Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

It is a blessed Parable: in which, under the shadow of a Vine, Christ elegantly sets forth himself. Christ in many resemblances is a precious Vine; but why a Vine, rather than a Cedar, Oak, or some of the strongest, tallest trees? Many reasons are given: as, ⟨p. 134⟩1. Because of all Trees the Vine is the lowest: it grovels, as it were, on the ground. 2. Because of all Trees the Vine is weakest; hence they that have Vines, have also their Elms to support them, and hold them up. 3. Because of all Trees, the Vine hath the meanest Bark and outside: it is of little worth or reputation. 4. Because of all Trees,¹ the Vine is fruitfullest: and therefore it is called the Fruitful Vine. In every of these respects, Christ is called a Vine, who by his Incarnation took upon him the lowest condition, and made himself, by emptying himself, of no Reputation: but he was the fruitfullest Vine that ever the earth bore:² and in this respect no Vine, nor all the Vines on the Earth were worthy to be compared with him, or to be so much as resemblances of him. I shall not prosecute the resemblances throughout; for, so I might pass from his Birth to his Life: and from his Life to his Death; when the blood of the Grapes was pressed out: only for the present we'll take a view of this Vine. 1. In its Plant. 2. In its Bud. 3. In its Blossom. 4. In its Fruit; and so an end.

It is a blessed Parable: in which, under the shadow of a Vine, Christ elegantly sets forth himself. Christ in many resemblances is a precious Vine; but why a Vine, rather than a Cedar, Oak, or some of the strongest, tallest trees? Many reasons are given: as, ⟨p. 134⟩1. Because of all Trees the Vine is the lowest: it grovels, as it were, on the ground. 2. Because of all Trees the Vine is weakest; hence they that have Vines, have also their Elms to support them, and hold them up. 3. Because of all Trees, the Vine hath the meanest Bark and outside: it is of little worth or reputation. 4. Because of all Trees,¹ the Vine is fruitfullest: and therefore it is called the Fruitful Vine. In every of these respects, Christ is called a Vine, who by his Incarnation took upon him the lowest condition, and made himself, by emptying himself, of no Reputation: but he was the fruitfullest Vine that ever the earth bore: