Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 7 · Part 15
The Church compared to a Garden.
Cant. 4.12. A Garden encloſed is my Sister, my Spouſe, &c.
Verſe 16. Awake, O North Wind; and come thou South Wind, and blow upon my Garden, &c.
Cant. 5.1. I am come into my Garden, my Siſter, my Spouſe.
THe Church of Chriſt is or may fitly be compared to a Garden.
| Metaphor. | Parallel. |
| A Garden is a Piece taken out of common or waſte Ground, appropriated to more ſpecial Uſe than the reſt. | THe Church of God (and every Believer, or Member thereof) is taken out of the common Maſs of Mankind, to be a choſen and ſelect People to Chriſt. |
| II. The Ground of a Garden before it is planted, is as barren, and as unprofitable, as the reſt out of which it was taken. | II. The People of God, and Soul of every Believer, naturally were as barren, blind, ſinful, Enemis to God, and every way as vile and rebellious, as any other Sinners in the World.Eph. 2.2, 3 And were by Nature the Children of Wrath, as well as others. Who hath made thee to differ from another? &c. |
| III. In a Garden no choice or rare thing cometh up naturally of it ſelf, until it is ſown or planted therein. | III. So no ſpiritual good Thing can grow or ſpring up in our Hearts, until the Seed of Grace is ſown in us, or a Divine Principle of Life be implanted. |
| IV. A Garden, before it be ſown or planted, muſt be digged, purged, and well prepared. | IV. So muſt our Hearts, like fallow Ground, be digged up with powerful Convictions of the Word and Spirit, that ſo Grace may the better take Root in us. Hence 'tis ſaid of God's Vineyard, when he was reſolved to bring Judgment upon it, It ſhall not be pruned, nor digged. Iſa. 5.6. Jer. 4.3. Hence God calleth upon them to plow up their fallow Ground, and ſow not among Thorns. |
| V. A choice Garden is walled or well fenced about, for its Security from Danger and Spoil. | V. So the Church of God, or every Chriſtian, is hedged or walled in.Job i. 10. Haſt thou not made a Hedg about him, and about all he hath, on every ſide? &c. God is ſaid to be a Wall of Fire round about Jeruſalem. [See Vineyard. Zech. 2.5.] |
| VI. A choice Garden hath in it many Plants, Herbs, and Flowers, of great Worth and Value, both for Pleaſure and Profit. | VI. So in the Church are many choice, pleaſant, and profitable Plants, of God's own right-hand planting:Jer. 5.8. 'Tis ſown with holy right Seed, ye Men of Iſrael are his pleaſant Plants. All choice and ſaving Graces, and Gifts of the Spirit, are found in God's Garden. |
| VII. A Garden muſt have much Coſt beſtowed upon it, and much Pains taken with it, or it will ſoon decay. | VII. So muſt the Church of God have much Pains beſtowed upon it,Prov. 4.23 it muſt be kept diligently; As God ſpares for no Coſt and Pains, ſo ſhould his Servants be induſtrious, or elſe the Church will ſoon decay. |
| VIII. A Garden hath ſome Weeds in it, which muſt (as they appear) be pluck'd up, or they will ſpoil and hinder the Growth of the precious Flowers and Herbs that grow therein. | VIII. The Church is not without ſome corrupt Members in it, which injure it, like as Thorns and Nettles do a Garden, which as they are diſcovered, are pluck'd up, and caſt out. And alſo in the Hearts of the beſt Chriſtians, Weeds are apt to ſpring up, from that Root of Bitterneſs that naturally is within them, whereby many are troubled and defiled, which if not pulled up, will hinder their Growth in Grace. |
