Now we know that we prize fruit that is first ripe, as Cherries when they are first of all come, when they come it may be two or three into the Market, and Pease, and such kind of things when they are the first ripe of all, how they are prized? you shall have many will give any price for them. We say when Cherries come at first, that they are Ladies meat, or Longing meat: Now the Lord is pleased to condescend so much to express his love to his people, as the love of a longing woman to Cherries or other fruit, when they come first of all; as a woman hath a longing after things when they come and are first ripe; saith God, Never did woman long after any fruit when it was first ripe more than my soul hath longed after you to do you good, I have taken as much pleasure in you as ever woman could ⟨p. 213⟩take when she had her longing in the most dainty first ripe things: This is the meaning of the holy Ghost here, to show the Love of God to his Saints.1 Many expressions we have in Scripture, as in Jer. 12. 10. they are called his Pleasant Portion, 2and the dearly Beloved of Gods Soul, Jer. 12. 7. and the peculiar Treasure of God, 3Exod. 19. 5. and here there are two as elegant expressions, as Grapes in the Wilderness, and as the first ripe of the Figs in the first time: Thus is Gods exceeding goodness to us, though we be sapless in our selves, and have nothing in us to procure delight, yet God in his own free Grace is willing to express himself thus to his People, Oh! what delight should we have in God who takes such delight in his Servants? And this expression of God we think may very well hint unto us a meditation concerning the delight that God hath in young ones that do begin to give up themselves unto him,4 the Lord loves the first fruits, and the first ripe of things: in Mich. 7. 1. Woe is me, 5for I am as when they have gathered the Summer fruits, as the Grape gleanings of the vintage, there is no cluster to eat; My soul desired the first ripe fruits. So it's true, by way of allusion at least, we may apply it, the Soul of God is a longer, God is a longer; To what? To the first ripe fruits, to the first of your years, to you that are young ones: We prize highly Nettle buds when they bud out first; Oh! so graciousness when it buds out in youth at first, Oh how pleasing is it to God!6 in Exod. 23. 19.
Now we know that we prize fruit that is first ripe, as Cherries when they are first of all come, when they come it may be two or three into the Market, and Pease, and such kind of things when they are the first ripe of all, how they are prized? you shall have many will give any price for them. We say when Cherries come at first, that they are Ladies meat, or Longing meat: Now the Lord is pleased to condescend so much to express his love to his people, as the love of a longing woman to Cherries or other fruit, when they come first of all; as a woman hath a longing after things when they come and are first ripe; saith God, Never did woman long after any fruit when it was first ripe more than my soul hath longed after you to do you good, I have taken as much pleasure in you as ever woman could ⟨p. 213⟩take when she had her longing in the most dainty first ripe things: This is the meaning of the holy Ghost here, to shew the Love of God to his Saints.1 Many expressions we have in Scripture, as in Jer. 12. 10. they are call'd his Pleasant Portion, 2and the dearly Beloved of Gods Soul, Jer. 12. 7. and the peculiar Treasure of God, 3Exod. 19. 5. and here there are two as elegant expressions, as Grapes in the Wilderness, and as the first ripe of the Figs in the first time: Thus is Gods exceeding goodness to us, though we be sapless in our selves, and have nothing in us to procure delight, yet God in his own free Grace is willing to express himself thus to his People, Oh! what delight should we have in God who takes such delight in his Servants? And this expression of God we think may very well hint unto us a meditation concerning the delight that God hath in young ones that do begin to give up themselves unto him,4 the Lord loves the first fruits, and the first ripe of things: in Mich. 7. 1. Wo is me, 5for I am as when they have gathered the Summer fruits, as the Grape gleanings of the vintage, there is no cluster to eat; My soul desired the first ripe fruits. So it's true, by way of allusion at least, we may apply it, the Soul of God is a longer, God is a longer; To what? To the first ripe fruits, to the first of your years, to you that are young ones: We prize highly Nettle buds when they bud out first; Oh! so graciousness when it buds out in youth at first, Oh how pleasing is it to God!
- 1Jer. 12. 10▪Ier. 12. 10▪
- 2Vers. 7.
- 3Exod. 19▪ 5.
- 4Gods delight is in young ones.Gods delight is in yong ones.
- 5Mic. 7. 1.
- 6Exod. 23. 19.
