John Trapp on Hosea 14:6

Verſe 6. His branches ſhall ſpread,] Heb. ſhall walk, or expatiate; ſhall reach out, and ſtretch themſelves all abroad: ſo ſhall the Church be propagated all the earth over: She ſhall flouriſh as the Palm-tree, which though it have many weights hung on the top, and many ſnakes hiſſing at the root, yet it ſtill ſaith, Nec premor, nec perimor, I am inſuperable: I am like a green Olive-tree in the houſe of God: I truſt in the mercy of God for ever, and ever, Pſal. 52.8.

and his beauty ſhall be as the Olive-tree,] that goodly tree, Lev. 23 40. that retaineth her greenneſſe in the depth of Winter: yea in that Univerſall deluge, Noahs Dove met with an olive-leaf. The Lord hath called thy name (ſaith the Prophet to the Church, Jer. 11.16.) A green olive-tree, fair and of goodly fruit. The Cypreſſe is fair, but not fruitfull; the fig-tree fruitfull, but not fair and flouriſhing. But the olive-tree is both fair and fruitfull: her fruit alſo is of ſingular uſe to mankind both for food, and phyſick, and light for the lamp, Exod. 29.20. Lev. 6.15, 16. In one reſpect it is an emblem of peace, it maketh the face ſhine, Pſal. 104.15. and in the other, it is an emblem of grace and ſpiritual gifts, 1 Iob. 2.20. of increaſing with the increaſe of God, by the Spirit, and of reigning with him in eternall glory.

and his ſmell as Lebanon.] Whereby is meant, the ſweet ſavour of the Goſpel, which ſpreadeth it ſelf abroad in the miniſtery of the Word, and in the lives of belcevers, 2 Cor. 2.14, 15. who beſides their continuall offering up to God ſpirituall incenſe and ſervices in prayers, thankſgivings, alms, and good-works, they perfume the very air they breath upon by their gracious and ſavoury communication, Epheſ. 4.29. yea the very company they come into: as a man cannot come where ſweet ſpices and odours are beaten to the ſmell, but he ſhall carry away the ſcent thereof in his cloathes.Nihil niſi foetidain [illegible: 2 letters] foedum exhalavit. River. When the ſpirit of Chriſt blowes upon them, and grace is poured into their hearts, then their lips drop ſweet ſmelling myrrhe, Cant. 5.13. and 4.16. then alſo their good name is better then a precious ointment, Eccleſ. 7.1. (See the Note there) when the wicked ſtink alive and dead.