"
Some of these cups are filled until they run over; as David said his
did, when the valley of the shadow of death was before him: "Thou
preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."
This is that which the apostle calls "exceeding"--that which is
beyond measure. "I am," says he, "filled with comfort; I am
exceeding joyful in all our tribulation."
Now he has one answering the other: "Thou hast made summer and
winter; thou hast made the warm beams of thy sun answerable to the
cold of the dark night." This may yet be signified by the building
of this house, this type of the church in the wilderness, in so
pleasant a place as the forest of Lebanon was. Lebanon! Lebanon was
one of the sweetest places in all the land of Canaan. Therefore we
read of the fruit of Lebanon, of the streams from Lebanon; the
scent, the smell, the glory of Lebanon; and also of the wine and
flowers of Lebanon.
Lebanon! That was one thing that wrought with Moses to desire that
he might go over Jordan, that he might see that goodly mountain, and
Lebanon. The glory and excellent beauty of the church Christ also
setteth forth by comparing her to Lebanon: "Thy lips, O my spouse,
drop as a honeycomb; honey and milk are under thy tongue, and the
smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
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