The Beatitudes, Appendix · Sermon 8
The trees of Righteouſneſs bloſſoming, and bringing forth fruit.
Phil. 1.11.
Being filled with the fruits of Righteouſneſſe which are by Ieſus Chriſt, unto the glory and praiſe of God.
THE bleſſed Apoſtle in this Chapter makes a ſolemn Prayer to God for theſe Philippians; and among the reſt, he puts up two rare Petitions for them.
1. That they might be ſincere. Ver. 10.
2. That they might be fruitful, in the words of the Text, Being filled with the fruits of Righteouſneſs, &c. Where is obſervable,
1. The Matter, being filled with fruits.
2. The Manner of Production, by Jeſus Chriſt.
3. The End, which are to the glory and praiſe of God.
Doctrine from whence this great truth doth reſult, Doctr. That Chriſtians ſhould above all things endeavour after fruithfulneſs. The Saints are called trees of Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 61.3. Theſe rational trees muſt not only bring forth leaves, but fruit; Being filled with the fruits of righteouſneſs. For the further amplifying of this, there are two things to be enquired into.
1. How a Chriſtian brings forth fruit.
2. What is the fruit he brings forth.
1. How a Chriſtian brings forth fruit. I anſwer; he brings forth fruit in the Vine; by nature we are barren; there is not one good bloſſome growing on us; but when by faith we are engraffed into Chriſt, then we grow and fructifie: Joh. 15.4. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itſelf, except it abide in the Vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me. Jeſus Chriſt is that bleſſed Root which ſhoots up that ſap of grace into his Branches. The Pelagians tell us we have ſufficiency of our ſelves to bring forth good fruit: but how improper is this? doth not the Root contribute to the Branches? is it not of Chriſts pretious fulneſs that we receive? Joh. 1.16. Therefore it is obſervable Chriſt calls the Spouſes grace his grace: Cant. 5.1. I have gathered my Myrrhe with my Spice. Chriſt ſaith not, thy myrrhe, but my myrrhe. Emiſſiones iſtae bone Jeſu, ſunt emiſſiones tuae. Bern. in Cant. If the Saints bear any ſpiritual fruit, they are beholding to Chriſt for it, it is his wine, it is his myrrhe: Hoſe. 14.8. From me is thy fruit found.
2. What that fruit is which a good Chriſtian brings forth. Anſwer; it is
1. Inward fruit.
2. Outward fruit.
3. Kindly fruit.
4. Seaſonable fruit.
1. A Chriſtian brings forth inward fruit: Love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſs, goodneſs, faith, &c. Gal. 5.22. This fruit is ſweet, and mellows, growing under the Sun of Righteouſneſs; this is that ripe fruit God delights to taſte of, Micah 7.1.
2. A Chriſtian brings forth outward fruit.
1. The fruit of good diſcourſe: Prov. 15.4. A wholeſome tongue is a tree of life. Gracious ſpeeches fall from the lips of a godly man, as fruit from a tree.
2. The fruit of good works; Col. 1.10. God will ſay at the laſt day, ſhow me thy faith by thy works, Jam. 2.18. A true Saint doth all the good he can, honouring the Lord with his ſubſtance; he knows he is to be in the world but a while, therefore lives much in a little time, and crowds up a great deale of work in a little room; it was Chriſts ſpeech not long before his ſuffering, I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do, Joh. 17.4. How can they be ſaid to finiſh their work, that never yet began a good work?
3. A Chriſtian brings forth kindly fruit. The godly man bringeth forth his fruit, Pſal. 1.3. foreign. That is, he brings forth that fruit which is proper for him to bear. But what is this kindly and proper fruit? I anſwer, when we are good in our Callings and Relations: In a Magiſtrate, Juſtice is kindly fruit, Deut. 16.19. in a Miniſter, Zeal, Acts 17.…6. In a Parent, Inſtruction, Deut. 4.10. in a Child, Reverence, Epheſ. 6.1. in a Maſter, good example, Gen. 18.19. Epheſ. 6.9. in a ſervant, Obedience, 1 Pet. 2.18. in the Husband, Love, Epheſ. 5.25. in the Wife, Submiſſion, Epheſ. 5.22. in a Tradeſman, diligence, Exod. 20.9. in a Souldier, innocence, Luke 3.14. A tree of Gods planting brings forth foreign his fruit, that which is ſuitable and proper. I ſhall never believe him to be good, that doth not bear kindly fruit; a good Chriſtian, but a bad Maſter; a good Chriſtian, but a bad Parent, doth not ſound well. That Miniſter can no more be good which wants zeal, than that wine is good which wants ſpirits; that Magiſtrate can no more be good which wants Juſtice, than that Pillar is good which is not upright.*Remota juſtitia, quid ſunt Regna niſi magna latrocinia? Aug. That Child can no more be good who doth not honour his Parent, than a Traitor can be ſaid to be loyal. When Abſalom did riſe up in rebellion againſt his Father, the Mule which he rode upon (as if ſhe were weary of carrying ſuch a burden) reſigns up her load to the great thick Oak, and there left him hanging by the head betwixt Heaven and Earth, as neither fit to aſcend the one, nor worthy to tread upon the other.
