predicted by them should instantly and infallibly be produced. Thus he prepared them for their future ministrations, and encouraged them to rely on the invisible agency of an Almighty God.]
The latter may be understood in reference to the Church at large —
[This indeed, like the former, may be taken in a limited sense : but it may also be applied to the great body of believers. It accords with many other passages that confessedly relate to all"^. And vi^hat encouragement does it, in this view, afford us! We need never despond on account of any difficulties. Not even mountains of guilt and corruption should cause us to say, There is no hope. The prayer of faith shall bring Omnipo- tence to our aid. Nor is there any thing promised in the sacred oracles which shall not be given to the believing sup- pliant. The same almighty power that blasted the fig-tree, shall blast our enemies, and cause, if need be, the very moun- tains to start from their bases, and be buried in the sea.]
From hence we may learn,
1. The danger of a fruitless profession —
[God expects his people to be fruitful in good works. Nor will he acknowledge us as his if we disappoint his expec- tations. Let us not then be satisfied with the fairest leaves of profession, without bringing forth the fruits of righteousness to his praise and glory. Jesus is assuredly coming soon to inspect us all. He hungers, as it were, after our good fruits. Let us then study to bring forth such, that " our Beloved may come into his garden and eat with pleasure^." And let us dread lest we provoke him to make our sin our punishment, and lest, being " filled with our own ways V' our " nakedness appear unto all."]
2. The true source of all our fruitfulness —
[Jesus, in cursing the fig-tree, had nothing to do but to withhold his blessing from it; and instantly it was withered both in root and branch. Its power even to bring forth leaves had been derived from him. Thus, if his Spirit be taken from us, we shall become " twice dead, plucked up by the roots^." To him then we must give the glory of all the good that we have been enabled to do ; for, " of him has our fruit been found ^," and " by his grace alone we are what we are." " We have nothing which we have not received." And to him must we look for strength to fulfil his will in future ; for, " All our fresh springs are in him'."]
^ John xiv, 13, 14. ^ Cant. iv. 16. <" Prov. xiv. 14.
» Jude, ver. 12. '^ Hos. xiv. 8. ' Ps.xxxvi.9. and lxxxvii.7.