VINE, VINEYARD
The holy Scriptures abound with the most lovely representations of Christ and his church under these similitude's; and it is not to be wondered at. The hill-country of Judea abounded with the richest and most luxurious vines. Therefore when the church would speak of her beloved, she called him, "a cluster of cypress in the vineyards of Engedi." (Song of Solomon 1:14) And evidently on this account, because Jesus is not one blessing, but every one and all. In his person, blood, and righteousness, the church finds an Eshcol, a cluster of all divine perfections, all suited grace, all glory. Hence some read the words of the church in this lovely song, Esh col copher, that is, the man that hath atoned, and is all things of blessing.
And as the church, taught by the Holy Ghost, sings her Epithalamium, or nuptial song, to the praise of Jesus, under the similitude, the Lord Jesus sings his love-song to the same figure: "I am the vine, saith Jesus, and ye are the branches." (John 15:1, etc.) But I must not enlarge on those topics, how sweet soever they are. The reader will find numberless clusters of them in the sacred word. (Genesis 49:11; Psalms 80:1 etc. Song of Solomon 7:8-12, etc.)