Let Chriſtians be perſwaded to bring forth proper and genuine fruit, and ſhine forth in their Relations; conſider,
1. He who is not good in his Relations, goes under the juſt ſuſpition of an Hypocrite; let a man ſeem to be a penitent, or Zelot, yet if he bear not fruit proper to his ſtation, he is no tree of righteouſneſs, but ſome wild degenerate plant. There are ſome will pray, hear Sermons, diſcourſe well, this is good; but, what means the bleating of the ſheep? they are not good in their Relations; this diſcovers they are foundered and unſound. A good Chriſtian labours to fill his Relations, and to go through all the parts of Religion, as the Sun through all the Signs of the Zodiack. I like not thoſe Chriſtians who though they ſeem to be travelling to heaven, yet leave the duties of their Relations a as Terra incognita, which they never come near.
2. The excellency of a Chriſtian is to bring forth proper fruit*Perfectum eſt quod propriam att…ngit virtutem.; wherein lies the goodneſs of a member in the body, but to diſcharge its proper office? The eye is to ſee, the ear to hear, &c. So the excellency of a Chriſtian is to bring forth that fruit which God hath aſſigned him; what is a thing good for which doth not do its proper work? what is a Clock good for that will not ſtrike? what is a ſhip good for that will not ſaile? what is a Roſe good for that doth not ſmell? what is that Profeſſor good for that doth not ſend forth a ſweet perfume in his Relation? the commendation of a thing is when it puts forth its proper vertue.
3. Not to bring forth ſuitable fruit, ſpoils all the other fruit which we bring forth. If a man were to make a Medicine, and ſhould leave out the chief ingredient, the Medicine would loſe its vertue. If one were to draw a Picture, and ſhould leave out an eye, it would ſpoile the Picture; there are many to whom Chriſt will ſay at the day of judgement, as to the young man, Luke 18.22. Yet lackeſt thou one thing. Thou haſt pray'd, and faſted, and heard ſermons, yet lackeſt thou one thing, thou haſt not been good in thy Relations.
4. Relative graces do much beautifie and ſet off a Chriſtian: It is the beauty of a Star to ſhine in its proper Orbe; Relative grace doth beſpangle a Chriſtian.
5. A good Chriſtian brings forth ſeaſonable fruit, Pſal. 1.3. he that bringeth forth fruit foreign in his ſeaſon, *Eccleſ. 3.1.every thing is beautiful in his time, Eccleſ. 3.11. That may be good at one time, which at another may be out of ſeaſon. There is a great deale of skill in the right timing of a thing; duties of Religion muſt be perform'd in the fit juncture of time.
1. Chriſtian duties that relate to our Neighbour muſt be obſerved in their ſeaſon.
1. Our reproving others muſt be ſeaſonable. Reproof is a duty; when we ſee others walk irregularly, like ſouldiers that march out of Rank and File, we ought mildly, yet gravely, to tell them of their ſin, Levit. 19.17. but let this fruit be brought forth in its ſeaſon.
1. Do it privately: Matth. 18.15. Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone.
2. Do it when thou ſeeſt him in the beſt temper, not when his paſſions are up; that were pouring oyle on the flame; but when his ſpirit is meekned and calm'd; you put the ſeal on the wax when it is ſoft and plyable; there is a time when mens ſpirits are more flexible and yielding; now is the fitteſt ſeaſon to ſtamp a Reproof upon them, and it is likelyeſt to take impreſſion. When Abigail reproved Nabal, it was in the right ſeaſon; not when he was in wine, but when he was in his wits, and was fit to hear a Reproof, 1 Sam. 25.37.
3. Another ſeaſon for Reproof is in the time of affliction: Affliction tames mens ſpirits, and now a word of Reproof ſpoken prudentially may work with the affliction; a bitter potion is not refuſed if in caſe of extremity of pain. Affliction opens the ear to Diſcipline*Job 36.10..
2. Our comforting others muſt be ſeaſonable; Prov. 15.23. A word ſpoken in due ſeaſon, how good is it? when we ſee one fallen into ſin, and with Peter weeping bitterly, oh now a word of comfort will do well. The ceſt…ous Corinth being deeply humbled, the Apoſtle calls for oyle and wine to be poured into his wounds; 2 Cor. 2.7. Ye ought rather to comfort him, and the reaſon is given, leſt perhaps ſuch an one ſhould be ſwallowed up of ſorrow. When the ſoul is wounded for ſin, now bring the mollifying oyntment of a promiſe, Jer. 3.1. hang out free graces Colours, diſplay the glory of Gods Attributes, his Mercy and Truth to the ſinner, when the ſpirit is broken; a word of comfort ſpoken in ſeaſon, is the putting it in joynt again, Gal. 1.6. this is to bring forth ſeaſonable fruit, when we give wine to them that are of a heavy heart; Prov. 16.4. Pleaſant words are as an honey-comb, ſweet to the ſoul. Jobs friends pretended to comfort him, but inſtead of pouring oyl into the wound, they poured in vinegar.
2. Duties of Religion that relate to God, muſt be performed in their ſeaſon.
1. Mourning for ſin is a duty; God loves a contrite heart, Pſal. 51.17. how powerful with God is the weeping Rhetorique that a poor ſinner uſeth? but yet there is a time when mourning may not be ſo ſeaſonable; when God hath given us ſome eminent, ſignal deliverance, and this mercy calls aloud to us to rejoyce, but we hang our Harps upon the willows, and ſit weeping; this ſadneſs is fructus intempeſtivus, fruit out of ſeaſon; there was a ſpecial time at the feaſt of Tabernacles, when God called his people to rejoycing; Deutr. 16.15. Seven dayes ſhalt thou keep a ſolemn feaſt unto the Lord thy God, and thou ſhalt ſurely rejoyce.
