5. Consider what need we have to be jnitting forth still more fruit; our graces are \et in their nonaefe; indeed in heaven this doctrine will be out of seasoo, we shall not need to hear it; then we shall have done growing, being arrived at our full stature; then our light shall be clear, and our love perfect; but while we live here, there is something "lacking in our faith," 1 Thess. iii. 10. therefore we had need increase the stock of grace, and bring forth more fruit. Our grace is eclipsed with sin, our faith is full of unbelief; now as when the sun is eclipsed, it is by degrees getting out of the cclij)se, and it shines brighter and brighter, till it recovers its perfect lustre; so it must be with us, we must be getting out of the eclipse till once we shall arrive at our perfect lustre in glory.
G. He who doth not increase to more fruitfulness will soon be on the losing hand; he that hath not more faith will quickly have less; "Thou hast left thy first love." It is with grace as it is with fire; if it be not blown up and increased, it will soon decay. Such as thrive not in their spiritual estate, we may perceive sadly to decline. Thougn a Christian cannot lose the seed of grace, yet he may lose the actings of grace, and the comfort; therefore bring forth more fruit: no sooner doth a Christian bej^in to stand still, but you may perceive him going back- ward.
7. The more your fruit is increased, the more your glory is increased; he whose pound gained ten, was made ruler over ten
cities. If you would liave your crown hung full of jewels, let your boughs be hung full of fruit.
Use 4. Direction. The last use is of direc- tion. I shall lay down some means to fruit- fulness.
1. Be sensible of uufruitfiduess. Many might have been fruitful in grace, if they had not conceited themselves so; he that thinks himself fruitful enough, is barren enough; be sensible of your wants; it is better to complain than presume.
2. If you would be fruitful, remove thoso things which will hinder fruitfulness.
(1.) Cherishiug any secret lust in the heart; sin lived in, is like vermin to the tree, which destroys the fruit; grace cannot thrive in a sinful heart.
(2.) The love of riches; "The cares of the world choked the seed," Matt. xiii. The love of sin poisons the fruit, the love of riches chokes it.
3. The third means to fruitfulness is weep- ing for sin. Moisture helps germination in trees; holy tears do water the trees of God, and make them more fruitful, ^yiary Mag- dalene, a weeping plant, how fruitful was she in love to Christ? moist ofrounds, as vour marshes, are most fertile: the soul that is moistened and steeped in tears, is most fru- giferous: never did David's graces flourish more, than when he watered his couch with tears.
4. If you would be fruitful, often apply the blood of Christ, and the promises.
(1.) Aj)ply the blood of Christ. Natural- ists say, that blood ajiplied to the root of some trees makes them bear better. Sure I am, the blood of Christ apjilied to the heart, makes it flourish more in holiness. None so fruitful as a believer; "1 know," saith St Paul, "whom I have believed;" there was the applying blood to the root of the tree, aiul how fruitful was he in zeal, love to Christ, heroical courage! He that believes Christ died for him, never thinks he can do or suffer enough for Christ. When we read and pray, now we do but water the branches: when we believe, now we water the root of the tree and make it fruitfuL
(2.) Apply the promises. Husbandmen have an art to comfort the spiiils of the root
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to make the tree bear better: apply the pro- mises; these are for comfortino- the spirits of a Christian, and then he puts forth fruit more vigorously. It is an experiment in nature, the root of the pine tree watered with wine, doth cause it to flourish; the promises are as vnne to water the trees of righteousness, whereby they spread and augment more in grace. Ever preserve the spirits of the tree if you would have it bear; a pensive dejected soul is less fruitful; but when through the promises, a Christian's heart is cheered and comforted, now he is enriched with pleasant fruits; he is like a tree laden with fruit.
5. Another means to fruitfulness is humil- ity. The low grounds are most fruitful: "The valleys are covered with corn," PsaL Ixv. 13. The humble heart is the fruitful heart. The largrest and fairest fruits of the Spirit grow in a lowly Christian; 1 Pet. v. 5. " God gives grace to the humble." Saint Paul calls himself the least of saints, yet he was the chief of the apostles. The Virgin Mary was low in her own eyes, but this lowly plant did bear that blessed Vine which brouo-ht the fruit of salvation into the world.