MENTIONED IN THE GOSPELS. 
433 
the words of Paul, Rom. xiv. " another, who is weak, 
eateth herbs." 
This account of lachaiion is decisive of the kind of herb, 
which that word denotes in the gospel. It is an herb 
cultivated in the farm or garden, for the use of the kitchen, 
and not one growing in the fields, neglected or disregarded. 
The seeds of the poppy, fox-glove, tobacco, crowfoot, and 
so forth, might be less than that of the mustard ; but the 
plants which grew from them, might not be so great, as that 
which grew from the seed of the mustard ; or if any of them 
were greater, the fact might not be noticed or considered. 
A similar account is to be given of the phrase — it becom- 
eth a tree. This is an elliptical expression, for it becometh 
into a tree — gignetai eis to dendron,- — that is, it had the size, 
as well as the height, of what in ordinary language is call- 
ed a tree. 
Luke''s language is somewhat stronger. It waxed a 
great tree ; but as the size and height of trees are so vari- 
ous, what is simply called a tree by one, will be called a 
great tree by another. The expression is merely relative, 
and according as you compare it with other trees, it will 
either be great or little. 
Not to be more minute, the word tree is of far more ex- 
tensive meaning in the sacred writings, than our use of 
that term will justify. Any vegetable a little taller or 
bigger than ordinary, is called a tree in these records; 
though it might only be a herbaceous plant, which has 
neither the firmness nor hardness of what is called a tree in 
our times. 
It is necessary to be particular in explaining this kind of 
language, because, if it be understood strictly and literally, 
the mustard plant of the gospels cannot be the same, which 
is now known by that title. 
We must recollect, however, that the doctrines which the 
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