Sermons Preached Upon Several Occasions, Sermon 8
SERMON VIII.
CANT. 2. 3. —And his fruit was ſweet to my taſte.
I Shewed you what this fruit is, that is ſweet: there are ſeveral kinds of fruit that grow upon Chriſt: you have heard of the fruit of his heart, the fruit of his lips, the fruit of his loins, the fruit of his life: I ſpeak the laſt day of the fruit of his death: and I ſhewed you ten ſeveral fruits that grow upon this bough: I ſpeak alſo of the fruit of his Reſurrection, and the fruit of his Aſcenſion; I ſhall repeat nothing, becauſe I muſt be ſhort. Here's but one bough more, and that is his Interceſſion, or his ſitting at the right hand of his Father. Now, what's the fruit that grows upon this bough, the fruit of Chriſts Interceſſion?
1. Firſt of all, The actual Application of all that he hath purchaſed unto his people; this is the fruit of Chriſt's Interceſſion, he hath purchaſed by his death, and applies by his Interceſſion: the Lord Jeſus he intercedes for them in particular, he hath all their names in particular upon his breaſt, and he doth not only intercede for them in the lump, but for every particular ſoul that his Father hath given him: ſo he tells Simon Peter, I have prayed for thee Simon, that thy faith fail not; Chriſt hath purchaſed pardon of ſin by his blood, but the Application of pardon to this and that ſoul, it's the fruit of Chriſts Interceſſion; and ſo he hath purchaſed grace, and he hath purchaſed glory by his blood; but the giving out of grace, and putting the ſoul into actual poſſeſſion of glory, this is a fruit of Chriſt's Interceſſion.
2. Again Secondly, There is another precious fruit grows upon this bough, and that is, The large way, or door that is made and ſet open for poor ſinners to come to God the Father by. There is a large door for poor ſinners to come to God by, and that this door is open, and held open, we are beholden to Chriſts Interceſſion; in Heb. 7. 25. He lives for ever to make Interceſſion for all that come to God by him, and therefore, ſaies the Text, He is able to ſave to the uttermoſt all that come to God by him: ſo that now the poor ſinner that durſt not come to God, that ſtood afar off trembling, that look'd up like the poor Prodigal, and ſaid, Father I have ſinned before thee in thy ſight, and am not worthy to come under thy roof: even for ſuch poor ſouls hath Chriſt ſet open a door by his Interceſſion to come to God.
Will ever Chriſt plead for ſuch a one as I am? Yes, ſaies the Text, He lives to do it; he lives for ever for that end, to make Interceſſion for them that come to God by him.
But is it poſſible that ever Chriſt ſhould prevail for ſuch a one? though Chriſt be willing to intercede, is it poſſible that he ſhould prevail for ſuch a ſinner?
Yea, it's poſſible with Chriſt, for He is able to ſave to the uttermoſt: if he could not prevail, he were not able to ſave to the uttermoſt, but, ſaies the Text, He is able to ſave to the uttermoſt all that come to God by him.
3. Again, Thirdly, There is another precious fruit that grows upon the Interceſſion, and that is, The preſentation of the perſons, and of the Sacrifices of all his people in his own name and righteouſneſs unto God his Father; this is the fruit of Chriſt's Interceſſion: He takes all his Children by the hand and leads them to his Father, Lo, ſaies he, here am I, and the Children thou haſt given me. Father, theſe are my friends, theſe are my beloveds, let them find welcom in heaven for my ſake; he preſents alſo their ſacrifices, all their ſervices, their prayers, their praiſes, and their works, and waſhes them in his blood; it is ſaid in the Revelation, there was an Angel ſtood by the Altar with a Cenſer in his hand, and he offered much ſweet Incenſe, which he mixed with the prayers of the Saints: the Lord Jeſus is that Angel, he mixes all their ſacrifices with his Incenſe, that their prayers and praiſes may aſcend before the Lord as Incenſe, that all their liftings up of hands and hearts may be acceptable.
