42. _I have seen the ungodly in great power, and flourishing like a green Bay Tree._ Both Scripture and humane Writers draw frequent illustrations from Plants. _Scribonius Largus_ illustrates the old Cymbals from the _Cotyledon Palustris_, or _Umbelicus Veneris_. Who would expect to find _Aaron's_ Mitre in any Plant? yet _Josephus_ hath taken some pains to make out the same in the seminal knop of _Hyoscyamus_, or Henbane. The Scripture compares the Figure of Manna unto the Seed of Coriander. In _Jeremy_[232] we find the expression, _Streight as a Palm Tree_: And here the wicked in their flourishing state are likened unto a Bay Tree. Which, sufficiently answering the sense of the Text, we are unwilling to exclude that noble Plant from the honour of having its name in Scripture. Yet we cannot but observe, that the Septuagint renders it _Cedars_, and the Vulgar accordingly, _Vidi impium superexaltatum, et elevatum sicut Cedros Libani_; and the Translation of _Tremelius_ mentions neither Bay nor Cedar; _Sese explicantem tanquam Arbor indigena virens_; which seems to have been followed by the last Low Dutch Translation. A private Translation renders it like _a green self-growing[233] Laurel_, The High Dutch of _Luther's_ Bible, retains the word _Laurel_; and so doth the old Saxon and Island Translation; so also the French, Spanish; and Italian of _Diodati_: yet his Notes acknowledge that some think it rather a Cedar, and others any large Tree in a prospering and natural Soil. [232] Jer. 10. 5. [233] Ainsworth. But however these Translations differ, the sense is allowable and obvious unto apprehension: when no particular Plant is named, any proper to the sense may be supposed; where either Cedar or Laurel is mentioned, if the preceding words [_exalted and elevated_] be used, they are more appliable unto the Cedar; where the word [_flourishing_] is used, it is more agreeable unto the Laurel, which, in its prosperity, abounds with pleasant flowers, whereas those of the Cedar are very little, and scarce perceptible, answerable to the Firre, Pine and other coniferous Trees. [Sidenote: _The Figg Tree, in_ S. Mark. 11. 13, etc.] 43. _And in the morning, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry; and seeing a Figg Tree afar off having Leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon; and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves: for the time of Figgs was not yet._ Singular conceptions have passed from learned men to make out this passage of S. _Mark_, which S. _Matthew_[234] so plainly delivereth; most men doubting why our Saviour should curse the Tree for bearing no Fruit, when the time of Fruit was not yet come; or why it is said that _the time of Figgs was not yet_, when, notwithstanding, Figgs might be found at that season. [234] Matt. 21. 19.