Advocate and Intercessor, " He has stood in the gap, to turn away God's indignation, lest he should destroy usk."]
The respite however which is yet prolonged, will not last for ever. Know therefore, III. What doom we must expect if we still continue barren —
God will deal with every man according to his works. If now at last we begin to bear fruit it will
be well —
[The vine-dresser undertook to bestow still greater culture on the fig-tree, and intimated that, if his labours should succeed, it would be a source of much satisfaction to him. But how much more is this true in reference to our souls ! At this moment we may consider the trench digging, and the manure applied to us. And what a source of comfort will it be, if these means be blessed with success ! The owner of the vineyard, the dresser of it, yea, and the inferior labourers too, will greatly rejoice1. And wrhat a blessing will it be to the tree itself! Instead of being cut down as useless, we shall be an ornament to the vineyard ; nor will God himself disdain to regale himself with our fruit m. In due season, too, we shall be transplanted to that richer vineyard above, and bring forth fruit to God's glory for evermore. Yes, our past unfruitfulness should be no obstruc- tion to our bliss ; but joy and honour shall be our everlasting portion.]
But if the culture be still in vain, we must be speedily cut down —
[The intercessor himself approved of this in reference to the fig-tree : and can any thing else be expected by those whom the Gospel does not profit ? Can any think that they shall be left to cumber the ground for ever ? Must not even the patience of God himself be at last exhausted ? Shall He not ere long definitively say, Cut them down? Must we not then be consigned over to everlasting burnings? And must not our Intercessor, yea, our own souls also, approve the sentence? Let every one then attend to the warning given to the ante- diluvian world, " My Spirit shall not alway strive with man":" and let not one amongst us defer till the morrow, what, if left undone, must involve him in everlasting ruin.]
Infer —
1. How thankful should we be to our great Advo- cate and Intercessor !
* Ps. cvi. 23. l Luke xv. 5—7, 10.
m Cant. iv. 16. n Gen. vi. 3.