SECTION III.

THORNY SHRUBS AND PLANTS.

In the curse pronounced on the ground (Genesis iii. 17, 18) says Dr. A. Clarke, there is much more implied than generally appears. The amazing fertility of some of the most common thistles and thorns renders them the most proper instruments for the fulfilment of this sentence against man. Thistles multiply enormously: a species called the Carolina silvestris bears ordinarily from twenty to forty heads, each containing from one hundred to one hundred and fifty seeds. Another species, called the Acanthum vulgare, produces above 100 heads, each containing from 300 to 400 seeds. Suppose we say that these thistles produce at a medium, only 80 heads, and that each contains only 300 seeds; the first crop from these would amount to 24,000. Let these be sown, and their crop will amount to 576 millions. Sow these, and their produce will be 13,824,000,000,000, or thirteen billions, eight hundred and twentyfour thousand millions: and a single crop from these, which is only the third year's growth, would amount to 331,776,000,000,000,000, or three hundred and thirty-one thousand, seven hundred and seventy-six billions; and the fourth year's growth will amount to 7962,624,000,000,000,000,000, or seven thousand nine hundred and sixty-two trillions, six hundred and twenty-four thousand billions! a progeny more than sufficient to stock not only the surface of the whole world, but of all the planets in the solar system, so that no other plant or vegetable could possibly grow, allowing but the space of one square foot for each plant. The Carduus vulgatissimus viarum, or common hedge-thistle, besides the almost infinite swarms of winged seeds it sends forth, spreads its roots around many yards, and throws up suckers every where, which not only produce seeds in their turn, but extend their roots, and propagate like the parent plant, and stifle and destroy all vegetation but their

own.

As to thorns, the bramble, which occurs so commonly, and is so mischievous, is a sufficient proof how well the means are calculated to secure the end. The genista, or spinosa vulgaris, called by some furze, by others whins, is allowed to be one of the most mischievous shrubs on the face of the earth. Scarcely any thing can grow near it; and it is so thick set with prickles, that it is almost impossible to touch it without being wounded. It is very prolific; almost half the year it is covered with flowers, which produce pods filled with seeds. Besides, it shoots out roots far and wide, from

which suckers and young plants are continually springing up, which produce others in their turn. Where it is permitted to grow, it soon overspreads whole tracts of ground, and it is extremely difficult to clear the land of its roots where once it has got proper footing. Such provision has the just God made to fulfil the curse which he has pronounced on the earth, because of the crimes of its inhabi

tants.

THE THORN.

Or the Thorn there are several sorts, and to designate them the sacred writers employ different terms, which it is by no means easy to discriminate with accuracy and confidence. The late editor of Calmet has enumerated eight different words in the original, rendered 'thorns' or ' briers' in our version, and Dr. Harris has extended the list.

The first time that this description of plants is mentioned, is in the denunciation of punishment on the human race, in Gen. iii. 18, 'thorns and thistles;' Paul uses the same words, in Heb. vi. 8, where the last is rendered 'briers;' they are also found in Hos. x. 8. The word occurs in other places (Exod. xxii. 6; Judges viii. 6; xxviii. 24); but whether it denotes a specific kind of thorn, or is a generic name for all kinds of thorny plants, is uncertain. There is a beautiful apothegm in Prov. xv. 19: The way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is plain.' The beautiful opposition in the original is not discoverable in the English version:-"The narrow way of the slothful is like perplexed pathways among sharp thorns: whereas, the broad road of the righteous is a high bank' (a causeway); that is, straight-forward, free from obstructions; the direct, conspicuous, open path. Upon this passage Mr. Taylor remarks, 1. The common course of life of these two characters answers to this comparison. 2. Their manner of going about business, or of transacting it, answers to this: an idle man always prefers the most intricate, the most oblique, and eventually, the most thorny measures, to accomplish his purpose: the honest man prefers the most liberal, and straight-forward.

We have already remarked that the word employed in the New Testament for thorns, is akantha. There has been some variety of opinion among critics, as to the nature of the thorn of which our Lord's crown was composed, Matt. xxvii. 29. It was without doubt of some kind of prickly shrub, though what it was cannot now be ascertained.

THE BRAMBLE.

