The Physician in the Garden

“Plutarch, in his treatise on growth in 7noral virtue, wherein are majiy things applicable to growth in grace, saith that a 7nan that hath 7tiadc some progress 17i virtue is like a physiciait, who, whe7i he co7nes into a gardc7i, doth 7iot consider flowers for their beauty, as galla7its do, but for their use and virttie in 7nedici7ie. So th grow?i believer doth not consider speech for its fineness, but fitness a7td seaso7table7iess for prese7it 7iseP The same holdeth good also concerning growth in grace; the more we grow the more we regard the spiritual part of the word, and such Scriptures and truths as are of practical use and personal concern. Hence it is that experienced believers cannot put up with the mere ornaments of speech which yield so much satisfaction to youthful minds. They want soHd, practical, gospel doctrine, and they must have it. Their craving is for herbs for their heahng, and not for bouquets for their button-hole. My heart, go thou with the wise men, and learn from them what is the way of wisdom.