XXII.-On the Mustard Plant mentioned in the

Gospels.

By the Rev. David Scot, M. D., M. W. S., F. H. S. E.

(Read 20th Feb. 1830.)

In order to ascertain, if possible, what plant in modern botany answers to the mustard of the gospels, we must examine the terms in which it is mentioned. It is thus spoken of, Matt. xiii. 31, 32, “ The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is the greatest of herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.”

This is the first passage of the gospels in which the mustard plant is mentioned; but in endeavouring to identify this plant, the other passages in which it is mentioned, and particularly that of Mark, are carefully to be compared.

By the mustard plant, which grows from a small seed to a tree, Christ intended to represent, by a very common, but striking symbol, the small beginning and great increase of

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ON THE MUSTARD PLANT OF THE GOSPELS. 431

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that religion which he was to establish in the earth. Arising from the obscure country of Judea, in the course of four centuries it was to triumph over the inveterate and deep-rooted superstitions of the times, and be professed and supported by the most enlightened and civilized nations of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The symbol referred to being a mustard plant, we are nut to suppose he was to enter into a minute and circumstantial detail of that plant. We may be certain that he used popular, and not philosophical language, when he mentioned it; that is, language familiar to ordinary men, and not that spoken by men of science.

When, for instance, he invites his audience to consider the parable of the mustard seed, he says, that it was the least of all seeds; that is, it was the least with which the people of Judea were acquainted, or to which they attended; not the least in a mathematical sense, or the least from which a vegetable ever grew. All that he meant, and all that his hearers understood, was, that it was very little among seeds, or a very little seed.

A grain of mustard seed was a common measure for a small quantity of any thing. Thus our Lord says, Matt. xii. 20, “ If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove.” Again, Luke xvii. 6, “ If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say to this sycamore tree, Be thou plucked up by the roots, and be thou planted in the sea, and it should obey thee.”

In both passages, that faith is meant which theologians call the faith of miracles; a faith which the apostles and more eminent first Christians alone could exercise, and if of a right quality when so exercised, was followed by a miracle, though it might exist in a small degree, or be as little as a grain of mustard seed.

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That the phrase, the least of all seeds, means no more than very little among seeds, or a very little seed, is evident from two similar phrases used by our Lord—“ There hath not risen among men a greater prophet than John the baptist, and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matth. xi. Jl. Again, “ He that shall break one of the least of these my commandments, and teach men so, he shall be least in the kingdom of heaven;" Matth. v. 32.

These two phrases, similar to the one under consideration, countenance the idea, that though one person in the kingdom of heaven, or one commandment of Christ, may be strictly and literally the least ; yet no more is intended, than a little person, or a little commandment.

The soundness of this interpretation is confirmed by the contrast betwixt the person that taught men to break Christ's commandments, and him that taught men to keep them. Of the latter it is said, he shall be great in the kingdom of heaven, in opposition to the former, who might be called little, though the term least is used.

The same account, which we have given of the least of all seeds, is to be given of the greatest among herbs. By that phrase no more is intended, than a very great herb, or an herb great in comparison of the seed from which it grew ; though, mathematically speaking, there might be greater herbs from smaller seeds,, if they had been known or attended to.

Lachanon is defined, in Turton's Medical Glossary, to be any cultivated or garden herb. Such an herb gets this name from lachaino to dig, because the earth is digged, in order that it may reach its full growth at the proper time. Lachaneuo, with which lachanon is connected, signifies—to gather herbs, to live on herbs, to be good for eating as herbs. That lachanon is an eatable herb, is confirmed by the words of Paul, Rom. xiv. 2, “another, who is weak, eateth herbs.".

This account of lachanon 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 becometh a tree. This is an elliptical expression, for it becometh into a tree-signetai 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 various, 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 extensive 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 VOL. VI.

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sacred volume teaches, are not so carefully expressed as if they were mathematical axioms ; nor the articles of natural history, which it brings forward to illustrate these doctrines, ascertained to be correct by a Linnæus or a Cuvier.

The strict and literal interpretation of the loose, inaccurate, and figurative language of Scripture, is one cause of the numerous sects into which the Christian church has been split for eighteen centuries. The Bible is an oriental compo sition, or a highly poetical and rhetorical work, which is to be judged of by the man of good sense, rather than by the votary of science; otherwise it will be made to countenance errors in religious and moral doctrine, as well as in natural history, and abstract science; which it will be very difficult to believe were dictated by a Divine Spirit.

Still farther, the mustard plant spoken of by our Lord grew in a highly favoured spot. The grain of mustard seed which a man took, he sowed in his own field ; that is, it was not sown on ground which had received no culture, but on ground cultivated with the utmost care. nut pasture, but arable land, not a waste, but a spot turned up, cleaned, and manured.

That this is the right interpretation of the word field, is demonstrated by the use of the word garden, in the parallel passage of Luke xiii. 19. “The kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden ; and it grew, and waxed a great tree, and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches."

Here we see that a man planted a grain of mustard seed in his garden, a place enclosed by hedges or walls, which was receiving accessions of earth and manure every season; and upon which the spade and the rake were employed, whenever it was necessary.

In any climate, the difference of soil and situation causes a prodigious difference in the growth and size of plants.

It was