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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A05312	An herbal for the Bible Containing a plaine and familiar exposition of such similitudes, parables, and metaphors, both in the olde Testament and the newe, as are borrowed and taken from herbs, plants, trees, fruits and simples, by obseruation of their vertues, qualities, natures, properties, operations, and effects: and by the holie prophets, sacred writers, Christ himselfe, and his blessed Apostles vsually alledged, and into their heauenly oracles, for the better beautifieng and plainer opening of the same, profitably inserted. Drawen into English by Thomas Newton.; Herbarum atque arborum quæ in Bibliis passim obviæ sunt. English	Lemnius, Levinus, 1505-1568.; Newton, Thomas, 1542?-1607.	1587 (1587)	STC 15454; ESTC S108475	134,297	304

and Spouse so that betweene them twaine there is no apt proper and resembling Similitude to bee conueniently gathered either out of the Heauens Stars Planets Mountaines Hils Woods Groues Fields Herbes Flowers Trees Wine or Vine out of which any sweet pleasant delectable or wholesome smell sauour or sent proceedeth but that the same be most pithily and according to the honorable dignitie of either partie most fitly applied and vpon occasion most orderly and learnedly alledged Thus is the Bridegroome there aptly compared to sweete Spikenard to a bundle of Mirrhe to a bunch or cluster of pleasant Grapes The same Bridegroome also compareth his beloued for hir excellent whitenes and sweete smell to a Lillie insomuch that if hir handmaids or those of hir traine should be compared vnto hir they should seeme to be but thornes and mungrels without honor beautie estimation or dignitie These and such like Metaphors are most plentifully to be read and seene not in this Song or Canticle onely but in all the rest of the sacred Scripture also so that there is offered vnto each diligent Reader and industrious Student matter ynough wherwith to delight himselfe and to recreate his minde at least way if he attentiuely bende himselfe in feruent desire entire care and aduised cogitation to consider heerein the excellencie of Nature and the incomprehensible maiestie of the Maker and Creator There are founde I say in this Song or Canticle very elegant similitudes taken from such things as are knowen to be cordial and soueraigne remedies against the debilitie of the vital spirits Sounding extasies or Traunces as namely sweete smelling and redolent wine delightfull and comfortable Nosegaies of fragrant Herbs and pleasant Flowers So likewise the Bride being now readie to faint and languish and as it were at the point to quaile and shrinke downe through immoderate loue toward hir husbande and Spouse commandeth hir handmaids to bring some comfortable Restoratiues to apply sweet sented odours to hir nose Staie me saith she with flowers and comfort me with apples least I faint for I am loue sicke So also doe we vse when anie fall into a sounding or traunce to giue vnto them Cinamome Cloues Vineger Citrons Lymons Myrtle Narde and other soote Simples to smell vnto which by the Scriptures and ordinarie experience are knowen to be for that purpose good cordiall and soueraigne The third Chapter Of Manna and first of that which rained downe from Heauen and next of that which is vsuall in Physicke WHereas the children of Israel in the wildernes were fed with Manna it may not be thought to proceede from anie naturall cause but euen from the diuine power and miraculous handie worke of almightie GOD who yet notwithstanding vsed the ministerie of nature in the doing thereof as he likewise did in the Quailes which he sent among them into the Campe and as he also did when as the Rock being smitten yeelded foorth water abundantly for the refreshing of the drie and thirstie people or as when by the casting in of a peece of wood the bitter waters became sweete or as finally when by a most strong East winde the red Sea was dried vp and gaue free passage vnto the Hebrewes all the Aegyptians pursuing them being vtterly swallowed vp and drowned The like reason is to bee giuen of the Meale and of the Oile which was still increased without wasting at the praier of Elijah and of Elisha of the Rauen that brought bread and flesh to Elijah of the Angell that broght vnto him a cake baked on the coles and a pot of water in the strength whereof he iournied fortie daies and fortie nights without any other foode vntill he came to Horeb the Mount of God where he found a caue in the which he safely hid himselfe from the tyrannie of wicked Iezebel who cruelly persecuted and hunted all the Prophets of the Lord to death These and such like admirable woonderfull and miraculous workes could the Lord euen with a worde or a becke without the helpe of any thing haue brought to passe but yet his diuine will and pleasure was to vse naturall thinges whereof he is both the worker and gouernour as the meanes or instrument whereby to atchieue and worke the same strange effects to the reliefe of his children and comfort to their distressed mindes The like haue we to obserue and note also in Hezekiah being sick and by the doome of God himselfe appointed to die whose boyle was cured by a lumpe of drie figs which in operation are maturatiue laide plaisterwise to the same Out of the which wee are to learne this most profitable lesson that albeit God bee able to heale without any medicines yet his pleasure is that in the time of sicknes we shoulde not contemne Physicke as the meanes whereby our recouerie is wrought but to vse the same in the feare of God for the restoring of our health and prolongation of our life The like meanes did Christ himselfe also vse in restoring sight vnto a poore blinde man when as hee spat on the grounde and made claie of the spettle with the which he annointed his eies with further commandement to him to go and wash himselfe in the poole of Siloam In like sort also cured he a dumbe man restored vnto him his speech by putting his fingers into his eares and touching his toong with spettle These kindes of miracles did the Lorde worke some while with onelie touching and some while with onely a word requiring nothing else at their hands that were cured but onelie firme and stedfast faith and vndoubted confidence to obtaine their requestes as namelie in poore blinde Bartimaeus faithfully crieng vnto Christ notwithstanding the churlish rebukes and checkes that he sustained for so doing at the hands of some of the companie appeereth But albeit Almightie God for his great mercie sake and for the inestimable loue wherewith he most bountifully loued mankind did many and sundry waies signifie his infinite goodnes toward them yet most singularly and notably did he testifie and make apparant his woonderfull power and heauenly might in working most strange most supernaturall and inimitable miracles Among the which being innumerable the raining and sending downe of Manna so copiouslie and aboundantly from heauen to suffice such an huge and populous multitude is namely and speciallie to be remembred For when as the people being a confused multitude to the number of sixe hundreth thousand persons repiningly murmured against God and Moses his seruant for bringing them out of Aegypt into that waste Wildernes to be as they seditiouslie muttered there sterued and famished God in the euening of the same daie sent into their Campe an incredible multitude of Quailes and in the morning the Dewe lay rounde about the Hoste vpon the grounde and when the Dew that was fallen was ascended the●● appeered vpon the face of the Wildernes a small round thing thinne as the hoare frost vpon the

