Doct. 6. That unfruitful branches, God in the end cuts off, and the several degrees whereby he cuts off professors that are unfruitful.

Doct. 6. That unfruitfull branches, God in the end cuts off, and the severall degrees whereby he cuts off professors that are unfruitfull.

That unfruitful branches God in the end takes away: As he did Judas, who was here especially aimed at. For proof, take Psal. 125. It is a Psalm made of purpose to show the different estate of the professors of Religion: Those that are upright, ver. 4. he saith, God will continue to do them good, and They shall be at mount Zion, and all the gates of hell shall not be able to remove one of those mountains: But because there are many, that like Planets go the same course with the other Orbs, and yet have some secret by-way besides of their own, of these he says, Those that turn aside into crooked ways, God will lead them forth ⟨p. 33⟩with the workers of iniquity: That is, in the end he will discover them to be what they are: And though they go amongst the drove of Professors, like sheep, yet God will detect them, either in this life, or in the life to come, to be Goats: Though they did not seem to be workers of iniquity, yet God will lead them forth with them.

That unfruitfull branches God in the end takes away: As he did Judas, who was here especially aymed at. For proofe, take Psal. 125. It is a Psalme made of purpose to shew the different estate of the professors of Religion: Those that are upright, ver. 4. he saith, God will continue to doe them good, and They shall be at mount Sion, and all the gates of hell shall not be able to remove one of those mountaines: But because there are many, that like Planets goe the same course with the other Orbes, and yet have some secret by-way besides of their owne, of these he sayes, Those that turne aside into crooked wayes, God will lead them forth ⟨p. 33⟩with the workers of iniquity: That is, in the end he will discover them to be what they are: And though they goe amongst the drove of Professors, like sheep, yet God will detect them, either in this life, or in the life to come, to be Goats: Though they did not seeme to be workers of iniquity, yet God will leade them forth with them.

Reasons why God dealeth thus with them.

Secondly,¹ because the Husbandman hath no profit by them: Heb. 6. The ground that bringeth forth thorns, and not fruit meet for him that dresseth it, is nigh to cursing. In the 8. of the Cant. it is said, Solomon had a Vineyard, and he let it out to Keepers, &c. He speaks this of Christ, of whom Solomon was a Type, and of his Church; and his comparison stands thus: Solomon being a King, and having many Vineyards for his Royalty, (for the riches of ancient Kings lay much in husbandry) he let them out to Vine-dressers, and they had some gain by them; But Solomon must have a thousand, and they but two hundred; the chief gain was to come to Solomon. So the Vineyard that God had planted here below, he lets it out to men, and they shall have some profit by it, you shall all have wages for the work you do; yet so as the chief gain must return to God, he must have a thousand for your two hundred. But when men will have all the gains that is in what they do, set up their own ends only, and the Husbandman shall have none, such branches he takes away, because they are not for his profit, for it is made a rule of equity, 1 Cor. 9. 7. That he that planteth a Vineyard, should eat of the fruit of it.

Secondly,¹ because the Husbandman hath no profit by them: Heb. 6. The ground that bringeth forth thorns, and not fruit meet for him that dresseth it, is nigh to cursing. In the 8. of the Cant. it is said, Solomon had a Vineyard, and he let it out to Keepers, &c. He speakes this of Christ, of whom Solomon was a Type, and of his Church; and his comparison stands thus: Solomon being a King, and having many Vineyards for his Royalty, (for the riches of antient Kings lay much in husbandry) he let them out to Vine-dressers, and they had some gaine by them; But Solomon must have a thousand, and they but two hundred; the chiefe gaine was to come to Solomon. So the Vineyard that God had planted here below, he lets it out to men, and they shall have some profit by it, you shall all have wages for the work you doe; yet so as the chiefe gaine must returne to God, he must have a thousand for your two hundred. But when men will have all the gains that is in what they doe, set up their owne ends onely, and the Husbandman shall have none, such branches he takes away, because they are not for his profit, for it is made a rule of equity,

Because of all trees a Vine is good for nothing else but to ⟨p. 34⟩bring forth fruit;¹ as we see it expressed to us, Ezek. 15. it is good for nothing but the fire when it becomes unfruitful: Other trees are good for building, to make pins of, but not the Vine: And this similitude God chose out, to show that of all trees else, Professors, if unfruitful, are good for nothing, their end is to be burned.

Because of all trees a Vine is good for nothing else but to ⟨p. 34⟩bring forth fruit;¹ as we see it expressed to us, Ezek. 15. it is good for nothing but the fire when it becomes unfruitfull: Other trees are good for building, to make pins of, but not the Vine: And this similitude God chose out, to shew that of all trees else, Professors, if unfruitfull, are good for nothing, their end is to be burned.

