As the Apple-tree among the Trees of the wood, so is my beloved among §. 5 the Sons, I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste. To carry on this intercourse, the Spouse begins to speak her thoughts of, and to show her delight in the Lord Christ. And as he compares her to the Lilly among the Thorns, so she him to the Apple-tree among the trees of the wood: And she adds this Reason of it, even because he hath the two eminent things of Trees, which the Residue of them have not: 1. Fruit for food. 2. Shade for Refreshment: of the one she eateth, under the other she resteth, both with great delight. All other sons, either Angels, the Sons of God by Creation Job. 1. 6. 38. 7. or the Sons of Adam, the best of his off-spring, the Leaders of those companies, which v. 2. are called Daughters; or Sons of the old Creation, the top branches of all its desirable things, are to an hungry, weary soul, (such alone seek for shade and fruit) but as the fruitless, leafless trees of the Forrest, which will yield them neither food nor Refreshment. In Christ, saith she, there is fruit, fruit sweet to the Taste. Yea his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed Joh. 6. 55. Moreover he hath brought forth that everlasting Righteousness, which will abundantly satisfy any hungry, soul after it hath gone to many a barren Tree for food, and hath found ⟨p. 45⟩none. Besides he aboundeth in precious and pleasant Graces, whereof I may keat, yea he calls me to do so, and that abundantly. These are the fruits that Christ beareth. They speak of a Tree that bringeth forth all things needful for life in food and raiment. Christ is that Tree of life, which hath brought forth all things that are needful unto life eternal: In him is that Righteousness which we gHunger after: in him is that water of life, which who so hDrinketh of, shall thirst no more. Oh how sweet are the fruits of Christ's mediation to the faith of his Saints. He that can find no relief in Mercy, Pardon, Grace, Acceptation with God, Holiness, Sanctification, &c. is an utter stranger to these things, i(wine in the Lees) that are prepared for believers. Also he hath Shades for Refreshment and Shelter. Shelter from wrath without, and Refreshment because of weariness from within. The first use of the lShade, is to keep us from the Heat of the Sun, as did Jonah's Gourd.
As the Aple-tree among the Trees of the wood, so is my beloved among §. 5 the Sonnes, I sate down under his shaddow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my tast. To carry on this entercourse, the Spouse begins to speake her thoughts of, and to shew her delight in the Lord Christ. And as he compares her to the Lilly among the Thornes, so shee him to the Aple-tree among the trees of the wood: And she addes this Reason of it, even because he hath the two eminent things of Trees, which the Residue of them have not: 1. Fruit for food. 2. Shade for Refreshment: of the one shee eateth, under the other shee resteth, both with great delight. All other sons, either Angells, the Sons of God by Creation Job. 1. 6. 38. 7. or the Sons of Adam, the best of his off-spring, the Leaders of those companys, which v. 2. are called Daughters; or Sons of the old Creation, the toppe branches of all its desireable things, are to an hungry, weary soule, (such alone seek for shade and fruit) but as the fruitlesse, leafelesse trees of the Forrest, which will yeild them neither food nor Refreshment. In Christ, saith shee, there is fruit, fruit sweet to the Tast. Yea his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed Joh. 6. 55. Moreover he hath brought forth that everlasting Righteousnesse, which will abundantly satisfy any hungry, soule after it hath gone to many a barren Tree for food, and hath found ⟨p. 45⟩none. Besides he aboundeth in precious and pleasant Graces, whereof I may keate, yea he calls me to do so, and that abundantly. These are the fruits that Christ beareth. They speake of a Tree that bringeth forth all things needfull for life in food and raiment. Christ is that Tree of life, which hath brought forth all things that are needfull unto life eternall: In him is that Righteousnesse which we gHunger after: in him is that water of life, which who so hDrinketh of, shall thirst no more. Oh how sweet are the fruits of Christ's mediation to the faith of his Saints. He that can find no reliefe in Mercy, Pardon, Grace, Acceptation with God, Holinesse, Sanctification, &c. is an utter stranger to these things, i(wine in the Lees) that are prepared for believers. Also he hath Shades for Refreshment and Shelter. Shelter from wrath without, and Refreshment because of wearinesse from within. The first use of the
- kCant. 5. 1.Cante. 5. 1.
- gMath. 5. 6.
- hJoh. 7. 38.
- iIsa. 25. 6. Prov. 9. 1.
- lJonah: 4. 6, Isa. 25. 4. Isa. 32. 2. 2 Cor: 5. 21. Gal. 3. 13. Mal. 4. 2.
