The Song of the Beloved Concerning His Vineyard, Part 2 · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
Some other meanes to further the d… ſtruction of the Iewes, noted of the… words: viz.
It ſhall not be cut, nor digged: but bryers … thornes ſhall grow vp. I will alſo comma… the Cloudes, that they rayne no rayne v… on it. Verſe. 6.
THe Lord hauing threatned the d… ſtruction of his vineyard, and ſhe… ed the manner therof, doth alſo d… clare the meanes, whereby the ſame ſh… be furthered and effected; as firſt, by r… mouing of the hedge: next, by breaki… downe of the wall, as I hauehave therof ſaid i… the Chapter before going. VntoUnto th… which, he addeth ſome other occaſio… and meanes thereof: as that the Ʋineyar… ſhall not be cut, nor digged: but bryers a… thornes ſhall growe vp, and that the Cloud… ſhall be forbidden to rayne any rayne the… …n.
2. Firſt the Lord continuing hisIt ſhall not be cut: viz. nor corrected with due diſcipline, &c. …etaphor, ſaith: It ſhall not be cut. The …rd Zamar, ſignifieth a pruning, or pa…g away of things ſuperfluous, as the cut…g or pruning of a Vine. As it is ſaid in …uit. 25. 3. Sixe yeares thou ſhalt cut thy …e, and gather the fruite thereof.
And in this alſo, as in the former, hee …deth to thoſe Husbandmen, that ha…g no pleaſure in their Vineyards, doo …lect to pare, prune and cut them: …ning (indeed) that he would thence…h no more correct them in the due or… of diſcipline, as he had done; diſpai…g (as it were) of any profit of his la…rs.
And of this, in the firſt Chapter, …rſe. 5. he complaineth, ſaying: Where… ſhould ye be ſtriken any more? for ye fall …y more and more: the whole head is ſicke, … the whole body is heauie. As if he ſaid: …at auaileth it mee to endeuour to a…nd this people with often corrections …d puniſhments, ſeeing, the more I cor… thē, the worſe they proue; as that cor…t or rottē rooted vine; for frō the roote …he top, and from the higheſt of them, to the loweſt of them, they are polluted and will not beare that good fruite which I expected. Therefore hee ſayth again… (as that Husbandman which contemneth and giueth ouer his vnprofitable vineyard) Ah! I will eaſe me of mine Aduerſaries: Verſ. 24. Such words ſpake the Lo… in the olde time, touching that moſt ſinfull generation before the floud, whom great lenitie, long ſuffering, and fatherl… diſcipline of the Lord could not perſwad… to repentance: My ſpirit (ſaith he) ſhall i… alway ſtriue with man, becauſe he is but fleſh Gen. 6. 3.
3. Truly, as thoſe vines which are no… The inconuenience of the want of diſcipline.pruned, cut, and clenſed from their rotte… and ſuperfluous branches, in the due an… conuenient time, do either ſoone ſtarue, … become barren: ſo alſo doth that gener… tion either drop to deſtruction, or becom… barren of good workes, which are not exerciſed with meete diſcipline. As likewi… thoſe waters do corrupt and ſtinke, whi… A note of Gods neglect of the people, and diſpleaſure.are not moued.
Againe, as where the vine is neglecte… and not pruned and pared by the Vi… tor, it argueth the litle regard and delig… …e hath of and in the ſame: ſo is there not more manifeſt note of Gods diſpleaſure …wards men, and litle care he hath of the …eople, then when hee ſuffereth them to …n without controllment or correction. …or as he chaſtiſeth thē whom he loueth, …nd correcteth them whom he receiueth: he giueth ouer the wicked to their own …ſts, to be drenched in ſinne, and damned death. Ro. 1. 28.
4. VntoUnto this neglect of the cutting and …uning of the vineyard, the Lord addeth, at It ſhall neither be digged. The wordIt ſhall not be digged. …dere in this place (as it is put paſſiuely) …gnifieth, to be drawen togither by ſome …ſtrument of husbandrie, as the earth is to ridges or heaps, chiefly about Vines, …d ſuch kind of heaps, as do in order and …rme reſemble a flocke of ſheepe, fee…ng heere and there in the paſture. …nd heereof is it, that of this Verbe …ere is made a Nowne of the ſame …etters, which ſignifieth a Flocke of A flock of ſheepe.…heepe.
And this belongeth to the manurance of …e vineyard; a kind of husbādry which is …roued both ſo cōuenient and neceſſarie, as that without it, the Vine will neither proſper, nor beare fruite.
