MENTIONED IN THE GOSPELS. 441 
ism, and become the established rehgion of a great part of 
the Roman empire. 
From all these remarks, though we assert nothing posi- 
tive, we are persuaded those will not err greatly, who be- 
lieve the mustard plant of the Gospels to be an individual 
of the common mustard of our times, or Sinapis nigra of 
Linnaeus. 
All persons of candour and judgment will perceive, that 
it was not a tree, strictly so called, but an herb raised on 
the farm, or in the garden, on which much attention was 
bestowed by the proprietor, and which enjoyed the advan- 
tage of a rich soil, and a warm climate ; grew to the height 
of twelve or fifteen feet, and shot out branches which shel- 
tered birds, and even men. 
A judicious and enlightened examination of the language, 
used concerning the mustard plant, is the true method of 
deciding with which plant in modernbotany it corresponds. 
This is not the language of professed botanists, or learned 
naturalists ; but the language of ordinary life, in which 
more, or even less, may be meant than meets the ear. 
From a proper consideration of this language, we may ar- 
rive at the truth, but without such a consideration, our ar- 
rival at it will be a matter of chance, as well as uncertainty. 
Grammarians have been divided about the origin of 
Sinapis — the Greek name of the mustard plant. We think 
all the etymologies of it mere drivelling, except that of 
Hiller, who makes it compounded of two Chaldaic words, 
Sina Appa, biting the nose, from the effect which the par- 
ticles, issuing from the bruised seeds, have on the olfactory 
nerves. Such seeds, when bruised, also nip the nerves of 
the eye, when held over it, and cause it to water. 
The seed of the mustard, when reduced to powder, has 
long been taken along with food, in order to assist diges- 
