Simile. | Parallel.
The Cedar is a very noble and stately Tree, it grows very high;1 hence they are called tall Cedars; also its Branches are called Branches of the high Cedar. It mounts high towards Heaven. Pliny tells of one Cedar that grew in Cyprus, 2which was one hundred and thirty Foot high, and three Fathom thick. | The Godly are a renowned People. Tho they seem in the Eyes of the World but mere Shrubs, yet they are (as it was said of Saul) higher by the Head and Shoulders than all others who dwell upon the Earth. They grow high in Grace, and spiritual Experiences. They are said to dwell on high,3 they dwell in God, in Communion with Him; they soar aloft, and mount towards Heaven.4 Their Affections are set upon Things above. They may in this Sense be said to grow like the Cedar; they overtop the Wicked in Renown and Dignity,5 The Righteous are more excellent than their Neighbours.
II. The Cedar is a Tree that takes deep Root; its Roots spread this way, and that way, and go far into the Ground. Naturalists say, that as Trees grow high, so proportionably they take Root downward, because otherwise they would be top-heavy, and overturn; a Blast of Wind taking advantage of their Tallness, being weak at Root, would soon blow them down; therefore proportionable to their spreading above, there must be a rooting in the Ground. | II. The Godly are said to take Root downward; they are well-rooted; they cast forth their Roots as the Cedars in Lebanon. Saints are well rooted in Christ, rooted in the Covenant,6 which is firm, ordered in all things, and sure; well rooted in Grace, in Faith, Love, and Humility. And indeed those Saints that grow high in Knowledge, who in Gifts and Parts overtop their Brethren, had need to grow downwards in Humility, proportionable to their Growth upwards, or else a strong Blast of Temptation may soon puff them up with Pride and Self-conceitedness, and so thereby quite blow them down. In Adam we had no sure Rooting, but in Christ, by partaking of his Fullness, our standing is firm.
III. The Cedar is a very strong Tree. Naturalists also tell us, that it is not subject to Putrefaction, as many other Trees are. | III.7 The Saints are strong in the Lord. 'Tis Sin that causeth Men to be spiritually weak, unstable as Water, as Jacob spake of his Son Reuben;
Simile. | Parallel.
THe Cedar is a very noble and stately Tree, it grows very high;1 hence they are called tall Cedars; also its Branches are called Branches of the high Cedar. It mounts high towards Heaven. Pliny tells of one Cedar that grew in Cyprus, 2which was one hundred and thirty Foot high, and three Fathom thick. | THe Godly are a renowned People. Tho they seem in the Eyes of the World but meer Shrubs, yet they are (as it was said of Saul) higher by the Head and Shoulders than all others who dwell upon the Earth. They grow high in Grace, and spiritual Experiences. They are said to dwell on high,3 they dwell in God, in Communion with Him; they soar aloft, and mount towards Heaven.4 Their Affections are set upon Things above. They may in this Sence be said to grow like the Cedar; they overtop the Wicked in Renown and Dignity,5 The Righteous are more excellent than their Neighbours.
II. The Cedar is a Tree that takes deep Root; its Roots spread this way, and that way, and go far into the Ground. Naturalists say, that as Trees grow high, so proportionably they take Root downward, because otherwise they would be top-heavy, and overturn; a Blast of Wind taking advantage of their Talness, being weak at Root, would soon blow them down; therefore proportionable to their spreading above, there must be a rooting in the Ground. | II. The Godly are said to take Root downward; they are well-rooted; they cast forth their Roots as the Cedars in Lebanon. Saints are well rooted in Christ, rooted in the Covenant,6 which is firm, ordered in all things, and sure; well rooted in Grace, in Faith, Love, and Humility. And indeed those Saints that grow high in Knowledg, who in Gifts and Parts overtop their Brethren, had need to grow downwards in Humility, proportionable to their Growth upwards, or else a strong Blast of Temptation may soon puff them up with Pride and Self-conceitedness, and so thereby quite blow them down. In Adam we had no sure Rooting, but in Christ, by partaking of his Fulness, our standing is firm.
III. The Cedar is a very strong Tree. Naturalists also tell us, that it is not subject to Putrefaction, as many other Trees are. | III.7 The Saints are strong in the Lord. 'Tis Sin that causeth Men to be spiritually weak, unstable as Water, as Jacob spake of his Son Reuben;
- 12 King. 19.23. Ezek. 17.22.
- 2Plin. lib. 16. p. 490.
- 3Isa. 33.10.
- 4Isa. 40. ult. Col. 3.1, 2.
- 5Prov. 12.26.
- 62 Sam. 23.5.
- 7Eph. 6.10, 11.