4. Again, Fourthly, There's another fruit upon the bough of Chriſt's Interceſſion, and that is, The caſting out of all thoſe Indictments which are brought into the Court by malicious Adverſaries againſt any of his people: the Lord Jeſus ſits at the right hand of the Father to caſt them out; the Devil brings many a black bill of Indictment, but the Lord Jeſus ſits there to rebuke him; in Zach. 3. 2. The Lord rebuke thee Satan, ſaies the Angel, the Lord rebuke thee: he pleads for them, he is their Advocate, he lets his Father know that all the accuſations that Satan brings in are out of malice and envy: he is a malicious wrathful wretch, a Murderer from the beginning, he hath alwaies ſought the deſtruction of my ſervants, and therefore Father hear him not, ſaies he, for he accuſes out of malice, he hath alwaies been a falſe accuſer, he was caſt out of heaven for a common Barreter, and therefore Lord let him not plead at thy Bar; there are many Bills brought in, but the Lord Jeſus he ſhews the Croſs that is made over them, they are all croſt with the croſs of his own blood, all is diſcharged, all is paid; that Chriſt by his blood makes a mighty noiſe in heaven: ſin cries loud many times, but the blood of Chriſt cries louder, it fills all the Throne with outcries, and it will be heard, it will be heard when it ſpeaks for poor ſinners: this is a precious fruit of Chriſt's Interceſſion.
5. Fifthly, The preſervation of the Saints in a ſtate of grace, is a fruit of Chriſt's Interceſſion, they can't fall, it's not poſſible they ſhould be pluck'd out of his hand, for he holds them ſure, he is continually Interceding for them, it's not poſſible they ſhould be forgotten in heaven, for he alwaies bears their names, and preſents them unto his Father; he Intercedes continually for more grace, for new grace and for new ſtrength, and new ſupplies to be given out every moment for his people, and therefore it's not poſſible their faith ſhould fail: I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not; it's not poſſible that their faith ſhould fail; and this is a fruit of Chriſt's Interceſſion. Chriſt intercedes for his people, and therefore they are kept, and ſhall be kept by his mighty power through faith to ſalvation. I might add, The protection of Churches, and the deſtruction of enemies, as a fruit of Chriſt's Interceſſion; he ſits to protect his people, and he ſits there to deſtroy his enemies: Sit thou at my right hand till I make thine enemies thy foot-ſtool; the Lord in that day ſhall make Kings ſubmit unto him; He ſhall ſtrike through Kings in the day of his power: Intimating that the ſubjection of all enemies is a fruit of Chriſt's Interceſſion. Theſe are the fruits that grow upon this bough. Now you have in part ſeen what fruit this Tree bears, let us make Application.
Ʋſe. Firſt of all, If the fruit that grows upon Chriſt be ſo ſweet to a believing ſoul, Then,
1. Uſe of Conviction, Firſt, This may ſerve for Conviction unto ſuch as taſte no ſweetneſs in Chriſt's fruit, that have no longings, no deſires to eat of the fruit of this Tree; why certainly it's an evidence againſt ſuch, they never were yet eſpouſed to Chriſt. It's ſaid of young women in their breeding condition, their deſires are after fruit, rather to feed on fruit than other meat: I am ſure it is ſo with ſuch as are the Spouſes of Chriſt, their deſires are alwaies after fruit, they would by their good will eat nothing elſe, their ſouls are alwaies longing after it, they can't make a good meal, though they have never ſo much of creature comforts, if they have not a diſh of this fruit, of this fruit that grows upon this Tree of Life: Oh poor creatures (they know not, ſuch as find no ſweetneſs) ſurely they know not what this fruit is, If thou kneweſt the gift of God, ſaies Chriſt to the woman of Samaria in John 4. 10. and who it is that ſaith unto thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldeſt have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water; poor ſoul, thou knoweſt not what this Tree of Life is: Oh my friends, if you knew this Tree, the ſweetneſs of it, you would ſay, Lord give us ever to eat of the fruit of this Tree; what pity is it that ſuch fruit ſhould be loſt, becauſe poor ſouls know not the goodneſs and ſweetneſs of it! It's very ſtrange that poor ſinners ſhould take ſo much delight in the world, ſo much delight in the fruit that grows upon their own ſtock, ſo much pleaſure in the fruit of iniquity, and ſhould find no ſweetneſs, nor ſavour in the fruit that grows upon Chriſt: I ſay there is no fruit ſo