SERMONS. 427 



all the voice of the charmer, charm he never so 

 w^isely. If, in good earnest, we would be rid of 

 this legion, and say, as our Lord to the deaf and 

 dumb spirit, go out, and enter no more ; (what 

 shall I say? — in short,) Solomon's rod* for the 

 back of fools that grow troublesome or dangerous 

 (as it may be prepared and managed) is a very 

 powerful and effectual exorcism. Untamed horses, 

 and skittish mules, that will have no understand- 

 ing, are not edified at all by calm reasonings, and 

 instructions and meek remonstrances; nor in any 

 other method so well as by David's expedient ; 

 ^^in frceiio et como ; their mouths must be kept in 

 with bit and bridle, that it may not be possible 

 for them to fall upon you ; and so ye may be 

 secure of them. 



But the fitting up of David's bridle, and Solo- 

 mon's rod, and the right use of both, is the busi- 

 ness of another place. I shall resume the general 

 thesis, and so shut up this particular. I say, then, 

 they trust not in God, they presume and tempt 

 him who work not together with him, but receive 

 his aids in vain, and look that he should bring- 

 about in extraordinary manner, what they take 

 no care of themselves ; but lie flat upon their 

 backs looking upward, and will stir neither hand 

 nor foot to help themselves. Nay, but X yiriliter 

 agite, et confortabit cor, as it is in the Psalm ; play 

 the men yourselves, do all that you can or ought 



* Prov, xix. 29. f Psm. xxxii. 9. % Psm. xxxi, 24. 



