4 Chriftians Growth. feeni to grow upon. Therefore in Heb. 6.7. that Epithet is ad. ded, [Meet] hearbs, orfruit ; that is,fuch asAmid grow there. So Luke 3. 8. They are to bringforth fruit [worthy] amendment oflife, or elfe they were to be cut down : that is, Each as became true repentants, as were anfwerable, fuitable thereunto. As we fay a man carries himfelfworthy ofhis place, when anfwerably to to what is required of him in it. That place fore.cited out of Hof-ea further acquaintsus with the true ground, why their fruits (though green, which Chap. 6.4. is called goodneffe alfo, yet) were not to be accounted meet fruit, and fo not fruit at all even becaufe of this, that it brought forth all its fruit, whether good or bad, to itfelfe : That is, thofe ends that did draw up the lap, and did put it forth in fruit, were drawne but from themfelves, they bring them not forth principally to God, and for him. All their prayers, all their affec`hions in holy duties, if they examine the reafonof them all, the ends that runne in them all, and whence all the motives that doe actuate all they doe in thefe, they will finde they are taken from the mfelves : And though the afiìtlance wherewith they are enabled to doe what they doe, is more then their own, yet their ends are no hiher then themfelves, and fo they employ but that aflî(iance God gives them wholly for themfelves. Now the endfor which a true branch brings forthfruit, is, that God might be glorified. Thus Rom. 7. 8, when married to Chrifi, they are faid to bring forth fruit to God ; which is fpoken in oppofition to bringing forth fratit to a mansfelf. Thus alfo Chrift here ufeth this as the great and main motive to fruitfuTneffe in ver. 8. Hereby is my Father glorified, thatyou bring forth much fruit. Nowwhom will this move, into whofe affee4ions will filch an argument draw up lap, and quicken tnem ? None but thofe hearts who doe make Gods glory their utmoíf end, and fo all true branches doeor elle this motive should have been tiled by Chrift in vaine unto them. And ás this end makes their performances to befruit, fo this being wanting, all that is brought forth deferves not the name offruit, for it is notfruit worthy, as the Baptift (ayes, not meet fruitfor thedrefer to receive, (as was noted out of the Hebrew.-; riotloch as ought to grow on that tree. They Jhould be trees ofrighted sfneffe, the planting of the Lord, that might be glorified
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