A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 2 · Subpart 34
Christ under the Similitude of an Apple-Tree.
Cant. 2.3.
As the Apple-Tree amongst the Trees of the Wood, so is my beloved amongst the Sons; I sate down under his Shadow with great Delight, and his Fruit was sweet unto my Taste.
AS Christ sets forth the Praise of his Church in the second Verse, She excelling all the Daughters, as the Lilly did Thorns; so the Church sets forth Christ's Glory and Praise in this; He excelling all the Sons, as far as the Apple-Tree excels all the Trees of the Wood.
Simile.
I. THe Apple-Tree is very profitable to the Owner, as it is observed by some; it far excels other Trees; hence Pliny s…ith, there were many about the City of Rome, which were set at a yearly Rent of two thousand Sesterties; yielding them more Profit and Revenue by the year than a pretty good Farm.
II. The Apple-Tree yields diversity of Fruit. It hath (saith Mr. Ainsworth) more variety of Fruits than any other Tree that grows; 'tis not easie to reckon up the various sorts of Apples.
III. The Apple-Tree yields sweet and pleasant Fruit.
IV. The Apple-Tree doth wonderfully excel the wild and barren Trees of the Desert, which bear no Fruit, or else that which is sowr and unwholsome.
V. The Apple-Tree, whether you take it in the Blossom, or when its Fruit is fully ripe, is a very beautiful Tree, and to look upon very lovely and amiable.
VI. The Apple-Tree in its Leaves, Buds, Blossomes, Fruits, &c. hath very sweet and comfortable Smells:Cant. 1.5. The Spouse alludes to it when she crys to her Beloved to comfort her with Apples.
VII. The Apple-Tree, Naturalists observe, is a very tender Tree; Pliny saith,Pliny, lib. 17. c. 546. 'tis the tenderest of all Trees.
VIII. An Apple-Tree is a very shadowy Tree; its Shadow refresheth, and by common Experience is found comfortable to sit under in the heat of the Day, &c.
IX. 'Tis a rare sight to see an Apple-Tree grow in a Wood.
X. The Leaves and Fruit of the Apple-Tree are Medicinal.
XI. An Apple-Tree in the midst of the Trees of the Wood affords oftimes much Refreshment to weary Travellers.
Parallel.
I. THe Lord Jesus Christ yields his Father more Profit, and brings more Glory to him than all the Angels in Heaven, or Saints on Earth▪ do or ever did, and not only brings Glory to God, but also infinite Profit to all his People, who are Partakers of his Grace,Joh. 1.… ▪ …6. and of the great plenty of Fulness that dwelleth in him.
II. Jesus Christ excelleth in variety of precious Graces. What good thing is it that any true Believers wants, or can want of any sort, but 'tis to be had in Jesus Christ, whether Grace or Gifts, things for the Soul, or things for the Body, whether common or special Mercies?Joh. 1.16. Of his Fulness all we have received, and Grace for Grace.
III. Jesus Christ the Divine Apple-Tree bears most sweet and pleasant Fruit; his Fruit was sweet (saith the Spouse) to my Taste. See the Metaphor of the Vine.
IV. Jesus Christ infinitly excelleth and surpasseth all Objects and Things whatsoever, He is the chiefest amongst ten thousand, Cant. 2.3.yea, the chiefest in the whole World, none like to him in Heaven or Earth.
V. Jesus Christ is very beautiful; whether you consider him in his Incarnation, or Exaltation, he is most amiable and lovely,Joh. 1.14. We beheld his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten Son of God, &c.
VI. How transcendently sweet is the Scent and Odour of our Blessed Saviour! How sweet are the Comforts of his Spirit, his Word and heavenly Doctrine! Thy Word, saith David, Psal. 1.19.is sweeter than Hony or the Hony-Comb; Words fitly spoken are like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver: Prov. 25.11.God's Word is not only sweet, but rare and valuable; Christ is wholly delectable, his Conception, Birth, Life, Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascension and Intercession smell exceeding sweet. See Vine.
VII. Christ is of a soft and tender Heart, full of Bowels, of Compassion to poor Sinners; weeping over perishing ones, and thus 'twas foretold of him by the Prophet; He shall grow up as a tender Plant, Isa. 53.2.and as a Root, out of the dry Ground.
VIII. Jesus Christ is a Shadow many ways to his Church;Cant. 2.5. I sat down under his Shadow with great Delight;Psal. 17.8. Isa 4.6. Isa. 25.4. Isa. 32.2. Psal. 57.1… Psal. 91.1. He is a Cover from the scorching heat of the Wrath of God, a Shadow for need; and he is a Shadow for Delight, Refreshing and Pleasantness. Shadow is often used in Scripture to denote Protection and Mercy. See Rock, Habitation, Vine, &c.
IX. It was a rare sight to see Jesus Christ in the days of his Flesh, dwelling in the Wood of this World amongst Men.
X. The Leaves of this Tree of Life, are for the healing of the Nations.Rev. 22.1.
XI. So when a poor, weary Soul, or spiritual Pilgrime meets with this Divine Apple-Tree, and partakes of the Fruit thereof, he is sweetly refreshed and supported thereby.
Metaphor.