ſweet as this, yea there is nothing ſweet but what grows upon this Tree, no mercy ſweet if it grows not on this Tree, if it comes not from this Tree of Life; and yet to a carnal heart every thing but Chriſt is ſweet: Oh ſuch men and women they have loſt their taſte: when a mans appetite is gone, that's a ſign of a great diſtemper: give him wholſom meats, and pleaſant drinks, and he tells you they are bitter and unſavoury, it's a ſign of a great diſtemper of the body, yea many times it's a great fore-runner of death: and truly it's thus with mens ſouls that taſte not of the ſweetneſs of Chriſt, they have loſt their appetite, why? it's wonderful ſtrange they ſhould find no ſweetneſs in Chriſt: What! ſweetneſs in your profits and pleaſures, ſweetneſs in your luſts and harlotry, and what, no ſweetneſs in Chriſt? Poor creatures, they have loſt their taſte, and the Lord grant it be not a fore-runner of eternal death; you have a wo denounced againſt ſuch men in Iſa. 5. 20. Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkneſs for light, and light for darkneſs, and put bitter for ſweet, and ſweet for bitter: Wo to them that call the Tree of Life bitter fruit, unſavoury fruit, whoſe ſouls find no ſweetneſs in the feeding upon it, and in the mean time find ſweetneſs and delight in thoſe things which are indeed bitter, for the fruit of ſin is bitter fruit: Oh that ſuch men would conſider theſe two things:
1. Firſt of all, What will you do when your deſirable fruit is taken from you? There was a threatening againſt Babylon in Rev. 18. 14. And the fruits that thy ſoul luſted after, are departed from thee, and all things which were goodly and dainty are departed from thee, and thou ſhalt find them no more at all: The time will come when this will be ſpoken to Contemners of Chriſt, the deſpiſers of that fruit which grows upon this Tree of Life: all thy deſirable fruit is departed from thee, that which thou tookeſt moſt delight in it's departed from thee; the Lord he can eaſily blaſt your fruit, and cauſe it to wither: if the Spirit of the Lord do but blow upon your comforts they are gone, they are gone in a moment, they wither and they fall off immediately, and what will ſuch men do when their fruit is departed from them, if they have not better fruit to live upon?
2. Secondly, Again, Oh that ſuch men would conſider that fearful threatening againſt deſpiſers of the fruit of the Tree of Life, in Prov. 1. 31. Therefore ſhall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices: They ſhall eat the fruit of their own doings, when they will not liſten to Wiſdoms call; oh my friends it will be very ſowr fruit for a man to eat the fruit of his own waies: the fruit that grows in the High-way ſide it's but ſowr fruit, take heed that you deſpiſe not the Tree of Life, leſt the Lord ſay you ſhall not eat thereof. That's the firſt Uſe of Conviction.
2. Again, Secondly, Here is a word of Invitation, and I ſhall propound it in the words of the Pſalmiſt, in Pſal. 31. 8. a gracious Invitation, O taſte and ſee that the Lord is good, bleſſed is the man that truſteth in him: You have heard of the fruit that grows upon Chriſt, and now oh my friends come taſte, and ſee how good the Lord is; the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks as a man that had found a good morſel, found ſome dainty food, he was eating of it alone, he found a great deal of ſweetneſs in it, and he calls his friends, Oh friends come and taſte, and ſee how good it is; if you did but taſte of this meat, you would ſay, Oh taſte and ſee how good the Lord is, there is pleaſure and ſweetneſs, there's enough to take up all your affections, and all your ſenſes, here you may ſee and taſte, you may ſee beauty and taſte ſweetneſs: the Tree of Life is not only beautiful, good to look upon, beautiful to the eye, but it's good for food; let me tell you, it's not enough to ſee the beauty of the Tree of Life, it's not enough to look upon it, it's not enough to ſee, but your ſouls muſt taſte, you will never be the better for the fruit that grows upon Chriſt unleſs you taſte it, unleſs you come and feed experimentally upon Chriſt: it's not enough to hear that the Lord is good, it's not enough that you have heard that there is ſo much pleaſant fruit grows upon Chriſt, but as ever you deſire to be nouriſhed, comforted, revived, ſtrengthened and quickened, why then come here and taſte and ſee how good the Lord is: it's mercy that you have an Invitation; it was a direful threatening in Luk. 14. 