1. Ways. Men do not easily teach point-blank contrary to their manners : surely the devil would not assist to bring holiness in fashion, and promote Christian practice. Observe the fruits and evils both of their lives and doctrines : in two cases it is a sure note : — (1.) When there is a fair compliance between principles and practices ; if neglect of God, mutinous practices, fraud, injustice, contempt of civil dignity, be the very aim and design of the doctrine, and accordingly men live, this is of the devil. (2.) If it be so generally, and in the
^ See Dr Hammond, Pract. Cat., pp. 142, 145.
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most zealous of this way. Some men are of a reserved temper, not disposed to gross and sensual wickedness, and so can counterfeit the better ; and possibly so much of truth as they do retain in the midst of their errors may somewhat operate to sanctification ; and, on the other side, a true way may be prejudiced if we should look to one or two ; a street is not measured by the sink and channel, but if it be usual, and for the most part so, then their principles are corrupt, (3.) We may not be always enticed to a course of looseness or gross wickedness ; if it be to a dead, powerless course, or formality, if it weaken the life and power of godliness in you, from such turn away, 2 Tim. iii, 5, your love to God, and delight in God, and converse with him in the Spirit, is forcibly lessened ; fear the influence of such an opinion.
2. You may judge persons by it, especially yourselves. Wherever there is grace there will be fruits of grace, and corrupt fruits show a naughty tree. If the ' clusters be clusters of Sodom, and the grapes grapes of Gomorrah,' it showeth the vine was of that race and kind : Eph. V. 9, ' The fruit of the Spirit is righteousness, goodness, and truth.' The apostle instanceth in such fruits as concern civil com- merce, partly because by these we adorn our profession, and set it off to others ; partly because here we have a frequent trial, these graces being of a daily use and exercise.
But I would rather apply it by way of exhortation to those that profess the truth, to honour it in their lives. Let your manners be orthodox, lest you expose the ways of God to suspicion : Mat. iii. 8, ' Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance,' a^lov^ fieravoia^, beseeming the change of your minds.
Obs. 2. The next evil property is ctKupira, ivUhout fruit, and in the application it implieth that they bring no honour to God, no good to others, neither are they wise for their own souls. To be barren and unfruitful under a profession of Christ, is a sign of great hypocrisy ; he that ' hid his talent ' is called ' a naughty servant,' and, because of his unprofitableness, cast into ' utter darkness,' Mat. xxv. A vine is good for nothing if it be not fruitful, not so much as to make a pin in the wall. Now God compareth Israel to an empty vine, Hosea x. 1, because they poured out all their strength, and time, and care upon their own interests. Well, then, ' Be not barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ,' 2 Peter i. 8. Grace is an active thing ; where it is it will show itself ; garden trees must not be like the trees of the forest. If you would be fruitful : —
First, You must be planted with ' a right seed ; ' a wild vine will yield but wild grapes. The ' trees of righteousness ' are ' of God's own planting,' Isa. Ixi. 3; and when you are grafted into the noble vine, Christ Jesus, then are you laden with clusters, like the vine of Eshcol: John XV. 25, ' In me ye shall bring forth much fruit.
Secondly, There must be good husbandry and cultui-e : Isa. v. 2, 3 ; Ps. xcii. 13, 14, ' Planted in the courts of God,' (fcc. ; that is, the kindly soil. Good fruit needeth the manure of ordinances, wild plants grow and bear of their own accord.
Thirdly, This fruit must be ripe, not buds and blossoms, but fruit ; you must not be almost, but altogether ; there must be not only the
282 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 12.
flowers and leaves of profession, but the solid works of godliness. It is said here, ' trees without fruit,' but it is not said here, ' trees without leaves ; ' see John xv. 4. There are branches in the vine that are only pampinarii.
Fourthly, Fruit is for the owner. The profit of trees returneth to the husbandman and master ; see John xv. 8, and Phil. i. 11. The spiritual life beginneth in Grod, and its tendency is to him. God must have the glory of all, but you shall not be without the comfort of it : Eom. vi. 22, ' Ye have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life.' The grave is but a winter, it taketh off your leaves and verdure for the present, the sap and life remaineth in the roots.