The Church Compared to a Vineyard

    THE CHURCH COMPARED TO A VINEYARD

    "And the Vineyard which thy right hand hath planted," Ps 80:15.

    "Now will I sing to my well-beloved, a song of my beloved, touching his Vineyard, &c. For the Vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant" Isa 5:1,7.

    A Vineyard, the place where Vines are planted, metaphorically signifieth the Church. The Church is compared to a Vineyard.

    METAPHOR

    I. The land that is made into a Vineyard, is a piece of ground taken out of a wilderness, or other common ground, designed to that special use.

    PARALLEL

    I. So the Church is taken out of the wilderness of this world, being separated from all people, to be a peculiar people to God, 1Pe 2:9. By nature saints were as barren and fruitless as sinners, Eph 2:1-2.

    METAPHOR

    II. A Vineyard is fenced or Walled in, to secure it from wild beasts, and others, who may offend or hurt it.

    PARALLEL

    II. So the Lord's Vineyard hath a wall or fence about it: saith the Lord, "I will be a wall of fire unto her round about," Isa 5:2; Ec 2:5. "What use soever a fence is to a house, garden, or vineyard, the same is God to his people.

    1. Every one of his attributes, as we have elsewhere showed you, is a fence or security to her; his power is a fence, his wisdom is a fence, his mercy is a fence, his special providence is a fence. 2. The holy angels are as a wall or fence to the Church, and to every particular saint; they were as a wall of safety to the prophet, 2Ki 6:15-16:3. There is about the Church the fence or wall of ordinances, Church-government, and discipline. The reason why God makes a wall about his people, is opened under the metaphor, God a Husband-man; Ps 34:7; also the nature and strength of it, to which we refer you.

    Quest. Perhaps some may enquire, how much ground doth this hedge or wall take in?

    Answ. 1. It taketh in all the bodies of God's people; no disease, sickness, or affliction whatsoever can come upon those that truly fear and serve the Almighty, but what he lets in. This appears in the case of Job: and by what David saith, "My life is in thy hand," &c.

    2. This wall comprehends more especially the souls of saints; no temptation, persecution, or trial, can come upon them, but what God lets in. His special eye, care, protection, and divine providence is so over them, that not a hair of their heads shall fall to the ground without his notice; that is, he hath interested himself in all the concernments of his children, yea, even in the smallest matters, 1Co 10:13; Mt 10:30; Lu 21:18.

    3. This wall takes in their houses, and all they have: "Hast thou not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side," Job 1:10. The devil could not touch any of Job's sheep, oxen, or asses, until God opened the door for him; much less his sons, daughters, body and life. "Suffer us," said the unclean spirits to Christ, "to go into the herd of swine." They could not destroy those swine, before permitted or suffered by the Almighty.

    METAPHOR

    III. A Vineyard is planted; the choice things that grow there come not up of themselves.

    PARALLEL

    III. So the Church is planted by the Lord, and every goodly plant that grows therein. Hence God the Father is called an Husbandman. "The men of Israel are called his pleasant plants," Joh 15:1; Isa 5:7.

    METAPHOR

    IV. A Vineyard is digged up, and well-manured, before it be planted; which is not done without much pains.

    PARALLEL

    IV. The Church, of God and every gracious soul, may be said to be digged, or the fallow ground of their hearts by powerful conviction broken up, and thereby prepared to receive the good seed, or to have a principle of grace planted in their hearts, Ho 10:12.

    METAPHOR

    V. A Vineyard hath many vines planted in it, and not only so, but also fig-trees, pomegranates, and other excellent fruit-trees, Lu 13:6; Song 6:11; 7:12.

    PARALLEL

    V. So in the universal Church are many particular congregations or communities of Christians, who are as so many choice Vines in God's sight; it also abounds with plants, some fruitful, and some barren, as is signified by our Saviour. "He spake also this parable: A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his Vineyard, and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none," Lu 13:6.

    METAPHOR

    VI. A Vineyard needs much pruning and watering; the stones also must be gathered out of it: hence there are Vine-dressers appointed to look after it.

    PARALLEL

    VI. So the Church of God must have much pains taken with it, or it will soon decay; there is need of pruning, and cutting off superfluous branches, and gathering out other things that offend: hence God hath appointed his faithful ministers, who are "workers together with him," 2Co 6:1, to take the care and charge of it. Hence Paul saith, "I have planted, and Apollos watered," 1Co 3:6.