and impostumes to the expert and skilfull Physition to wit God she craueth no aduise nor helpe at his hands who is able and willing out of his infinite store to affoord present remedies for the healing of all afflicted and diseased consciences and to minister vnto the same the Wine and Oyle of his consolation and mercy as appeereth in the parable which Christ himselfe vsed of the Samaritane by whom he himselfe was figured and of the wayfairing man that fell among theeues and was wounded Whereby is ment the state of mankinde through Sathans malice despoiled of his robes of innocencie and integritie and left full fraught and miserably pestered with all sinne and wickednes like euen to sterue and be throwne headlong into the gulph of desperation But God when for our sinnes he woundeth vs that is when he sendeth vnto vs famine dearth penurie scarcitie calamitie wars troubles sicknes and such like his will and pleasure is that for redresse thereof we shoulde come to him and of him alone craue our deliuerance Touching which point we reade a most comfortable and sweete discourse in the Prophet Ieremiah wherein the Lord our God complaineth him selfe of our to too wilfull disobedience and vttereth speeches of great greefe for that mankinde seeketh aide and helpe else where than at him and that they polluting defiling themselues with grosse idolatrie superstition vaine worship and ridiculous tromperies do most vnkindly forsake so liberall and so bountifull a Lorde to serue in miserable thraldome and slauerie a cruell craftie and bloody Tyrant Not without cause therefore doth he thus reason the matter with his people Am I become as a wildernes vnto Israell or a lande that hath no light Wherefore then saith my people we are Lords we will come no more vnto thee Which Similitude is taken from a barren soile and fruitlesse ground that beareth no corne graine nor fruite for mans vse and sustentation Whereas on the other side the Lorde God the Creator and maker of all things is most farre from all such sterilitie yea with him is all plentie and aboundance that can possibly be conceiued readie at all times to be had and enioyed if we coulde thankefully receiue them and hartily sue for them So that all they be vtterly and ech way inexcusable that shrinke and start from such a bountiful Lord sith there can no lawfull or reasonable cause of such peeuish reuolt be by any colour alledged why they should so do And therfore as it were greatly mooued with the trecherous indignitie of such a foul disparagement he laieth open the hainousnes of their crime by another example saieng Can a maide forget hir ornaments or a Bride hir attyre Yet my people haue forgotten me daies without number But in these heauenly offers of soueraigne remedies and cordiall medicines to afflicted mindes the Lord with all insulteth sharply taunteth the people of Aegypt bicause they applied and laid to their woundes such medicines and emplaisters as were no maner of way auaileable or profitable but rather encreased than mitigated their greefe and maladie And therefore he sheweth them where and whence they shoulde seeke for helpe and to whom to sue for their recure Go vp saith he vnto Gilead and take Rosen or Balme O Virgin the daughter of Aegypt but in vaine shalt thou go to Surgerie for thou shalt haue no health Now Gilead was one of the sixe franchised Townes appointed to be as Cities of refuge for such as had vnawares without any pretensed malice killed any man and that Citie was assigned to the Leuites and Priests whose office and function was about the Law and ministerie of the word of God For as saith the Prophet Malachie The Priestes lips shall keepe knowledge and they shall seeke the Law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hostes that is he is the Ambassador of God and is inioyned by his office to teach and expounde the Law and worde of the Lord. The Prophet therefore directing his speeches to the afflicted sheweth him that all helpe must come from God and that for his direction in the way of godlines he ought to resort vnto his godly ministers Otherwise if he else where hoped for helpe and assistance the remedies should prooue not onely helpelesse and bootelesse but also damnable and dangerous if any mite of saluation be reposed in any other than onely in the euerliuing God Ieremiah prophecieng the destruction of Babylon which was as a filthie sinke of all wickednes warneth all men to take heede and to withdrawe themselues from hir and for that she had refused all holesome admonitions and turned the deafe care vnto all ghostly counsels and spirituall aduertisements he warneth all men to abandon hir companie and vtterly to reiect and forsake hir as sorlorne desperate and incurable Whereby the Prophet sheweth that the Preachers and ministers of the word of God vsed and applied all possible remedies for the curing of their diseases and healing of their rustie and festered woundes and that they left no way vnattempted to purge their harts and minds from errours but all was in vaine He thought it good therefore to leaue them to their owne blindnesse and to referre them to the heauie iudgement of God who would shortly stirre vp and sende among them a lamentable slaughter and greeuous plague by raising against them most fierce cruell and bloody enimies The like calamitie did Christ foreshew and denounce should come to passe vpon the obstinate Iewes who despising and refusing so manie and great benefites cruelly raged against the Prophets against Christ himselfe and against his Apostles and followers The 25. Chapter Of the Vine with all the parts and appurtenances thereof as branches leaues twigs boughes stalks claspers taglets capreoles Grape cluster kernell c. AS sundrie Parables Similitudes and Resemblances of things well knowen vnto vs be often vsed in the sacred Bible for establishing of the truth and for proofe and confirmation of such matters as otherwise woulde seeme doubtfull and obscure so is there none that more notably setteth out garnisheth beautifieth adorneth and illustrateth either the Prophesies or the Sermons and discourses of the holie Writers than those that are taken from the Vine and the appurtenances thereunto And first that notable prophesy of Iacob the Patriark cōcerning the Messiah who descending of the seede and race of Iudah restored health reconciled mankind brought him into the fauor and loue of God againe The scepter shall not depart from Iudah nor a Lawgiuer from betweene his feete vntill Shiloh come that is the kingdome shall not be altered nor translated into any other stocke till Iesus Christ the Messiah and author of all prosperitie and sauing health doe come And the people shall be gathered vnto him that is the Gentils shal be conuerted and be brought to receiue his doctrine to imbrace his religion to repose their trust confidence and beleefe in him and