Now if the Iſraelites had ſat heavy and diſconſolate at that time when God called them to rejoycing, it had been very unſeaſonable, like mourning at a wedding; when we are called to thankſgiving, and we mingle our drink with tears; is not this to be highly unthankful for mercy? God would have his people humble, but not ungrateful. 'Tis the Divels policy either to keep us from duty, or elſe to put us upon it when it is leaſt in ſeaſon.
2. Rejoycing is a duty; Pſal. 33.1. But when God by ſome ſpecial providence calls us to weeping, now joy is unſeaſonable; this is that which God complains of, Iſa. 22.12. In that day did the Lord of Hoſts call to weeping, and behold joy and gladneſs, &c. Oecolampadius and others think it was in the time of King Ahaz, when the ſigns of Gods anger like a blazing ſtar did appear*Cum jam prae foribus eſſet in…tus., now, to be given to mirth, was very unſeaſonable, ver. 14. Surely this iniquity ſhall not be purged from you till you die, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. In the Hebrew it is foreign If this iniquity be purged; it is a conciſe form of an Oath, as if God had ſaid, I ſwear it ſhall not by any prayer or ſacrifice be expiated; the fruit of joy muſt be brought forth in its ſeaſon.
3. Reading the VVord is a duty, Joh. 5.39. but this fruit muſt be brought forth in its ſeaſon. To read at home, when the Word is a preaching, or the Sacrament celebrating, is unſeaſonable, nay ſinful; as Huſha ſaid, 2 Sam. 17.7. The Counſel is not good at this time: ſo I ſay of reading the VVord at home in time of publick adminiſtrations, it is not good at this time; one duty is to prepare for another, but not to juſtle out another; fruit muſt put forth ſeaſonably. The great God who hath appointed the duties of his worſhip, hath appointed alſo the time. God enjoyn'd a ſet time for the Paſſeover, when they were to bring their offering to the Lord: Numb. 9.2, 3. Let the Children of Iſrael keep the Paſſeover at his appointed ſeaſon, in the fourteenth day of this monethmonth, &c. had the people of Iſrael been reading the Law at home, or praying in the time of the Paſſeover, it had not been in ſeaſon, and God would have puniſhed it for a contempt; ver. 13. The man that forbeareth to keep the Paſſeover, even the ſame ſoul ſhall be cut off from among his people. If when publick Ordinances are adminiſtred, any perſon whether out of pride, or ſloth, ſhall ſtay at home, though he may have his private devotions, yet he brings forth fruit out of ſeaſon, and let that man know he ſhall bear his ſin.
Let all the trees of righteouſneſs bring forh ſeaſonable fruit; in proſperity be thankful, in adverſity patient. To every thing there is a ſeaſon, Eccleſ. 3.1. The Pſalmiſt ſaith, He appointed the Moon for his ſeaſons. Pſal. 104.19. If the Moon ſhould ſhine at noon-day, or the Sun ſhine at midnight, this were not in ſeaſon; ſo it is in Spirituals.
To excite to ſeaſonable fruit, conſider
1. The ſeaſonableneſs of a thing puts a value and pretiouſneſs upon it. There are certain meats which we eat of when they are in ſeaſon; if they be out of ſeaſon, we care not for them; we value a ſeaſonable kindneſs, elſe it is worth nothing. Duties of Religion performed in their ſeaſon are glorious.
2. Creatures by the inſtinct of Nature obſerve their ſeaſon: Jer. 8.7. Yea the Stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times, and the Turtle, &c. Pliny ſaith they obſerve the ſeaſon of changing their climate; and ſhall not Chriſtians obſerve their ſeaſons, when to mourn, when to rejoyce? let not the Stork, and Turtle outwit them.
3. Duties of Religion not well timed are dangerous; a ſtrong purgation may ſometimes be good; but to give it out of ſeaſon, when nature is ſpent, and between fainting fits, it may kill the patient. Snow and Hail are good for the ground, when they come in their ſeaſon, but when the Corn is ripe, now a ſtorm of Hail would do hurt, and be like a Flail to thraſh the Co…n out of the Ear. Mourning in a time of joy, private duties in time of publick, is as unſeaſonable as Snow and Hail in Harveſt, and will prove no leſſe prejudicial.
1. It ſhows us who is a Chriſtian in Gods Kalendar, Uſe 1 namely the fruit-bearing Chriſtian.Informat. As ſoon as the ſap of grace is infuſed, it puts forth it ſelf in Evangelical fruit. No ſooner was Paul converted, but he became a plant of renown, he did bring forth rare fruit, humility, faith, heavenly-mindedneſs; he was one of the moſt fruitfull Trees that ever God planted in his Vineyard. The Jaylor when God had changed him from a wild tree, to a tree of Righteouſneſs, brought forth ſweet and generous fruit. How kindly did he uſe the Apoſtles! he ſet meat before them, and waſhed their wounds, Acts 16.33, 34. he who was before their Jaylor, becomes now their Nurſe and Phyſitian. It is impoſſible for a man to be ingraffed into Chriſt, who is ſo full of juice and ſucculency, but he muſt needs be fruitful. He who is a branch of this Tree, though before he were like Aarons dry Rod, yet now he bloſſoms, and brings forth Almonds.
Uſe. 2 2. Here is an Indictment againſt three ſorts.