5. By this kind of digging, is ment theWhat is ment by digging. well diſpoſing and ordering of the people, and the timely preparing of them, to the performance of thoſe duties which are of them required. And this is wrought by the inſtrument of godly inſtructions, counſels, exhortations, admonitions, and lawes. Neither diffreth this word much in ſignification frō the husbandry which the Vinitor beſtowed on his Winepreſſe, which (as before is ſayd) he digged and made: nor from that (in effect) whereof the ſweete Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh to the Lord, ſaying: Thou haſt digged mine eares: Pſal. 40. 6. that is, thou haſt prepared mine eares to the hearing of thy word, and haſt made me obedient to thy law. Wherein Dauid alluded to that riteA ceremony of the lawe. obſerued in the law, Deut. 15. 17. as when a ſeruant louing his maiſter, and willing to abide with him (notwithſtanding that a freedom be offred him in the ſeuenth yeare) hath his eare perced through againſt the doore poſt, by the which, he promiſeth obedience and obſequie to his maſter. And ſo indeed the Lord requireth vsus, nothing elſe but faith, and obediēce the word, that we may harken vntounto his mandements. But this is not wrought,Who diggeth the eares, &c. …t by the operation of his ſpirit: for hee …uſt digge our eares, and order our minds …d bodies; the which if he do not, there not any hope of fruite. This was it, that …ah meant, when he prayed, that God …uld perſwade or allure Iaphet to dwell in …e tents of Shem. And this was it, that E…raim in captiuitie deſired, ſaying: Con…rt thou me, and I ſhall be conuerted. Now, …hat would followe of that, when as the …ord would not beſtowe on the Iewes …is kind of husbandrie, it is eaſily percei…d, which alſo the Lord letteth not to …preſſe in the words following.
6. And therefore he ſaith: Bryers and The fruites of bad husbandrie.…ornes ſhall grow vp, or aſcend vp. They …e called in the Hebrew Schamor and …chaïth: which are tranſlated, Sentes et …inae, and they are ſo called of holding and …teining faſt, and embracing and twining …gither. And theſe are (indeed) ſuch …ings, as both hold faſt and choke vp the Vines, whereby they become barren and ſtarue, and therefore are accounted both vnprofitable and noiſome to the husbādman and his Vineyard. By theſe bryer… and thorns, are ſignified, firſt the GentilesMat. 20. 19. Gentiles. Ezech. 7. 24 and the wicked of the heathen, whom the Lord God threatned to bring into their houſes, and to hold them in their poſſeſſion: & who alſo in this diſpleaſure cōceiued againſt the vineyard, ſhuld be found moſt vnprofitable & noiſome to the ſame: yea, and therein manifeſt themſelues enemies to Chriſt Ieſus that beſt choſen Vine, and aduerſaries to his holy Apoſtles & ſeruāts the branches of that vine: howbeit, theſe were both ſtirred vp, prouoked and permitted thus farforth to inuade the holy land, & therin to afflict & greeue the right good vine with her brāches; I mean Chriſt with his Apoſtles, Diſciples and ſeruants, the true Iſraelites: (who were committed to Pilate, Herod, and other Gentiles to be tormented) but vtterly to deuoure, tread downe and deſtroy this vngodly and ingratefull people the falſe Iſraelites, and counterfeit Iewes, which yeelded ſuch vnpleaſant fruites to the Lord. So, whereas the goldly were afflicted and puniſhed, the vngodly were both pla…uedThe godly are afflicted but the wicked are plagued. and deſtroied by thoſe brambles, and …hornes; I meane, the Gentiles. As Ezech. …. 24.
7. And of this execution to be done …y the Gentiles on the vngodly Iewes,Iſa. 10. 5. 6. …hus ſaith the Lord by his Prophet: O Aſ…ur, the rod of my wrath, and the ſtaffe of their …ands is mine indignation: I will ſend him, (meaning Aſſur) vntounto a diſſembling nation: (meaning the Iewes) and I will giuegive him … charge againſt the people of my wrath to …ake the ſpoyle, and to take the pray, and to tread them vnderunder foote as the myre in the ſtreete. And this was partly verified in that time, whē the Chaldaeans aſcended vp and captiued Iſrael and Iudah. And partlyLuk. 21. 24. when Ieruſalem was troden downe of the Gentiles, in the day of the viſitation of the Iewes, according to the words of Chriſt.
