Now, Sir, having thus made the way to the Text as smooth and plain as anything, with a _Preface_, perhaps from ADAM, though his business lie at the other end of the _Bible_: in the next place; [2] he comes to _divide the Text_. _Hic labor, hoc opus Per varios casus, per tot discrimina rerum, Silvestrem tenui_. Now, come off the gloves! and the hands being well chafed [_rubbed together_]; he shrinks up his shoulders, and stretches forth himself as if he were going to cleave a bullock's head, or rive the body of an oak! But we must observe, that there is a great difference of Texts. For all Texts come not asunder alike! For sometimes the words naturally _fall_ asunder! sometimes they _drop_ asunder! sometimes they _melt_! sometimes they _untwist_! and there be some words so willing to be parted that they _divide themselves_! to the great ease and rejoicing of the Minister. But if they will not easily come to pieces, then he falls to hacking and hewing! as if he would make all fly into shivers! The truth of it is, I have known, now and then, some knotty Texts, that have been divided seven or eight times over! before they could make them _split_ handsomely, according to their mind. But then comes the Joy of Joys! when the Parts jingle! or begin with the same Letter! and especially if in Latin. O how it tickled the Divider! when he got his Text into those two excellent branches, _Accusatio vera: Comminatio severa_: "A Charge full of Verity: A Discharge of Severity." And, I will warrant you! that did not please a little, viz., "there are in the words, _duplex miraculum; Miraculum in modo_ and _Miraculum in nodo_." But the luckiest I have met withal, both for Wit and Keeping of the Letter, is upon these words of _St. Matthew_ xii. 43, 44, 45: "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest and finding none. Then he saith I will return," &c.