    METAPHOR

    VII. Vineyards are wont to be hurt by foxes, by the wild boar, and other evil beasts; it hath many enemies.

    PARALLEL

    VII. So the Church of God is often vexed, and greatly hurt by foxes, namely by false teachers, who for their subtilty and cruelty are called foxes. By "little foxes," Song 2:15, some understand such as seem devout, and very humble, and yet preach hurtful and poisonous doctrine, yea, bring in damnable heresies, which greatly tend to the spoiling of God's vineyard, 2Pe 2:2-3. And then the Church is greatly annoyed also by the wild boar, as David shows, "The boar of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beasts of the field devour it, Ps 80:13, by which are meant the cruel enemies the Church met with in those days: like as in these latter times, she hath the Pope, who may fitly be compared to a wild boar; and the bloody Papists to ravenous beasts, beasts of prey, such as continually delight in blood and rapine, and to tear the Lambs out of Christ's fold, or destroy the precious bunches of the tender grapes.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. A Vineyard is continually watched over, lest any thing should annoy or hurt it.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. So God is said to watch over his people. "In that day sing unto her: a Vineyard of red wine; I the Lord do keep it every moment, lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day," Isa 27:2-3.

    METAPHOR

    IX. Many that are idle are called into a Vineyard to work.

    PARALLEL

    IX. So God calls men into his spiritual Vineyard, to labour therein, with the promise of reward. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his Vineyard: and when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into the Vineyard. And he went out, and saw others standing in the market-place," &c. Mt 20:1-8.

    METAPHOR

    X. He that is employed to plant and dress a Vineyard, or is a faithful labourer therein, is allowed to eat of the fruit thereof, besides his reward at night.

    PARALLEL

    X. So those whom God employs as planters and Vine-dressers in his spiritual Vineyard, ought to eat of the fruit thereof, viz., have a sufficient maintenance allowed them. "Who planteth a Vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? even so the Lord hath ordained, that they who preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel," 1Co 9:7.

    METAPHOR

    XI. It is expected by the owner of a Vineyard, that after much cost and pains is bestowed upon it, it should bring forth much fruit.

    PARALLEL

    XI. So after God had bestowed much pains and cost on a people, as he did on Israel, "What could have been done more to my Vineyard that I have done in it?" he expects fruit: "And he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought wild grapes," Isa 5:4.

    METAPHOR

    XII. A Vineyard, having had great labour and cost bestowed upon it, and not yielding fruit answerable to the charge, greatly grieves and troubles the owner, causing him to lay it desolate, and care no more for it.

    PARALLEL

    XII. So when a people have had much cost and pains bestowed upon them by the Lord, and yet they remain barren and unfruitful, walking like men, and bringing forth sour grapes, grapes of Sodom, rather than good fruit, he is greatly offended and grieved thereat, and many times dealeth by that people, Church, or nation, as he threatened to deal by Israel of old. "I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste, it shall not be pruned nor digged, but there shall come up briars and thorns; I will cause the rain to rain upon it no more," &c. Isa 5:3-7. "Therefore I say unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof," Mt 21:43. Which of all judgments is the most severe? God deliver his Church in England from so sore a stroke.

    INFERENCES.

    I. THIS may teach the Church and people of God to take heed they answer the pains and cost God hath been at with them. It is not a little, but much fruit that God expects from us; and not only grapes, but good grapes, sweet grapes, viz., fruits of righteousness, Jas 3:18; Ro 5:17.

    II. And let all the plants in this spiritual Vineyard see to it, that they be plants of God's own planting; for if they be not, they shall be plucked up, Mt 15:13.

    III. And let those that his own right-hand hath planted, see also that they be well rooted. 1. A Tree not well rooted bears but little fruit. 2. A Tree not well rooted is subject to be shaken and blown down. 3. A tree not well rooted is in danger of being plucked up.

    1. Labour to be rooted in all the essentials of true religion.

    2. And in all the principles of instituted worship.

    3. And in all the graces of the Holy Spirit, in faith, love, &c., Eph 3:17.

    IV. It may also be of use to encourage and comfort the Church of God, whilst it remains fruitful to him. How safe and secure is that vineyard, that God hath so gloriously walled in on every side! In vain are all the strivings and strength of bloody Rome: if God open not the door for them, they can never prevail against us.

    V. It also may be for reproof to loose and slothful professors; O what danger do their sins expose God's Church to!