members as haue beene bursten or out of ioint and them that be bruised with any great fall With the boughes of this tree the Scripture recordeth how the Hebrewes were accustomed to trim vp their houses and to garnish the vtter parts of their dores at their solemne feastes of Tabernacles and others which they celebrated and kept for ioy of the restauration of the Temple after their carrieng into exile by the Persians So did Nehemiah the restorer of the Citie of the Temple of the Lawe command the people after their returne home to Ierusalem out of captiuitie and banishment that they should euerie one of them go forth into the mountains and woods thence bring as in an high festiuall solemnity Oliue brāches Pyne branches Myrtle branches Palme branches and branches of thicke trees to make boothes for the further furniture of that merrie day of common ioy Which custome also other Regions and countries doe yet obserue when as either any royall solemnitie for the coronation or receiuing of the prince or for some victorie against the enimie or deliuery from some long and dangerous siege or some other token of ioy and gladnes is offered to be solemnized and testified Thus did the Troians as Uirgil writeth when they thought their Citie shoulde haue beene deliuered from the long siege and the Greekes expulsed out of their countrey We wretched soules in forlorne plight To see this dismall day To strew the Churches all along With boughes and flowers assay But Isaiah the Prophet who sheweth himselfe most skilfull in the nature and qualitie of Plants and herbes and who most often with the same vseth to garnish and illustrate his prophetical writings pronounceth them happy and blessed that put their trust in the Lorde and onely depende vpon his diuine goodnes and prouidence in so much that no harme shall touch them but that rather all such things as seemed any way to threaten their harme shall the case being altered worke to their profite and benefite which he bringeth in and sheweth where he saith that in steede of low thornes there shall growe high firre trees and in steede of nettles and weeds which are stinging and noisome there shall growe Myrtle trees which are goodly beautifull and sweet● smelling shrubs Whereby he noteth that in lieu of greeuous and hurtfull things there should be those that are holesome fruitefull and amiable that is for vices there should be vertues for bondage liberty for banishment restitution and returne vnto our heauenly Countrey Againe where the Lord sheweth his merciful kindnes to the afflicted comfortlesse and distressed Israelites promising that he will helpe releeue and succor them in their extreme and intollerable misery I will saith he open the riuers in the tops of the hils I wil turne the wildernes to waters and the dry hungry ground to fruit full soile I will plant in the waste ground the Cedar tree Pyne tree and Myrtle the Firre tree the Olyue the Elme and the Boxe Whereby he sheweth that he will alter the course of nature and beyond all hope or expectation of man will helpe his people in their distresse so that in a desart and fruitelesse countrey there shall grow goodly faire and beautifull trees that is to say the barren dry mindes of men should bring foorth the most florishing buds of renowmed vertues A little after he prosecuting the same argument promiseth to his people consolation and tranquillity of conscience and that he would eftsoones gather togither his dispersed Church and that the same shoulde be restored againe after a while to hir former hue and ancient beautie the which his gracious promise he confirmeth in these figuratiue tearmes The glory of Lebanon shall came vnto thee the Fir tree the Elme and the Boxe tree togither to beautifie the place of my Sanctuarie Whereby his meaning is that his Church should be builded not onely with the excellent trees of Lebanon but also that what else soeuer in the world was magnificent heroical and renowmed should be brought to the building and garnishing of the same And that not onely the poore simple and seely people whom the worlde least esteemeth shoulde be called thither but also Kinges Princes Dukes Lords and Nobles shoulde be incorporated into this fellowship and endenizoned into this faithfull company But for that there is mention also made of Myrtle trees by the Prophet Zacharie in a vision appeering to him I will deliuer my iudgement breefely and what I think of the same for fully and thoroughly to discusse it requireth further diligence and exceedeth the reach of my simple vnderstanding Woods and Groues are often denominated of such herbes and trees as most plentifully growe therein as namely of Arund● 〈◊〉 reede is the place where it groweth termed Arundinetum which is vsed for the reedes or stubble it selfe whereupon in the Booke of Wisedome it is saide The iust shall shine and run through as sparkes among stubble that is the brightnes and shining of the Saints shal burn vp the vngodly euen as stubble or dry reedes with the flaming force of vehement fire And so is the place where store of Date trees grow called Palmetum and where any Myrtle trees be Myrtelum In this greene plot was the vision exhibited to Zacharie the which he reporteth and maketh knowen to the people that his prophecie being conioyned and accompanied with a vision shoulde be had in the greater account and estimation among them pearce the deeper into their dull vnderstandinges and the sooner stir vp and awaken their drowsie slouthfull and carelesse mindes I saw saith he by night and behold a man riding vpon a red horse and he stoode among the Myrtle trees that were in a bottom and behind him were there red horses speckled white I said O my Lord what are these And the Angell that talked with me which was he that stoode among the Myrtle trees by whom as I thinke Christ is ment whose desire is to see his Church being emblemished with sins to be repolished and amended answered me and said these are they whom the Lord hath sent to go through the world By which wordes he sheweth that in the darke and blinde valley of this worlde wherein the euill are mingled with the good the Lord god by his wonderful prouidēce hath a special care of al things turning all to the best for the behoofe of his children directing comforting and guiding by his holy spirit the Church by his Christ by the Apostles and other faithful ministers that carefully execute their offices and functions according to the dispensation of such gifts as they haue receiued Vpon whom the charge specially lieth by holesome exhortation as Paule warneth Timothie to exhort the people yea and sometimes by threats to stir them to amendement of life and to returne and be reconciled to God from whom they haue departed Which thing if they will do his plagues and punishments shall cease

