living by the waters of truth. But though this branch was taken from a cedar, it did not grow a cedar; but grew up a VINE of low stature! This is a singular circumstance—a cedar is planted, but a VINE rises. It cannot be accounted for but by the spiritual sense. The VINE is representative of spiritual goodness and truth. Now, it is certain, that if a man whose reason is enlightened by the truths of the Holy Word (and they are the only true sources of enlightenment) delights in their precepts, his understanding will expand or grow, and, from the knowledge and practice of literal or rational truth, he will begin to perceive spiritual truth, and love it. And thus the branch, originally a cedar when planted, will become a VINE. From rational truth, it will become spiritual truth.
If we consider this passage as having reference to the church, we may observe that, however limited our knowledge may be, we have the capacity for acquiring truth; and in proportion as we love it and live it, we become receptive of love from the Lord, until at length we become connected and conjoined with heavenly goodness. But we must be careful that we be not misled by the pride of human reason, or self-derived intelligence.
The application, primarily, is to the Jewish church. This was a vine of low stature: its principles of truth were merely typical. It had not the full knowledge of truth. It did not rise high in the region of wisdom—it was a vine of low stature. But the same passage is applicable to every individual member of the church, who has been led from rational to spiritual truth. We should, however, when spiritual truth has been perceived, exercise vigilant watchfulness that we be not
