A Divine Herbal Together with a Forest of Thorns, Part 12 – Part 20
Liuer-wort, or Peaceable louelove.
IS a man sick in his liuer, by accession of some distemperature? Doth his charity and louelove to some neighbours, for their malignancie against him, faile and faint in his heart? For they say, Cogit amare Iecur. I stand not here on the distinction betwixt Amare and Diligere. Then let him steppe to this Garden, for some Iecuraria; we call it Liuer-wort. Hee askes of his heart for his olde louelove, his wonted amity: if his reason answere, that the persecutions of such and such calumnies hauehave fled her into another countrey; he is not at quiet, till affection fetch it home again. He thinkes, that night hee sleepes without Charitie in his bosome, his pillow is harder then Iacobs was at Bethel. If carnall respects can draw him to louelove his friend for his profite,Gen. 28. or his kinsman for bloud: he will much more louelove a Christian for his Fathers sake, for his owne sake.
There is a story (nothing worth but for the morall) of a great King, that married his daughter to a poore Gentleman, that loued her But his grant had a condition annexed to it, that whensoeuer the Gentlemans left side looked blacke, or hee lost his wedding ring, hee should not onelyonly loose his Wife, but his life. One day pursuing his sports, he fell into a quarrell; where (at once) he receiued a bruise on his left breast, and lost his ring in the scuffing. The tumult ouer, hee perceiued the danger, whereinto his owne heedlesnesse had brought him; and in bitternesse of soule shedde many teares. In his sorrow, he spied a booke, which opening, he found therein his ring againe; and the first words hee read, were a medicine for a bruised side. It directed him three herbes, whereof a playster applyed should not faile to heale him. Hee did so; was cured; was secured.
The application is this. The great King of heauen marries to man, poore man, his owne daughter, MercieMercy, and euerlasting kindnesse: But threatens him, that his side must not looke black; his heart must not bee polluted with spirituall adulteries: nor must he loose his wedding ring, louelove to God and his Saints: l… hee forset both Gods mercy, and his owne saluation. Man in the pursiue of worldly affaires, quarrels with his neighbours, and sc…ffles with cotention. So his heart takes a bruise, and looks blacke with hatred. And Charity his wedding ring is lost, in these wilfull turbulencies and vexations. What should hee doe but mourne? Loe, God in his goodnesse, directs him to a book, the holy Gospell. There the Spirit helpes him to his ring againe, his former louelove; and to heale his bruise, prescribes him three herbes.
First Rue, or herbe of grace, which is repentance this teacheth him to sorrow for his strife and emulation; and purgeth away the bruised bloud.
The second is the … deluce, Thankfulnes: he considers how infinitly God hath loued him; therefore he must needes louelove God, and in him his. Beatus qui amat te, & amicum in te, & inimicum propter te. Hee … it impossible, to louelove him he hath not seene, and to hate his Image, which he hath seene.
The third, …, which will grow the faster for iniuries. Many wrongs hereafter shal not put him out of charitie. A good plaister of these herbes will draw his bosome white againe. And when it is so, let him vse Iecurarta, L…er-wort; a continuall application of louelove to his heart: that he keeping his ring of faith sure from loosing; and his brest from the selfe-procured blowes of contention; hee may hold also his wife for euer; that beautifull daughter of the King, Gods eternall mercy.
Lilly, or Purenesse of heart.
DOth a man perceiue his heart a little beguiled with o…tentation, and desires hee to seeme better then he is? And how easily is man wonne, to answere his commenders speculation? Let him fetch the Lillie, purenesse of heart; which is an herbe of grace, growing in the humble valley of a meeke spirit; yet is white, and louely. He knowes, God can vnmask the vizarded face, and turne the inside outward. If a man be a Herod within, and a Iohn without: a wicked Polititian in a ruffe of Precisian-set; God can distinguish him. There are too many of these, that stand vp in the fabricke like Pyramides: it were better for vsus, for themselues, if they were but good honest pillars. Plaine-dealing, is a good plaine song, and makes better musicke, then a forc'd squeaking trebble, that troubles vsus all with …ouelties. Shallow honesty is more commendable, then the profound quicke-sands of subtiltie: and one leafe of the Plane-tree, is better then many handfuls of the pricking Holly. They search out iniquities, they accomplish a diligent search: Psal. 64. 6.both the inward thought of eueryevery one of them, and the heart is deepe. But when God shal wound them with his arrowe, They shall make their tongue fall vponupon themselues. Such a mans owne witte shall snare him; and hee shall sing, or rather sigh, Ingenio perii. They are glad of Christs Crosse; not to suffer for it, but to enioy plenitude of riches by it: And so, like many in great Funerals, reioice to bee mour…ers; that they may get some of the blackes. Put them to no charges, and they'l make you beleeue, they are strongly, strangely religious. But, 2. Sam. 24.2. Sam. 24. 24. Shall wee offer burnt sacrifices to the Lord our GOD of that which cost vsus nothing? Christ compares this man to a painted sepulcher. Sepulchrum quasi semi-pulchrum, sayth one. Extra nitidum, intus foetidum. But let them be the men they seeme; and not nettles in the midst of a rose-cake. The good great man, though hee bee able securely to doe much mischiefe; regards more the sins indignitie, then his owne indemnity.
