Metaphor. | Parallel.
The Land that is made into a Vineyard, is a Piece of Ground taken out of a Wilderness, or other common Ground, designed to that special use. | SO the Church is taken out of the Wilderness of this World,1 being separated from all People, to be a peculiar People to God:2 By Nature Saints were as barren and fruitless as Sinners.
II. A Vineyard is fenced or walled in, to secure it from wild Beasts, and others, who may offend or hurt it. |
II.3 So the Lord's Vineyard hath a Wall or Fence about it: Saith the Lord, I will be a Wall of Fire unto her round about. What use soever a Fence is to a House, Garden, or Vineyard, the same is God to his People. 1. Every one of his Attributes (as we have elsewhere showed you) is a Fence or Security to her; his Power is a Fence, his Wisdom is a Fence, his Mercy is a Fence, his special Providence is a Fence. 2. The holy Angels are as a Wall or Fence to the Church, and to every particular Saint; they were as a Wall of Safety to the Prophet, 2 Kings 6.15, 16. 3.4 There is about the Church the Fence or Wall of Ordinances, Church-Government, and Discipline. — The Reason why God makes a Wall about his People, is opened under Metaphor, God a Husband man; also the Nature and Strength of it, to which we refer you.
Quest. Perhaps some may enquire, How much Ground doth this Hedge or Wall take in?
1. It taketh in all the Bodies of God's People; no Disease, Sickness, or Affliction whatsoever can come upon those that truly fear and serve the Almighty, but what he lets in. This appears in the case of Job; and by what David saith, My Life is in thy hand, &c.
2. This Wall comprehends more especially the Souls of Saints; no Temptation,5 Persecution, or Trial, can come upon them, but what God lets in. His special Eye, Care, Protection, and Divine Providence is so over them, that not a Hair of their Heads shall fall to the Ground without his Notice; that is, He hath interested himself in all the Concernments of his Children, yea, even in the smallest Matters.
3. This Wall takes in their Houses, and all they have:6 Hast thou not made a Hedge about him, and about his House, and about all he hath, on every side? The Devil could not touch any of Job's Sheep, Oxen, or Asses, until God opened the Door for him; much less his Sons, Daughters, Body and Life. Suffer us (said the unclean Spirits to Christ) to go into the Herd of Swine.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
THe Land that is made into a Vineyard, is a Piece of Ground taken out of a Wilderness, or other common Ground, designed to that special use. | SO the Church is taken out of the Wilderness of this World,1 being separated from all People, to be a peculiar People to God:2 By Nature Saints were as barren and fruitless as Sinners.
II. A Vineyard is fenced or walled in, to secure it from wild Beasts, and others, who may offend or hurt it. |
II.3 So the Lord's Vineyard hath a Wall or Fence about it: Saith the Lord, I will be a Wall of Fire unto her round about. What use soever a Fence is to a House, Garden, or Vineyard, the same is God to his People. 1. Every one of his Attributes (as we have elsewhere shewed you) is a Fence or Security to her; his Power is a Fence, his Wisdom is a Fence, his Mercy is a Fence, his special Providence is a Fence. 2. The holy Angels are as a Wall or Fence to the Church, and to every particular Saint; they were as a Wall of Safety to the Prophet, 2 Kings 6.15, 16. 3.4 There is about the Church the Fence or Wall of Ordinances, Church-Government, and Discipline. — The Reason why God makes a Wall about his People, is opened under Metaphor, God a Husband man; also the Nature and Strength of it, to which we refer you.
Quest. Perhaps some may enquire, How much Ground doth this Hedg or Wall take in?
1. It taketh in all the Bodies of God's People; no Disease, Sickness, or Affliction whatsoever can come upon those that truly fear and serve the Almighty, but what he lets in. This appears in the case of Job; and by what David saith, My Life is in thy hand, &c.
2. This Wall comprehends more especially the Souls of Saints; no Temptation,5 Persecution, or Trial, can come upon them, but what God lets in. His special Eye, Care, Protection, and Divine Providence is so over them, that not a Hair of their Heads shall fall to the Ground without his Notice; that is, He hath interested himself in all the Concernments of his Children, yea, even in the smallest Matters.
3. This Wall takes in their Houses, and all they have:6 Hast thou not made a Hedg about him, and about his House, and about all he hath, on every side? The Devil could not touch any of Job's Sheep, Oxen, or Asses, until God opened the Door for him; much less his Sons, Daughters, Body and Life. Suffer us (said the unclean Spirits to Christ) to go into the Herd of Swine.
- 11 Pet 2.9.
- 2Eph. 2.1, 2
- 3Isa. 5 2. Zech. 2.5.
- 4Psal. 34.7.
- 51 Cor. 10.13. Mat. 10.30 Luk. 21.18
- 6Job 1.10.
