2 * Every branch in me, that beareth not fruit, he 5 tzketh awayc: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit 4.
And concerning his Father's care, he tells us, That as the good Pine-aveſſer cutteth off thoſe branches in the Vine which bring forth nofruit ; ſo his Father will-take away ſuch branches in him as bring forth no fruit. But here ariſeth a Queſtion, viz. Whether, or how any can be branches in Chriſt, and yet bring forth no fruit * Anſ, Some ay, there is no need of tranſlating the words fo, which may as well be tranſlated, Every branch not bringing forth fruit in ms. Indeed no true fruit can be brought forch but in Chriſt ; bur yet much that Jookes like froir, much that men may call fruir, may be brought forth without any true ſpiritual Union with Chrift. All a&s of moral D:ſcipline, or any aGts of formal Profcjien in Religion my be broughe forth wirhout any true Root and Foundation in Chriſt ; and God will in the end diſcover, and cut off thoſe who bring forth no other fruic. But 24/y. Men may be ſaid ro be branches in 1, by a Sacramenzal implantation, being baptized into him, Rom, 6.3. and are hereby Members of the Viſible Church, and making 2 viſible profeſſion of adhering to him and with refpe& to their own good opinion and perſwaſton of themſelves, tho they be not ſo in reſped of any true, ſpiritual, and real implantation. But thoſe who in the Jaſt ſenſe, are not in him, who bring no fruit unto perfeQion, God will cur them off, either by withdrawing his reſtraining Grace, and giving them up to ſtrong deluſions to believe lies, or to a reprobate mind, and vile luſts and affe&ions; or by taking away their gifts; or ſome way or other, fo as they ſhall never have any eternal Communion with God in Glory. @ Bur if any Man bringeth forth true ſpiritual fruit in Chriſt, him God the Father will purge by the prinkling of Chriſt's Blood yer further upon bis Conſcience, Hes. 10.22. and by his holy Spir;e working on him like fire to purge away his droſs, and like warer ro purge away his filth ; and by bis Word, 1 Per, I. 22. by Faith, A&s 15. g. by Croſſes, and Tryals, Jaiah x, 25. and 27. 9. that he may be more fruictul in works of Hilineſs and Rig hteonjneſs.
3 3 * Now ye are clean through the word which I have ſpoken unto you e.
e Now that the Traitor is gone out from you, ye are all Clean, not by any works which you do, much leſs upon the account of any gal and cerimonial rites and purifyings, but through my word, you believing and obeying, Eph. 5. 25. 1 Per. 1 22. Ourclean- ſing is in Holy Writ attributed ſometimes to the Blood of Chritt, lometimes to the Spirit, ſornetimes to the Word. By the Blood of C:riſt we are made clean as to Juſtification; waſhed; but yet we had need wajh ous feet, contraQing ſoil every day in a ſinful World, 'rom which we are Cleanſed by the purifying Virtue of the Holy >PIrit, working by, and together with the Word, which purgeth us 9: our drofs, and maketh us obedient to the-Will of God.
4 Abidein me f, and Lin you g : As the branch can- not bear fruit of it ſelf, except it abide in the vine: no more can ye, except ye abide in me /.
; f This our abiding in Chriſt is expounded wer, 7. by an- abiding in "yu Words, v. 10. by abiding rn his love, an abiding in his Spirit, 1 Joh. * 27, a walking ar Chriſt walked, 1 John 2. 5. ver. 10. an abiaimg ny !n2 light, not inning, 1 John 3. 6, The Exhortation 15 without cubt ro an holineſs of Life and Converſation, by which our Union nd Communion with Chriſt is upheld and maintained, and which is wh &f n abiding in the love of Chriſt : Nor is-there a want of mnient Reaſon for this Exhortation, tho our Union with Chriſt wg be difolved, NOr our Communion with him wholly intet- upt ) It muſt be apheld and maintained on our part
ap
pted, becan(” ſr * the exerciſes of Faith and Holineſs. (2.) The ſenſe of it in our bouls may be eclipſed, and wholly fail, Pſal. 22.1. (3.) We may - away toully, rho neither totally [as Lutherans ſay ) becauſe the "<cd of God abideth in the Believer ; nor yet finally (as Papiſt: ſay) wg need therefore of all-Exkortations and Arguments imag- NR +, to perfwade us to do what in us lieth, that we may abide tad ac pes, have a great encouragement to the uſe of all poſſible MR er ro ablde in rhe love of 'God, from the promiſe annexed, wha ou that is, T will abide in you; do you ftrive, and I will P you to perfe&t; do you fight, and I will help you to overcome ;
SFO HAN
| es. ” fufhcient for you ; Grace wherein, 2nd whereby you ſhuill ſtand, Rom 5. 2. You ſhall be kepe by rhe power of Got through {3:1 to Salvation. h Bur look, as 115 With the Branch it cannot bor frais of it ſelf ; bur if it be once ſip2r2:ed from the influences of che Srock, itdies and withereth ; fo ic will be with vou : | forth no fruic unleſs ve abide in me ;
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches i: he that abideth in me, and [ in him, the fame brinveth forth much fruit &, 4 * tor without me ye can do nothing /.
* e439y ba vey y ON C2471 7! -
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forth no fruit ; but that Influence continoing no Plant + ful than a Vine is ; So wickout the continual influence of my Spirit of Grace upon you, you will be altogether barren and unfiuitful : but if you have thar influence, you will not be fruitful only, but very fruitful: / For without my ſuch continuing influence, you will not only be able co do little, but you will be able tc do nothing that isrruly and ſpiritually good and acceptable in the fight of God. *
and ca!t them into the fire, and they are burned -.