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12 best of men will fail us, when we trust thee, they will run like splinters into our hands, when we lean upon them: but sirs you will find Christ ay the same, “To-day, yesterday, for ever. And then, He is renowned for his authority and dominion. It is great, and extends far and wide whether in heaven above or in the earth beneath; and his dominion reaches from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth; and all the kings of the earth are but his vassals. Thus, I say, Christ, in every respect, is renowned.

But here, to keep by the Phraseology of the text, He is a renowned Plant. Wherein is he renowned?

1. He is renowned for his antiquity; “I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was,” &c. All the plants in the higher and lower garden of God, they are but just up-starts in comparison of him. Angels and archangels, and the greatest seraphims are but of yesterday, in comparison of this Plant. He is renowned for his antiquity; for he is the Ancient of days, and the everlasting Father, or the Father of eternity, as it may be rendered, Isa. ix.

2. As he is renowned for his antiquity, so for his beauty; he is the most beautiful plant in all the garden of God. “I am the Rose of Sharon,