Section 716
II. Herbellyis said to be as "an heap of wheat, set about with lilies"
Which, as the former expression sets forth the nourishment which she has through the ministry of the word, this may be expressive of her fruitfulness thereby: it was usual with the Jews to scatter wheat on the heads of married persons, at their weddings, three times, saying Increase and multiply;[4122] for the allusion seems to be to a woman with child, as one[4123] welt observes; she is fruitful and big, not with wind, but with wheat: by which may be meant, either, 1. The word or gospel of the grace of God, which is comparable to wheat; "he that hath my word," saith the Lord (Jeremiah 23:28), "let him speak my word faithfully; for what is the chaff to the wheat?" there is as much difference between a teller of dreams, and a faithful preacher of the gospel; or between the dreams which the one tells, and the word which the other preaches, as there is between the chaff and the wheat. The gospel may be compared to wheat for the excellency of it: wheat is the most excellent of grain; it is not only preferable to chaff, but to all other gram whatsoever: so the gospel is preferable to all other doctrines whatever; and ought to be valued by believers mote than their necessary food seeing that those who are fed therewith, are fed with the "finest of the wheat;" and therefore may not only be compared to wheat for its excellency, but also for the nourishment which it conveys. Besides, wheat is a solid, weighty, and substantial gram; as are also the doctrines of the gospel; which are not like wind, but wheat; and is a quite different food than what Ephraim fed upon; of whom it is said (Hosea 12:1), "Ephraim feedeth on wind." Moreover, this is an heap of wheat, which the church's belly is compared to here; such an one as is upon the corn-floor, ready threshed and winnowed, and cleared of the chaff (see Ruth 3:7), and so may intend the purity of the gospel, and its being clear of all human inventions and mixtures; it is wheat that is clear from, and not mixed with the chaff; for as faithful ministers will not set forth such to feed upon, so neither will enlightened and experienced souls receive it: also, this heap may be expressive of the variety and multitude of soul-comforting doctrines, and exceeding great and precious promises, with which the gospel abounds; there are many of them, an heap of them. and fullness of the blessing in every one; they are full of spiritual blessings and consolations, especially when they come "in power and in the Holy Ghost." Or else, 2. By it may be meant the graces of the Spirit of God, with which she was filled; which may also be compared to wheat for the excellency of them, being more valuable than, and to be preferred unto all the desirable things of nature; and to an "heap of wheat" for the variety of them, which souls receive from Christ; of whose "fullness they receive grace for grace," that is, grace in some measure answerable to the grace in Christ, or grace in abundance; "grace for grace,"[4124] that is, heaps of grace; for there cannot be one grace, but there must be every grace, even heaps of grace: as also for the purity of them, being free from all mixtures of hypocrisy; their faith is a faith unfeigned; their hope, which is fixed on Christ's person, blood, and righteousness, is of a different nature than that of the hypocrites; their love to God, Christ, his gospel, ordinances and people, is without dissimulation; in short, sincerity runs through all their graces; they are like an heap of wheat, winnowed and cleared of chaff: moreover, these may be compared to wheat for their permanence; they will abide the sieve of Satan's temptations, as Peter's faith did; for though it was shaken much, it did not fail, because Christ prayed for it; and they will also abide the world's fan of persecution, and likewise the awful scrutiny and discrimination, which will be made at the clay of judgment; when the florid profession and external works and righteousness of others will be as chaff, which "the wind shall carry away, and vanity shall take," these will abide and appear in their greatest glory and full perfection. Though I rather think, 3. That by this heap of wheat, to which the church's belly is compared, are meant young converts;[4125] who are not only born in the church, but are also brought forth by her; "for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth hot children:" and these are the wheat which Christ will gather into his garner, when he will burn up the wicked, "the chaff, with unquenchable fire:" as wheat is the noblest of seeds, is full of meat, is solid and substantial, these are born, "not of corruptible, but incorruptible seed," and being full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and continually receiving from Christ's fullness, are solid and substantial believers; and will abide the force of persecution now, and stand the trying and discriminating time hereafter; "when the ungodly shall not be so, but shall be like the chaff which the wind driveth away; for they shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;" but even then this wheat, a ill continue on the floor, and be gathered into Christ's barn. Moreover, this heap of wheat signifies the large number of souls that shall be born again in the church; and when those scriptures, in 21 and 60:8, have had their full accomplishment, then will this description of the church be exactly answered, and appear very glorious.
Moreover this heap of wheat is said to be "set about with lilies," or, as in the Hebrew text, hedged with lilies;[4126] which would incline one to think, that not an heap of wheat upon the corn-floor, but a field of standing wheat is here intended; whose enclosure is not an hedge of thorns and briars, but of lilies: by which lilies may be meant, either the precious promises and comfortable doctrines which abound in, and encompass around the word of God, or else, the sweet odor which the graces of the Spirit emit on every side; or rather, "the beauties of holiness," in which men appear as soon as they are born again; and may be expressive of their secrecy and security, as well as of their beauty and glory.
There is one thing more which I would not omit the mention of., and that is, that some interpreters[4127] think, that by these two parts, the navel and belly, here described, are meant the two ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper: by the former, the ordinance of baptism, which is the first ordinance administered to believers; and which none but those who are born again, receive any comfort, nourishment or benefit from: and by the latter, the Lord's supper; which, like an heap of wheat, affords solid and substantial food to believers; where Christ, who is the bread of life, whose flesh and blood are meat and drink indeed, is set forth to them; who are kindly invited, and are heartily welcome to his table; which table of his is graced and adorned, or at least should be, not with the weed; or thorns and briars of scandalous and profane sinners, who eat: and drink unworthily; but with the lilies of precious saints and true believers, who sit as olive-plants, or rather are set as lilies about it. Though I should rather think, that these are intended in the following verse.