Isatis herba

to bring forward some experiments regarding our faith, what I am about to say in the beginning concerning the cultivation of suitable land needing to be repeated often, and the diligent extirpation of the herbs growing within it, could one not aptly adapt it to the Church of God, in this way, by saying that the pastors of churches must be that vigilant in secluding and exterminating heretical opinions from the purity of evangelical doctrine? Furthermore, just as that herb is compared to a field, appearing uncultivated and plainly neglected among others in the winter time, but soon brings forth manifold fruits, so the Church of Christ in this age appears plainly deformed, but is to be glorified in the resurrection of the dead; and just as harder clods are broken up with wooden mallets, lest they otherwise harm the crop, so in the Church, the morals of those who do not obey the Gospel of Christ must be corrected by the doctors until they are led to a more sincere way of life, so that their wickedness does not harm the piety of the rest. Likewise, just as this herb