Reproof. 1. Such as bring forth no fruit; Hoſe. 10.1. Iſrael Branch 1 is an empty Vine. O how many unfruitful hearers are there, who evaporate into nothing but froth and fume, being like thoſe ears which run out all into ſtraw! they give God neither the early fruit, nor the latter. There are many Chriſtians like Arbors, covered only with the leaves of profeſſion; they may be compared to the wood of the Vine which is good for nothing, Ezek. 15.2. He who hath not the fruits of the Spirit *Gal. 5.22., hath not the Spirit; and he who hath not the Spirit of Chriſt, is none of Chriſts, Rom. 8.9. and if he be not Chriſts, whoſe is he then? I fear the ſinne of this Age is unfruitfulneſſe. Never more labouring in Gods Vineyard, and yet never leſſe fruit; inſtead of the Figtree and Pomgranate, we have abundance of barren willows grow among us; Miniſters ſay they fear they ſpend their labour in vain; many are perverted, few converted. Papiſts, and Heretiques ſee the fruit of their labours; millions are made Proſelites to Rome; Satan never had ſuch an harveſt in England as of late years; but how few are ſavingly wrought upon? how few fruitful plants? they are as the gleanings after Vintage. This is a lamentation and ſhall be for a lamentation. The ſilver ſhowers of the Sanctuary fall upon barren ground. Hiſtories relate that in ſome Countries they have no Trees at all growing. I will not be ſo uncharitable as to ſay we have no trees of Righteouſneſs in England; bleſſed be God we have ſome trees laden with Goſpel-fruit, Plants of renown; but few trees, in compariſon of the Thorns and Briars that grow; we have many will commend fruit, but few that bear fruit. To the unfruitful Chriſtian let me ſay four things.
1. Unfruitfulneſs is a ſhame: Barrenneſs of old was counted a great ſhame. For a tree in winter to be fruitleſs, is no great wonder; but in the Spring and Summer to be without fruit, is a reproach to the Tree: So in the winter of ignorance and Popery to have leſs fruit was leſſe culpable; but in the Spring time of the Goſpel, when the Sun of Righteouſneſs hath ſhined ſo gloriouſly in our Horizon, now to be without fruit is a reproach not to be wiped away; men think it a ſhame to want an eye, or a limb; but it is a greater ſhame to want fruit.
2. What account can the unfruitful Chriſtian give to God? God will come with this queſtion, Where is your fruit? a godly man dies full of fruit; Job 5.26. Thou ſhalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a ſhock of Corn, &c. The unfruitful Chriſtian comes to his grave not as ſhock of corn, but as a bundle of ſtraw, fit only for the fire: 'Tis good to bethink our ſelves what anſwer we ſhall give to God for our barrenneſs. The Lord hath planted us in a rich ſoil; he may ſay to us as to his Vineyard, Iſa. 5.1. My beloved hath a Vineyard in a very fruitful hill, and he fenced it, and planted it with the choiſeſt Vine, &c. and he looked that it ſhould bring forth Grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes, in an Hill] hilly places are judged the fitteſt for Vines to grow in, Pſal. 80.10. there the Sun comes beſt, and is of more force for ripening the Grapes.
In a fruitful hill] in the Hebrew it is foreign the horn of the ſon of oyle, or, the ſon of fatneſs, that is in a very fat, rich ſoil. So may God ſay to us, I have planted you in an hilly place, you have been higher than the Nations round about you, you have been even lifed up to heaven with Ordinances; the Sunbeams of mercies, and Sihons ſilver drops have fallen upon you; but where is your fruit? your enjoyments are great, but what are your improvements? whom God finds without fruit, he leaves without excuſe.
3. They that do not bring forth good fruit, ſhall never taſte of the fruits that grow in heaven. Heaven is the Garden of God, the Paradiſe of pleaſure where the moſt rare delicious fruits grow; there are fruits that the Angels themſelves delight to feed on; it may be ſaid of thoſe Coeleſtial fruits, as Cant. 4.13. Thy Plants are an Orchard of Pomgranates with pleaſant fruits, Camphire, and Spiknard, Saffron, Calamus, and Cinamon, with all trees of Frankincenſe, Myrrhe, and Aloes, with all the chief ſpices, or as it is in the Original, the head of the ſpices. How Aromatical and fragrant are thoſe fruits which grow in the heavenly Jeruſalem? now if you do not bring God your fruit, you ſhall never taſte his fruit: you that do not bring forth the fruits of Righteouſneſs, ſhall never taſte the fruits of Paradiſe. Oh preſent Chriſt with your ſweet ſpices, give him your Myrrhe, Cant. 5.2. your ſpiced wine with the juice of the Pomgranate. Cant. 8.2. your Myrrhe, that is, repentance; this, though it be bitter to you, it is ſweet to Chriſt. Your ſpiced wine, and the juice of the Pomgranate; that is, love mixed with obedience. Thoſe who have no Myrrhe, or wine to give God, ſhall never feed upon the Tree of life which bears ſeveral ſorts of fruit, Rev. 22.2.
4. Think of the heavy doom which will be paſſed upon the unfruitful perſon; Matth. 25.30. Caſt ye the unprofitable ſervant into outer darkneſs. *Non tantum de non ſervato, ſed de non aucto munere damnabuntur impii. Proſper.This man had not embezeld his Talent, but becauſe he did not trade with it, and bring forth fruit, therefore he is ſentenced. God will condemn men as well for hiding their Talents, as for ſpending them; as well for not bearing Figs, as for bearing thorns; let unfruitful Chriſtians look to it; if God ſhould not cut down unprofitable branches, he ſhould be untrue in his Word; for he hath ſaid, Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down, Mat. 3.10.