8. Moreouer by thoſe Bryers andAll vngodly perſons &c. Thornes (as the fruits of a curſed and waſte ground) are generally ſignified, not onelyonly *Ezech. 2. 6all wicked and vngodly perſons: but alſo all their ſinnes, errours, tranſgreſſions, and abhominations, the which are made meete both for theHeb. 6. 8. curſe and the fire in the Lords diſpleaſure, as ſaith the Apoſtle to the Hebrews: That ground which beareth thornes and bryers is reproued, and is nigh vntounto curſing, whoſe end is to be burned. Neither can wee either ſeeke for better perſons, or hope for better fruites, or expect better euents from thence, where the Lord hath iuſtly withdrawne his louelove, fauour, protection and mercies. And therefore, after that the Lord had fully determined to forſake and giuegive ouer the houſe of Iſrael and Iuda, they were not ſo euill before, but then were much worſe (as were thoſe Gentiles of whom the Apoſtle ſpeaketh to the Romanes, Chap. 1. Verſe, 6.) By the which they were made meete for the fire, as ſaid the Prophet: Wickedneſſe burneth as a fire, it deuoureth the bryers & the thorns, & will kindle in the thicke places of the Forrest, and they ſhall mount vp, like the lifting vp of ſmoke. Iſa. 9. 8. And this was verified at what time Nabuzor-adan came to Ieruſalem and burnt the houſe of the Lord, and the Kings houſe, and all the houſes of Ieruſalem, and all the great houſes (ſo ſtored full with bryers and thornes) with fire. 2. King. 25. 9.
9. Notwithſtanding all this, the Lords3. The cloudes are alſo forbidden to drop on the Vineyard. wrath is not tutned away: but his hand is …tretched out ſtill: and now at laſt, that …he Vineyard may be without all meanes of recouerie, he addeth to the former an…ther plague, the which of all other, both …rgueth his diſpleaſure conceiued againſt …he Iewes, and his willingneſſe to waſte …nd deſtroy them. I will alſo (ſaith hee) …mmaunde the Cloudes, that they rayne no …aine vponupon it. Although before this, when …he Prophet ſpeaketh of the planting, …edging and cleanſing of the Vineyard, …ith the building of the Tower, and ma…ing the Wine-preſſe, he ſeemeth to ſay …othing either of the pruning or of the …igging thereof: yet may we not thinke, …ut that thoſe things alſo being ſo neceſ…arie, were done, procured, employed, and …erformed on the Vineyard to the vtter…oſt: and that among thoſe things, there was alſo a timely and ſweete diſtillation of the rayne and ſhewers on the Vine…ard to water the ſame: as it is ſaid in Deut. 11. 11. Being in a land that drinketh water of the rayne of heauen. For why? th… Lord himſelfe ſaid: What more could … hauehave done to my Ʋineyard that I hauehave no… done to it? Verſe 4. And this was as needfull as any of the former, and without the which, the Vine could neither proſpe… nor growe; but ſtarue and wither away.
10. It was promiſed in Deut. 11. 14. and 28. 12. vntounto them that obeyed the voyce of the Lord, and obſerued his commaundements, that they ſhould be plenteous in goods, in the fruite of their body, in the fruite of theyr cattell, in the fruite of theyr ground: And to that purpoſe, it is added, The Lord ſhall open vntounto thee hi… good treaſure, the heauen to giuegive rayne vntounto thy land in due ſeaſon, the firſt rayne and the latter.
And to this alludeth Zachary the Prophet,Zach. 10. 1. who teacheth the Iewes how they ſhould eſchew the plague of famine then threatned them, ſaid: Aske ye of the Lord in the time of the latter raine: ſo ſhall the Lord make white Clowdes, and giuegive you ſhowres of rayne, and to euerie one graſſe in the field. But now the caſe is altred, God findeth his people rebellious and wicked, …d therefore hee will not vouchſafe …em his good treaſures, to giuegive them …yne in ſeaſon; nor will make the …lowdes to diſtill and drop, but will com…aund the Cloudes to rayne no rayne on …em.
11. The word ſignifieth very thicke …lowdes, and are ſo called Yabim, of thick…ſſe, Yabim. Thicke Cloudes.as are thoſe which hauehave in them …uch water: ſuch as Salomon mea…th, when hee ſayth: If the Clowdes …e full, they will powre foorth rayne vp… the earth: Eccles. 11. 3. Howbeit, nei…er ſhall one droppe of water fall from …oſe thicke and full Clowdes, how likely … euer they ſhew to drop downe ſhowres: …cording to that commination in Deut. …8. 23. where Moſes ſaith to the rebel…us children: Thine heauen that is o…r thy head ſhall bee Braſſe; and the …rth that is vnderunder thee ſhall bee Iron: …he Lorde ſhall giuegive thee for the rayne … the Land, dust and aſhes; euen …om Heauen ſhall it come downe vp…n thee, vntill thou bee destroy…. Thus, the Vineyard is threatned to w… the timely watering of the Cloudes. B… now as the Prophet hath a Metaphor, l… vsus alſo in this (as wee hauehave in the form… words) conſider what is meant by th… Rayne, and by thoſe Cloudes.
