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…

Doth a man perceive his heart a little beguiled with ostentation, and desires he to seem better then he is? And how easily is man won, to answer his commenders speculation? Let him fetch the Lillie, pureness of heart; which is an herb of grace, growing in the humble valley of a meek spirit; yet is white, and lovely. He knows, God can unmask the vizarded face, and turn the inside outward. If a man be a Herod within, and a John without: a wicked Politician in a ruff of Precisian-set; God can distinguish him. There are too many of these, that stand up in the fabric like Pyramids: it were better for us, for themselves, if they were but good honest pillars. Plain-dealing, is a good plain song, and makes better music, then a forced squeaking treble, that troubles us all with novelties. Shallow honesty is more commendable, then the profound quick-sands of subtlety: and one leaf of the Plane-tree, is better then many handfuls of the pricking Holly. They search out iniquities, they accomplish a diligent search: ¹both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart is deep. But when God shall wound ⟨p. 86⟩them with his arrow, They shall make their tongue fall upon themselves. Such a mans own wit shall snare him; and he shall sing, or rather sigh, Ingenio perii. They are glad of Christs Cross; not to suffer for it, but to enjoy plenitude of riches by it: And so, like many in great Funerals, rejoice to be mourners; that they may get some of the blacks. Put them to no charges, and they'll make you believe, they are strongly, strangely religious. But,