OF THE SCRIPTURES. 2S9 
find (harp fpines, which are well adapted to give 
Pain ; the crown might be ealily made of thefe 
lofc, round, and pliant branches, and what in my 
Opinion feems ro be the greateft proof, is, that the 
leaves much refemble thofe of ivy, as they are of 
fi very deep green. Perhaps the enemies of 
Chrift, would have a plant fomewhat refembling 
that, with which emperors find generals were ufed 
to be crowned, that there might be calumny even 
J h the puniJEmenr. 
Spinse Biblicse. Of Thorns mentioned in the 
Scriptures. 
We know very few of the Thorns which are 
tOentioned in the Scriptures. The reft- harrow, 
(Ononis fpinofa) that molt pernicious and prickly 
Plant, covers entire fields and plains in Fgypr and 
■Paleftine. I make no doubt, but this is referred 
to in fome parts of the holy Scripture ; I fhall 
leave Philologies to determine which of the 
"1'horns there mentioned it is. The Arabians, at 
P r efent in Egypt, call ic akol. This is, perhaps, 
that which Mofes means when he curies the earth; 
lc grows in great plenty, promifcuouflv with the 
large chillies, in the uncultivated parts of Egypt, 
■l-abrufca. Of the wild Grapes of the Scriptures. 
Ifaiah in chap. v. ver. 4. fayeth : What could 
• a ve been dene more to my vineyard , that I have not 
°ne in it ; wherefore when I locked that it fhould 
r hig forth grapes , brought it forth vjild grapes ? I 
arn inclined to believe, that the Prophet here 
l^ans the hoary nighdhade (Solatium incanum) 
-fcaufe it is common in Egypt, Paleftine, and the 
and the Arabian name agrees well - : “ u 
U 
with it. 
The 
