Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

JOHN xv. 5. I am the Vine, ye are the Branches.

HAVING spoken of the change, made by regeneration on all those that shall inherit eternal life, in opposition to their natural real state, the state of degeneracy; I proceed to speak of the change made upon them, in their union with the Lord Jesus Christ, in opposition to their natural relative state, the state of misery. The doctrine of the saints union with Christ is very plainly and fully insisted on, from the beginning of the 12th verse of this chapter; which is a part of our Lord's fare-well sermon to his disciples. Sorrow had now filled their hearts; they were apt to say, Alas! What will become of us, when our Master is taken trom our head? Who will then instruct us? Who will solve our doubts? How will we be supported under our difficulties and discouragements? How will we be able to live without our wonted communications with him? Wherefore our Lord Jesus Christ seasonably teaches them the mystery of their union with him, comparing himself to the vine-stock, and them to the branches.

He compares, I say, (1.) Himself to a vine stock: I am the Vine: He had been celebrating, with his disciples, the Sacrament of his Supper, that sign and seal of his people's union with himself; and ⟨p. 165⟩had told them, he would drink no more of the fruit of the vine, till he should drink it new with them in his Father's kingdom: and now he shows himself to be the Vine, from whence the wine of their consolation should come. The vine hath less beauty than many other trees: but is exceeding fruitful; fitly representing the low condition our Lord was then in, yet bringing many sons to glory. But that which is chiefly aimed at, in his comparing himself to a vine, is to represent himself as the supporter and nourisher of his people, in whom they live, and bring forth fruit. (2.) He compares them to the branches, ye are the branches of that Vine. Ye are the branches knit to, and growing on this stock: drawing all your life and sap from it. It is a beautiful comparison; as if he had said, I am as a Vine, ye are as the branche of that Vine. Now there are two sorts of branches: (1.) Natural branches, which at first spring out of the stock: these are the branches that are in the tree, and were never out of it. (2) There are ingrafted branches, which are branches broken off from the tree that first gave their life; and put into another to grow upon it. Thus branches come to be on a tree, which originally were not on it. The branches mentioned in the text, are of the latter sort; branches broken off, (as the word in the original language denotes) namely, from the tree that first gave them life. None of the children of men are natural branches of the second Adam, viz. Jesus Christ the true Vine; they are all the natural branches of the first Adam, that degenerate vine; but the elect are all of them sooner or later broken off from the natural stock, and ingrafted into Christ the true Vine.