“CHRIST went down, as well as went up. When he came down from the mountain.” 2.  That “the multitude did not go ’hail fellow well met!’ with him, nor before him; for great multitudes followed him.”

I love, with all my heart, when people can prove what they say.  For there be many that will talk of their Discoveries and spiritual Observations; and when all comes to all, they are nothing but pitiful guesses and slender conjectures.

In like manner, that was no contemptible discovery that was made upon St. Matthew viii. 19. And a certain Scribe came and, said, “Master, I will follow thee wheresoever thou goest." “A thou shall be followed more than a that. I will follow thee wheresoever thou goest.”

And, in my opinion, that was not altogether amiss, upon St. Matthew xi. 2. Now when JOHN had heard in prison the works of CHRIST, he sent two of his disciples.  The discovery is this.  That “it is not good sending single to CHRIST, he sent two of his disciples.”

    Some also, possibly may not dislike that upon St. Luke xii, 35.
    Let your loins be girded.  “I discover,” says he, “there must be
    a holy girding and trussing up for heaven.”

But I shall end all, with that very politic one that he makes upon St. Matthew xii. 47. Then said one unto him “Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.”  But he answered and said, “Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?" “I discover now,” says he, “that JESUS is upon business.”

Doubtless, this was one of the greatest Discoverers of Hidden Mysteries, and one of the most Pryers into Spiritual Secrets that ever the world was owner of.  It was very well that he happened upon the godly calling, and no secular employment:  or else, in good truth! down had they all gone!  Turk!  Pope! and Emperor! for he would have discovered them, one way or another, every man!

Not much unlike to these wonderful Discoverers, are they who, choosing to preach on some Point in Divinity, shall purposely avoid all such plain Texts as might give them very just occasion to discourse upon their intended subject, and shall pitch upon some other places of Scripture, which no creature in the world but themselves, did ever imagine that which they offer to be therein designed.  My meaning, Sir, is this.

Suppose you have a mind to make a sermon concerning Episcopacy, as in the late times [the Commonwealth] there were several occasions for it, you must, by no means, take any place of Scripture that proves or favours that kind of Ecclesiastical Government! for then the plot will be discovered; and the people will say to themselves, “We know where to find you!  You intend to preach about Episcopacy!” But you must take Acts, chapter xvi. verse 30, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? An absolute place for Episcopacy! that all former Divines had idly overlooked!  For Sirs being in the Greek [Greek:  Kurioi], which is to say, in true and strict translation, Lords, what is more plain than, that of old, Episcopacy was not only the acknowledged Government; but that Bishops were formerly Peers of the Realm, and so ought to sit in the House of Lords!