Metaphor. | Parallel.
A Vine is no beautiful Plant, yet very fruitful; it abounds with inward Sap. | SO the Church, although she doth not seem so beautiful to carnal Eyes, yet she is very fruitful to God.1 The Trees of the Lord (that is, the Saints of God) are full of Sap, full of Divine Virtue, or good Fruits.
⟨p. 94⟩II. A Vine spreads forth its Branches, and accordingly grows much in a short time. | II. So the Lord's spiritual Vine hath in former times exceedingly spread her Branches forth; the Mountains are said to be covered with the Shadow of it, and the Boughs thereof were like the goodly Cedars:2 She stretched out her Branches to the Sea, and her Boughs unto the River. Israel, God's ancient Vine, grew wonderfully; and so did the Gospel-Vine, how did it in a little time spread forth its spiritual Branches, Eastwards, and Westwards, over many Nations and Kingdoms! She extended her Boughs into Parthia, Media, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Pamphilia, Libya, Spain, Italy, England, &c.
III. The Vine must have much Pains taken with it; it needs Pruning often, or else it will decay. | III. So God takes much pains with his Church; it is pruned and purged,3 that it may bring forth the more Fruit.
IV. The Vine is in it self but a weak Plant, and therefore needs Under-propping. | IV. So the Church is in her self but weak, and needs to be born up by Christ. God is the Strength of his People; they are wholly supported by Him.
V. Tho the Vine hath many Branches, yet all have a Sufficiency of Sap and Nourishment from the Root, to make them fruitful. | V. So the Church, tho she hath many Members, yet all receive a Sufficiency of Grace and Divine Virtue of the Root, (viz. the Lord Jesus) to make them fruitful.
VI. The Vine, if it be barren or unfruitful, is the most unprofitable of any Tree, and fit for nothing but the Fire. Son of Man, what cometh of the Vine-Tree, above all other Trees, and of the Vine-Branches, which is amongst the Trees of the Forrest? Shall Wood be taken thereof, to hang any Vessel thereon? Behold, it is cast into the Fire to be burnt. | VI. So are the Members of the visible Church, if unfruitful, good for nought, but to be cut down, and cast into the Fire, as our Saviour himself showeth, John 15. Therefore thus saith the Lord, 4As the Vine-Tree that is amongst the Trees of the Forrest, which I have given to the Fire to be consumed;
Metaphor. | Parallel.
A Vine is no beautiful Plant, yet very fruitful; it abounds with inward Sap. | SO the Church, altho she doth not seem so beautiful to carnal Eyes, yet she is very fruitful to God.1 The Trees of the Lord (that is, the Saints of God) are full of Sap, full of Divine Vertue, or good Fruits.
⟨p. 94⟩II. A Vine spreads forth its Branches, and accordingly grows much in a short time. | II. So the Lord's spiritual Vine hath in former times exceedingly spread her Branches forth; the Mountains are said to be covered with the Shadow of it, and the Boughs thereof were like the goodly Cedars:2 She stretched out her Branches to the Sea, and her Boughs unto the River. Israel, God's ancient Vine, grew wonderfully; and so did the Gospel-Vine, how did it in a little time spread forth its spiritual Branches, Eastwards, and Westwards, over many Nations and Kingdoms! She extended her Bouhgs into Parthia, Media, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Pamphilia, Lybia, Spain, Italy, England, &c.
III. The Vine must have much Pains taken with it; it needs Pruning often, or else it will decay. | III. So God takes much pains with his Church; it is pruned and purged,3 that it may bring forth the more Fruit.
IV. The Vine is in it self but a weak Plant, and therefore needs Under-propping. | IV. So the Church is in her self but weak, and needs to be born up by Christ. God is the Strength of his People; they are wholly supported by Him.
V. Tho the Vine hath many Branches, yet all have a Sufficiency of Sap and Nourishment from the Root, to make them fruitful. | V. So the Church, tho she hath many Members, yet all receive a Sufficiency of Grace and Divine Virtue of the Root, (viz. the Lord Jesus) to make them fruitful.
VI. The Vine, if it be barren or unfruitful, is the most unprofitable of any Tree, and fit for nothing but the Fire. Son of Man, what cometh of the Vine-Tree, above all other Trees, and of the Vine-Branches, which is amongst the Trees of the Forrest? Shall Wood be taken thereof, to hang any Vessel thereon? Behold, it is cast into the Fire to be burnt. | VI. So are the Members of the visible Church, if unfruitful, good for nought, but to be cut down, and cast into the Fire, as our Saviour himself sheweth, John 15. Therefore thus saith the Lord, 4As the Vine-Tree that is amongst the Trees of the Forrest, which I have given to the Fire to be consumed;
- 1Psal. 104.6
- 2Psal. 80.8, 9, 10, 11.
- 3Joh. 15.2.
- 4Ezek. 15.6.