12. By the Rayne, is meant the wor… The Rayne is the word of God.of God, the which is called the Water … life: as indeed it is, and is more neceſſar… and profitable for the children of God… then is the firſt and latter rayne for th… Vineyard; and without the vſe of th… which, the people do periſh, as they tha… want the ſpirituall foode. This is that water which droppeth downe from heauen… and the which none can Miniſter without the helpe of the Lord Ieſus. The vſus… The word engendereth in our ſoules, fayth.of this water by the operation of the holy Ghoſt, engendreth in our ſoules th… faith, whereby we be iuſtified and prep… red to euerie good worke. But withou… this water, we be barren, and cannot bu… ſtarue. And this is that which the Lor… threatneth (chiefly on the Iewes) I wi… take away from Ieruſalem and from Iudah… all the ſtay of bread, and all the ſtay of water… Iſa. 3. 1.
13. As by the rayne, is meant the wordThe Clouds are the Prophets, &c. …f God: ſo by the Cloudes, are ſignified …he Prophets and Preachers of this word; …ho are called and ſent forth to drop the …howres of Gods word into the eares of the …eople.
And this phraſe vſeth Moſes in his laſtDeu. 32. 2. 3 …ong: My doctrine (ſaith he) ſhall drop as …e raine, and my ſpeech ſhall ſtill as the deaw, … the ſhowre vponupon the hearbes, and as the …eat rayne vponupon the graſſe. And hee ad…eth: For I will publiſh the name of the …ord. Here Moſes likeneth the word of …od, to the rayne or deawe; himſelfe to …e dropping Cloudes, and the peopleThe hearbs are the people to whō the word is preached. … the hearbes and graſſe. And ſuch in the …me of Micheah the Prophet, were called …oppers, which propheſied, to whom the …ople then ſaid: drop ye not: that is, pro…eſie ye not. But, They ſhall not propheſie … them, neyther ſhall they take ſhame. Mich. … 6. For the Lord will commaund thoſe …loudes to leaue off, and not to drop on …is vngratefull people, which ſo well re…mbleth thoſe dogs & ſwine, to whom he …rbiddeth thē to giuegive his holy things, & …efore whom, hee chargeth them not to caſt the pretious Pearles of his word. To ſuch hee ſaith: The Kingdome of heauen ſhall bee taken away from you Mat. 21.
14. As long as theſe Cloudes be dropping,Whiles the word is preached, there remaineth ſome hope of merciemercy and peace. there remaineth ſome hope o… merciemercy and life; as then, there remained hope of a glad and ioyfull entertainement at the ſupper of the great King, whiles his ſeruants were in their meſſage buſie inuiting the Gueſtes: But when they contemned this opportunitie, and ſaid to the Prophets, Ye ſhal not drop on vsus: ther worthily followed, not only a famine of bread, and thirſt of water, but the hunger and thirſt of the word of God; which alſo drew after it, Warres, Peſtilences, plagues, and deſtructions. Their eies were blinded, their hearts were hardned, and their backs were bowed downe alwaies.
15. As the miniſterie and preachingA note of Gods fauor and of his diſpleaſure. of the word of God is a certain note of his continuall care and fauour, as the well applying of a Vineyard with water, argueth the care and delight the Vinitor hath in the ſame: ſo the taking away of the word of God from the people, is … certaine note of his diſpleaſure: and …eglect of them, as the ſmall regard …he Vinitor hath of that Vineyard, is …iſcerned, by that hee neglecteth to …ater the ſame. Therefore to expreſſe …e Lords high diſpleaſure conceiued a…ainſt the people of Iſrael, for their re…ellion and vnkindneſſe towards him, …nd to certifie them of their future de…ation and deſtruction for the ſame, …e ſaith, that he will command the Cloudes … raine no raine on them: that is, that his …ophets, Apoſtles and Miniſters, ſhall …t thenceforth feede them with the …ord of God: neither ſhall there bee any …e of the Lords miſteries among thē: whoAct. 13. 46: … Paul and Barnabas teſtified) did put it …m them, and iudged themſelues vnworthy euerlaſting life: which is (as Chriſt hath …ght vsus) to know the onelyonly true God, …d whom he hath ſent Ieſus Chriſt; ther…e it was meete alſo, that God ſhuld de…ue thē of this ineſtimable benefit, that ſo who had choſen thē from al other nati…s, beautified them & bleſſed thē; ſhuld …ect them, deforme them, & curſe them: and that he, which before had proſpered, ſuſtained and preſerued them in the right vſe of his word, ſhould now (in their abuſe thereof) alienate them from his delight, and giuegive them ouer to their enemies hand, to be conſumed, troden downe, and waſted, according to his word; to their perpetuall ſhame, to the inſtructionIſa. 5. 5. 30. …. Chro. 7. 19. 20. of his Saints, and to the euerlaſting glorie of his moſt holy name.
The end of the ſecond part.