Metaphor. | Parallel.
The Myrtle-Tree is a rare and most excellent Tree, a Tree of very great account; hardly any one Tree was more accounted of amongst the Romans, as Pliny observes; the Jews highly esteemed of it. | The Saints are a choice People; God esteems highly of them. As the Myrtle-Tree excels the Thorn and the Briar, so do the Godly excel the Wicked.1 Since thou hast been precious in my Sight, thou hast been honourable, &c.
II. There are divers Sorts of Myrtle-Trees; some white, and some black,2 some tame, and others wild, as Historians have noted. | II. So there are divers Sorts of Christians; some more shining in Grace and Holiness than others; some, by reason of an evil and crooked Nature, Grace hardly appears in them, &c. We read of Fathers, young Men, and Children.
III. The best Sorts of Myrtle-Trees were used to be planted in Gardens, and were a great Ornament to them, their Branches being very green, and amiable to look upon. | III. The Godly, those spiritual Trees, which God plants in his Church, which is his Garden; and the most holy and mortified Ones of them, such whose Conversation and Profession is amiable, whose Branches and spiritual Leaves wither not, are a great Ornament to God's Garden.
IV. The Myrtle-Tree yields most choice and excellent Fruit; nay, more may be said of it, than of any other Tree, for it yields two Sorts of Fruit, both Oil and Wine. Nature, saith Pliny, showeth her wonderful Power touching this Tree, especially in the Juice, considering, that of all Fruits it alone doth yield two Sorts, both Oil and Wine. | IV. The Saints of God are a People that yield two Sorts of Fruit, to the Honour of God, and the Profit of their Neighbour, answering to the two Tables. In this they excel all other People. There are some that are morally righteous, they make Conscience of their Duties to Men, but do not bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit, in answering a good Conscience towards God. Herein do I exercise my self, &c.3
V. The Myrtle-Trees are said to stand in the Bottom, Zech. 1.8, 11. | V. The Saints of God are a People of a lowly and humble Spirit, and hence they are compared to the low Valleys; ⟨p. 185⟩whereas the Wicked are compared to lofty Mountains. Also the Myrtle-Tree in the Bottom may signify the low and persecuted State of God's People;
Metaphor. | Parallel.
THe Myrtle-Tree is a rare and most excellent Tree, a Tree of very great account; hardly any one Tree was more accounted of amongst the Romans, as Pliny observes; the Jews highly esteemed of it. | THe Saints are a choice People; God esteems highly of them. As the Myrtle-Tree excells the Thorn and the Bryar, so do the Godly excell the Wicked.1 Since thou hast been precious in my Sight, thou hast been honourahle, &c.
II. There are divers Sorts of Myrtle-Trees; some white, and some black,2 some tame, and others wild, as Historians have noted. | II. So there are divers Sorts of Christians; some more shining in Grace and Holiness than others; some, by reason of an evil and crooked Nature, Grace hardly appears in them, &c. We read of Fathers, young Men, and Children.
III. The best Sorts of Myrtle-Trees were used to be planted in Gardens, and were a great Ornament to them, their Branches being very green, and amiable to look upon. | III. The Godly, those spiritual Trees, which God plants in his Church, which is his Garden; and the most holy and mortified Ones of them, such whose Conversation and Profession is amiable, whose Branches and spiritual Leaves wither not, are a great Ornament to God's Garden.
IV. The Myrtle-Tree yields most choice and excellent Fruit; nay, more may be said of it, than of any other Tree, for it yields two Sorts of Fruit, both Oil and Wine. Nature, saith Pliny, sheweth her wonderful Power touching this Tree, especially in the Juice, considering, that of all Fruits it alone doth yield two Sorts, both Oil and Wine. | IV. The Saints of God are a People that yield two Sorts of Fruit, to the Honour of God, and the Profit of their Neighbour, answering to the two Tables. In this they excell all other People. There are some that are morally righteous, they make Conscience of their Duties to Men, but do not bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit, in answering a good Conscience towards God. Herein do I exercise my self, &c.3
V. The Myrtle-Trees are said to stand in the Bottom, Zech. 1.8, 11. | V. The Saints of God are a People of a lowly and humble Spirit, and hence they are compared to the low Vallies; ⟨p. 185⟩whereas the Wicked are compared to lofty Mountains. Also the Myrtle-Tree in the Bottom may signify the low and persecuted State of God's People;
- 1Isa. 41.19. Isa. 55.13. Isa. 43.4.
- 2Plin. lib. 15. p. 451.
- 3Acts 24.16
