The last similitude is, And streams from Lebanon: Which saith, that Christ's Bride is not only a fountain, but also she is a stream: ⟨p. 241⟩and it holdeth forth, 1. That grace in her hath it's rise from another, though it beget a spring in her, as if Lebanon sent a stream to a Garden, which did become a spring by it's constant flowing there. 2. By a stream also is set forth the abundance of grace in believers, it is in them not as a brook, but as a stream.. Next, Lebanon was a hill much commended, it's like sweet streams issued from it: It's written, that Jordan which watered much of the land, had it's rise and spring there. In the 5. Chapter, vers. 15. Christ's countenance is compared to Lebanon, and so here, while the flowing of grace in her is called a stream from Lebanon, the derivation of grace, and of the Spirit from Christ Jesus is holden forth; which though it have a seat, and becomes a fountain in the believer, yet it hath it's rise from him, and is kept flowing and springing by him; It's as a fountain derived by a stream from Lebanon, and otherwise any spring of grace, that is in a believer would soon run dry. All these being put together, and compared with what is before, show, 1. That the believer is fitted by Christ not only with spiritual life, and a stock of habitual graces, but also with every thing that may make him lively and fruitful in the exercise of these. 2. This contrivance of spiritual influence that makes believers fruitful, is a most lovely and excellent thing. 3. The great commendation of believers is grounded upon the graces of the Spirit that are in them, and upon the influences of the same Spirit that comes from Christ to them. 4. Where grace is, it will have fruits, and be savoury in the conversation, in the exercise thereof. 5. It's the best evidence of grace, and of Christ's influence and Spirit, when it appeareth in the fruits; These prove the believer to be an Orchard, and a fountain. 6. These graces that make a believer fruitful, have not their rise in, or from a believer, but from Christ, and the fountain that is in them, is but a stream that comes from him.
The last similitude is, And streams from Lebanon: Which saith, that Christ's Bride is not only a fountain, but also she is a stream: ⟨p. 241⟩and it holdeth forth, 1. That grace in her hath it's rise from another, though it beget a spring in her, as if Lebanon sent a stream to a Garden, which did become a spring by it's constant flowing there. 2. By a stream also is set forth the aboundance of grace in believers, it is in them not as a brook, but as a stream.. Next, Lebanon was a hill much commended, it's like sweet streams issued from it: It's written, that Iordan which watered much of the land, had it's rise and spring there. In the 5. Chapter, vers. 15. Christ's countenance is compared to Lebanon, and so here, while the flowing of grace in her is called a stream from Lebanon, the derivation of grace, and of the Spirit from Christ Jesus is holden forth; which though it have a seat, and becomes a fountain in the believer, yet it hath it's rise from him, and is kept flowing and springing by him; It's as a fountain derived by a stream from Lebanon, and otherwise any spring of grace, that is in a believer would soon run dry. All these being put together, and compared with what is before, shew, 1. That the believer is fitted by Christ not only with spiritual life, and a stock of habitual graces, but also with every thing that may make him lively and fruitful in the exercise of these. 2. This contrivance of spiritual influence that makes believers fruitful, is a most lovely and excellent thing. 3. The great commendation of believers is grounded upon the graces of the Spirit that are in them, and upon the influences of the same Spirit that comes from Christ to them. 4. Where grace is, it will have fruits, and be savory in the conversation, in the exercise thereof. 5. It's the best evidence of grace, and of Christ's influence and Spirit, when it appeareth in the fruits; These prove the believer to be an Orchard, and a fountain. 6. These graces that make a believer fruitful, have not their rise in, or from a believer, but from Christ, and the fountain that is in them, is but a stream that comes from him.
