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…

I need not further amplify this point. Christ gives a vae ridentibus; Woe to them that laugh, for they shall weep: and every smile of sin shall be turned to a groan of sorrow. They that exhibit their lives as sacrifices risuiet lubentiae; shall one day feel pricks, and goads, and thorns; scratching and piercing their hearts: when (like the strucken dear, with the arrowhead rankling in his side) they shall not be able to shift or change pains with places. Let this reach to our souls two instructions.

I need not further amplifie this point. Christ giues a vae ridentibus; Woe to them that laugh, for they shall weepe: and euery smile of sinne shall be turned to a grone of sorrow. They that exhibite their liues as sacrifices risuiet lubentiae; shall one day feele pricks, and goads, and thornes; scratching and peircing their hearts: when (like the strucken deare, with the arrowhead rankling in his side) they shall not bee able to shift or change paines with places. Let this reach to our soules two instructions.

1 That we labour our hearts betimes to a sensibleness of these thorns. A Thorn swallowed into the flesh, if it be not looked to, rankles. Sin without repentance, will fester in the soul; and is so much more perilous, as it is less felt. Oh the number of thorns that lie in many conscience, who complain no more, then if they ailed nothing. ⟨p. 144⟩The prick of a thorn is not so painful at first, while the blood is hot, as after a cold pause. Every man hath his complaints; & who liveth out of the reach of discontent? You shall hear tradesmen complaining of few or false customers. Labourers, of little work, and less wages. Beggars complain the want of Charity: and rich men the want of money. Merchants of rocks and Pirates: Lawyers of short fees; and Clients of long suits. But no man complains of the thorns in his own bosom. He nourisheth briers there that wound him: and the heart is as dedolent,¹ as if it were past feeling. But where there is no discovery of the disease, the recovery of the health is in vain hoped for.