RUE. Ruta; Tou. La rue; Fr. Die raute; Ger. Ruite; Dut. Ruta; Ital. Ruda; Sp. Schedab; Arab. Ruta; Rus. Rude; Dan. Vinruta; Swed. ture. RUE is a common and well-known garden plant. Its leaves are very bitter and emit a strong odour. They are used medicinally, and in former days were much more in request than now among the faculty. It is a native of the south of Europe, and does not appear to have been generally known in England three hundred years ago. It is mentioned only once in Holy ScripOur blessed Lord reproved the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and ostentatious display of their performance of external duties and regard of minor matters in religion. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees ! for ye tithe mint and Rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone," Luke xi. 42. Our Lord reproved them, not because they had paid tithe of such trifling matters, but because while they were so punctilious in these comparatively insignificant points of duty, they neglected those substantial concerns which were really essential in the character of the true servants of God. In the Talmud we find this herb mentioned as a culinary plant, but when that work was compiled it N seems to have been tithe free, as being a vegetable not usually cultivated in gardens. There was a general rule with respect to garden produce which was edible, by which they were all made subject to tithe. "Everything eatable, and which is taken care of, cultivated and nursed (in gardens or in ploughed fields), and which has its growth from the earth, is subject to tithe." We may, however, feel sure that there was in the time of our Saviour some species of Rue cultivated in gardens, and by that circumstance rendered liable to tithe. The odour of Rue is so powerful that it is supposed to prevent infection. This fancied potency has led to the practice of strewing it abundantly in our criminal courts, in order to protect the members and officers assembled from being injured by any contagious or infectious malady which prisoners might bring from their damp and unwholesome cells. In superstitious times Rue was regarded as the emblem of repentance and grace. Shakspere and others call it "herb of grace." Bishop Taylor, in his “Dissuasive from Popery," informs us that this plant was used by exorcists. They (the exorcists) are to try the devil by holy water, incense, sulphur, Rue, which from thence, as we suppose, came to be called herb of grace." 66 The folly and impiety of such practices must be evident to all who possess the smallest amount of common sense, unless they are blinded altogether by their superstitious belief. There is only one way by which the mind can be relieved from the harassing perplexities of a conscience filled with remorse, and conjuring up every imaginary torture, and that way is made open to us by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Through Him the most heinous sins which man has committed may be forgiven; through Him pardon may be obtained by whomsoever will seek it in true repentance and faith. Thus alone can sin be pardoned; thus alone can sin be cured; and when you have cured sin you have cured sorrow. It is man's "iniquities which have separated between him and his God;" but happily for him "the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save;" wherefore we may rejoice, and pray. Starting and turning pale The charm he wears within, And with the thought of God imbued. No glare of high estate, No gloom of woe or want, The radiance can abate Where Heaven delights to haunt; Sin only hides the genial ray, And, round the Cross, makes night of day. Then weep it from thy heart, So may'st thou duly learn The intercessor's part, Thy prayers and tears may earn For fallen souls some healing breath, Ere they have died th' apostate's death." KEBLE. |