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…

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.

The application is this. The great King of heauen marries to man, poore man, his owne daughter, Mercie, 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, ⟨p. 84⟩loue 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 loue; and to heale his bruise, prescribes him three herbes.

First Rue, or herb of grace, which is repentance this teacheth him to sorrow for his strife and emulation; and purgeth away the bruised blood.