2. It reproves ſuch as bring forth evil fruit. They Branch. 2 are not trees of the Garden, but the Wilderneſs; their hearts are a fruitful ſoil for ſin, they bring forth pride, malice, Superſtition; ſome of their helliſh and bitter fruits are mentioned, Gal. 5.20, 21. Adultery, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hatred, Variance, Emulations, Seditions, Hereſies, &c. Theſe are wild grapes, Iſa. 5.2. Grapes of gall, Deut. 32.32. Fruit unto death, Rom. 7.5. theſe are Trees of the Divels planting; let not that man ſay his heart is good, who bears ſuch fruit. One may as well ſay, though the Crab bear ſower fruit, it hath a ſweet Root; bad fruit ſhows a rotten heart*Luke 6.44.. — Fructus indicat arborem.
3. It reproves ſuch as bring forth good fruit, but to a Branch. 3 bad end: Hoſe. 10.1. Iſrael is an empty Vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himſelf: A man had as good bring forth no fruit, as bring forth fruit to himſelf.
Queſt. What is it for one to bring forth fruit unto himſelf?
Anſw. When all the good he doth is for the magnifying of himſelf, the worm of pride gets into his fruit and ſpoils it. Prayer is good; but when a man prayes only to ſhow his parts, this is to bring forth fruit to himſelf; ſome pride it in their humbling confeſſions, which is as if Benhadads ſervants had been proud when they came before the King with Ropes upon their heads, 1 King. 20.31. Works of mercy are good, but when a man gives alms, not ſo much to feed the poor, as to feed his pride; now he brings forth fruit to himſelf, and this fruit is worm-eaten. God will ſay to all ſuch ſelf-ſeekers, as once he did to the people of the Jews, Zach. 7.5. When ye faſted and mourned, did ye at all faſt unto me, even to me? Sinners did ye not bring forth fruit unto your ſelves?
Uſe. 3 3. Let this exhort us all to fruitfulneſs; how happy Exhort.were it if it might be ſaid of us as Joſeph, Gen. 49.22. Branch. 1 Joſeph is a fruitful bough. We love to ſee every thing fruitful; if there be a Tree in our Orchard though with never ſuch fair leaves, we value it not unleſs there be fruit; when you come into your Garden, you complain if you ſee no fruit; ſuch a Root is ſet, but it doth not grow; we love to ſee fruitfulneſs everywhere, and why not in our hearts? oh let the precious Grapes and Figs we bear, evidence that we are trees of Gods planting;*Pia anima ſpiritualibus redolet; ſicut aromaticis floribus bortus Bern. we often plant Trees to be a ſhade to the houſe. God cares for no ſuch trees as are only for ſhade, he loves fruit. Arabia is called Faelix, becauſe of the ſweet fruits which grow there, Frankincenſe, with other perfumes and ſpices. That Chriſtian may be entitled Faelix, happy, that hath the ſweet fruits of the Spirit growing in his heart; be fruit-bearing trees. The Heathens had a cuſtom of dedicating their trees; they dedicated the Oak to Jupiter, the Lawrel to Apollo, the Olive-tree to Minerva; but certainly, if we would dedicate a tree to the God of Heaven which he ſhould accept of, let it be a tree filled with the fruit of righteouſneſs. Chriſtians ſhould be like the Pomcitron, which (as Naturaliſts ſay) bears fruit at all times of the year; when ſome of its fruit falls off, other fruit begins to mellow, and when that mellows, other of its fruit doth but begin to bloſſom, it is never without fruit. This is the Emblem of a good Chriſtian, he is never without fruit, either bloomimg in his affections, or fructifying in his converſation.
That I may perſwade Chriſtians to fruitfulneſs, I deſire them to weigh theſe five things.
1. Fruit is that which God expects from us, we are his plantation; and Who planteth a Vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? 1 Cor. 9.7. Let us not be as Pharaohs kine, which devoured the fat, and yet ſtill were lean; let us not be ſtill devouring Sermons, yet never the fatter.
2. Fruitfulneſs is one of the beſt diſtinctive Characters of a Chriſtian; Prov. 12.12. The root of the righteous yieldeth fruit. Fruitfulneſs differeth a Saint from an Hypocrite; the Hypocrite is all for ſhow and pretence, he hath fair leaves, but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit; fruit can no more be ſeparated from faith, than moiſture from the Air, it is the very definition of a branch in Chriſt, it bears fruit, Joh. 15.2. As a man differs from a beaſt by Reaſon, a beaſt differs from a plant by ſenſe, a plant differs from a ſtone by vegetation; ſo a good Chriſtian differs from an Hypocrite by fruit. Fruitfulneſſe puts a difference between the ſound tree and the hollow tree.
Queſt. But may not Hypocrites bring forth fruit.
Anſw. 1. They do not bring forth fruit in the Vine; they bring forth in the ſtrength of parts, not in the ſtrength of Chriſt.
2. Hypocrites bring forth ſomething like fruit, but it is not the right fruit.
1. The fruit they bear is not ſo ſweet. The Crab may bear fruit aſwell as the Pearmain, but this excells in ſweetneſs. The Hypocrite may pray, and give alms as well as a child of God, but there is difference in the fruit; the fruit of the Regenerate is mellow, it is ſweetned with Faith, it is ripened with love. The Hypocrites fruit is ſower and harſh, he doth not bring forth Pomgranates but Crabs, not Figs, but wild Grapes.
2. The ſeeming fruit of Hypocrites dyes, and comes to nothing: Joh. 15.6. He is caſt forth as a branch, and is withered. The Hypocrites fruit is like the graſs upon the houſe tops, which withereth before it groweth up, Pſal. 129.6. Matth. 13.6.