1. 1Reas. 3.

Now if you ask,¹ How God taketh them away? The degrees he doth it by are set down here, ver. 6. If a man abide not in me, &c. that is, fall away, then 1. They are cast out, and 2. They wither, 3. They are gathered, 4. They are burned.

Now if you aske,¹ How God taketh them away? The degrees he doth it by are set downe here, ver. 6. If a man abide not in me, &c. that is, fall away, then 1. They are cast out, and 2. They wither, 3. They are gathered, 4. They are burned.

1. 1The degrees of Gods cutting off unfruitful branches.The degrees of Gods cutting off unfruitfull branches.

First, they are cast forth, that is, out of the hearts of Gods people, out of their company, out of their prayers, yea and out of their society by excommunication often, and many times they cast out themselves, being given up to such errors, as discover them to be unsound: As Hymenaeus and Philetus, they were forward Professors, so that their fall was like to have shaken many of the fruitful branches, in so much that the Apostle was fain to make an Apology about their fall, Nevertheless the foundation of God remains sure, 2 Tim. 2. 18. God gave them up to such opinions and heresies, as discovered their hearts to be rotten and unsound: So also he gives these carnal professors up to such sins as will discover them. This was the case of Cain, he brought forth some fruit, for he sacrificed; yet because not in sincerity, he envied his brother, and was given up to murder his brother, upon which it is said, that He was cast out of the sight of the Lord, Gen. 4. 16. that is, cast out of his Fathers family, and from the Ordinances of God there enjoyed, and made a vagabond upon the face of the whole earth, which of all curses is the greatest: or else, as was said, they of their own accord forsake the assembly of the Saints. The Apostle makes this a step to the sin against the holy Ghost, Heb. 10. 25. he saith, That when men forsake the assemblies and company of the people of God, public and private, and love not to quicken and stir up one another, or begin to be shy of those they once accompanied, they are in a nigh degree to that which follows in the next verse, To sin wilfully after they have received the knowledge of the truth.

First, they are cast forth, that is, out of the hearts of Gods people, out of their company, out of their prayers, yea and out of their society by excommunication often, and many times they cast out themselves, being given up to such errors, as discover them to be unsound: As Hymenaeus and Philetus, they were forward Professors, so that their fall was like to have shaken many of the fruitfull branches, in so much that the Apostle was faine to make an Apologie about their fall, Neverthelesse the foundation of God remains sure, 2 Tim. 2. 18. God gave them up to such opinions and heresies, as discovered their hearts to be rotten and unsound: So also he gives these carnall professors up to such sinnes as will discover them. This was the case of Cain, he brought forth some fruit, for he sacrificed; yet because not in sincerity, he envied his brother, and was given up to murther his brother, upon which it is said, that He was cast out of the sight of the Lord,

Secondly, being thus cast forth, they wither; that is, the sap of abilities which they once had, begins to decay; that life in holy ⟨p. 35⟩duties, and in holy speeches, begins to be withdrawn, and their leaves begin to fall off, they cannot pray nor speak of holy things, as they were wont. Thus it is said of such Professors, Jude 12. That their fruit withereth, even here in the eyes of men; for when God casteth them out, then he withdraws his Spirit from them; and then, although they come to the Ordinances, yet they have no breathings; they come to Prayer, and the Spirit of God is departed, and so by degrees God withdraws sap from them, till they be quite dead. Thus he dealt with Saul, when he had discovered himself by sparing the Amalekites, and by persecuting David, it is said, The Spirit of God departed from him, and he withered ever after, all his gifts vanished, and the spirit or frame of heart he once had, departed from him. So likewise they that had not gained by their talents, Mat. 25. 26. their talents were taken from them, even in this life,, and the Spirit of God, which rested upon them, rested upon some other that were more faithful.

