Clavis cantici, or, An exposition of the Song of Solomon

The fourth comparison follows, vers. 13, 14. wherein she is compared to an Orchard (as before to a Garden) planted with ⟨p. 239⟩diverse and excellent plants. Now, this includes these three things, which he adds to the former commendation, 1. That the believer hath many graces, he is an Orchard that is planted with many trees and plants. 2 That the believers graces, as they are many, so they are various; and therefore trees and spices of diverse sorts are reckoned here. 3. That the believers graces are excellent for kind, as well as many for number and variety, they are as Spikenard, Saffron, &c. with all the chief spices. And as it commends an Orchard, to have many plants, and great variety, and to want none; so to have them of the best kinds, adds much to the commendation, when it's fruitful of these. Thus the believer is furnished with many various graces of the Spirit, as plants planted in his soul, and these of the best kind, rising from the most excellent seed that can be, the Spirit of Christ. And so the graces of believers are rare and precious, in respect of any thing that natural men have, which are but like shrubs in a dry wilderness.