3. Fruitfulneſs adorns a Chriſtian; the Fruit adorns the Tree; a Fruit-bearing Chriſtian is an Ornament to Religion; the more fruitful the branch is, the more fair to look on; Jer. 11.16. The Lord called thy name a green Olive-tree, fair, and of goodly fruit. A dead tree as it is unſerviceable, ſo it is uncomely. A Chriſtian decked with the Fruits of Righteouſneſs, is beautiful and glorious. The fertil Chriſtian is compared to the Lilly for pulchritude and fairneſs, Hoſ. 14.5. There are many ſtrive to make themſelves look fair by their dreſſing and attyre, their chain of Pearl and Bracelets. O would you be fair in Gods eye? Then ſpread your Branches, ſend forth your Spices as Aromatick Trees in Lebanon.
4. Fruitfulneſs is a good evidence to ſhow for heaven; the fruits of love, humility, good works, are (as St. Bernard ſaith) Seeds of hope, ſigns of Predeſtination, the happy preſages of future glory. The righteouſneſs of faith, *Rom 4.11.is alwayes accompanied with the fruits of Righteouſneſs. He that can ſhow good fruit, goes (like a ſhip laden with Jewels and Spices) full ſaile to Heaven.
5. God delights in his fruitful trees; when his Garden flouriſheth he will walk there; he who curſeth the barren tree, will taſte of the fruitful tree; Cant. 5.1. I am come into my Garden my ſiſter, my Spouſe, I have gathered my Myrrhe with my Spice.
2. It Exhorts them that do bear fruit, that they would Branch. 2 bring forth more fruit; do not think you have fruit enough, but bring forth foreign, further degrees of ſanctity: Joh. 15.2. Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit. Grace is like the morning light which encreaſeth more, and more to the full meridian of glory. Chriſtians ſhould be like that ground in the Parable which brought forth ſome ſixty, ſome an hundred fold, Matth. 13.8. He who hath a little gold, labours to encreaſe it; and is not grace more precious than gold? ſome Chriſtians have a little fruit, and they think that is well; like Trees that have an Apple or two growing on them to ſhow that they are of the right kind: Iſa. 17.6. Two or three berries in the top of the uppermoſt bough. They are like the Church of Philadelphia which had foreign, a little ſtrength, Rev. 3.8. ſo they have a little faith, a ſpark of love. Chriſt chides a little faith, Matth. 14.31. Chriſtians ſhould encreaſe with the encreaſe of God, Col. 2.19. Chriſt compares the breaſts of his Spouſe to Cluſters of Grapes, for fruitfulneſs, Cant. 7.7. Oh labour to be Chriſtians of degrees; the Apoſtle prayes for the Philippians that their love might abound foreign, yet more and more, Phil. 1.9.
Now that I may preſs Chriſtians who have Fruit, to bring forth more fruits of patience, humility, love, &c. Conſider
1. This is the end why we have new coſt laid out upon us that we ſhould bring forth more fruit. The Lord is ſtill Manuring us; not a week; not a day, but he is at new coſt with us, he rains down golden ſhowers; and why is God at all this charges with us, but that we may bring forth more Fruit?
2. The more fruit we bring forth, the more glory we bring to God; Joh. 15.8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit. Though it is a bleſſed ſight to ſee any Fruit, I would not diſcourage ſuch as bear but two or three Olive berries, it is a ſigne they are not dead trees; it is obſervable, the ground in the Parable which brought forth more ſparingly, Chriſt calls it good ground, Matth. 13.8. If the Husbandman ſees a thin ear, which hath but a little Corn in it, yet he is glad to ſee ſome, and he carries it into the Barn. So though thou art a thin ear, thou haſt not ſo much grace as others, God will not reject thee; if there be any Fruit, God will accept it; he that gained but two Talents, had his Euge bone ſerve; Matth. 25.22. Well done thou good and faithful ſervant. This I ſpeak that I may not diſcourage the weak Chriſtian; though thou haſt leſſe Fruit growing on thee, thou art too good a tree to be made fewel on, thou ſhalt be tranſplanted into Paradiſe. But I ſay, you ſhould not reſt in ſmall beginnings, but labour to put more Oyle in the Lamp, and be encreaſing your ſtock of grace; for, the more Fruit you bring forth, the more glory God hath; herein is my Father glorified; though the loweſt degree of grace may bring ſalvation to you, yet it doth not bring ſo much glory to God. It is obſervable in the Text, when the Apoſtle had ſaid, Filled with the fruits of righteouſneſs, he adds, which are unto the glory and praiſe of God. It is a praiſe to the Husbandman, and commends his skill and induſtry when the plants in his Orchard thrive; ſo when the plants of Righteouſneſs flouriſh, this is to the praiſe of Gods glory; it is the higheſt end of the Creature to bring glory to God; better loſe our lives, than loſe the end of our living.
3. The fuller we are of Fruit, the more we are like Chriſt, who was full of grace and truth, Joh. 1.14. he received Spirit without meaſure, Joh. 3.34. This Tree of life was ever bearing; and he brought forth ſeveral ſorts of Fruit, Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, &c. The more we are filled with the fruits of righteouſneſs, the more we reſemble the Sun of Righteouſneſs. We were elected to this end, to be made like Chriſt, Rom. 8.30. and then are we moſt like this bleſſed Vine when we bear full cluſters.