THE word occurs in Judges ix. 14, 15, and in Psa. lviii. 10. In the latter passage it is rendered thorn; in the former, bramble. It is armed with thorns; its branches are supple and pliant; and its leaf is of a deep green, like that of the ivy. It is certain that such a tree is required as may well denote a tyrant; one who, instead of affording shade and shelter to such as seek his protection, strips them of their property, as a bramble bush does the sheep which come near it, or lie down under its shadow. There is a passage in Holland's translation of Plutarch admirably illustrative of this subject: Whereupon is thought that he [Demosthenes] forsook his colors and fled; now as he made haste away, there chanced a bramble to take hold of his cassock behinde, whereat he turned back and said unto the bramble, 'Save my life, and take my ransome.”» Folio 567.

NETTLES.

THERE are two different words rendered nettles' in the English Bible: They occur in (Prov. xxiv. 31, Isa. xxxiv. 13. Hos. ix. 6) and in (Job xxx. 7, Prov. xxiv. 31, Zeph. ii. 9.)

SECTION IV.

ONIONS, AND SIMILAR PLANTS.

ONIONS.

'WHOEVER has tasted onions in Egypt,' says Hasselquist, 'must allow, that none can be had better, in any part of the world; here they are sweet, in other countries they are nauseous and strong; here they are soft whereas in the North, and other parts, they are hard, and the coats so compact, that they are hard of digestion. Hence they cannot, in any place, be eaten with less prejudice, and more satisfaction, than in Egypt. They eat them roasted, cut into four pieces, with some bits of roasted meat, and with this dish they are so delighted, that I have heard them wish they might enjoy it in Paradise. They likewise make a soup of them, cutting the onions in small pieces; this is one of the best dishes I ever ate.'

As further illustrative of the passage above referred to, we may observe, that among the vegetables used by the Egyptians for food, melons, cucumbers, and onions, are the most common. Concerning the last, he says, 'they are sweeter than in any other place in the world; and in the streets of Cairo, they sell them ready prepared for eating.

GARLICK.

THIS Word occurs only in one passage of scripture (Numb. xi. 5), where it is joined with leeks and onions, and would, therefore, seem to be some plant of a similar kind.

LEEKS.

THE Hebrew word which is translated, 'leek,' in Numb. xi. 5, is, as we have already noticed, a general term for herbage or grass, and has been so translated in several passages of our Bible. Referring to 1 Kings xviii. 5, Harmer says, It can hardly be allowed to mean leeks, because it is there used to express the food of horses and mules, but may very well stand for such vegetables as grew promiscuously with grass, which the succory or endive does, and this, being of a very cool nature, and much used in Egypt, he takes to be the herbage intended by the original text.

SECTION V.

FLAX.

THIS is a well known vegetable, upon which the industry of mankind has been exercised with the greatest success and utility. On passing a field of it, one is struck with astonishment, when he considers that this apparently insignificant plant may, by the labor and ingenuity of man, be made to assume an entirely new form and appearance, and to contribute to pleasure and health, by furnishing us with agreeable and ornamental apparel.

From time iminemorial, Egypt was celebrated for the production or manufacture of flax. Wrought into inner garments, it constituted the principal dress of the inhabitants, and the priests never put on any other kind of clothing. The fine linen of Egypt is celebrated in all ancient authors, and its superior excellence is mentioned in the sacred Scripture. The manufacure of flax is still carried on in that country.

In Deut. xxvii. 11, is a prohibition of wearing a garment of flax and wool. The original word translated linen and woollen,' (Lev. xix. 19), is difficult of explanation. We are inclined to believe that it must rather refer to a garment of divers sorts, than to what we call linsey woolsey;' to one made up of patch-work, differently colored and arranged, perhaps, for pride and show, like the coat of many colors made by Jacob for his son Joseph, Gen. xxxvii. 3.

In predicting the gentleness, caution, and tenderness with which the Messiah should manage his administration, Isaiah (ch. xlii. 3) happily illustrates it by a proverb: "The bruised reed he shall not break, and the smoking flax he shall not quench.' He shall not break even a bruised reed, which snaps asunder immediately when pressed with any considerable weight; nor shall he extinguish