I. AN Apple-Tree is subject to decay; in time it doth wither and dye.
II. The Fruit of the Apple-Tree will soon rot and come to nothing.
III. The Fruit of the Apple-Tree hath some pernicious Qualities in it, it's only external and it perisheth in the using.
IV. An Apple-Tree hath no Fruit, Leaves, nor refreshing Shadow on it, for one great part of the Year.
Disparity.
I. THe Lord Jesus Christ never decays, nor ceaseth from yielding Fruit.
II. But the Fruit of the Lord Jesus Christ is incorruptible, and will never fade nor decay, it endureth for ever.
III. But Christ's Fruit hath no bad nor hurtful Quality; 'tis sweet, but surfeits not, breeds no Worms; but on the contrary, purges the Soul from all inward Filth, and makes it healthful; this Fruit is satsifying. The Spouse by eating herereof had abundance of Rest, Peace, Content and Satisfaction.
IV. There is Fruit always to be found on Christ, and a refreshing Shadow; this Tree is ever green and knows no Winter.Heb. 13.8.
Application.
I. IS Christ compared to an Apple-Tree, among the Trees of the Wood: Then from hence we may infer, not only the Excellency of the Lord Jesus above others, but Sinners▪ Strangers, and whoever will, may come to him and eat of his Fruit, and sit down under his Shadow; He, the Tree of Life, is not pal'd, fenc'd, nor wall'd in, as such which are planted in a Garden or Orchard,Joh. 55.1. Rev. 2.2. nor is there an Angel or flaming Sword, to keep the way of this Tree of Life; nor is the Fruit of this Tree forbidden. An Apple-Tree in a Wood is common and free to all,Joh. 7.37. poor Beggars and Strangers may have free Access thither, and who will forbid them? Whoever will, may come and partake of Christ's Fruit freely.
Motive.II. Be exhorted then (Sinner) to hasten to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Tree of Life.
1. Consider the Barrenness and Unfruitfulness of all other Trees, or Objects of the World, that grow in the wide Wilderness where you live; what is all the Fruit of earthly Pleasure, Profits and Honours of this Life, to the Fruit of Jesus Christ? To Pardon, Peace of Conscience, Communion with God, Eternal Life? &c. Let us more particularly consider the nature of Christ's Fruit:
2. 'Tis exceeding sweet and pleasant to the Taste, 'twill sweeten all your Bitters.
3. 'Tis safe Fruit, it will do you good abundantly, and no hurt, nothing is of a surfeiting Nature in it.
4. 'Tis satisfying Fruit, no other Fruit can satisfy; not only good for Food, but choice and satisfying Food!
5. There is store of Fruit on this Tree, see how the Tree hangs! the Boughs thereof are wonderfully loaden, the Plenty is great in this; 'tis like the Tree spoken of by Daniel.Dan. 4.12.
6. Its Fruit is lovely and delightful to the Eye; do not the Looks of these Apples invite you?
7. Its Fruit is durable, cannot corrupt nor decay.
8. 'Tis the Tree of Life. Eat of this Fruit, and thou shalt not dye, but live for ever: Such are past from Death to Life, and shall not come into Condemnation; Joh. 5.2….
9. 'Tis Fruit that those that eat thereof, shall be made wise by it.
10. It yields a sweet Smell, comforting under Faintness.
11. It is medicinable, the Fruit of this Tree will purge out the evil Venome and horrid Poison, that came into our Natures by old Eve's eating of the forbidden Fruit, contrary to the Command of God.
12. Its Shadow is most excellent for refreshing, it gives great Consolation; yea, the greatest Consolation to poor fainting, wear…ed Souls, that willingly sit down under this Tree.
1. He shelters from the scorching heat of God's Wrath due for Sin.
2. He shelters, or is a Covert from the hurt and heat of Persecutors or Rage of such.
3. 'Tis a delightful Shadow, Refreshing to the weary Soul, and in a troublsome Land a sweet Resting-place.
4. 'Tis a Shadow that yields full Content and Satisfaction,— I sat down; in the Text, signifies, her acquiescing there, or making her Abode under the same; she desires no better nor no other Happiness, seeks no… to Angels, to Saints, nor to her own Works. 1. I sat down with Delight; now this Delight is neither carnal nor sinful, but 'tis spiritual. 2. 'Tis great Delight which the Church has, even ravishing Joy. 3. 'Tis abiding and lasting Delight, increasing it will be more and more, as it is said of the Light of the Righteous, it shines more and more to the perfect Day. 4. This Delight is an Earnest of that Delight which the Soul shall have in Heaven.
5. 'Tis a compleat and perfect Shadow, it answers all Needs, a Shadow for the Head, Heart, and every part, and at all times.
From hence we infer,
1. What great cause have we to admire the Goodness of God; tho he denied us in Adam to eat of that Tree of Life after the Fall, yet hath he provided us another Tree of Life to make us immortal!
2. What Fools are all those, who refuse to eat, and live for ever!
3. Let us also learn from hence, when we are faint and weary, to seek to none but Christ, the Tree of Life, for Refreshment.
4. How happy are Believers, who sit under the Shadow of Christ's Protection, his Ordinances and Divine Doctrine!