3. The Divine Scripture is a sea, containing in it deep meanings, and an abyss of prophetic mysteries; and into this sea enter many rivers. There are sweet and transparent streams, cool[3] fountains too there are, _springing up into life eternal_, and _pleasant words as an honey-comb_. Agreeable sentences too there are, refreshing the minds of the hearers, if I may say so, with spiritual drink, and soothing them with the sweetness of their moral precepts. Various then are the streams of the sacred Scriptures. There is in them a first draught for you, a second, and a last. Sidenote: Ps. cxlviii. 5. Sidenote: Eccles. xi. 3. Sidenote: Ib. 4. Gather the water of Christ, that which _praises the Lord_. Gather from many sources that water which the prophetic _clouds pour forth_. He that gathers water from the hills and draws it to himself from the fountains, he also drops down dew like the clouds. Fill then the bosom of your mind, that your ground may be moistened and watered by domestic springs. He who needs and apprehends much is filled, he who hath been filled waters others, and therefore Scripture saith, _If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth_. Sidenote: Ib. xii. 11. Sidenote: Acts ix. 5. 5. Let your discourses then be flowing, let them be clear and lucid; pour the sweetness of your moral arguments into the ears of the people, and sooth them with the charm of your words, that so they may willingly follow your guidance. But if there be any contumacy or transgression in the people or individuals, let your sermons be of such a character as shall move your audience, and prick the evil conscience, for _the words of the wise are as goads_. The Lord Jesus too pricked Saul, when he was a persecutor. And think how salutary the goad was which from a persecutor made him an Apostle, by simply saying, _It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks_. Sidenote: 1 Cor. iii. 2. 6. There are discourses too like milk, such as Paul fed the Corinthians with; for they who cannot digest stronger food, must have their infant minds nourished with the juice of milk. Sidenote: Prov. xv. 7.