Gods husbandry

The lips of the wise do feed many, saith the wise Solomon. How truly was this saying verified in our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, who (being the Wisdom of his Father) delighted (as it was foretold of him) to open his mouth in a Parable, and to utter dark sayings of old. And as in the whole course of ⟨p. 2⟩his life, his mouth was a well-spring of waters of life, evermore sending forth the streams of sweet refreshing doctrine; so chiefly towards his end (in the fore-sight of his near approaching departure) doth he enlarge himself more than ordinary, in divers most worthy speeches, to instruct and comfort his sorrowful Apostles. In this Chapter amongst the rest, intending to persuade them to goodness of life, he lays down certain grounds as a foundation, whereon to raise his purposed exhortation. One ground standeth fast in these two Verses, which contain a sweet and comfortable Parable, wherein our Saviour sets out the care, that himself and his Father take of his Churches welfare. Himself he compareth to the body of the Vine, from whence the sweet sap of all heavenly graces, is plentifully derived to every branch, according to the capacity and measure of every one. His Father he compares to an Husbandman, who doth plant, and mound, and dress this Vine: and last of all, gather the fruit thereof in his own eternal and unspeakable glory and praise. And (that the matter may be better noted) he prosecutes this part of the comparison more at large, showing the principal husbandry of GOD the Father about this Vine. This husbandry is set out by the subject and parts of it. The subject of Gods husbandry is described by the common nature and different kinds thereof. The common nature is in those words, Every branch in me; that is, every professor of Christian religion; every one that maketh himself or others believe, that he believeth in Jesus ⟨p. 3⟩