Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…

Consider 1. That you are not, you cannot be Christians indeed, except you be fruitful. It is given as the Character of a false Christian, or ⟨p. 79⟩an Hypocrite, that though he be a Branch in Christ; that is to say, a Professor of the true Christian Religion, yet he bears no fruit, Joh. 15.1. And it is noted concerning those unsound Professors, which proved Apostates at last, that they were unfruitful, Jude 12. Those that have indeed an interest in Christ, are always fruitful; They that are married unto Christ, bring forth fruit unto God, Rom. 7.4. If therefore there be not a bringing forth of this fruit, that's a sure sign that the soul was never married to Christ, never united unto him by faith, never had a saving interest in him. It may be said of every true Believer, as was said of Onesimus, Phil. 11. In time past unprofitable, but now profitable. So a sinner before his Conversion, is an unfruitful Creature; but when once he is effectually brought home to God, then he is profitable; If he be (as Onesimus was) a servant, he is a profitable Servant; he labours to conform himself to the will of God and so to please God in every thing; whatever Relation he stands in, he brings forth fruit according to that Relation, endeavouring to answer the duties of that Relation; never say or think that you are Christians, if it be nor thus with you. Hence it is, that the Conversion of sinners is in the Scriptures set forth by saying, Instead of the Thorn shall come up the Fir-tree; and instead of the Brier shall come up the Myrtle-tree, Isa. ⟨p. 80⟩55.13. That is to say, they that were before like the Thorn and the Brier, even unfruitful, and unfit for any good work, shall become fruitful.

Consider 1. That you are not, you cannot be Christians indeed, except you be fruitful. It is given as the Character of a false Christian, or ⟨p. 79⟩