eaftern tree. In the facred writers particu- 

 larly we are prefented with many noble images 

 drawn from its feveral qualities. It is generally 

 employed by the prophets to exprefs ftrength, 

 power, and longevity. The ftrength of the 

 cedar is ufed as an emblem to exprefs the 

 power even of Jehovah. "The 'voice of the Lord 

 breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. David cha- 

 racterizes the palm-tree, and the cedar together, 

 both very ftrongly. The righteous foall flourijh 

 like a palm-tree ; and fpread abroad like a cedar 

 of Lebanon. The flour i firing head of the palm, 

 and the fpreading abroad of the cedar, are 

 equally characteriftic. 



But the prophet Ezekiel hath given us the 

 fulleft defcription of the cedar. 



" Behold the AfTyrian was a cedar in Le- 

 banon, with fair branches ; and with a fhadow- 

 ing fhroud ; and of an high flature ; and his 

 top was among the thick boughs. His boughs 

 were multiplied, and his branches became long. 

 The fir trees were not like his boughs -, nor 

 the chefnut trees, like his branches, nor any 

 tree in the garden of God like unto him in 

 beauty *." 



* Ezek. xxxi. 



In 