Enula campa…a, or Obedience.
PErhaps euill example hath suddenly, and, without prouided consideration, led a man into euill. Let him runne to this Garden for Enulaeampana. This herbe is that Christ enioined vsus. Search the Scriptures; adhere to the word of the Lord. This shal giuegive decision of al doubts: and teach thee what path to flye, what way to take. It is giuen of this herbe. Enula campana reddit praecordia sana. It is true of our constant cleauing to the word; that it shall purge the hart of what corruption soeuer bad precedents hauehave put into it. Of all the herbes in thy Garden loose not this. Forgoe not the Sword of the Spirit: it is thy best weapon.
Heart-wort, or Affiance in Gods promises.
IT may be, sorrow of heart for sinnes hath cast a man downe; and he is swallowed vp of too much heauinesse. There is an herbe to comfort him, called, Heart-wort; affiance in the mercifull promises of God: past to him by Word, Oath, Seale, Scriptures, Sacraments,: and therfore infallible. At what time soeuer what sinner soeuer repents of what sinne soeuer, God wil put all his wickednesse out of his remembrance. Hee will not let that promise fall to the ground, but meets it with peace and ioy. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shal be comforted. Mat. 5. 4.He beleeues that his wet seed time shall hauehave a glad haruest:Psal. 126. 5. for they that sowe in teares, shall reape in ioy. Hee perswades himselfe, that the dayes of mourning will passe ouer, as the winde blowes ouer the raine; and then God will wipe away al teares from his eyes, Ren. 7. 17.with the hand of merciemercy. This confidence, in the midst of all sorrowes, is his Heart-wort.
Hyaeinth, or Following Christ.
SAy that the Christian hath met with some guilded pill of corruption; some poysonous doctrine, yet plausible to flesh and bloud. Let him search this Garden for Hyacinth, or So…sequium, Tornesol: an herbe, that duely and obediently followes the Sunne. Doe thou follow the Sunne of righteousnesse: Mal. 4. 2.and let his bright beames guide thy course: who hath promised to teach all those, that with an humble heart, and earnest prayer seeke it at his hands. Follow the Sunne, and he wil bring thee where he is, to heauen, at the right hand of his Father. Let no wandring Planet erre thee; but adhere to the Sunne with a faithfull imitation.
Care-…way.
IF worldly troubles come too fast vponupon a man; hee hath an herbe called Careaway. Not that hee bequeathes himselfe to a supine negligence, as if God would fill his house with prouision, while he sits and sings care away. But as he is free from idlenesse, so also from distrust. Hee considers the Rauens and Lillies; and knowes, that the Lord is the Preseruer of men, as well as of Fowles and flowers: that hee respects man aboue those, and his owne aboue other men. Therefore hee throwes all his cares vponupon God; as if they were too heauy a lode for himselfe. Sollicitous thoughtfulnes can giuegive him no hurt, but this herbe Careaway shall easily cure it.
Holy Thi…tle, or good Resolution.
YEeld that hee is pressed with iniuries; as who will liue godly in Christ, and shall not suffer persecution! He is oppressed by force or fraud, might or subtilty; and cannot helpe himselfe. He hath a good herbe in this Garden, called Carduus Benedictus, Holy thistle: a godly resolution, that through many miseries he must enter heauen. He rests himselfe on God; and rather wisheth his harmelesnesse should suffer, then himselfe not to giuegive passiue and patient obedience to lawfull authority. Our God whom we serue is able to deliuer vsus from the burning fiery furnace, Dan. 3. 17.and hee will deliuer vsus out of thine hand, O King. But if not; be it knowne to thee, O King, that, wee will not serue thy gods, nor worship thy golden Image.
There are many other herbes in this garden: as if hee be to deale with craftie aduersaries, let him fetch some Sage, honest policie; and such as may stand with an vntouched conscience. For Christ gaue vsus this prohibition, to bee wise as Serpents; though withall a cohibition, that we be harmelesse as Doues. Mat. 10. 16.If he be tempted to ebriety, he hath in this Garden, Coleworts; moderate abstinence. Matthiolus on the preface of Dioscorides notes such a naturall enmitie betwixt this herbe and drunkennesse: that if you plant Colewort neere to the rootes of the Vine, of it selfe it flyeth from them. But I excuse my selfe.
Non ego cunct a meis amplecti versibus opto.
I would not leaue nothing vnsayd. Thus I hauehave walked you through a sacred Garden of many gracious herbes: happy soules thus planted. I will stay you no longer, then to heare your blessing.
It receiueth blessing from God.
