HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-8.-The wortl,Zess vine. The vine represents Israel, and in its degenerato state it stands for the falkn, corrupt nation. Our Lord has taken up the image alreadv familiar to us from Ps. lxxx. and Isa. v., as well as from this passage in Ezekiel s·o that bis Church, now regarded as the spiritual Israel, may be typified in the old analogies of the vine (John xv.). I. WHEREIN THE WORTH OF THE VINE CONSISTS. "What is the vine tree more than any tree?" It is usually regarded as of supreme excellence. While fig trees grow by the wayside, vines are carefully walled in and the vineyard protected by watchmen (Isa. v. 2). Much labour is spent upon the vine in tilling the soil, cleansing and pruning the branches, and so preparing for the vintage. All this points to a special value in the Yine above ordinary plants. It is not difficult to see the ground of this valuation. The vine is prized simply for its grapes. The abundance and quality of the fruit give it its sole worth. "And be looked that it should bring forth grapes" (Isa. v. 2). Christ values his people just according to their fruitfulness (John xv. 8). II._ H_ow THE VTh"E M~Y BE WORTHLESS. If the vine be fruitless, it can no longer sustam its proud pre-emrnence. On the contrary, regarded as a tree, it must be taken for one of the poorest of its class. The forester can set no price upon its limp and straggling boughs. If it bears no fruit, and is therefore to be considered on its own acconnt and not for the sake of its product, it is of less value than other trees, Reo-arded as timber it is worthless. Degenerate Israel was less valuable than heathen n~tions, The Jews were then far inferior to the Greeks and Romans at the height of their greatness. The Church of Christ, when barren of spiritual fruitfulness, is a noxious institution; political clubs, scientific societies, chambers of commerce,-these so-called secular institutions are superior to a degenerate Church. The fallen Christian is lower than the " man of the world," and of less use to society, as the fruitless vine is of less account than the forest tree. IIL WHAT IS TO BE DOh"E TO THE WORTHLESS VINE. It has failed in fruit-hearing; it is useless as timber ; there remains only one possible use for it. Flung into the oven it may serve as firewood. Indeed, this is necessary. Similarly, the fruitless fig tree camiot be allowed to stand, occupying space, absorbing nutriment from the soil, casting shade where healthy sunshine would develop more profitable vegetable growth. "Cut it down; why cu.mbereth it the ground?" (Lulre xiiL 7). A fruitless Church stands in the place of a useful one, and therefore it is positively injurious. There is but one good that can come of it. The very destruction of it may be a warning to others, Unfaithful souls are preparing for themselves a fate of destruction. Negative fruit- lessness is enough to doom them (Matt. xxv. 30). IV. How THE WORTHLESS VINE IS TO BE SUBSEQUENTLY REGARDED. It was of no use before it was bnrnt. What, then, will be its value afterwards (see ver. 5)? Chastisement, which corresponds to pruning, is sent in order to improve its subject. But destruction cannot benefit the thing destroyed. If "the wages of sin is death," such wages cannot he turned to any good account. We may submit to wholesome correction, but we should "flee from the wrath to come" when that wrath is the consuming fire of destruction, the awful consequences of persistent sin.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-8.-71ie worthless vineyard. The prophet was inspired to point the reproach of the Hebrew people, by reference to their ingratitude, their unfaithfulness, and their failure to fulfil the special purpose for which they were exalted to a position c,f peculiar privilege. In this passaie, as in a similar passage in the fifth chapter of Isaiah',; prophecies, the Rimilitude of the vine is employed to set forth, on the one hand, Divine care, culture, and forbearance; and, on the other hand, national barrenness and uselessness. Plain truths are uttered which serve to justify before every rightly judging niind the action c,f the Lord in this time of Israel'~ calamities and distresses. l. lf\£AEL WAS SELECTED F1!0ll4 AM.ONG THE NATIONS ON ACCOUNT OF NO EXCELLENCE OR tlrt. xv. 1-8.] '!'HE nooK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 261