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.

In which words, all these strange things were found out.  First, there was a Captain and a Castle. (Do you see.  Sir, the same letter!) Then, there was an ingress, an egress; and a regress or reingress.  Then, there was unroosting and unresting.  Then, there were number and name, manner and measure, trouble and trial, resolution and revolution, assaults and assassination, voidness and vacuity.  This was done at the same time, by the same man!  But, to confess the truth of it! it was a good long Text; and so, he had the greater advantage.

But for a short Text, that, certainly, was the greatest break that ever was! which was occasioned from those words of St. Luke xxiii. 28, “Weep not for me, weep for yourselves!” or as some read it, “but weep for yourselves!”

It is a plain case, Sir!  Here are but eight words; and the business was cunningly ordered, that there sprang out eight Parts.  “Here are,” says the Doctor, “eight Words, and eight Parts!

“1.  Weep not! 2.  But weep! 3.  Weep not, but weep! 4.  Weep for me! 5.  For yourselves! 6.  For me, for yourselves! 7.  Weep not for me! 8.  But weep for yourselves!

“That is to say, North, North-and-by-East, North-North-East, North-East and by North, North-East, North-East and by East, East-North-East, East and by North, East.”

Now, it seems not very easy to determine, who has obliged the world most; he that found out the Compass, or he that divided the fore-mentioned Text?  But I suppose the cracks [claps] will go generally upon the Doctor’s side! by reason what he did, was done by undoubted Art and absolute industry:  but as for the other, the common report is that it was found out by mere foolish fortune.  Well, let it go how it will! questionless, they will be both famous in their way, and honourably mentioned to posterity.

Neither ought he to be altogether slighted, who taking that of Genesis xlviii. 2 for his text; viz., “And one told JACOB, and said, ’Behold, thy son JOSEPH cometh unto thee!’” presently perceived, and made it out to his people, that his Text was “a spiritual Dial.”