all manner of weedes whatsoeuer comprehended and contained vnder the same Virgil approouing the same where he saith Dame Ceres taught how first to till The land for mans auaile When acornes wildings berries fruits In Dodon gan to faile And how by toile of husbandrie Ech danger to preuent Least blasting should the crop destroy Or with annoiance teint Or Thistels ouergrow the same For where such things remaine The corne decaies and goes to wracke And yeelds but slender gaine Sometimes there sproutes abundant store of baggage noisome weeds Burres Brembles Darnel Cockle Drawke Wilde Otes and choaking seedes Ouid also mentioning these foresaide annoyances willeth diligent care and husbandrie to be vsed for the extirping weeding and banishing of them out of arable groundes and fieldes emploied to tillage In respect of the nature and qualitie of these noisome weedes which choake vp the good corne and spoile fruitfull fieldes our Sauiour Christ taketh occasion thereby to signifie and paint out aswell dangerous hurtfull pernicious corrupt and vnsincere doctrine as also the wicked authors and setters foorth of the same who through the instigation of sathan with their pestilent gloses and suttle expositions infect and poyson the mindes and consciences of men and corrupt the pure word of the Gospel by obtruding of falsehoode in steed of truth and doting dreames in place of sindere doctrine lewdly prophaning the sound word of God and infecting the foode whereon our soules should feede Which perillous and wicked persons although the Lord willeth charitably for some while to be tolerated and borne with all in hope of amendement and repentance after due admonition yet doth he not forbid as Chrysostome saith but that the conuenticles of heretikes shoulde and ought to bee put downe their mouthes stopped and their impudencie of speech inhibited To the same end and purpose also tendeth that sentence of the apostle Paule vnto Titus A man that is an heretike that is one that wilfully and maliciously maintaineth false doctrine and erronious opinions After once or twice admonition auoide knowing that he which is such an one is peruerted and sinneth being damned of his owne selfe bicause hee wilfully perisheth through his owne folly and fault in that he being admonished per●isteth still in his obstinacie and error And although Christ would not that the Tares and Cockle should be plucked vp yet for due punishment doth he subiect and teferre to the authoritie of the magistrate all those that be factious disturbers of the peace and tranquillitie both of the Church and Common wealth The 47. Chapter Of Rosemarie ROsemarie called 〈◊〉 notis for that it yeeldeth foorth a soote smell like to Frankincense was vsed of the Iewes as Hysope in their ceremoniall purifications Sacrifices and sprinklings It is commonly growing in euery garden hauing a wooddish stemme with many small 〈◊〉 ches and slender boughes of the like hard and wooddie substance bearing great store of small long and thick set leaues white 〈◊〉 the side next the ground and greene aboue The flowers whitish mixt with a litle blew of a strong and pleasant smell and full of a certaine oilie iuice so that being distilled the oile wil appeere swimming on the top of the water And this same is a soueraigne helpe and of great effect for them that haue the Palsie and Apoplexie annointing therewith the nucha or nape of their necke The smel of this Plant greatly comforteth the braine memorie and inward senses refresheth all the vitall powers is of excellent vertue in curing the Iaundice and not a little recreateth and cheereth both the hart and mind of man It is good also against the falling sicknes the sauour or smell thereof preserueth from the plague and is a verie excellent perfume to burne in houses to driue away infectious and contagious smels There is made also of the flowers thereof a noble medicine or Conserue which hath very great vertue to comfort this braine being pestered or surcharged with superfluitie of humors it woonderfully restoreth 〈◊〉 morie being decaied and is of no lesse efficacie to keepe a man or woman from the ●alling sicknes Apoplexie Palsie Crampe dazeling eies and dim sight And as the Iewes offered the sweete perfume of Incense and in their rites and ceremonies vsed this Herbe so let vs Christians now in the time of the Gospell wherein all such shadows are vanished offer vp our pure and feruent praiers vnto God through an assured faith in his Christ which seruice and sacrifice is far more acceptable to him than all materiall Incense Suffiments or Perfumes in the world And yet is there nothing to the contrary but that we may adorne and straw our churches with sweete smels and comfortable greene herbs for the comforting of our senses so that all maner of superstition therein be vtterly and flatly secluded and no mite of any holines therein reposed For these and such like indifferent and Adiaphorall things ought none otherwise to be vsed than for decencie and tollerable delectation to recreate the spirits of the people withall So did Christ accept and gratiously receiue the gratefull harts of the willing Children loiall people which with such cheerfull acclamations testified their ioy for his comming and by strawing the boughes of Palmes and branches of other trees in the way made apparant their inward affections and the vnfained loue which they bare towards him The 48. Chapter Of the Almond tree whereof there is often mention made in the Scriptures namely in the last Chapter of the Preacher THe Almond tree hath a great strong high bodie otherwise not much vnlike to the Peach tree sauing that his leaues bee bigger and his flower white The fruit of the Peach is round pulpie succulent sauourie well relished winish-tasted carrieng a foft mossie downe on the vtter side of the pill or rinde and within a hard rugged nut but the Almond nut is smoother and nothing so rugged and hoalie as is the Peach The rinde or shell of the Almond is not at all to be eaten but is couered ouer with a small thinne filme or skin and hath within it the kernell which is sometime bitter and sometime sweete The bitter being eaten fasting keepe a man or woman from being easily droonken through the heate and drie nature which is in them Whereby they dispatch the moistnes and fumes of wine and stoppe the same from striking vp into the braine And by reason of their bitternesse also for that they be of a cutting and extenuating qualitie they do open the obstructions of all the inward parts that is to say they clense the liuer milt and kidneies from all corrupt and grosse humours they prouoke vrine and be excellent good against the grauell and stone as the Peach kernels also be They be likewise abstersiue and cleanse the face and vtter skinne from all spots pimples and lentils And for that all hote and drie things be mortiferous and

