SERMON XV.

I am the Vine, ye are the branches.-JOHN xv. 5.

THE spirituality of the Saviour's mind was discovered in various ways; among other ways, by taking occasion from common objects and occurrences to teach the most important truths, and to raise the affections of men from things earthly to those which are spiritual and eternal. The passage before us is of this nature, probably arising either from his having dispensed the fruit of the vine to his disciples, or from the sight of one, as vines were abundant in that country. He begins, "I am the true vine," as opposed to one who deceives expectation (such have been called lying trees,) or to express the excellency of that fruit which he bears. Were I to pursue the metaphor, I should dwell upon the meanness of his external appearance; the vine not being a stately tree. The spreading nature of his kingdom; the vine being very luxuriant, and shooting its branches far and wide, Psalm lxxx. 8-10. Jesus, the true vine, " must increase," till he fills the whole earth. The excellency of its fruit; how delicious the juice of the vine! It is said

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to make glad the heart of God and man, Judges ix. 13. The fruit which grows on the tree of life is most excellent in its nature and effects, it has no deleterious quality, nor can it be enjoyed in excess. Other points of resemblance there are; other traces of analogy might be noticed, but they do not fall within my present plan and design. We have viewed the union between Christ and his people, as exhibited by the artificial one of a foundation and the superstructure, and the civil one between the bridegroom and the bride, but now we have a vital one between the vine and branches. We make a few observations.

I. All the supplies are treasured up in the root. It has pleased God, in the natural and vegetable world, to make the root the source of life and vigour; all necessary for the branches is first possessed by the root. So in the spiritual world, the method of his grace is analogous with this natural process; it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell in Christ: this is spoken of his mediatorial fulness; it is deposited in him as the root to supply all the vital branches; whether life or power, grace or consolation, all are in him.

II. There is a communication open between the root and the branches. The vital juice which the root contains is exhaled or drawn up by the influence of the sun, or heat, and the tree being porous, it flows through those passages in order to supply the branches or ramifications with sap; and hence the necessity there is of its

being so really united as to open this communication; it would not do to take a branch and bind it on the tree, but there must be a graffing on the stock. In every believer, there is by the Holy Spirit and faith, a communication open to the fulness of the Lord Jesus; such derive from him what is spiritual; "out of his fulness have all we received, and grace upon grace;" gracious supplies in rich abundance; but this can only be by such as are really one with him, living branches; others may profess him, while Christians only by external adherence; whereas these are as the scion upon the stock, or branches growing upon the root, incorporated. Rom. xi. 25.

III. That which the branches receive they expend. It has been thought, that in winter, the succus possessed by the branches retreats again to the root, but I believe it will be found that it spends itself in leaves and fruit. The Bible represents our profession by leaves, and holiness by fruit, and as we receive supplies of wisdom and power from the Lord, our profession and course of good works are maintained; under this influence the good man's "leaf shall not wither, or die away; he shall also bring forth his fruit in his season," Psalm i. He who abideth in Christ, and Christ in him, bringeth forth much fruit; this leads us to observe,

IV. That the quality of the fruit will correspond with the nature of the sap. You will remember we are speaking of the natural course of things in

the vegetable world; men do not gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles; by the fruit is the tree known: so the fruit of these branches in Christ will correspond with the influences of his grace; consult Titus ii. 11, 12. "For the grace of God which bringeth salvation," &c. If our fruits are by Jesus Christ, they are fruits of righteousness to the praise and glory of God. If they are by the Spirit, they stand opposed to those of the flesh, Gal. v. 21, 22, love, peace, joy, long-suffering, &c. All united to Christ are fruitful in all goodness; these fruits agree with the nature of his gracious. influence, and bear some conformity to him on whom they depend, and upon whom they live; the life of Christ will be manifested in and by them.

V. As to the degree of fruitfulness, the branches may greatly differ; on one branch of a vine you shall perceive but one cluster; on another more; and others will present you many. In a Christian society, to advert to a parable, some bring forth thirty, some sixty, some an hundred-fold; in some believers, one particular grace is more conspicuous, humility, open simplicity, affection, or zeal; others are more fruitful in their families and the house of God; while in others, living much upon Christ, and deriving large supplies from him, they present you with a beautiful assemblage of graces, and their spirit, temper, conversation, conduct, influence and example, all tend to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, and to glorify our heavenly

Father. Happy indeed are such; this is really honour and glory. Oh, to be more like them!

VI. All are under the care of the husbandman. The branches want dressing or pruning; their luxuriant shoots, especially in the heat of the sun, (which answers to worldly prosperity) would otherwise hinder the fruit: thus, "the Father, who is the husbandman, purges the fruitful branches, that they may bring forth more ;" this is the light in which we are to view afflictions, pruning the branches. I have seen the operation, and thought the vine-dresser cut away more than was necessary; that was my ignorance; he, with a superior judgment, knew it was right and beneficial. In affliction we are too apt to think this was unnecessarily severe, or that unnecessarily lengthened out, this or the other taken away, surely might have been spared; but the Divine Husbandman knows best; these prunings are the effect of his care, and are intended to increase our fruitfulness in the ways and work of God.

Are we living branches in the true vine? The context speaks of fruitless branches in Christ; in him by profession, and not by vital union; these shall the husbandman "take away." Some by the allotments of Providence are taken from the means they have rested in; some by being suffered to fall into temptation, thus to act out their real character, and so cut off from the visible church; then " they wither," their impressions wear off,