OF FOREST-TREES. 107 



And for this of the Palm, they fetch it from that of Cant. vii. 8. where CHAP. III. 



it is said, Ascendam in Palmam, et apprehendam fructus ejus and from ^^^V^«^ 



other allegorical and mysterious expressions of the sacred text without 



any manner of probability ; whilst by Alphonsus Ciaconus Lipsius, 



Angelus Rocca, Falconius, and divers oth*er learned men writing on this 



subject, and upon accurate examination of the many fragments pretended 



to be parcels of it, it is generally concluded to have been the Oak ; and 



I do verily believe it, since those who have described those countries, 



assure us there is no tree more frequent, which, with relation to several 



celebrations and mysteries under Oaks in the Old Testament, has been 



the subject of many fine discourses. Nor is it likely they should choose 



or assemble so many sorts of woods, with that curiosity, to execute one 



upon, whom they esteemed a malefactor ; besides, we read how heavy 



it was, which Cypress, Cedar, and Palm are not in comparison with 



Oak ; whilst Gretser denies all this, lib. i. chap. vi. and concludes, upon 



his accurate examination of several fragments yet extant, that it is not 



discernible of what timber it was framed. We might add, that the 



furious zeal of the bloody and malicious Jews to see our blessed Lord 



inhumanly executed, could not possibly allow leisure to frame a cross 



of so many rare and curious materials : Let this, therefore, pass for an 



errant legend 



That which is twined and a little wreathed (easily to be discerned 

 by the texture of the bark) is best to support burdens, for posts, columns, 

 summers, &c. for all which our English Oak is infinitely preferable to the 



^ The Septuagint has it more properly, " Ascendam in palmam, tenebo cacumina 

 " ejus." 



*^ In all the editions of the Silva, it is Alpho^jsvs Ciaconus : But I know of no author 

 of that name. I suppose that A. Cocquws is meant, who, in l664, wrote a book entitled, 

 " Historia ac Contemplatio Sacra Plantarum, Arborum, et Herbarum, quarum sit mentio 

 " in Sacra Scriptura." 4to. 



The whole of this seems an unnecessary digression. A superstitious Recluse might 

 be allowed to waste his time in investigations of this nature ; but a serious and practical 

 Christian, in the humility of his soul, will content himself with the bare truth of the 

 historical fact, as recorded in the books of the New Testament. Tanta gmtmm in rebus 

 Jrivolis plerumque Religio plin. 



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