vnder his protection we shal be safe from all inuasion danger and hostilitie Now forsomuch as in Iudea Syria and all along the region of Arabia felix by reason of the fruitfull soile temperate aire there doth growe great store of most pleasaunt and tall trees the Prophets therfore taking Similitudes from such vsuall and common things doe resemble and compare Emperours kings princes and potentates with their maiestie honor magnificence dignitie power and authoritie vnto high trees as Cedars And such peeres nobles and honourable personages as be not equall in dignitie with monarches and kings nor of such power as emperours and princes but in degree inferiour vnto them be not compared to the Cedar being an high and very tall tree but to the Firre or Plane or other trees not altogither so high beautifull and excellent God therefore by his Prophet Ezechiel vseth a most excelent metaphor in describing the stately maiesty of Pharao and of his prosperous florishing and roiall proceedings insomuch that he there pronounceth no king to surmount no nor yet to match him and yet that all his glorie pompe maiestie and royaltie shoulde easilie and with a trice be brought downe ouerthrowen and turned topsie turuie euen as the highest trees are hewen and cut downe with an axe For thus doth the Prophet begin his matter that forasmuch as that proude hawtie and insolent king had forgotten God and cruelly handled his people therefore destruction should come vpon him and he shoulde not be able to auoide it The word of the Lord saith Ezechiel came vnto me saient Sonne of man speake vnto Pharao king of Aegypt and to his people whom art thou like vnto ingreatnes Behold Asshur was like a Cedar in Lebanon with faire branches and thicke shadowing boughes and shot vp very high so that his top was among the thicke boughes the waters nourished him and the deepe exalted him on high with hir riuers running round about his plants His height was exalted aboue all the trees of the field and his boughes were multiplied and his branches were long bicause of the multitude of the waters which the deepe sent out All the foules of the heauen made their nests in his boughes and vnder his branches did all the beasts of the forrest bring foorth their yoong and vnder his shadow dwelt all mightie nations By which Metaphor he meaneth that many nations were subiect and tributarie vnto Pharao who in the largenesse of dominions surmounted other Princes And his root was neere to the plentiful waters which did conueniently yea abūdantly moisten it Signifieng that his welth riches was increased infinitely and inestimably by reason of the great intercourse and traffike to and fro of Merchants from all quarters The Cedars in the garden of God were no higher than he the For trees did not match him in height and the Plant trees were not like to his boughes Whereby he signifieth that no Prouince in the world was like vnto his no not Iudaea wherin was published the holie Religion and true worship of God nor any other nation whatsoeuer For this his surpassing beautie and incomparable excellencie all the trees of Eden that were in the garden of God enuied him that is his neighbors bordering vpon him and worshipping God aright were mooued with a kinde of enuie and emulation towards him for the same For the godly be sometimes greatly greeued in conscience to see the wicked still to flourish and flaunt in all welfare and prosperitie insomuch that they are almost ready to giue ouer their hold and to shrinke from their tackling Which thing the Prophet Dauid witnesseth saieng My feete were almost gone and my steps had welneere slipt for I fretted at the foolesh when I sawe the prosperitie of the wicked Ieremiah also greatly mooued with indignation heereat disputeth with God about the same and expostulateth in a maner with him for that the way of sinners did so prosper and that the open workers of wickednes had good successe and enioied welfare in all their attempts and dealings Vpon the same argument dwelleth the Prophet Habacuc reasoning and almost chiding with God for the same saieng Wherefore Lord dost thou looke vpon the transgressors and holdest thy toong when the wicked deuoureth the man that is more righteous thā he As though he should say Lord why winkest thou at this geare why holdest thou thy peace at the horrible enormities and wicked dealings of blasphemous and indurate sinners Iob also is inwardly vexed in spirite to see the wicked so aduanced in pride and so laden with prosperitie that they contemne and despise all the godly and vertuous Wherfore saith he doe the wicked liue and waxe olde and growe in wealth Their houses are peaceable without fear the rod of God is not vpō them c. These felicities welfares prosperities successes and iollities of the wicked although at the first sight they may seeme to be reckoned as things of great happines insomuch that the minds and consciences of the godly be therewith sometime maruellously mated and amazed and almost readie to fall yet the end thereof doth euidently declare how fraile vaine transitorie brittle vncertaine and momentanie the same pleasures of those worldlings are when as God doth suddenly ouerturne and bring to nothing al the pomp thereof so that no iotte nor appeerance thereof be finally left as the Prophet in another place plainely sheweth Yet a little while saith he and the wicked shall not appeere and thou shalt looke after his place and he shall not be founde And a little after I haue seene the wicked strong and spreading himselfe like a green● Bay tree and he passed away and lo he was gone and I sought him but he coulde not be founde Signifieng thereby that the wicked roysting in their ruffling pride and bragging in their high huffing state are brought downe from their insolent hautines and vanish away euen as smoke with all their pompe and glorie not leauing their stately houses reuenewes and inheritance in succession to their ofspring and posteritie as by experience in many noble families of ancient decent and honorable parentage is daily seene who not acknowledging from whom all their dignitie and preeminence commeth and whom onely they are to thanke for the same are for their ingratitude by the Lord thus condignly punished And this is the meaning of Ezechiel in this metaphore wherein God threatneth destruction and desolation to a most mightie king for that his hart was lifted vp against the Lorde and that not onely he himselfe should taste these miseries become a pray vnto his enimies but others also his complices and confederates should be cast into the like dolefull calamitie and receiue many other detriments afflictions and corosiues which the Prophet in that Chapter by many metaphores reciteth Like vnto this is that commination of God by his Prophet Isaiah against the arrogancie pride tyranny cruelty and oppression of the

