2. That they taste well. Many a flower hath a sweet smell, but not so wholesome a taste. Your Pharisaical prayers and alms smelt sweetly in the vulgar nostrils: taste them, and they were but rue, or rather worm-wood. When the Pharisee saw the Publican in the lower part of the Temple, standing as it were in the Belfry; he could cry, Foh this Publican: but when they were both tasted, by his palate that could judge, the Publican hath an herb in his bosom, and ⟨p. 65⟩the Pharisee but a gay, gorgeous, stinking weed. The herbs, that the Passover were eaten with, were sour: yet they were enjoined with sweet bread. Sour they might be, but they were wholesome. Herbs have not only their savour, but their nutriment. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, 1and herb for the service of man: that he may bring food out of the earth. Herbs then are food, and have an alimental virtue. So we may both with the herbs of charity feed mens bodies, and with the herbs of piety feed their souls. A good life is a good salad: and in the second place to precepts, are usefully necessary good examples. The blood of Martyrs is said to have nourished the Church. The patience of the Saints, in the hottest extremity of their afflictions, even when the flames of death hath clipped them in their arms; hath been no less then a kindly nourishment to many mens faith. It is expounded by an universal consent of Divines, that one of those 3. feedings, which Christ imposed on Peter, is Pasce exemplo; let thy life feed them. Blessed Gardens that yield herbs, like Jotham's vine, that cheer the heart of both God and man. 2The Poets feigned, that Nectar & Ambrosia were the food of their Gods. Jupiter Ambrosia satur est, est Nectare plenus. But the true Gods diet, is the virtues of his Saints, wherewith he promiseth to sup, when he comes into their hearts. Faith,3 love, patience, meekness, honesty; these dishes are his dainties.
2. That they taste well. Many a flower hath a sweet smell, but not so wholsome a taste. Your Pharisaicall prayers and almes smelt sweetly in the vulgar nosthrils: taste them, and they were but rue, or rather worme-wood. When the Pharise sawe the Publican in the lower part of the Temple, standing as it were in the Belfrey; he could cry, Foh this Publican: but when they were both tasted, by his palate that could iudge, the Publican hath an herbe in his bosome, and ⟨p. 65⟩the Pharise but a gay, gorgeous, stinking weede. The herbes, that the Passeouer were eaten with, were sowre: yet they were enioined with sweet bread. Sowre they might be, but they were wholsome. Herbes haue not onely their sauour, but their nutriment. He causeth the grasse to growe for the cattell, 1and herbe for the seruice of man: that he may bring food out of the earth. Herbs thē are food, and haue an alimentall vertue. So we may both with the herbes of charitie feed mens bodies, and with the herbes of piety feede their soules. A good life is a good sallet: and in the second place to precepts, are vsefully necessary good exāples. The bloud of Martyrs is sayd to haue nourished the Church. The patience of the Saints, in the hottest extremity of their afflictions, euen when the flames of death hath clipped them in their armes; hath been no lesse then a kindly nourishment to many mens faith. It is expounded by an vniuersall consent of Diuines, that one of those 3. feedings, which Christ imposed on Peter, is Pasce exemplo; let thy life feed them. Blessed Gardens that yeeld herbes, like Iothams vine, that cheare the heart of both God and man. 2The Poets fain'd, that Nectar & Ambrosia were the food of their Gods. Iupiter Ambrosia satur est, est Nectare plenus. But the true Gods dyet, is the vertues of his Saints, wherwith he promiseth to suppe, when he comes into their hearts. Faith,3 loue, patience, meeknes, honestie; these dishes are his dainties.
- 1Psa. 104. 14
- 2Judg. 9• 13.Iudg. 9• 13.
- 3Reu. 3. 20.
