Christ Under the Similitude of an Apple-Tree

    CHRIST UNDER THE SIMILITUDE OF AN APPLE-TREE

    Song 2:3, "As the Apple-tree amongst the trees of the wood, so is my beloved amongst the sons; I sat 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 lily 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 saith, there were many about the city of Rome, which were set at a yearly rent of two thousand sesterces; yielding them more profit and revenue by the year than a pretty good farm.

    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, and of the great plenty of fulness that dwelleth in him, Joh 1:14,16.

    SIMILE

    II. The Apple-tree yields diversity of fruit. It hath (saith Mr. Ainsworth) more variety of fruits than any other tree that grows; it is not easy to reckon up the various sorts of Apples.

    PARALLEL

    II. Jesus Christ excelleth in variety of precious graces. What good thing is it that any true believer wants, or can want of any sort, but it is to be had in Jesus Christ, whether grace or gifts, things for the soul, or things for the body, whether common or special mercies? "Of his fulness all we have received, grace for grace," Joh 1:16.

    SIMILE

    III. The Apple-tree yields sweet and pleasant fruit.

    PARALLEL

    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.

    SIMILE

    IV. The Apple-tree doth wonderfully excel the wild and barren trees of the desert, which bear no fruit, or else that which is sour and unwholesome.

    PARALLEL

    IV. Jesus Christ infinitely excelleth and surpasseth all objects and things whatsoever, "He is the chiefest among ten thousand," Song 2:10, yea the chiefest in the whole world, none like to him in heaven or earth.

    SIMILE

    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.

    PARALLEL

    V. Jesus Christ is very beautiful; whether you consider him in his incarnation or exaltation, he is most amiable and lovely, "We beheld his glory, as the glory of the only-begotten Son of God," &c., Joh 1:14.

    SIMILE

    VI. The Apple-tree, in its leaves, buds, blossoms, fruits, &c., hath a very sweet and comfortable smell: the spouse alludes to it when she cries to her beloved to comfort her with apples, Song 2:5.

    PARALLEL

    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, "is sweeter than honey, or the honey-comb," Ps 19:10, "Words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in pictures of silver," Pr 15:11. 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.

    SIMILE

    VII. The Apple-tree, naturalists observe, is a very tender Tree; Pliny saith, lib. xvii. cap. 546, it is the tenderest of all trees.

    PARALLEL

    VII. Christ is of a soft and tender heart, full of bowels of compassion to poor sinners; weeping over perishing ones, and thus it was foretold of him by the prophet; "He shall grow up as a tender plant, and as a root, out of the dry ground," Isa 53:2.

    SIMILE

    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.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. Jesus Christ is a shadow many ways to his Church; "I sat down under his shadow with great delight," Song 2:5. 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, Ps 17:8; Isa 4:6; 25:4; 32:2; Ps 57:1, and Ps 91:1. See Rock, Habitation, Vine, &c.

    SIMILE

    IX. It is a rare sight to see an Apple-tree grow in a wood.

    PARALLEL

    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.

    SIMILE

    X. The leaves and fruit of the Apple-tree are medicinal.

    PARALLEL

    X. The leaves of this Tree of life, are for the healing of the nations, Re 22:1.

    SIMILE

    XI. An Apple-tree in the midst of the trees of the wood affords ofttimes much refreshment to weary travellers.

    PARALLEL

    XI. So when a poor, weary soul, or spiritual pilgrim, 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, decay, and die.

    DISPARITY

    I. The Lord Jesus Christ never decays, nor ceaseth from yielding fruit.

    METAPHOR

    II. The fruit of the Apple-tree will soon rot and come to nothing.

    DISPARITY

    II. But the fruit of the Lord Jesus Christ is incorruptible, and will never fade nor decay, it endureth for ever.

    METAPHOR

    III. The Fruit of the Apple-tree hath some pernicious qualities in it, it is only external, and it perisheth in the using.

    DISPARITY

    III. But Christ's fruit hath no bad nor hurtful quality; it is 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 satisfying. The spouse by eating thereof had abundance of rest, peace, content, and satisfaction.

    METAPHOR

    IV. An Apple-Tree hath no fruit, leaves, nor refreshing Shadow on it, for one great part of the year.

    DISPARITY

    IV. There is fruit always to be found on Christ, and a refreshing shadow; this tree is ever green and knows no winter, Heb 13:1,

    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 that 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 paled, fenced, nor walled in, as such which are planted in a garden or orchard, 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, 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, Joh 7:37.

    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. It is exceeding sweet and pleasant to the taste, it will sweeten all your bitters.

    3. It is safe fruit, it will do you good abundantly, and no hurt, nothing is of a surfeiting nature in it.

    4. It is 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 laden, the plenty is great in this; it is like the Tree spoken of by Daniel, (Da 4:2).

    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 or decay.

    8. It is the Tree of life. "Eat of this fruit, and thou shalt not die, but live for ever: such are passed from death unto life, and shall not come into condemnation," Joh 5:24.

    9. It is fruit that those that eat thereof, shall be made wise by it.

    10. It yields a sweet smell, comforting under faintness.

    11. It is medicinal; the fruit of this Tree will purge out the evil venom 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, wearied souls, that willingly sit down under this Tree.

    (1.) It shelters from the scorching heat of God's wrath due for sin.

    (2.) It shelters, or is a covert from the hurt and heat of persecutors or rage of such.

    (3.) It is a delightful shadow, refreshing to the weary soul, and in a troublesome land a sweet resting-place.

    (4.) It is 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 not to angels, to saints, nor to her own works. 1. "I sat down with delight." Now this delight is neither carnal nor sinful, but it is spiritual. 2. It is great delight which the church has, even ravishing joy. 3. It is 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.) It is a complete 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, though 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!