| IX. A choice and fruitful Garden is valued highly by the Owner thereof; he eſteems it above an hundred times ſo much fruitleſs Land. One Acre made into a curious Garden, is prized above many Acres of common barren Ground. | IX. The Church of God (tho it be as it were but a little Spot, a ſmall Remnant, in compariſon of the World) is highly prized by Jeſus Chriſt; he eſteems of his own People above all the People of the Earth.1 Pet. 2 9. Hence he calleth them his Inheritance, his Jewels, his peculiar Ones: I gave Egypt for thy Ranſom, Iſa. 43.3, 4 Aethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou waſt precious in my Sight, thou haſt been honourable, and I have loved thee: Therefore will I give Men for thee, and People for thy Life. Wicked Men are like barren Mountains; they are the King's Waſte, ſuch whom he ſets but little by. |
| X. A rare and fruitful Garden will afford Fruit to plant others; many Gardens upon this account have (as it were) ſprung out of one. | X. So from the Church of God that was firſt planted in Judea, many bleſſed Churches proceeded in a little time. By means of the Fruitfulneſs of that one ſpiritual Garden, ſeven Gardens more were planted in Aſia, viz. Epheſus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Rev. 1.11. Philadelphia, and Laodicea, beſides many others which we read of, &c. |
| XI. A Garden muſt be often watered, or elſe it will ſoon fade, and the Fruit thereof wither away, and the choice Flowers will hang down their Heads. | XI. God's Garden muſt be often watered by the Divine Rain, or Dew of Heaven, viz. the Word and Spirit of God: My Doctrine ſhall drop as the Rain. Deut. 32.1, 2. And without theſe Waterings from above, the Fruit of the Church will ſoon fail; all our Growth and Greenneſs is continued by the means of the Word and Ordinances. |
| XII. A Garden muſt have the Door carefully kept and look'd after, leſt Thieves and other Spoilers ſhould get in, and ruine it. | XII. So the Door of the Church muſt be carefully kept by ſuch as have the Charge of it, (viz. the Miniſters or Paſtors thereof) or the Danger is great; it behoveth them to take care who they let in. Chriſt's Garden ſhould be as a Garden encloſed, and Fountain ſealed, to all Unbelievers. But yet let them be never ſo careful, ſome Dec…ivers or Hypocrites will, as in former Times, creep in; 'twas ſo when the chief Gardener himſelf was upon the Earth, there was a Judas among the twelve Apoſtles. |
| XIII. The chief Owner of a Garden loves to take his Walks in it, to ſee how the Plants and precious Fruits do flouriſh. | XIII. So the Lord Jeſus, who is the Owner and only Proprietor of his Church, loves to take his Walks in it:Cant. 5.1. I am come into my Garden, my Siſter, my Spouſe. He is ſaid to walk in the midſt of the ſeven Golden Candleſticks. Let us get up early to the Vineyards, Cant. 7.1… let us ſee whether the Vine flouriſh, whether the tender Grapes appear, and the Pomegranates bud forth; there will I give thee my Loves. |
| XIV. In a Garden (as it is found by Experience) Worms do much hurt, eſpecially when they get to the Root of Plants or Flowers. They may ſeem very green and flouriſhing, when there are ſome devouring Worms gnawing at the Roots, by which means in a little time they die, are pulled up, and caſt away. | XIV. So in the Church, Sin, which may be compared to a Worm, or hurtful Vermine, doth exceeding much Detriment. A Chriſtian ſeemeth very green, amiable, and fair to the Eye, like ſome Plants full of Leaves; but there is ſome curſed Worm, ſome ſecret Luſt, that mars his Root, and in time he withers, and dies, and is pluck'd up, and caſt away. This may be a Caution to all to take heed. |
| XV. In a Garden, whatſoever choice Flower the Owner of it ſeeeth is fully ripe, if he hath a mind to it, he crops it off, and takes it to himſelf. | XV. So in the Church, thoſe Flowers or precious Saints Jeſus Chriſt ſeeth are fully ripe for Heaven, he crops off by Death, and taketh them to himſelf. A godly Man dies when he is ready and ripe for Death. When a holy Man dies, ſaith Mr. Caryl, Caryl. it is Harveſt-time with him. Tho in a natural Capacity, he may be cut down whilſt he is green, or cropp'd in the Bud or Bloſſom; yet in his ſpiritual Capacity he never dies before he is ripe; God ripens his ſpeedily, when he intends to take them out of the World ſpeedily. |
