Metaphor. | Parallel.
A Skilful Planter is a curious Artist, one that knows the Nature of Trees, Plants, and Seeds. He is skilled in Setting, Ingrafting, ⟨p. 274⟩Inoculation, or Grafting with the Scutcheon, as they call it, &c. | SO an experienced and able Minister of the Gospel is a very skilful Person, one that hath knowledge of great Mysteries, both of Nature and Grace: He knows the State of Man in the first Adam, ⟨p. 274⟩that old Stock; and also the Nature of Planting, or Grafting into Jesus Christ, how and which way it is, and must be done.
⟨p. 273⟩II. A Planter hath fit Tools or Instruments to do his Work withal, viz. a Spade, a Knife, &c. without which he can do nothing. | II. So Ministers of Christ have fit Instruments to work with, viz. the Gospel, which is called the engrafted Word, i. e an Instrument or Means by which Souls are planted, or grafted into Christ, by the help of the Holy-Ghost, without which they can do nothing.
III. A Planter knows, that until the Ground he is to plant, be dug up, and well prepared, 'tis not meet to be sowed or planted. | III. So Ministers know, unless the Hearts of Sinners are dug by the powerful Convictions of the Word and Spirit of God, they are not fit to receive the Seed of Grace, nor to be planted in God's Vineyard.
IV. Planters, as Naturalists observe, find by experience, that a wild ungrafted Tree never bears good Fruit, nor can, till it be removed out of its natural Soil, into a good Soil, and grafted with a better Kind. The Root that bears this wild Fruit is a degenerate Root, and that is the Cause the Fruit is so unpleasant, sour, and naught. | IV. So Ministers also know, that unregenerate Men, who grow upon the natural Root of old Adam, unless they are removed, and planted into Jesus Christ, cannot bring forth acceptable Fruit to God; until removed by the Power of the Word and Spirit, and transplanted into Jesus Christ by a lively Faith. Mankind naturally are the Off-spring of a corrupt and degenerate Root, viz. the first Adam; for as is the Root and Tree, such are the Branches, and the Fruit thereof: A corrupt Tree cannot bring good Fruit.1
V. A Planter, who hath Skill in Grafting, knows the Stock must be cut off, before the Sins (as some call them, or after Pliny, Scions) be grafted in. | V. So a Minister knows, that until the new Stock, viz.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
A Skilful Planter is a curious Artist, one that knows the Nature of Trees, Plants, and Seeds. He is skilled in Setting, Ingrafting, ⟨p. 274⟩Innoculation, or Grafting with the Scucheon, as they call it, &c. | SO an experienced and able Minister of the Gospel is a very skilful Person, one that hath knowledg of great Mysteries, both of Nature and Grace: He knows the State of Man in the first Adam, ⟨p. 274⟩that old Stock; and also the Nature of Planting, or Grafting into Jesus Christ, how and which way it is, and must be done.
⟨p. 273⟩II. A Planter hath fit Tools or Instruments to do his Work withal, viz. a Spade, a Knife, &c. without which he can do nothing. | II. So Ministers of Christ have fit Instruments to work with, viz. the Gospel, which is called the engrafted Word, i. e an Instrument or Means by which Souls are planted, or grafted into Christ, by the help of the Holy-Ghost, without which they can do nothing.
III. A Planter knows, that until the Ground he is to plant, be dug up, and well prepared, 'tis not meet to be sowed or planted. | III. So Ministers know, unless the Hearts of Sinners are dug by the powerful Convictions of the Word and Spirit of God, they are not fit to receive the Seed of Grace, nor to be planted in God's Vineyard.
IV. Planters, as Naturalists observe, find by experience, that a wild ungrafted Tree never bears good Fruit, nor can, till it be removed out of its natural Soil, into a good Soil, and grafted with a better Kind. The Root that bears this wild Fruit is a degenerate Root, and that is the Cause the Fruit is so unpleasant, sowre, and naught. | IV. So Ministers also know, that unregenerate Men, who grow upon the natural Root of old Adam, unless they are removed, and planted into Jesus Christ, cannot bring forth acceptable Fruit to God; until removed by the Power of the Word and Spirit, and transplanted into Jesus Christ by a lively Faith. Mankind naturally are the Off-spring of a corrupt and degenerate Root, viz. the first Adam; for as is the Root and Tree, such are the Branches, and the Fruit thereof: A corrupt Tree cannot bring good Fruit.1
V. A Planter, who hath Skill in Grafting, knows the Stock must be cut off, before the Sienes (as some call them, or after Pliny, Sions) be grafted in. | V. So a Minister knows, that until the new Stock, viz.
- 1Mat. 7.18.
