1 I am the true vine, and my Fa- ther is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me tliat bear- eth not fruit he taketh away : and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which 1 have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of it- self, except it abide in the vine;
no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches : He that abidetli in me, and I in him, the same briugeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is with- ered ; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
These verses, we must carefully remember, contaia a parable. In interpreting it we must not forget the great rule which aj^plies to all Christ's parables. The