4. The more fruit a Chriſtian brings forth, the more will Chriſt love him. Now (ſaith Leah) will my husband be joyned unto me, becauſe I have born him three ſons, Gen. 29.34. When we bear much fruit, now will Chriſts heart be joyned to us. If Chriſt builds a neſt of comfort, it is in thoſe Trees which fructifie moſt; though the Lord Jeſus doth accept of the truth of grace, yet he commends only the degrees of grace: Matth. 8.10. I have not found ſo great faith, no not in Iſrael; he ſets a trophy of renown upon that Faith; Chriſt will pardon a weak Faith, he will honour a great Faith. It was not a ſparckle of love Chriſt commended in Mary Magdalen, but love flaming; Luke 7.74. foreign, ſhe loved much. Chriſtians, would you be as that beloved Diſciple which leaned on the boſome of Jeſus? would you have much love from Chriſt? let him have much fruit from you.
5. Bearing much fruit will uſher in abundance of comfort into the ſoul in theſe two Exigences.
1. In the hour of tentation. Satan wiil be ſure to beſiege the weakeſt Chriſtian; all his darts fly that way, and a ſtrong tentation may overcome a weak faith; but a flouriſhing Faith ſtands like a Cedar and is not blown down by the wind of tentation; a ſtrong Faith can ſtop the mouth of the Divel that roaring Lion, 1 Pet. 5.9.
2. Store of fruit will give comfort in the hour of death; a little danger will make us above the danger of death, but degrees of grace will make us above the fear of death; O what joy will it be on the death-bed when a Chriſtian can bring his ſheaves full of Corn! when he can ſhow his five Talents that he hath gained by trading! when there is not only a drop or two of Oyle, but his Lamp full of Oyl! what though the Divel ſhow God our debts, if we can ſhow him our fruit, O how ſweet will death be! it will not be interitus, but introitus; not a deſtruction, but a deliverance. *foreign. ChryſoſtDeath like a whirlwind may blow down the tree of the body, but it cannot blaſt the Fruit of our graces. The Trees of Righteouſneſs carry their fruit with them, Rev. 14.13. Their works follow them. The Chriſtian who abounds in holineſs may ſay as Simeon, Luke 2.29. Lord, now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace. He who bears but a little fruit, departs in ſafety; but he who bears much fruit departs in peace.
6. Conſider what need we have to be foreign. putting forth ſtill more Fruit; our graces are yet in their non-age; indeed in heaven this Doctrine will be out of ſeaſon, we ſhall not need to hear it; then we ſhall have done growing, being arived at our full ſtature; then our light ſhall be clear, and our love perfect; but while we live here, there is ſomething*foreign lacking in our faith, 1 Theſ. 3.10. therefore we had need encreaſe the ſtock of grace, and bring forth foreign, more fruit. Our grace is eclipſed with ſin, our Faith is full of unbelief; now as when the Sun is Eclipſed, it is by degrees getting out of the Eclipſe, and it ſhines brighter, and brighter till it recover its perfect luſtre; ſo it muſt be with us, we muſt be getting out of the Eclipſe till we ſhall arrive at our perfect luſtre in glory.
7. He who doth not encreaſe to more fruitfulneſs, will ſoon be on the loſing hand; he that hath not more faith, will quickly have leſſe; non progredi, est regredi; Rev. 2.4. Thou haſt left thy firſt love. It is with grace as it is with fire; if it be not blown up and encreaſed, it will ſoon decay. Such as thrive not in their ſpiritual eſtate, we may perceive ſadly to decline. Though a Chriſtian cannot loſe the ſeed of grace, 1 John. 3.9. yet he may loſe the actings of grace, and the comfort; therefore bring forth more fruit; no ſooner doth a Chriſtian begin to ſtand ſtill, but you may perceive him going backward.
8. The more your fruit is encreaſed, the more your glory will be encreaſed; he whoſe pound gained ten, was made Ruler over ten Cities, Luke 19.16, 17. If you would have your Crown hung full of jewels, let your boughs be hung full of fruit.
4. The laſt uſe is of Direction. I ſhall lay down ſome Uſe 4 means to fruitfulneſs.Direction.
1. Be ſenſible of unfruitfulneſs. Many might have been fruitful in grace, if they had not conceited themſelves ſo; he that thinks himſelf fruitful enough, is barren enough; be ſenſible of your wants; 'tis better to complain than preſume.
2. If you would be fruitful, remove thoſe things which will hinder fruitfulneſs.
1. Cheriſhing any ſecret luſt in the heart; ſin lived in, is like Vermin to the tree, which deſtroyes the fruit; grace cannot thrive in a ſinful heart: In ſome ſoil plants will not grow; the cheriſhing of ſin is the withering of the Fruit.
2. The love of riches: The cares of the world choaked the ſeed, Matth. 13. The love of ſin poiſons the Fruit, the love of riches choaks it. This is like a blaſt upon trees, it deſtroyes the pretious Fruits of godlineſs: Love not the world, 1 Joh. 2.15.
3. The third means to fruitfulneſs, is weeping for ſin. Moiſture helps germination in trees; holy tears do water the trees of God and make them more fruitful: Mary Magnalen (a weeping plant) how fruitful was ſhe in love to Chriſt? moiſt grounds, as your Marſhes, are more fertile: the ſoul that is moiſtened and ſteeped in tears, is moſt frugiferous: never did Davids graces flouriſh more, than when he watered his Couch with tears. When the Plant hath been pricked whereby it lets forth gumm, or tears, it is fuller of Fruit, and the Fruit is ſweeter. That Chriſtian who hath been pricked at heart for ſin, whereby he lets forth plenty of tears, beareth the ſweeteſt Fruits of grace: Moiſture helps fruitfulneſſe.