strong and mighty shall not continue he pronounceth that their Roote shall be plucked vp As in that saieng of Iob I haue seene my selfe when the foolish was deepe rooted and sodainely I cursed his habitation Whereunto also agreeth that which he saith in another place The vngodly man sorroweth all the daies of his life and the number of a tyrants yeeres are vnknowne He shall not be rich neither shall his substance continue neither shall his prosperity take deepe roote vpon earth The flame shall dry vp his branches and he shall go away with the breath of his mouth Al these words and terms do shew that all the pompe glory insolencie and pride of the wicked shall be quite turned vpside downe and brought to nothing No lesse terrible plagues doth the Prophet Dauid denounce against the wicked who trusting in his worldly wealth and vncertaine riches oppresseth the innocent God saith he shall destroy thee for euer he shall take thee and plucke thee out of thy tabernacle roote thee out of the land of the liuing Thereby signifieng that he should vtterly be rooted out plucked vp euen by the rootes and there shoulde be left no hope to him of any posteritie The same metaphor vsed Christ when as he rebuked the Pharisees and Scribes for transgressing the commandements of God by their owne hypocriticall traditions and appeased his disciples who were offended at him for speaking so plainely and freely vnto those high Rabbines for he saith Euery plant which my heauenly father hath not planted shall be rooted vp Signifieng that all doctrine religion and institution of life that is not warranted and staied vpon the sure and sound foundation of Christ but sauoreth more of phantasticall superstition than of sincere and true holines shall be destroied and plucked vp Al such things as are attempted and vndertaken either for ostentation or lucre by the adle deuise of mans foolish braine without the warrant of Gods holy word and authority of the sacred Scriptures neuer attaine to any good effect but are scattered and come to naught Of the Plant it selfe and of the yoong sprigs buds or slips may the like be said For from thence are there Similitudes borowed taken appliable either to the good or euil part So saith Isaiah The house of Israell is the vineyard of the Lord and the men of Iudah are his pleasant plant Againe in the same Chapter it is vsed in the woorse part As the flame of fire deuoureth the stubble and as the chaffe is consumed of the flame euen so the roote of the wicked shall be as corruption and their bud shall rise vp like dust That is the wicked shall be destroied and neuer grow to any bignes Againe where the same Prophet comforteth the people and assureth them that the grace of their Redeemer shall not faile them he saith In that day shall the bud of the Lord be beautifull and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent Whereby he sheweth that great honor glory and dignitie shall befall to them that continue stedfast in faith and hope through the mercy and fauour of Christ to obtaine saluation To this purpose also tendeth that surpassing ioy which the godly inwardly in spirite enioieth and for the which he so exceedingly reioiceth that he is adorned and enriched with so many and so great blessings For he ascribeth all and euery the good gifts wherwith he is indued vnto Almightie God with humble and hartie giuing of thanks for the same I will greatly reioice in the Lord saith he and my soule shall be ioyfull in my God For he hath clothed me with the garments of saluation and couered me with the robe of righteousnes he hath decked me like a Bridegroome and as a Bride attireth hirselfe with hir Iewels For as the earth bringeth forth hir bud and as the garden shooteth forth his seede so will the Lord God cause righteousnesse and praise to flourish forth before al the heathen In which words he sheweth how he is graciously adorned with al kinds of vertues and that through the free mercie and benefit of God to whom for the same is due all praise and glorie For as the earth being fertile and fruitful and beautified with the gallant verdure of fresh flowers and greene herbes is an argument of the bountifull goodness of God towards vs euen so righteousnes peace tranquillitie and other vertues wherewith the mind and soule of man is garnished declare the exceeding great goodnesse and loue of God toward mankinde so that these most gracious gifts of God woorthily ought to prouoke and stir vs vp to al praise and thankfulnes The Vine branches which spreade themselues abroad and giue comfortable shadow against the heate of the Sunne signifie in the Scriptures felicitie honour dignitie magnificence worship and renowme So doth the princely Prophet Dauid by an elegant Allegorie of the Vine and hir branches reckon vp the prosperous estate of the Hebrewes which was afterward sauced with sower and bitter calamities For thus doth he reason with God Thou hast brought a Vine out of Egypt to wit the people of the Iewes thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it that is thou bestowedst great diligence in trimming manuring and dressing it She stretched out hir branches vnto the sea and hir boughes vnto the riuer that is she inlarged the bounds and limits of hir dominion Why hast thou then broken downe hir hedge So that all they which go by plucke off hir grapes That is doe despoile ransacke teare asunder and dismember the roiall power of the Iewish nation and that bicause they want thy defence and protection The very same argument handleth Isaiah in a Similitude taken from the Vineyard and the buds or branches of the Vine There is in Ezechiel a notable place shadowed vnder an aenigmatical Parable of a great ●auenous Egle by the which the Lord meaneth the king of Babylon who greedily gaped ●or the kingdome of Israel and of a flourishing Vine with great and wide spreading branches Whereof the whole drift is to shew that there is in this world nothing steadie permanent durable or of continuance and that there is no trust to be reposed in anie mortall creature or worldlie Potentate for that the leagues amities and pacts of Kings and Princes and all their societies confederacies and flourishing principalities be liable to ruine and subiect to mutabilitie For God at his pleasure somewhile subuerteth and ouerturneth them euen as a Vine is pruned and lopped when it is too ranke of leaues branches and boughes and many times extolleth dignifieth and aduanceth those things that in sight seeme to bee abiect base and contemptible as in the end of that Chapter he plainly affirmeth in these words And all the trees of the field shall knowe that is all the proud stately and pompous Kings shall well vnderstand that I the Lorde haue brought downe the