Secondly, being thus cast forth, they wither; that is, the sap of abilities which they once had, begins to decay; that life in holy ⟨p. 35⟩duties, and in holy speeches, begins to be withdrawn, and their leaves begin to fall off, they cannot pray nor speake of holy things, as they were wont. Thus it is said of such Professors, Jude 12. That their fruit withereth, even here in the eyes of men; for when God casteth them out, then he withdrawes his Spirit from them; and then, although they come to the Ordinances, yet they have no breathings; they come to Prayer, and the Spirit of God is departed, and so by degrees God withdraws sap from them, till they be quite dead. Thus he dealt with Saul, when he had discovered himselfe by sparing the Amalekites, and by persecuting David, it is said, The Spirit of God departed from him, and he withered ever after, all his gifts vanished, and the spirit or frame of heart he once had, departed from him. So likewise they that had not gained by their talents,

Thirdly, lying long unfruitful, in the end it is said they are gathered. Our Translation hath it, Men gather them, which either respects a punishment in this life, that when they are cast out from the society of Gods people, wicked men gather them, they fall to those that are naught: Popish persons, or profane Atheists take them, as the Pharisees did Judas, when he cast himself out of the society of the Apostles. Or else it may in a Metaphor refer to the life to come; the Angels, they are the Reapers, they gather them in the last day, and bind them in bundles for the fire.

Thirdly, lying long unfruitfull, in the end it is said they are gathered. Our Translation hath it, Men gather them, which either respects a punishment in this life, that when they are cast out from the society of Gods people, wicked men gather them, they fall to those that are naught: Popish persons, or profane Atheists take them, as the Pharisees did Judas, when he cast himselfe out of the society of the Apostles. Or else it may in a Metaphor refer to the life to come; the Angels, they are the Reapers, they gather them in the last day, and bind them in bundles for the fire.

So lastly, it is said, They are cast into the fire, and they burn. A man would think he needed not to have added that, for being cast into the fire, they must needs burn: but his meaning is, that of all other they make the fiercest, hottest fire, because they are trees most seared, and fuel fully dry, as the Prophet speaks.

So lastly, it is said, They are cast into the fire, and they burne. A man would think he needed not to have added that, for being cast into the fire, they must needs burne: but his meaning is, that of all other they make the fiercest, hottest fire, because they are trees most seared, and fuell fully dry, as the Prophet speaks.

You then that profess the name of Christ,¹ take heed that you be fruitful branches indeed. I say to you as the Apostle saith, Rom: 11. 19, 20. Because of unbelief, they were broken off: Thou standest by faith, be not high minded, but fear. Take heed that it be fruit that you bring forth, do all for GOD, ⟨p. 36⟩make him your end in all, bring forth more fruit every day, let your fruit be riper, and more spiritual daily, labour to spread, and root your selves as much downward in inward holiness, as you do upward in outward profession, and purge your selves continually, lest that which is threatened here, befall you, which are fearful things to be spoken, and yet concern many a soul. The Apostle compares such to trees twice dead, and plucked up by the roots. You were borne dead in Adam; since that you have had perhaps some union with Christ by common graces; if your wither again, then you are twice dead, and therefore fit for nothing but to be stubbed up, and cast into the fire. And if any soul begin to forsake the assemblies of the Saints, or be cast out from them, let him look to himself lest he wither in the end, and be twice dead, and so he never come to have life put into him again, that is, repent, and return again: And know this, that if you being cast out by the Church and people of God, break your hearts, so that you mourn for your sin, as the incestuous Corinthian did, it is a sign you are such branches as God will yet make fruitful; but if being cast out you begin to wither, as here, the end will be burning.

You then that professe the name of Christ,¹ take heed that you be fruitfull branches indeed. I say to you as the Apostle saith, Rom: 11. 19, 20. Because of unbeliefe, they were broken off: Thou standest by faith, be not high minded, but feare. Take heede that it be fruit that you bring forth, doe all for GOD, ⟨p. 36⟩make him your end in all, bring forth more fruit every day, let your fruit be riper, and more spirituall daily, labour to spread, and root your selves as much downward in inward holinesse, as you do upward in outwardprofession, and purge your selves continually, lest that which is threatned here, befall you, which are fearfull things to be spoken, and yet concerne many a soule. The Apostle compares such to trees twice dead, and pluckt up by the roots. You were borne dead in Adam; since that you have had perhaps some union with Christ by common graces; if your wither againe, then you are twice dead, and therefore fit for nothing but to be stubbed up, and cast into the fire. And if any soule begin to forsake the assemblies of the Saints, or be cast out from them, let him looke to himselfe lest he wither in the end, and be twice dead, and so he never come to have life put into him againe, that is, repent, and return againe: And know this, that if you being cast out by the Church and people of God, break your hearts, so that you mourne for your sinne, as the incestuous Corinthian did, it is a signe you are such branches as God will yet make fruitfull; but if beingcast out you begin to wither, as here, the end will be burning.

THE TRIAL OF A CHRISTIANS GROWTH.

THE TRYALL OF A CHRISTIANS GROWTH.

THE FIRST PART.

JOHN 15. 2. —He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit,

Of Growth in VIVIFICATION, and bringing forth more fruit.