1 42 PLANTS IN SCRIPTURE 



And this division into herb and tree may also suffice, 

 if we take in that natural ground of the division of 

 perfect plants, and such as grow from seeds. For 

 plants, in their first production, do send forth two 

 leaves adjoining to the seed ; and then afterwards, do 

 either produce two other leaves, and so successively 

 before any stalk ; and such go under the name of 7roa, 

 fioTavrj or herb ; or else, after the two first leaves 

 succeeded to the seed leaves, they send forth a stalk 

 or rudiment of a stalk, before any other leaves, and 

 such fall under the classes of SeVSpov or tree. So 

 that, in this natural division, there are but two grand 

 differences, that is, tree and herb. The frutex and 

 suffrutex have the way of production from the seed, 

 and in other respects the sujfrutices or cremia, have a 

 middle and participating nature, and referable unto 

 herbs. 



42. "I have seen the ungodly in great power, and 

 flourishing like a green bay tree." Both Scripture and 

 human writers draw frequent illustrations from plants. 

 Scribonius Largus illustrates the old cymbals from the 

 cotyledon palustris or umbilicus veneris. Who would ex- 

 pect to find Aaron's mitre in any plant ? Yet Josephus 

 hath taken some pains to make out the same in the 

 seminal knop of hyoscyamus or henbane. The Scripture 



