2. Branch. It exhorts them that do bear fruit, that they would bring forth more fruit ; do not think you have fruit enough, but bring forth further degrees of sanctity, John XV. 2. " Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit." Grace is like the morning light which increaseth more and more to the full meri- dian of glory. Christians should be like that ground in the parable which brought forth " some sixty, some an hundred fold," Matt, xiii. 8. He who hath a little gold, labours to increase it; and is not grace more precious than gold ? some Christians have a little fruit, and they think that is well; like trees that have an apple or two growing upon them to show that tl)oy arc of the right kind, Isa. xvii. 6. " Two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough." They are like the churcii of Philadelphia which had " a little strength," Rev. iii. 8. so they have a little faith, a spark of love. Christ chides a little faith, Matth. xiv. 31. Christians should in- crease \\\i\\ the increase of God, Col. ii. 19. Christ compares the breasts of the spouse to clusters of grapes, for fruitfulness. Cant. vii. 7. O labour to be Christians of degrees ; the apostle prays for the Philippians that their love might abound " yet more and more," Phil. i. 9.
Now that I may press Christians who ha"\e fruit, to bring forth more fruits of patience, humility, love, &c. Consider,
1. This is the end why we have new cost laid out upon us, that we should bring forth more fruit. The Lord is still manuring us ; not a week, not a day, but he is at new cost with us, he rains down golden showers ; and why is God at all this charge with us, but that we may bring forth more fruit?
2. The fuller we are of fruit, the more we are like Christ, who was " full of grace and truth," John i. 14. he received the Spirit without measure," John iii. 34. This tree of life was ever bearing ; and he brought forth several sorts of fruit, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, &c. The more we are filled with the fruits of righteousness, the more we resemble the Sim of Righteousness. We were elected to this end, to be made like Christ, Rom. viii. 30. and then are we most like this blessed Vine when we bear full clusters.
3. The more fruit a Christian brinofs forth, the more will Christ love him. " Now, saith Leah, will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons," Gen. xxix. 34. When we bear much fruit, now will Christ's heart be joined to us. Christ will pardon a weak faith, he will honour a great faith. It was not a sparkle of faith Christ commended in Mary Magdalene, but love flaming, Luke vii. 74. "she loved much." Christians, would you be like that beloved disciple which " leaned on the bosom of Jesus ? " would you have much love from Christ? let him have much fruit from you.
4. Bearing: much fruit will usher in abun- dance of comfort into the soul in these two exigencies.
(1.) In the hour of tentation. Satan will be sure to besiege the weakest Christian; all his darts fly that way, and a strong tentation may overcome a weak faith; but a flourishing faith stands like a cedar, and is not blown down by the wind of tentation; a strong faith can stop the mouth of the devil, that roaring lion, 1 Pet. V. 9.
(2.) Store of fruit will give comfort in the hour of death; a little grace will make us above the fear of death; O what joy will it be on the deathbed, when a Christian can bring: his sheaves full of corn! when he can [ show his five talents that he hath gained by
TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
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trading! when there is not only a drop or two of oil, but his lamp full of oil! what though the deA-il show God our debts, if we can show him our fruit. O how sweet will death be ! it will not be a destruction, but a deliverance. — Death, like a whirlwind, may blow down the tree of the body, but it can- not blast the fruit of our graces. The trees of righteousness carry tlieir fruit with them. Rev. xiv. 13. "Their works follow them." The Christian who abounds in holiness may say as Simeon, Luke ii. 29. "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace." He who bears but a little fruit departs in safety; but he who bears much fruit departs in peace.