4. If you would be fruitful, often apply the blood of Ch…iſt, and the Promiſes.
1. Apply the blood of Chriſt. Naturaliſts ſay, that blood applyed to the Root of ſome trees makes them bear better. Sure I am, the blood of Chriſt applyed to the heart, makes it flouriſh more in holineſs. None ſo fruitful as a Believer; I know (ſaith St. Paul) whom I have believed, 2 Tim. 1.12. there was the applying blood to the Root of the tree, and how fruitful was he in zeal, love to Chriſt, Heroical courage! 2 Cor. 12.15. He that believes Chriſt dyed for him, never thinks he can do, or ſuffer enough for Chriſt. When we read, and pray, now we do but water the Branches; when we believe, now we water the Root of the Tree and make it fruitfull.
2. Apply the Promiſes. Husbandmen have an art to comfort the ſpirits of the Root to make the tree bear better: Apply the Promiſes; theſe are for comforting the ſpirits of a Chriſtian, and then he puts forth fruit more vigorouſly. It is an experiment in nature, the Root of the Pine tree watered with wine, doth cauſe it to flouriſh, the Promiſes are as wine to water the Trees of Righteouſneſs whereby they ſpread and augment more in grace. Ever preſerve the ſpirits of the tree if you would have it bear; a penſive dejected ſoul is leſs fruitful; but when through the Promiſes a Chriſtians heart is cheared and comforted, now he is enriched with pleaſant fruits, Camphire, and Spiknard, and Frankincenſe; he is like a Tree laden with fruit.
5. Another means to fruitfulneſs, is humility. The low grounds are moſt fruitful: The Valleys are covered with Corn, Pſal. 65.13. The humble heart is the fruitful heart. It is obſerved in ſome Countreys, as in France, that the beſt and largeſt Grapes which they make their wine of, grow upon the lower ſort of Vines. The largeſt and faireſt Fruits of the Spirit grow in a lowly Chriſtian: 1 Pet. 5.5. God gives grace to the humble. St. Paul calls himſelf the leaſt of Saints, yet he was the chief of the Apoſtles. The Virgin Mary was low in her own eyes, Luke 1.48. but this lowly Plant did bear that bleſſed Vine which brought the Fruit of ſalvation to the world.
6. If you would be fruitful in grace, be much in good conference: Mal. 3.16. Then they that feared the Lord ſpake often one to another. There is an obſervation ſome have concerning the Sympathy of Plants; ſome plants will bear better near other trees, than when they grow alone, as is ſeen in the Myrtle and Olive: This holds true in Divinity; the trees of righteouſneſs when they aſſociate, and grow near together, thrive beſt in godlineſſe. The communion of Saints is an excellent means for fruitfulneſs. Chriſtians encreaſe one anothers knowledge, ſtrengthen one anothers Faith, clear one anothers evidences. When the Trees planted in Gods Orchard ſtand at a diſtance, and grow ſtrange one to another, they are leſs fruitful.
7. If you would be fruit-bearing trees, be near the waters of the Sanctuary: Jer. 17.8. He ſhall be like a tree planted by the waters, and that ſpreadeth out the roots by the River; her leaf ſhall be green, nor ſhall it ceaſe from yeilding fruit. The Word preached will not only make us knowing Chriſtians, but growing Chriſtians. Miniſters are compared to Clouds, Iſa. 5.6. their Doctrine drops as the rain, and makes the trees of God fruitful. Thoſe that ſit under theſe ſilver drops (the wind of the Spirit blowing) are like that flock of ſheep, Cant. 2.4. whereof every one bears twins, and none is barren among them. I wonder not that they are barren trees and nigh unto curſing *Heb. 6.8.that are not under the droppings of the Sanctuary; a Chriſtian can no more be fruitful without Ordinances, than a tree without ſhowres.
8. And laſtly, if you would fructifie apace, go to God and deſire him to make you fruitful; God is call'd the Husband man, John. 15.1. and he hath an art above all other Husbandmen; they can plant and prune trees, but if they be dead they cannot make them bear. God can make the barren tree bear, he can put life into a dead tree: Epheſ. 2.5. It is not Pauls planting, but the Spirits watering muſt give the encreaſe.
Pray to God to make you fruitful though it be by affliction; oftentimes God makes us grow in grace this way; Hebr. 12.11. No chaſtening for the preſent ſeemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheleſs afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſs. The bleeding Vine bears beſt; It is an obſervation, that the pulling off ſome of the bloſſoms of a tree, makes the fruit fairer, the reaſon is, becauſe the ſap hath the leſs to nouriſh; ſome Writers ſay, they have known a tree by having too many bloſſoms, hath bloſſomed it ſelf dead. The notion holds true in a Scriptural ſence; God by pulling off ſome of the bloſſoms of our outward comforts makes us bring forth fairer fruit; ſome have ſo bloſſom'd in proſperity, that they have bloſſom'd themſelves into hell: It is an ancient experiment, that the planting of ſome tender trees near the Weſt ſun doth them hurt, and parcheth the Fruit, the Sun being ſo extream hot: Too much proſperity, like the Weſt ſun doth Chriſtians much hurt, and parcheth all good affection, Jer. 22.21. Oh pray to God that he would make you fruitful though it be by bleeding. Say as Luther, Lord, wound where thou wilt, prune and cut me till I bleed, ſo that I may have my Fruit unto holineſs, and my end everlaſting life, Rom. 6.22.