Exposition of Song of Solomon, Chapter 2 · Verse 13
Verſ. 13.
The Fig-tree putteth forth her greene Figs, and the Vines with tender Grapes give a good ſmell: ariſe my love, my faire one, and come away.
For the Fig-tree, Chriſt maketh the budding thereof a ſigne of the Summers approaching, and alſo of a fruitfull yeare following. Learne a Parable of the Fig-tree (ſaith he) when her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, yee know that ſummer is nigh, Mat. 24. 32. And Plinie doth count the Fig-tree amongſt the Trees that are of quick nature, ſo that the time of young Figs appearance, muſt argue the forwardneſſe of the Spring, ready to entertaine Summer. Now the bleſſed effects of the Spirit and grace of Chriſt upon his Church, is manifeſted by the Fig-tree; as when the Lord threatneth deſtruction by the Prophet, he ſaith, There ſhall be no Grapes on the Vine, nor Figs on the Fig-tree, &c. Jer. 8. 13. So that when the voyce of the Spirit ſhall be heard as the voyce of a Turtle Dove, then the Saints ſhall be fruitfull, as Fig-trees in the time of ſummer.
The ſecond Trees fruit followeth.
And the Vines with tender Grapes give a good ſmell.
Grapes of themſelves caſting no ſavour, it muſt neceſſarily be underſtood of that time, wherein there be ſmall Grapes budding forth, and flowers or bloſſoms falling off, which flowers give a true pleaſant odour, and therefore ſhee ſaith, The Vine with the tender grape, &c.
The young or ſmall grape, called in the Originall Smadar, a word uſed not above three times in Scripture. By this variety of fruit is ſignified the graces and fruits of the Spirit in the Saints, in the dayes of the Goſpell, and of more plentifull effuſions of the Spirit then before: when the Saints are reconciled unto God by Chriſt, the ſweet odour of their graces are like the buddings of the Fig-tree, and the Vine. The people of God are likened to Grapes and Figgs, as in Hoſ. 9. 10. I found Iſrael like Grapes in the Wilderneſſe, I ſaw your Fathers, as the firſt ripe in the Fig-tree, at her firſt time. It is noted of ſome, that the Fig-tree bears fruit three or fowre times a yeare. Now in that he ſaith they were like the firſt ripe in the Tree, it noteth the forwardneſſe of the Saints to bring forth fruit, even as the Fig-tree that haſtens to bring its firſt fruit, that it may haſten to bring forth more fruit. Now in that the Saints are likened to the Fig-tree, and to the Vine for fruitfullneſſe.
Hence Obſerve,
That the Spirit by a Goſpell miniſtration makes the Saints to abound in all fruitfullneſſe. The Apoſtle tells us of the fruits of the Spirit, in Gal. 5. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit (ſaith he) is love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſſe, goodneſſe, faith, meekneſſe, temperance, &c. The Saints abound in ſuch fruits as theſe; they are ſuch as bring forth fruit unto God, Rom. 7. 4. Now the Saints in reſpect of their fruitfullneſſe in grace, may well be aſſimilated unto the Fig-tree, and the Vine.
Firſt, the Fig-tree bears fruit very often, at leaſt Plin. Lib. 13. Cap. 7.fowre times a yeare; and Plinie ſaith of the Aegyptian Fig-tree, that it brings forth fruit by the very ſtock, not by the Branches. So are the Saints very fruitfull in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, and therefore they are called by the Prophet, The Trees of righteouſneſſe, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified, Iſa. 61. 3. that bring forth much fruit to his glory. And Chriſt ſaith unto his Diſciples, Herein is my Father glorified, in that yee bring forth much fruit, John 15.
