Spirit of God, who " opens the eyes of the understanding," constrains the will, and purifies the affections, and thus, in fact, makes the person so changed, " a new creature V
But our Lord's illustration will place the matter in the clearest light.
" Christ is a vine : his people are the branches ;" and by- virtue derived from him they are enabled to bear fruit. If a branch be broken off from a vine, it can no more bear fruit: it has nothing in itself independent of the stem ; and, if separated from the stem, it must wither and die. So we, if separated from, or not united with, the Lord Jesus Christ, are incapable of bearing fruit; because we have nothing in our- selves independent of him, and have no means of deriving grace and strength from him. In respect of natural actions, we can effect all which nature qualifies us to effect : but in respect of spiritual exertions, we are incapable of them ; because, in con- sequence of our separation from Him, we are destitute of all spiritual life and power.]
This is, as clearly as I can state it, the import of our Lord's assertion, I shall now proceed to, II. Vindicate it —
I grant, that in itself the assertion is very broad and unqualified : but in the sense in which it has been explained, it may be fully vindicated :
1. From Scripture —
[Throughout all the Holy Scriptures man is represented as dependent upon God for the communications of his grace. In himself he has nothing but evilc : his whole soul is corrupt*1: and he must have " the heart of stone taken away, and an heart of flesh given him," before he can keep the commandments of his Gode. So far is this carried, that the natural man is declared to be incapable of performing a good actf, or uttering in a becoming manner a good wordg, or entertaining with real appro- bation a good thought11. And with this statement our Church fully accords, when, in addressing Jehovah, it says, " O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed." As far as the Scripture testimony therefore is admitted, the point is clear; and our Saviour's declaration is fully justified.]
2. From experience —
'» 2 Cor. v. 17. with 2 Pet. i. 4. c Gen. vi. 5.
d Jer. xvii. 9. e Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27. f Jcr. xiii. 23.
8 1 Cor. xii. 3. Matt. xii. 34.
h 2 Cor. iii. 5. with 2 Cor. viii. 1G.