THe Reward giues a happy conclusion to this good ground. So it pleaseth the Lord to accept our labours, that he will reward them; not after our owne merit, for that is not an atome; but after his owne mercy, which exceedes heauen and earth. Receiue this blessing with a thankfull heart; thou hast not earn'd it. It is obiected, that here it is sayd, their workes are meet for God, therefore deserue this blessing. And Wisd. 3.Wisd. 3. 5. God proued them, and found them meete for himselfe; as if they could stand Gods tryall. And Paul exhorts vsus to walke worthie of the vocation, Eph. 4. 1.wherewith we are called. I answere, Deus coronat don… sua, non merit a nostra. Aug.God rewards his owne workes, not our worth. It is giuen, Non meritis operantis, sed miseratione donantis: not for the deserts of the doer, but for the merciemercy of the giuer. Datur operatoribus, non pro operibus. Luke chap. 12. Verse 32.Luke 12. 32. It is my Fathers will to giuegive you a kingdome.
Do wee good? from whom is it? doth not God worke in vsus to will and to doe? Thou hast done well: be comforted; be not proud. It was Gods worke,Bern. not thine. Omnia merita Dei dona sunt: & it a homo propter ipsa magis Deo debitor est, quam Deus homini. All our good workes are Gods giftes: and therefore man is more beholding to God for them, then God to man. If in this Garden any good herbe spring ouer the wall, and sawcily challenge to i… selfe a prerogatiue of merite; deale with it, as the Gardiner with supersluous branches; prune it off. Or as Tor quatus with his ouer-venturous sonne; cut it short with the sword of the Spirit, for daring beyond the Commission. Our Aduersaries oppose this truth very violently, both in the Schooles, and in the Pulpits: but come they to their deathbeds, to argue it between God and their owne soules; then grace and grace alone; mercy and onelyonly merciemercy; IESVS and none but IESVS.
And this euen their great Bell-weather is forced to acknowledge.Bellar. de Iustif. lib. 5. cap. 7. Propter incert it udinem propriae iustitiae, & periculum inanis gloriae, tutissimum est fiduciam totam in sola Dei misericordia & benignitate repo…ere. I will translate his words truly. By reason of the vncertainty of our owne righteousnesse, and the danger of vaine glorie; the sa…est course is to put our whole trust and confidence in in the onelyonly fauour and merciemercy of God. But perhaps Bellarmine spoke this as a meere Iesuite; and now made Papable, hee bee willing to recant and vnsay it.
This blessing then comes not for the Grounds merite, but for the Dressers merciemercy. It is sayd, Gen. 6.Gen. 6. 5. tht God would destroy the World with a floud, Because the imaginations of mans heart were onelyonly euill continually. And Gen. 8.Gen. 8. 21. it is sayd, that GOD will no more curse and destroy the ground for mans sake; because the imaginations of his heart are onelyonly euill from his youth. The same reason that is alleaged, why God will not spare the world, is also alleaged why God will spare the world.
It serues plentifully to demonstrate, that not for mans merite, but for Gods merciemercy, confusion is withholden.Mal. 3. 6. I am the Lord, I change not. Therefore ye sonnes of Iacob are not consumed.
It receiueth.
SVch is the immense goodnesse of God, that he will adde grace to grace, aud when hee hath showne mercy, hee will shew more mercy. As if he expected no other argument of future bounty, but his former bounty. Whom he did predestinate, them also he called: and whom he called, Rom. 8. 30.them also hee iustified: and whom he iustified, them he also glorified. Man is to be considered in a foure-fold estate. Confectionis, Infectionis, Refectionis, Perfectionis. First, God made him happy, without misery, without iniquity. God hath made man vpright: but they hauehave sought out manie inuentions. Eccl. 7. 29.If a glorious heauen aboue him, a fruitfull earth vnderunder him, feruiceable creatures about him, could giuegive him solace and folicity, hee was not scanted. Heere is mans first draught of Gods bountie; his originall state. 2. Then man fell from holinesse, and so from happinesse; and lost the fauour of the Creator, with the good of the creature: that a generall curse fell on the earth for his sake. Loe, now hee lyes weltring in his gore, who shall heale him, who shall reuiue him? God promised him a Sauiour, and kept his word. Looke on his owne only Sonne hanging, bleeding, dying on an accursed Crosse. 3. A Redeemer is come; what is man the better for it, that hath no power to beleeue on him? Faith hee hath none, but what God must put into him. Againe, Lord helpe: let vsus receiue yet a third merciemercy: make vsus beleeuers, or we are neuer the better. We had as good hauehave no Sauiour, as not to hauehave him our Sauiour: and ours hee cannot be, vnlesse the Lord make vsus his. 4. Lastly the Lord giues vsus Faith: and so we shall receiue a happines by this beleeued Sauiour, better then euer our first creation gaue vsus: a kingdome; a kingdome of life; an eternall kingdome of life; that can neuer be taken from vsus. Thus wee are still receiuers, and God is the giuer. Wee receiue blessing from God.