| XVI. A Garden flouriſheth beſt, that hath the ſweet, warm, and ſplendent Rays of the Sun ſhining upon it. How ſweet do the Flowers and precious Herbs ſmell, when the Rain diſtills, the South Wind blows, and the Sun ſweetly breaks forth upon it! | XVI. So the Church never thrives, nor flouriſheth, but when the Sun of Righteouſneſs ſhineth in a gracious manner upon it; when the Rain or ſpiritual Dew deſcends, the South Wind of the Spirit bloweth, and the Sun of Righteouſneſs ſweetly ſhineth, what a fragrant Scent doth the Church of God, and gracious Ones then ſend forth! Hence Chriſt calleth for the South Wind to blow upon his Garden, Cant. 4.1… that the Spices thereof may flow forth. |
| XVII. A Garden is attended with ſeveral Seaſons, Winter as well as Summer. And tho in the Winter many Flowers ſeem decayed, and their Glory gone; yet a Winter's ſharp Froſts, and cold North Winds, are as neceſſary as the Summer, for the killing of the Weeds and Worms, which otherwiſe would abound. | XVII. The Church hath its Winter as well as its Spring and Summer-Seaſon; nay, and the nipping Froſts, and North Winds of Temptations and Afflictions, are as profitable to the Saints, as the Summer of Comfort, Peace, and Proſperity; for God ſeeth need of the one, as well as the other, to deſtroy thoſe Weeds of Corruption, or indwelling Sin, that is in our Hearts. If need be, 1 Pet. 1.6. ye are in Heavineſs, through manifold Temptations. |
Diſparity.
THere are divers Diſparities: Chriſt's Garden excelleth all other Gardens. They are the Plantations of Men; this is planted by Chriſt: Their Fruit is temporal and fading; this is ſpiritual and laſting: They that plant other Gardens, cannot make them grow; but Chriſt can. And many others might be minded, which I here omit.
Inferences.
THis ſhews what a vaſt Difference there is between the Church, and the World. What is a howling and barren Wilderneſs, to a choice and lovely Garden?
II. Bleſs God that this precious Garden is not ſpoiled, and its Hedg of Divine Providence not removed, nor pluck'd up.
III. Let us pray, (tho it be ſurrounded about at this day with cruel Enemies) that it may never be moved, taken, and trodden down, by Romiſh Wolves, or other ravenous Beaſts of Prey.
IV. Let the Adverſary tremble, whoſe evil Intent is fully diſcovered, how they proceed in their Deſigns againſt God's Church, Chriſt's ſpiritual Garden, ſince it is ſo prized by him, and his own proper Inheritance, he alone being the Proprietor thereof. How often doth he ſay, My Garden, my Vineyard? It appears it is his,
1. In that he bought the Ground with the Price of his precious Blood, to make a Garden of it.
2. He hath at his own Charge planted and ſown it.
3. He keeps it, and waters it, and watcheth over it Night and Day.Iſa. 27 2, 3
4. 'Tis he only that gathereth the Fruit of it. Wo therefore to them that adventure to crop, and pull up, and deſtroy any of its choice Flowers! They that touch God's People, Chriſt's Lillies, touch the Apple of his Eye.
V. Let the Saints of Chriſt alſo learn from hence to be fruitful, Chriſt hath been at great Coſt and Pains in order thereunto. And that you may be ſo,
1. See that you are Plants of his own planting, otherwiſe you will be pluck'd up.
2. See that you are well-rooted; ſuch bring forth moſt Fruit.
3. Take heed of the Worm at the Root.
4. Take heed whom ye chuſe for Garden-Dreſſers, and look to your Hedge or Wall of Church-Diſcipline. You muſt know your Bounds, the Garden of Chriſt muſt not be opened into other Men's Fields. Keep your Communion entire; remember, you are bounded by Chriſt's Laws and Inſtitutions; take heed you do not, with Ephraim, mix your ſelves with other People.