I had occasion, upon a solemnity of this nature, not long ago, to enter upon these words, but had not time to go far into the import of them. After I had traced the connection of the words a little, I took them up in the few following particulars.
1. We have here a great blessing promised unto the church; and that is none other than Christ, under the notion of a Prince, and A Plant of Renown.
2. We have the Party by whom this promise is made, in the pronoun I,—I Jehovah, the Eternal God, I will raise up for them a Plant of Renown.
3. We have the way how this Plant of Renown is raised; And I will raise him up. I that am the great Husbandman of the vineyard, I will raise up for them, &c. Then,
4. I noticed the persons to whom the promise is made, I will raise up for them; that is, for his Church, for his people that are brought into a very low condition; as you will see by reading the preceding part of the chapter. The flock of Christ were scattered by the shepherds of Israel; they were torn, they were devoured, and under manifold trials; Well, what will the Lord do for his flock in that condition? He says, I will raise up for them a Plant of Renown, and they shall hunger no more.
The observation is much the same with the words themselves, namely, “that our Lord Jesus Christ is a Plant of Renown of his Father’s upbringing:” I will raise up for them a Plant of Renown. In prosecution of this doctrine, I proposed to observe the order and method following.
First, To premise a few things concerning this blessed Plant.
Secondly, To shew that indeed he is a Plant of Renown. And then,
Thirdly, To speak a little concerning the raising up of this Plant.