24. For I ſay unto you, that none of theſe men which were bidden ſhall taſte of my Supper: That they which were bidden as Gueſts ſhould never taſte of my fruit; the Lord doth▪ not ſpeak this to you this day, he doth not ſay, You ſhall never taſte of his fruit, but he gives you an Invitation, Oh then come and taſte and ſee the goodneſs of God. Let me tell you by way of motive, That there is nothing in the world will do away the curſed and bitter taſte of ſin, but only the taſte of the fruit of this Tree. Poor ſinners you know not what the taſte of the fruit of ſin is: oh what bitterneſs many times doth ſin leave behind! It's ſweet in the commiſſion, whilſt men are committing ſin, whilſt men are in the midſt of their luſts, in the midſt of their vanities, in the midſt of their cups, ſin is ſweet, but oh the bitterneſs, the poyſon of Aſps that ſin leaves behind in the Conſcience; you have tried it may be to put out the taſte of ſin, to do away the bitterneſs that ſin hath left behind, and you ſwallow many a good Ordinance after it, many a good duty, as you have ſuppoſed, you have waſhed with your own tears, and yet the taſte of ſin is left behind: and truly Brethren no wonder; there is nothing in the world will do away the taſte, the bitter taſte of ſin, but only the taſte of the fruit of Chriſt: O come and taſte of this fruit, it will leave a ſweet reliſh behind, it will leave a taſte in your ſouls and conſciences, that ſhall alwaies be above and prevail againſt the bitter taſte of ſin.
Nay further, let me tell you, there is nothing elſe can ſweeten your affliction, there is nothing elſe can ſweeten your temptations, and your trials, but only a taſte of the fruit of Chriſt, this will take away all the bitterneſs: and therefore I beſeech you make good proviſion for your ſelves againſt you take thoſe bitter Pills; you will have ſomething that is ſweet by you, to ſweeten your mouths againſt you take bitter Pills: Oh that men would make ſuch proviſion in and againſt evil daies; death is bitter in it ſelf, and life is ſweet: Oh that the Lord would revive you in giving to you a taſte of the Tree of Life, and this will ſweeten all afflictions, and it will take away the bitterneſs of the taſte of death: the Martyrs they felt not the heat of the flames, for they had the juice of the Tree of Life in their mouths and ſouls, and the fruit of the Tree of Life preſerved them.
Queſt. But how may you know that you have taſted of this fruit of the Tree of Life?
Anſw. You may know it by your deſires after Chriſt: when the ſoul hath taſted of the fruit of Chriſt, it deſires to taſte more of that fruit, and it will ſee an averſeneſs to ſin: ſo did the Spouſe of Chriſt, ſhe ſat down and deſired to eat (as I told you it was rendred) ſhe ſat down and deſired to eat, and ſtill to eat, her deſires were carried out ſtill after further and further enjoyments and taſts of Chriſt; when the woman of Samaria had taſted of the ſweetneſs of the water of Life, in John 14. 15. Give me to drink of this water that I thirſt not: Give me evermore to drink of this water, ſhe taſted but a drop and this gave her to cry out, O Lord give me evermore to drink of this water: ſo the ſoul having once taſted but a taſte of this fruit of the Tree of Life, Lord give me evermore to eat of this Tree, of this fruit.
Again, It's known by the contentment, delight and ſatisfaction, that the ſoul doth find in Chriſt, by the taſting of him it hath ſatisfaction in Chriſt, a high eſteem, and honourable eſteem, ſuch an eſteem as David had: he deſired to be a door-keeper in the Courts and Houſe of the Lord: And ſo the ſoul that hath taſted of Chriſt, Oh Lord let me eat of thy fruit, though my condition be never ſo low, let me ſit under thy Tree, though I ſit like Job on the Dunghil, let me ſit down and eat of thy fruit, and it's enough, it ſatisfies; when it hath Chriſt, whatever it hath it's ſatiſfied: if it be but the fruit of Chriſt's love, it's ſatisfied: if it be but a piece of bread, if it hath the love of Chriſt with it, I ſhall ſay, Lord my lot is fallen on a goodly ground: and thus ſaith our Saviour, Noman that hath drank old Wine and taſtes of new, deſires the old again, becauſe it's bitter to him: ſo no man that is once in Chriſt deſires to taſte of the fruit of ſin, becauſe this fruit is better; Oh that many might be convinced of ſin, ſuch as wallow in their luſts, and take more delight in their luſts than in Chriſt, that have not yet taſted of the fruit of this Tree of Life, the Invitation is even to them, unto ſuch that they might come in and taſte, and ſee how good the Lord is. So much for the firſt Uſe.
