Use 3. Exhort. Branch 1. Let this exhort all to fruitfulness. How happy were it, if it might be said of us as of Joseph, Gen. xlix. 22. " Joseph is a fruitful bough?" We love to see every thing fruitful : if there be a tree in our orchard, though with ever such fair leaves, we value it not unless there be fruit; when you come into your garden, you com- plain if you see no fruit ; such a root is set, but it doth not grow ; we love to see fruit- fulness every where, and why not in our liearts? O let the precious grapes and figs we bear, evidence that we are trees of God's planting. We often plant trees to be a shade to the house ; God cares for no such trees as are only for shade, he loves fruit. Arabia is culled Felix, because of the sweet fruits which grow there, frankincense, with other perfumes and spices. '^I'liat Christian may be entitled Felix, happy, that hath the sweet fruits of the Spirit growing in his heart ; be fruit-bearing trees. This is the emblem of a good Christian, he is never without fruit, either blooming in his aft'ections, or fructi- ying in his conversation.
That I may persuade Christians to fruit- fulness, I desire them to weigh these five things.
1. Fruit is that which God expects from us, we are his plantations ; and, " Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof?" 1 Cor. ix. 7. Let us not be as Pharaoh's kine, which devoured the fat, and yet still were lean ; let us not be still devouring sermons, yet never the fatter.
2. Fruitfulness is one of the most distinc- tive characters of a Christian; Prov. xii. 12. " The root of the riy^hteous yiehleth fruit" Fruitfulness differeth a saint from a hypo- crite ? the hypocrite is all for show and pre- tence, he hath fair leaves, but the " root of the righteous yieldeth fruit;" fruit can no more be separated from fuith, than moisture from the air, it is the very definition of a branch in Christ, " it bears fruit," John xv. 2. As a man differs from a beast by reason, a beast differs from a plant by sense, a plant differs from a stone by vegetation ; so a good Christian differs from a hypocrite by fruit Fruitfulness puts a difference between the sound tree and the hollow tree.
Quest. But may not hypocrites bring forth fruit ?
Ans. 1. They do not bring forth fruit in the Vine ; they bring forth iii the strength of parts, not in the strength of Christ.
2. Hypocrites bring forth something like fruit, but it is not the right fruit
1. The fruit they bear is not sweet The crab may bear fruit as well as the pearmain ; but this excels in sweetness. The hypo- crite may pray and give alms as well as a child of God, but there is a difference in the fruit; the fruit of the regenerate is mellow, it is sweetened with faith, it is ripened with love. The hypocrite's fruit is sour and harsh ; he doth not bring forth pomegranates, but crabs, not figs, but wild grapes.
2. The seeming fruit of hypocrites dies and comes to nothing, John xv. 6. " He is cast forth as a l)ranch, and is withered." The hypocrite's fruit is like the grass upon the house tops, which withereth before it grow- eth up, Psal. cxxix. 6. Matt. xiii. 6.
3. Fruitfulness adorns a Christian; the fruit adorns the tree ; a fruit-bearing Chris-
1 tian is an ornament to religion ; the more
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fruitful the branch is, the more fair to look on. A dead tree, as it is unserviceable, so it is uncomely. A C hristian, decked with the fruits of righteousness, is beautiful and glo- rious.
4. Fruitfulness is a good evidence to show for heaven ; the fruits of love, humility, good works, are (as St Bernard saith) seeds of hope, signs of predestination, the happy presages of future glory. The righteousness of faith is always accompanied with the fruits of righteousness. He that can show good fruit, goes full sail to heaven.
5. God delights in his fruitful trees ; when his garden flourisheth he will walk there ; he who curseth the barren tree, will taste of the fruitful tree, Cant. v. 1. "I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse : I have gathered my mjorh with my spice."