The ſecond note, that the naturaliſt obſerveth of Idem, Lib. 13. Cap. 7.the fig-tree is, that when it is cut downe and caſt into the water, it preſently ſinketh being drie, but when it is throughly ſteeped in the water, then it will riſe againe; contrary to the nature of other trees, who in their drineſſe ſwimme, and when they are thorow wet, then they ſinke to the bottome. Thus it is with the Saints, when they are firſt caſt into the water of affliction, they begin to ſinke, as Peter did, when he walked upon the Sea with Chriſt: but when they have been long in affliction, and more exercitate, that have been as it were tried Soldiers, ſuch as have their ſenſes well exerciſed, or ſchool'd, as the Apoſtle ſaith, ſuch I ſay, never will utterly ſinke in their trouble, but they can beare reproaches and perſecutions for Chriſts ſake, and when they are weake in themſelves, then they are ſtrong in him, and more then conquerours.
Thirdly, It is further reported of the figg-tree that, Scalpendo tantum ferreis unguibus aliter non … reſcit, it will not ripen any otherwiſe, then only by Plin. lib. 13. cap. 7.ſcratching it with Iron hookes or rakes: and it being ſo ſcratcht, it will bring forth ſeven fold, ſaith Plinie. Such is our nature, that it will not bring forth any fruits unto righteouſneſſe; unleſſe it be quickned and ſtirred up by the Word and Spirit of God. Wee ſhall never be fruitfull trees in Chriſts Orchard, unleſſe we be pruned by the Father, unleſſe he purge us, and make us bring forth fruit, as Chriſt ſpeaketh, Joh. 15. So much of the fig-tree: now followeth the ſimile of the Vine.
Firſt, A Vine is good for no uſe, if it beare not fruit, for ſo ſaith the Prophet, Ezek. chap. 15. 1, 2. The Vine-tree is for his wood, leſſe regarded for building, then any Tree of the Forreſt, inſomuch as none will make a pin thereof to hang any Veſſel thereon, but rather caſt it into the fire and burne it. Wee may apply this to our ſelves; for what ſubſtantiall thing is in our nature, that may be depended upon? he that makes any naturall abilitie, as a pin to depend on, will leane on a broken reed.
Secondly, A Vine is very fruitfull, it brings forth abundance of grapes, as appeares, Pſal. 128. 3. and Ezek. 32. 12. So the Saints are made exceeding fruitfull, by the flowings out of the Spirit of Chriſt upon their hearts.
Thirdly, The Vines, and their fruit come to nothing, except they be underproped and lift up from the earth: ſo it is with the Saints, both they and their fruits come to nothing, unleſſe Chriſt underprop them by his power, ſpirit, and grace: but being underpropped by the flagons of Chriſt, and by the diſtributions of his grace, they become very fruitfull.
The Spring thus deſcribed: Firſt, figured by flowers and Birds ſinging.
Secondly, From the budding and ſprouting forth of the fig-tree and the Vine, wherein is ſet forh the gracious and pleaſant voice of Chriſt in the Goſpell, with all the effects and fruits thereof upon the Saints: Now it remaineth that wee ſpeake of the exhortation ſubjoyned.
Ariſe my love, my faire one, and come away.
This exhortation is the ſame, that wee had in the tenth verſe aforegoing, and therefore the leſſe may be ſaid of it now: only two things we may note from the iteration of this exhortation.
Firſt, It notes the backwardneſſe of our natures, and the untowardneſſe of our hearts, for yeilding unto Chriſt: and therefore the Lord doth graciouſly call his people againe and againe to come up to a more full enjoyment of himſelfe.
Secondly, It notes his exceeding great love, and rich merciemercy, that doth call us to ariſe from the evill wherein we lay captivated by ſinne, and from the winter blaſt of the Law, even from the curſe and bondage thereof, and alſo he calleth us into the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God: ſo that in all our troubles and tentations, wee may come to him, and finde reſt, where wee may ſweetly enjoy our ſelves in him: all which is repreſented to us, by the flouriſhing and joyfull time of the Spring; which Chriſt uſeth as a motive, to perſwade us to come unto him.