2. Ʋſe. Secondly, A word of Exhortation to thoſe that have intereſt in Chriſt. O that you would come and ſit under this Tree and eat: That Chriſtians would ſit more under Chriſt, and eat more of his fruit. It's not enough to give a pluck and away, a ſnatch and away: but the Spouſe ſhe ſat and pluckt and eat. Chriſt doth not love a haſting geſture, he doth not love ſouls haſt in plucking of his fruit: he doth not love they ſhould poſt over Communion with him, but that they ſhould ſit down and eat. Oh chew well upon the Tree of Life, that you may find that ſweetneſs, that infinite ſweetneſs that is in it: Oh that you would pluck much of the fruit of this Tree; you that have intereſt in Chriſt, pluck much of this fruit, and eat much of this fruit; let me tell you, there is more fruit grows upon one bough than you can pluck all your daies, and make no ſpare; there is more fruit grows upon one bough than you can pluck throughout all Eternity; Oh that you would every day be plucking a little; continually plucking and eating ſome of the fruit that grows upon this Tree of Life, it's but a taſte that you can have, and therefore you had need be often, and alwaies taſting of that fruit which is in him.
Beſides, you can have but a taſte of this ſweetneſs, yet this taſte is exceeding comfortable, reviving and ſtrengthening; I ſay that very taſte it's exceeding comfortable and reviving, there is no fruit ſo full of ſpirit as this fruit that grows upon the Lord Jeſus; and it's full of ſtrength, it will ſtrengthen your ſouls abundantly; you may know it's very nouriſhing by the ſweetneſs of it: Phyſicians ſay, That which taſtes well, it nouriſhes well, and if ſo, I am ſure this fruit is nouriſhing fruit, for it hath the ſweeteſt taſte, it hath the moſt delightful taſte. O the ſudden ſtrength that the taſte of this fruit hath conveyed unto poor weak and weary ſouls, to ſuch as have been ſpent almoſt in their combates, and ready to faint and give up the Ghoſt, their ſpirits have been ready to fail within them, and the Lord hath given but one taſte of this fruit, ſome fruit or other, the fruit of his death, or the fruit of his Reſurrection, Aſcenſion or Mediation, and it hath given new ſtrength, and new Life to the poor ſoul, and it hath made it ſtand up and leap for joy: it crept upon the earth before, and now it mounts up like the Eagle. Oh this excellent fruit that is in Chriſt, it's worth the plucking, and it's worth the eating.
Beſides, you may well pluck much of this fruit (you that have intereſt in Chriſt) you have all the advantage that can be; you have the ſhadow over you whilſt you pluck it, and whilſt you eat it, you need not labour much, and toil much, for the Lord (with this Tree) will be a ſhadow to you, you may pluck with delight, and eat with delight under his ſhadow, he will keep off his fathers diſpleaſure, you may eat and pluck, and eat with delight, and need not fear ſurfeit, all the fruit is fully ripe, here Chriſt hath bidden you eat without fear. It's the ſin of ſome, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, that they eat without fear: but here's the commendation of this fruit, you may eat without fear. Men may eat too much of the fruit of this world, and get a ſurfeit, it may coſt many a Life and Soul, but here Gods people may ſtill pluck and eat, and eat and pluck, and eat abundantly.
