John xv. 1, 2. I am the vine, and my Father is the husband- man. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he <purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
THE union which subsists between Christ and his Church is mysterious: the Scripture sets it forth both in figurative and plain expressions. It is spoken of not as a speculative or doubtful point, but as well known*. It is declared in the text under a beautiful similitude :
a John xiv. 20.
Christ is the vine —
If this was a continuation of our Lord's discourse, the idea of a vine might arise from what he had just before said respecting the fruit of the vineb: if it was spoken in his way to the Mount of Olives, it might be suggested by his passing through a vineyard. & The representation respects Christ not personally, but as united to his Church.
In this view it fitly exhibits our union with him— [This union is not natural to any. We are, by nature plants of a degenerate vinec: we are, however, separated from it by Almighty powerd, and are made willing to be united to Lhnste: we are then engrafted into Christ by the Spirit on (jod s part, and by faith on oursf. Thus we become branches of the true vine ; and the union, when formed, is intimate and inseparable s.]
It expresses, moreover, our dependence on him— [A branch derives all its fructifying power from the root • so believers receive all their grace out of Christ's fulness'1.' Hence it is that Christ is so precious to them1: hence too they determine to live entirely by faith on himk.] The Father is the husbandman —
The husbandman has many offices to perform
[He engrafts the scions, digs about them and dungs them guards them from the weather, prunes the luxuriant branches, &c]
The Father performs these offices — [He chooses (but not for their superior goodness) what scions he will : he separates them from their stock by the means he judges best : he engrafts them, in his own time and manner into the new stock : he continues to promote their good by his word, his Spirit, and his providence: he separates or com- bines, renews or changes, the various means of culture, as he sees occasion.]
His treatment of the branches is suited to their state—
There are " branches in Christ," which are so only
in appearance — J
[They have never been thoroughly separated from their
old stock : they have never been truly engrafted into Christ.
» Luke xxii. 18. c Jer. ii. 2L d £ , .
e Ps. ex. 3. f Eph. iii. 16, 17.
g 1 Cor. vi. 17. Rom. viii. 35, 39. h jomi j 16
1 1 Pet. ii. 7. * Gal. ii. 20.