The change wrought in them has been only partial : they bring not forth such fruit as the living branches do.]
These the Father " taketh away" — [They are a disgrace to the vine, and to the husbandman himself: he, however, exercises forbearance towards them1. His culture of them, in the meantime, shews their unfruitful- ness to be of themselves111; but he will ere long separate them from the others. He will take them away, in order to burn them n. How fearful should we be lest we be found such branches at last ! And how carefully should we examine our fruit, in order that we may not be self-deceived0!]
There are other branches, which are vitally united to Christ —
[They manifest that they are so, by the fruits which they produce.]
These the husbandman purges and prunes — [Notwithstanding their fruitfulness, they need the pruning- knife. Afflictions have a tendency to make them more fruitful. God therefore sends them afflictions of various kinds. This he does to " every one of themp:" he even promises affliction to them as a blessing q.]
Let us then inquire whether we be living branches of the true vine —
[Let us study to answer the ends of all his care. If we be indeed fruitful branches, let us welcome affliction as a blessing in disguise. Let us, above all, seek to be confirmed in our union to Christ, and our dependence on himr.~\
1 Luke xiii. 8, 9. m Isai. v. 4. n ver. 6.
0 Matt. vii. 17—20. p Heb. xii. 6—8.
°. Jer. xxx. 11. with Heb. xii. 10, 11. ' Col. ii. 6, 7.