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

1. For the Plant: the way of Vines is not to be sowed, but planted; that thus translated, they might better fructify: so our Jesus, first sprung from his Father, is planted in a Virgins womb; God from God, coeternal with God; but by his Incarnation made that he was not, and yet remaining that he was; God of his Father, and Man of his Mother; before all time, yet since the beginning. Bernard tells us, that this Vine sprung of the Vine, ¹is God begotten of God, the Son of the Father, both coeternal and consubstantial with the Father; but that he might better fructify, he was planted in the Earth; (i.e.) he was conceived in a Virgins womb. There is indeed a resemblance in this; in this resemblance, we must be careful to observe that communication of properties; of which I told you, we may truly say, that God was planted, or conceived, but not the Godhead; God is a concrete word, and signifies the Person of Christ: and his Person was planted or conceived, not simply as God: but in respect of the Manhood united to it: and thus he that is infinite, was conceived; and he that is eternal, even he was born: the very fullness of all perfection, and all the properties of the Divine Essence are by this communication given to the nature of man in the Person of the Son of God: no wonder therefore, that we say, that this Vine (the Son of God) is planted in Mary; I know some would have the Plant more early: and therefore they say, that Christ was a Vine planted in Adam, budded in David, and flourished in Mary: but I take this but for a flourish: all before Mary were but Types, now was the Truth: now in Mary was Christ planted, and not before: as in the beginning, there was not a Man to Till the Ground:— but out of the ground the Lord made to grow every Tree:—and a River went out of Eden to water the Garden: so there was no man that tilled this Ground: but out of this Ground (the Virgin) the Lord made to grow this Plant, watering it by his Spirit: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, ²and the Power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: Of this conception, and of the Holy Ghosts efficiency, I believe, spake the Prophet, when there was such longing after Christ's coming in the flesh:³ Drop down ye Heavens from above, and let the Sky pour down Righteousness, let the Earth open, and bring forth Salvation. But of this Conception before.