Book II. CHRIST THE TRUE V IN E. 411 C H R I 8 T THE T R U E V I N E. Eyw ""' " "l'''"ili!3' "'"il"~""· 1 am the true Yine, John xv. r. and Ver. 5· I am the* Fine. JN this Text the Lord Jefus Chrift is pleafed to exprefs what he is to his Church and . People, by the elegant Metaphor of a Vine; the Nature and Properties of which, with the Para/lets and Difparities follow. METAPHOR. 1. THE Vine feems not fo lovely, ftately and amiable to look upon as fome other Trees; it is not fo high and lofty as the Ce– dar,norto be compared for Strength 10 the Oak ; nor for Beauty to the Palm or Fir-tree. PARALLEL. I. JESUS Chrift in his State of Humiliation, did not appear in that outward Glory, Pomp and Magnificence, which the proud Grandees of the Earth glitter in, Matt. viii. 20. he was not entertained with the Royalties of imperial Pa– laces, (for his Kingdom was not of this World, John xviii. 36.) He was looked upon in compari– fon of the mighty Men, who are compared to the Cedars of Lebanon, and Oaks of Bajhan, as a poor mean and contemptible Shrub; as the Prophet foretold : He }hall grow up before him as a tender Plant, and as a Root out of a dry Ground; he bath no Form nor Comelinefs, and when we}hall fee him, there is no Beauty, that we jhould defire him, Ifa.liii. 2, 3· II. The Vine neverthelefs hath II. Jefus Chri.ft bath a Name above e-very Name, a more honorable Name given to Phi!. ii. 9· he infinitely excels whatfoever is good, it than other Trees. The Lord's great and glorious in Angels, Saints and Men, choiceft Plantation (the Church) Heb. i. 14· The Splendor and Statelinefs of Mo– is exprelfed by it; and therefore it narch's Courts is nothing in comparifon of that is dignified with the Title ofgoodinexpreffible Luftre antl Majefty that furrounds ly and noble, Ezek. xvii. 8. Jer. him. The heavenly Luminaries are dim to him ; ii. 21. Pfal. lxxx. 9· he is the royal Offspringof Heaven, of the fublimeft ExtraCtion. When be bringeth the Firfl-begotten into the World, he faith, And let all the Angels of God worjhip him, Heb. i. 6. Ill. TheVine gives largeShoots, Ill. Chrift when in his young and tender Age, grows much in its young and tender grew much in Favor both with God and Man, Age, and brings Forth fruit in a Luke ii. 52. and when he was twelve Years old, Jhort Time after it is planted. difputed with the learned DoCtors, hearing them, and afking them f<rfejlions ; and all that heard him were aflonijhed at his Underflanding and Anfwers, &c. Luke ii. 46, 47· IV. The Vine wonderfully aIV. Jefus Chrift is full of Life and Divine Virbounds with Sap, and inward Virtue; the Treafuries of his communicable Grace tue, bearing and nourilhing many are immenfe and unfpeakable; All Wifdom and large Branches, which fpread exKnowledge are hid in him, Col. i. I 9· In him all ceedingly; yet all partake of its Fulnefs dwells, John i. I 4· His People, myftically Root andFamefs (as it is faid of the united to him, are his Branches; them he fupplies Olive-Tree,) Rom. xi. '7· where with fpiritual ~ickening, Nourilhment and there is enough to feed all, and Growth, and though fcattered over many King– make them flourilh and bear fruit doms and Nations, his ProteCtion environs them abundantly. round about, provides a fufficient Supply for their fpiritual Wants, which is to be found no where elfe. If a Man abide not in me, (faith he) he is cafl forth as a Branch that is 'Withered, &c. John xv. 6. V. The Vine is a moll: fruitful V. Chrift the fpiritual Vine, is not only a green, Plant. A great Naturalift -t tells us, fpreading and flourilhing Plant, but alfo exceed– ofone Stock, one fingle Vine planting fruitful; he was fo in his Life, going up and • A Vine, in Latin, l"'itiJ, quia ltnta, becaufe flexible, from 1/ieo, to bind with Twigs; or as Scaligrr fays, IX ftrendo Yino, bccaufe it Bears Wine. It is called in Greek ap!trrAG-, from 1he Adverb "fA"• u11a, £Mm, togeth.cr, with_; of the Hebrew c.v, Ham, am, and 91"''~''Q~ which in the loniam DialeCl.JigniJies Wine. It lS called w Heb. O,l Kerem, a Vine or Vineyard, or, jDJ, Gephtn, &c. t Pliny, lib. xiv. c. 4 • down
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