5. And liirther, a vine is so weak that it must be propped and supported along, or else it will lie on the ground. Such is the estate of the church, which must have something to fence it and underprop it. God is the strength of the church. It is a wondrous weak plant. The children of God are wondrous weak, and exposed to a wonderful deal of misery. In regard whereof, and of the injuries and weaknesses they are exposed to, they must have support. A Christian is compared to the shiftless things, sheep, lambs, and doves ; and in the plants they are compared to the vine, which needs a strong support. And, as Solomon saith of the conies, though ' they are a weak people of themselves,' Prov. xxx. 26, yet notwithstanding they have a strong rock over their heads, where they are safe ; though they be as weak as the vine. So God's people, though they be weak of themselves, yet they have a strong support to uphold them. God, by the
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ordinances of magistracy and ministry, especially by his Spirit, keeps them up and supports them, that they spread in largenses and in fruit- fulness.
Use 1. Is this so? Then let us examine ourselves, what our fruit is. If we be vines, what is our fruit ? what comes from us ? Certainly if we do not shew forth that fruit we should, "in our hves and conversations, in our speech, carriage, and actions, when we are called to it, it is an argument that as yet the dew of God's grace hath never fallen upon us, so as it must before we come to heaven. As was said before, a man may endure a dead plant in his gi'ound, but in his orchard he will not. He may endm'e weeds in pastures, in neglected grounds, but not in his garden. If we be lilies in God's garden, and vines in his orchard, we must be fruitful and grow, or else God will not endure us. Of all woes, the greatest woe Ues upon them who enjoy plentiful and abundant means, and yet are not fruitful. Mat. xi. 21.
Use 2. That we ai'e vines, and God's vines, it is in the next place an use of comfort, that God therefore will have a care of us if we be fniitful. He will have a special care of that place where his vines are planted. If we see many gracious persons and families, who are conscionable in their practice and conversation, we may rest assured that God the great husband- man will have a special care of those choice vines, and the places they live in. They cany the blessing of God with them wheresoever they go, with a shadow and protection, making every place the better for them. For God will care for those vines which bring forth much fruit ; as it is in Isaiah, ' Spoil it not, for there is a blessing in it,' Isa. Ixv. 8. If a Christian be fruitful, and labours to be more fruitful, God gives a prohibition — ' He is my vine, do him no harm.' ' Touch not mine anointed, nor do my prophets no harm,' Ps. cv. 15. Satan himself, and all creatures in heaven and inearth, have a prohibition to touch his vines no further than shall be for then- good. Will a man suffer men to come into his orchard to break down his vines ? He will not. Surelj' though the sins of this nation be very great, yet one thing ministereth hope; God hath a great many vines under his shadow and protection, many conscionable magistrates, ministers, and people of other professions, governors of families and the like, which walk hollly. God will spai'e the vineyard, even for the vines that bear fruit. A notable place amongst others we have, Cant. ii. 15, ' Take us the foxes and the httle foxes that spoil the vine; for our vines have tender grapes.' There is in eveiy church not only gross papists, and foreign enemies, that would root out all, if it were in then- power, but subtle foxes also ; men that pride themselves in devihsh policy, to undermine the church and childi'en of God; who wheresoever they see Aine or grapes, they maUce that. Both the means, and grace wrought by the means, is the object of then- cruelty. Subtle foxes they are ; who account it a great deal of glory to be accounted politic men ; to do mischief secretly and closely in tbe church. Will God suffer these foxes ? No ; he will not. ' Take us the foxes, the little foxes that destroy the vines,' Cant. ii. 15. God hath young growing vines, so as he will not only care for the great vines, but for the tender vines also. Christ hath a care of his lambs ; as he said to Peter, ' Lovest thou me,' &c., ' Then feed my lambs,' my little ones, John xxi. 15. So Chi-ist speaks in the gospel of these httle ones. ' I tell you (of a truth) that the angels of these little ones behold the face of my Father,' &c., Mat. xviii. 10. And so he speaks in another place. ' A bruised reed will he not break, and smoking flax will he not quench, until he bring forth judg-