for a time yet they shall be shaken with the wind they stand not fast and therefore shall they be rooted vp and pulled out of their places Their vnperfect branches shall be broken bicause they haue not strength and firmitie neither are come to any iust growth and their fruit shall be vnprofitable sower to eat yea meet for nothing Meaning as by the course of the text may plainely be perceiued that neither such fathers nor yet such children and posteritie cōmonly bring any benefit or cōmoditie to the Common-wealth but as he immediately afterwarde saith Children borne of the wicked bed are witnesses of the wickednes against their parents In the 23. Chapter of Ecclesiasticus is the same Argument handled wherein be reckoned vp sundry sinnes proceeding of Adulterie and the shamefull crime of hir that plaieng the Whoore getteth hir children by another man than hir owne husband Which crime he so earnestly and vehemently there displaieth that first he sheweth how she is iustly to be smutted with open infamie that she shall be brought out into the congregation to be a gazing stocke to the world and that examination shall be made of hir children which shall not succeede in the inheritance of their supposed father but liue in contempt without any honor or estimation and finally that they shall not take roote nor their branches bring foorth any fruit A like saieng hath he also in another place The children of the vngodly shall not obtaine manie branches and the vncleane rootes as vpon the high rocks shall be rooted out Meaning as Christ said of the seede which fell in hard and stonie ground that the issue begotten in vncleannes cannot take roote nor arise to any hope of posteritie but that assoone as any of the stocke and progenie beginneth to sproute and come vp it anon againe withereth away and is brought to nothing Much like to this is that saieng of Isaiah Afore the haruest when the flower is finished and the fruit is riping in the flower the Lord shall cut downe the branches with hookes and shall take away and cut off the boughes By which Metaphor he sheweth that all things go prosperously forward for a while with the wicked their corne ripeth and their haruest draweth on their fruites prosper and are timely but euen when all things seeme to be at their full ripenes and they themselues hoping euen now to enioy their fruits both corne and graine crop and fruit bough and branch are sweeped away and the great shew of former benefit with a trice defeated and frustrated The Flower is the ioy beauty and delite of the trees in the Spring time of the yeere feeding the beholders eie with pleasure and refreshing his nose with comfortable sent smel Now Plants and Herbs do blossome flower some at one time and some at another for some there be that burgeine and shoote out in the Spring some in Sommer some in Autumne and some in temperate climates and milde aire where the biting frost nippeth not in Winter And vnder the name of Flower there is ment as well in the Scriptures as in other writers euery such thing as is in his excellent prime and gallant brauery So is the lustie time of youth and adolescencie tearmed by the name of the flower of age For then is the body in his perfectest comelines beauty and proportion In the same sense are vsed also leaues greene grasse ●aie stubble and other things of small continuance which quickly and sodainly passe and fade away So doth the Apostle Paule resemble and compare doctrine that is corrupt vnsound dangerous counterfaite superstitious and hypocritall vnto Tymber Haie and Stubble For whosoeuer are without the sounde and sincere truth comprized warranted in the volumes of the sacred and Canonical Scriptures mouldre and vanish away as smoke and cannot abide the triall when the storms of temptation begin to blow euen as drie stickes and rotten woode cannot abide the force of the burning flame but are straightwaies consumed But most commonly the pleasant gallantise and amorous beautie of the Flower in the Scriptures is vsually applied to such thinges as be fraile transitory fading ruinous and momentanie As in Iob. Man that is borne of a woman is of short continuance and full of trouble He shooteth foorth as a flower and vanisheth away as a shadow Wherewith agreeth that which the Prophet Dauid writeth The daies of man are as grasse as a flowre of the fielde so florisheth he By which words he meaneth such a thing as quickly perisheth and passeth away albeit for the time it seeme to the eie gallant beautifull and amiable And to the intent euery man should on the one side haue daily before the eies of his mind his fraile estate brittle condition on the other side the power efficacie eternitie of the word of God Isaiah is commanded with a loude voice to proclaime and cry out that All flesh is grasse and all the grace therof as the flower of the field The gras withereth the flower fadeth bicause the spirite of the Lord bloweth vpō it surely the people is grasse The grasse is withered the flower is faded But the word of our God endureth for euer Notifieng thereby that all pompe glory dignity magnificence or whatsoeuer else in man is admirable and highly set by whether they by gifts inward of the minde or outward of the body at the breath of God fade and vanish away Let euery man therefore stande vppon his guard and take heed that he repose not any confidence in these brittle transitorie and momentanie gifts or in these vaine goods of the world but that he stay himselfe vpon the sure and infallible worde of God which is onely permanent holesome solide and comfortable To the consideration of these eternal and aie during riches the two blessed Apostles of our Lord Peter and Iames do earnestly exhort vs that we should leaue seeking after the vaine vanities of this wicked world and studie to attaine the eternall and euerlasting ioies of heauen whereunto Christ in his blessed word inuiteth vs. There be many mo the like metaphores and Similitudes taken from leaues and flowers which to the conscience and minde of ech zealous Christian depainteth and setteth foorth the transitory trash and fickle hold that by daily experience is knowen to rest in these worldly things wherwith men are vsually puft vp into such insolent pride and arrogancie And thus doth the Prophet Isaiah compare the pride and loftines of Ephraim and vnder them all others infected with the like vices vnto fading flowers falling leaues For thus threateneth hee destruction vnto them Wo be vnto the crowne of pride euen to the Drunken people of Ephraim whose great pompe is as a flower that falleth away The crowne of the pride of the drunken Ephraemites shall be troden vnder foote For his glorious beautie shall be a fading flower and as the hastie

