A divine herbal together with a forrest of thorns In five sermons. ... By…A divine herball together with a forrest of thornes In five sermons. ... By…

There is a story (nothing worth but for the moral) of a great King, that married his daughter to a poor Gentleman, that loved her But his grant had a condition annexed to it, that whensoever the Gentleman's left side looked black, or he lost his wedding ring, he should not only loose his Wife, but his life. One day pursuing his sports, he fell into a quarrel; where (at once) he received a bruise on his left breast, and lost his ring in the scuffing. The tumult over, he perceived the danger, whereinto his own heedlessness had brought him; and in bitterness of soul shed many tears. In his sorrow, he spied a book, which opening, he found therein his ring again; and the first words he read, were a medicine for a bruised side. It directed him three herbs, whereof a plaster applied should not fail to heal him. He did so; was cured; was secured.

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 onely 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 heaven marries to man, poor man, his own daughter, Mercy, and everlasting kindness: But threatens him, that his side must not look black; his heart must not be polluted with spiritual adulteries: nor must he loose his wedding ring, ⟨p. 84⟩love to God and his Saints: l••• he forset both Gods mercy, and his own salvation. Man in the pursuit of worldly affairs, quarrels with his neighbours, and scuffles with contention. So his heart takes a bruise, and looks black with hatred. And Charity his wedding ring is lost, in these wilful turbulencies and vexations. What should he do but mourn? Lo, God in his goodness, directs him to a book, the holy Gospel. There the Spirit helps him to his ring again, his former love; and to heal his bruise, prescribes him three herbs.