Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 8 · Part 17
Saints compared to Cedars.
Pſal. 92.12. He ſhall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon; the Trees of the Lord are full of Sap.
Pſal. 104.16. The Cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted, &c.
Hoſ. 14.5. — And caſt forth his Root as Lebanon.
GOd's People, their Growth and Rooting, are in theſe Scriptures compared to the Cedar-Tree, the Cedar in Lebanon, in Greek Libanos, which was a Mountain in the North Part of the Land of Canaan, poſſeſſed of old Time by the Hivites, Judg. 3.3. afterwards by the Iſraelites; on it grew many ſtately Cedars, &c.
In what reſpect the Saints may be compared to the Cedars, will appear by the following Parallels.
| Simile. | Parallel. |
| THe Cedar is a very noble and ſtately Tree, it grows very high;2 King. 19.23. Ezek. 17.22. hence they are called tall Cedars; alſo its Branches are called Branches of the high Cedar. It mounts high towards Heaven. Pliny tells of one Cedar that grew in Cyprus, Plin. lib. 16. p. 490. which was one hundred and thirty Foot high, and three Fathom thick. | THe Godly are a renowned People. Tho they ſeem in the Eyes of the World but meer Shrubs, yet they are (as it was ſaid of Saul) higher by the Head and Shoulders than all others who dwell upon the Earth. They grow high in Grace, and ſpiritual Experiences. They are ſaid to dwell on high,Iſa. 33.10. they dwell in God, in Communion with Him; they ſoar aloft, and mount towards Heaven.Iſa. 40. ult. Col. 3.1, 2. Their Affections are ſet upon Things above. They may in this Sence be ſaid to grow like the Cedar; they overtop the Wicked in Renown and Dignity,Prov. 12.26. The Righteous are more excellent than their Neighbours. |
| II. The Cedar is a Tree that takes deep Root; its Roots ſpread this way, and that way, and go far into the Ground. Naturaliſts ſay, that as Trees grow high, ſo proportionably they take Root downward, becauſe otherwiſe they would be top-heavy, and overturn; a Blaſt of Wind taking advantage of their Talneſs, being weak at Root, would ſoon blow them down; therefore proportionable to their ſpreading above, there muſt be a rooting in the Ground. | II. The Godly are ſaid to take Root downward; they are well-rooted; they caſt forth their Roots as the Cedars in Lebanon. Saints are well rooted in Chriſt, rooted in the Covenant,2 Sam. 23.5. which is firm, ordered in all things, and ſure; well rooted in Grace, in Faith, Love, and Humility. And indeed thoſe Saints that grow high in Knowledg, who in Gifts and Parts overtop their Brethren, had need to grow downwards in Humility, proportionable to their Growth upwards, or elſe a ſtrong Blaſt of Temptation may ſoon puff them up with Pride and Self-conceitedneſs, and ſo thereby quite blow them down. In Adam we had no ſure Rooting, but in Chriſt, by partaking of his Fulneſs, our ſtanding is firm. |
| III. The Cedar is a very ſtrong Tree. Naturaliſts alſo tell us, that it is not ſubject to Putrefaction, as many other Trees are. | III.Eph. 6.10, 11. The Saints are ſtrong in the Lord. 'Tis Sin that cauſeth Men to be ſpiritually weak, unſtable as Water, as Jacob ſpake of his Son Reuben; but the Godly are delivered from the Guilt and Dominion of it, and thereby become ſtrong in the inward Man, both to do for God, and to ſuffer for his ſake: they go from Strength to Strength in Zion. David was too ſtrong for Goliah, and overcame him, he coming againſt him in the Name of the Lord. Alſo they are not ſo eaſily corrupted by the Pollution of the Sins of the Times, and evil Example of the Wicked, as others are; they having a glorious Principle of Life in them, that preſerves them from Soul-Putrefaction. He that is born of God, cannot commit Sin. 1 John 3. |
| IV. The Cedar is a very profitable Tree, 'tis excellent to build an Houſe withal;1 Kings 6.15, 16. Solomon therefore made uſe of it in building the Temple, which we have ſhewed was a Type of the Goſpel-Church. | IV. The Saints are fit Trees to build God's ſpiritual Houſe. The Beams of the Church are ſaid to be of Cedar,Cant. 1.17 which notes the Excellency and Duration of her principal Members. |
| V. The Cedar is a Tree full of Sap, it alſo bears a ſort of Fruit: And it ſhall bring forth Boughs, Ezek. 17.23. and bear Fruit, and become a goodly Cedar, and under it ſhall dwell all Fowls of every Wing. The Shadow of this Tree, it appears, is very refreſhing. | V. The Trees of the Lord are ſaid to be full of Sap, the Cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted, Chriſt is their precious Root, who ſupplies them with abundance of Grace and inward Vertue: Of his Fulneſs all we receive, Joh. 1.14, 16. and Grace for Grace. And by this means alſo they are made very fruitful, abounding in Holineſs, and good Works. And as they are fruitful to God, ſo likewiſe they are profitable to Men. How happy is that People or Nation, that ſit under the Shadow or Protection of a righteous Government, when Righteouſneſs and Judgment ſhall be adminiſtred by the Saints! All will ſeek for Shelter under them. Which is promiſed, and ſhall certainly be accompliſhed in the latter Days. |
Inferences.
THis may put us upon the Search. If the Saints are like goodly Cedars, excellent above others, well rooted, ſtrong, durable, and uſeful to God and Men, we may hereby try our ſelves: Do we excell? do we grow up high Heaven-ward? do we grow in Humility? Are our Hearts loweſt, when our Eſtates are higheſt? When we are moſt honoured in the Eyes of Men, are we moſt humble in the Sight of God.
2. It may alſo afford Comfort to the Godly: What Decays ſoever they ſeem now to be under, yet they ſhall return again, grow, and ſend forth their Roots, as the Cedars in Lebanon.Hoſ. 14.6.
3. Remember, that that Tree, which takes the deepeſt Root, ſpreads its Branches furtheſt out, and brings forth moſt Fruit.
4. Let it alſo be remembred, that the more the Saints grow like the Cedar, and put forth their Roots as Lebanon, the more they manifeſt and clearly ſhew their being rooted in Chriſt, whoſe Countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the Cedars.Cant. 5.
5. How wonderfully are they miſtaken, that think to tear up by the Roots, or throw down God's tall and ſtrong Cedars! for notwithſtanding the many terrible Blaſts, and violent Winds, that hath moſt fiercely blown upon them; yet they have ſtood, do and will ſtand. The Higheſt himſelf ſhall eſtabliſh her.