fruite afore Sommer For as rath ripe fruits and Apples are not long lasting nor of any great continuaunce so likewise shall not their felicitie continue in any long prosperitie Nahum the Prophet likewise by the same Similitude sheweth that there is nothing in the world so braue gallant beautifull and amiable but that God can and will destroy and bring it to nothing when his wrath is kindled against the obstinate and wicked insomuch that all the flowers and buds that is the pompe and glorie of huffing Roysters be with a trice dispatched dispersed defeated and adnihilated which in these words he setteth downe and describeth Basan is wasted and Carmel and the flower of Lebanon is wasted that is all the power and strength is decaied and all the brauerie brought to nothing After flowers are the Fruits and Seedes next to be spoken of whereof for that there be thence Similitudes vsually fetched and borrowed wee must note this by the way That Seede as also the Fruit in the Scriptures is taken for the tribe kindred stocke pedagrew and ofspring from whence a man is issued and descended the which God in his word promiseth to blesse with all welfare and prosperitie in those that folow his lawes and obserue his commandements As the Prophet Dauid in one of his Psalmes witnesseth saieng I haue beene yoong and now am old and yet saw I neuer the righteous forsaken nor his seede begging their bread His seede shall be blessed and the righteous shall inherite the land as for the seede of the vngodlie it shall perish and be rooted out So Eliphaz one of Iob his friends that came to reason with him and to comfort him commendeth the chastisement of the Lord proouing the same to be very beneficial and profitable for man for that thereby hee is taught and schooled to submit himselfe vnder his mightie hand and thankfully to receiue his fatherlie correction being certainly persuaded that the same is sent vnto him for his amendement to trie his constancie and patience and thereby therefore doth man receiue singular blessing and commoditie Thou shalt see saith he that thy seede shall be great thy posteritie as the grasse of the earth Thou shalt go to thy graue in a full age as a ricke of corne commeth in due season into the barne that is thou shalt as a man of noble calling and high parentage be honorably buried with a great assemblie of Nobles solemnizing thy funerals Againe for that both herbs and trees doe beare and bring foorth seede which afterward produceth the like plant according to his kinde and so from one to another infinitely therefore the holy Prophets doe also vse it for the garnishing and illustrating of their Arguments and Sermons Seede therfore signifieth successe increase plentie foison and abundance As in the Prophet Isaiah we may euidently see where the Lord promiseth to al them that trust in him and imbrace his lawes all felicitie successe and abundance The Lord saith he shall giue raine to thy Seede when thou shalt sow the ground and bread of the increase of the earth which shall be fat and very plentious In that day also shall thy cattell be fed in large pastures The Oxen also and the yoong Asses that till the ground shal eate cleane prouender which is winnowed with the shouell and the fanne Signifieng that his worldly wealth and temporal goods should be maruellously increased and all things should prosper according to his harts desire The same reason is for the Fruit for in the Bible the Fruits of herbs and trees doe betoken and signifie plentie abundance fertilitie blessednes prosperitie works good and euill scarcitie dearth penurie iustice integritie wickednes impietie loosenes dishonestie and lewd maners which are also signified vnder the name of Corne or Graine So the Prophet Hosea exhorting men going astray and forgetting themselues to vertue integrity of life and righteous dealing saith thus Sowe to your selues in righteousnes and reape after the measure of mercie Breake vp your fallow ground for it is time to seeke the Lord. In which words he counselleth and aduiseth them to forsake their woonted maner of life and to liue in such sort as may be acceptable and pleasant to God For hitherto saith he you haue plowed wickednes you haue reaped iniquitie you haue eaten the fruite of lies By the which metaphore he sheweth how that they practised nothing else than fraud quarrels wrangling suttletie falsehoode deceite and how to entrap circumuent vndermine deceiue and oppresse the innocent Now heer therefore he admonisheth them to leaue their filthy practizes and to plucke vp by the roots all the wicked weedes and noisome tares out of their harts and in lieu thereof to sow in the furrowes of a pure conscience honest and Christian dealing mildenes lenitie curtesie righteousnesse and true neighbourhood The selfe same thing doth the Lorde likewise by his Prophet Ieremie earnestly command and strictly enioine saieng Breake vp your fallow ground and sow not among the thornes that is see that your harts be manured and garnished with the godly seedes of integritie righteousnes innocencie and goodnes hauing the thornes and briers of wickednes quite plucked vp by the rootes And this is further manifestly witnessed by the Prophet Isaiah where as the Lorde by a most notable kind of consolation assureth the minde and conscience of the godly that he shall not misse to obtaine saluation For thus proclaimeth he safegard and health vnto them in their great afflictions and almost desperate troubles Say to the righteous that it shall go well with them for they shall eate the fruite of their workes and studies Assuring him thereby of assistance and willing him to bee of good comfort and cheere bicause in the extremitie of famine or war when others shall be surprized in calamities and afflictions he shall quietly and safely enioy the thinges which he hath receiued from the Lord God by the worke and trauell of his owne hands But wo be vnto the wicked saith he for it shall be euill with him and the reward of his owne handes shall be giuen vnto him But Fruite is also sometimes taken in the Scriptures for children issue and posteritie which the princely Prophet Dauid testisieth to be an especiall blessing of God as by his words it plainly appeereth Behold saith he children and the fruite of the wombe are an heritage and gift that commeth of the Lord. Againe where God vnder the name of Dauid pronounceth that the kingdome of Christ shall be euerlasting The Lord saith he hath sworne in truth vnto Dauid and he will not shrinke from it saieng of the fruite of thy bodie will I set vpon thy throne There will I make the horne of Dauid to florish For I haue ordained a light for mine annointed As for his enimies I wil cloth them with shame but on him shall his crowne florish In which words he meruellously aduaunceth the honor