3. Ʋſe. Thirdly, This Doctrine calls the Saints to thankfulneſs: Oh bleſs the Lord that he hath made ſuch proviſion for you, that he hath provided ſuch a Tree as this, that you may eat here, and eat in heaven, and for ever feed upon it, and be comforted, and ſatisfied; What do you owe to the Lord, you that are the people of the Lord? What do you owe to the Lord for his mercy? I ſay, what ſhall you render unto the Lord for all his loving kindneſs, when you pluck, and when you eat; look upward, I ſay eat and look upward. Do not eat as the Swine eat under the Tree and never look up from whence it comes; it's a ſin to receive any mercy, ſo to take them as not to look up; but when you eat of the fruit of this Tree, Oh lift up your hearts and look up unto Chriſt and be thankful; do but conſider what poor creatures you are, what need you have of this fruit, you had ſtarved, your ſouls had ſtarved and famiſhed for ever, if Chriſt had not been a fruitful Tree, all the creatures could not have given you fruit for your ſouls to feed on. I tell you the fruit that is upon the creature, is vanity, it's periſhing, they could not have nouriſhed you up to eternal life; Oh you had famiſhed, you had fainted, you had periſhed; and when you were in this fainting periſhing condition, he ſprang up as a Tree in the Wilderneſs, as a Tree in the Foreſt; he ſprang up in your fainting and wildred conditions, he ſprang up and became a fruitful Tree unto your nouriſhment. And do you but conſider what unfruitful Trees you were to Chriſt, when Chriſt became a fruitful Tree unto you; Oh the curſed fruit that you brought forth to him, you brought forth nothing but ſin and death, there's all the fruit that you brought to him, you brought forth ſin to him, and brought forth death to your ſelves▪ Oh that ever the Lord Chriſt ſhould be a Tree of Life unto you, you that were Trees of death unto your ſelves, and Trees of Death unto him: your ſins put him to death: That ever he ſhould be a Tree of Life unto you, and be a Tree to bring forth ſuch fruit, ſuch peace, ſuch pardon, ſuch joy, ſuch ſtrength, oh the infinite love of Chriſt to you! Why certainly Chriſt deſerves a great rent for his fruit; it's ſaid in Cant. 8. 11, 12. That Solomon had a Vineyard, and he let it out for a thouſand pieces of Silver; if Solomon had ſo much for his fruit, what deſerves Chriſt for his fruit? Oh the thouſand pieces of Silver, the thouſand Hoſannahs, the thouſand Halleluja's, and thouſand praiſes that are due to Chriſt for his fruit!
Well, I beſeech you, give Chriſt of his own fruit, I ſay give him of his own fruit: he requires nothing from you, but what you may pluck from his own Tree; give him his own fruit: as it's ſaid of Cain, as wicked as he was, when the Lord bleſſed the ground, he brought of the fruit of the ground and preſented it as an offering unto the Lord; and now if Cain brought the fruit of the ground, ſhould not you bring the fruit of the Tree? The Lord hath given you all the fruit of the Tree to eat of; Oh bring of the fruit of the Tree as a Sacrifice that the Lord hath given you ſo freely to eat of; know that all your mercies come from this Tree, and therefore look that all your mercies, liberties and comforts grow upon this Tree: Oh then acknowledge Chriſt in all, and ſay with David, O Lord all things come of thee, and of thine own have I given thee: So go and return all theſe mercies to Chriſt; if thou haſt any thing that is good, ſay, Lord this grew upon thy Tree, and I am beholding to Chriſt for it: if thou haſt any grace, any ſtrength, any ability, any opportunity to do for God, to ſerve thy Generation, ſay, Bleſſed be Chriſt for it, it's none of my fruit, but it's Chriſts fruit, this ſtrength and that grace, it grew upon that Tree, I bleſs the Lord for it; Oh be taken up with admiration, with holy admiration; there is a world of precious fruit that grows upon Chriſt: you have heard but a little of it, oh be taken up with admiration, continually be taken up with thankſgiving and acknowledgement, give all back again to Chriſt, and by that little, that little ſight of the goodneſs, and the little taſte of the ſweetneſs that the Lord now gives you of the Tree of life, riſe higher, do not reſt here, but be riſing higher and higher, and ſay, Oh Lord if the fruit be ſo ſweet, what's the Tree it ſelf? How excellent and glorious is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt the Tree of life, from whence ſuch precious fruit doth grow? Reſt not upon any thing but Chriſt, and be ſtill aſcending higher and higher, and ſay, Lord if this fruit, the fruit that I now taſte be ſo ſweet, what is the fruit that I ſhall taſte of in heaven! If I taſte of the fruit of the loweſt boughs, and they be ſo ſweet, what is the fruit that grows upon the top branches, which is reſerved for the Saints to pluck, and to eat of when they ſhall come unto heaven? And thus I have given you in part to ſee the meaning of theſe words, and how uſefully they may be enlarged in your own Meditation, and remember the Text, it's worthy you ſhould ſpend many thoughts upon it: As the Apple-tree among the Trees of the Wood, ſo is my beloved among the ſons; I ſat down under his ſhadow with great delight, and his fruit was ſweet to my taſte▪