This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters [of grapes].
Ver. 7. This thy stature is like to a palm tree.] This thy whole stature and feature of body, that hath been already portrayed and described particularly and piecemeal, is "like to a palm tree," strong and straight, fresh and flourishing, so that thou mayest say with the palm in the emblem, Nec premor, nec perimor. Pliny, Aristotle, Plutarch, and Gellius have written of the palm tree, that it is always green, bearing pleasant fruit; and that it will not bow downward or grow crooked, though heavy weights be hanged upon it. The Church is all this and more; ever green, even in the winter of affliction, when the oak loseth her leaves See Trapp on " Son 1:16 " full of the "fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." Php 1:11 See Trapp on " Php 4:14 " See Trapp on " Php 4:11 " Neither can she be long kept under by any pressure of persecution or heavy affliction, Premi potest, opprimi non potest. As Paul, when stoned, started up with Sic petitur caelum, sic, sic oportet intrare. Tyrants might curse the saints, as he did that cried out to those ancient confessors, O miseri, num vobis desunt restes et rupes? O wretches, cannot you hang or drown yourselves, but that I must be thus troubled with you to put you to death? - but crush them they never could. The valour of the patients, the savageness of the persecutors, have striven together, till both, exceeding nature and belief, bred wonder and astonishment in beholders and readers. Hence Trajan forbade Pliny to seek after Christians; but if any were brought to him, to punish them. Antoninus Pius set forth an edict in Asia, that no Christian should be persecuted; for, said he, it is their joy to die - they are conquerors, and do overcome you, &c.
Trucidabantur et multiplicabantur, saith Augustine of the ancient martyrs: they were martyred, and yet they were multiplied. Plures efficimur quoties metimur, saith Tertullian, the more we are cropped, the more we are increased; as the lily is increased by its own juice that flows from it. a Hence Rev 7:9 the saints that by their victorious faith overcame the world, are brought in with palm branches in their hands, in token of victory. Plutarch tells us that the Babylonians made three hundred and sixty commodities of the palm tree, and did therefore very highly honour it. The world hath a great deal of benefit by the Church, could they but see it; for absque stationlbus non staret mundus, were it not for the saints, "a short work would the Lord make upon the earth, and cut it short in righteousness." Rom 9:28 And great is the gain of godliness, even a hundredfold here, and life eternal hereafter. Who would not then turn spiritual merchant? who would not pass from strength to strength, and "flourish in God's house like a palm tree," Psa 92:12 till he attain to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ? Eph 4:13
And thy breasts to clusters of grapes.] Not well fashioned only, as Eze 16:7 but full strutting with milk, yea, with wine, plenty and dainty, to lay hunger and slake thirst, to nourish and cherish her children, even as the Lord doth the Church. Eph 5:29 See Trapp on " Son 4:5 "
a Plin.