84 True Signs ofGrace. S >i c r. Ili , 44. 4> 44 Milióisóó`+`vóóó:Q SERMON XVI. C3roTrth in grace aSign ofgrace. JOHN 15.2. And every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth, that it may bring forth morefruit. Fifth fign of the fiate of grace, (hall begrowth andfurtherprogreffe infan- Etifacation, out of theft words, which are a part of that valedictory orfare- ), well Parable our Saviour (pake so his Difciplcs, encouraging them in their duty and confolation : For in the former Chapter our Saviour having informed them of twoparticulars, which might jufilytrouble their hearts, whereofone was his departure from them, and the other the fad calamities which would fall upon them a By this Parable hegiveth a twofold remedy to that twofold grief. Forthe firfì, thoughhebe corporally Went,yethe is llirituaüyprefent, and that with a very near union, for he is the Vine and they the branches, fo that fpirituall efficacy (hall alwaiesbe communicated to them. a. For the latter,he exhorts them to per_ fevere andabidein him, notwithflanding allperfecutions, from arguments ad efei ea utili &perniciofo : This is the (cope. In the Parable youhave firii the fimilitude laiddown generally,Iam the true Vine, andmy Father the Husbandman. The true Vine izµ r@, iâan°,vñ, becaufe the propertiesof a naturals Vine to its naturals branch, are nothing in refpeêt of what Chrifi is to his fpirituall branches. In the fecond verfe youhave a difiin&lion Of two kindeof branches in Cheï(i, which alto loth infrnuate exhortation to look to our (elves. The firfi kinde of branch is, that Which is in him not bearingPair. He doch not by this meanan hea- then or a flagitious wicked man, but an hypocrite that hath the vifibility of a branch but not the reality: he Both not fay, Every briar or nettle that bringethnot forth fruit, but every branch; Bat how is an hypocrite in Chrill? not by any in- ternall union,but outward profeffron, by the Sacraments, and in the judgement of others, he is inChrifi, as a Iciest newlygrafted on a tree, which yet hath no coa- lition with it, or receiveth any jnyce or nourithment fromir, and fee that terrible judgement that impendeth this unprofitable branch : Anettle in the garden, weeds amongcorn, ill branches ina vine, are in the greater danger, and fo is a Chrillian in the Church, not inwardly participating of efficacy fromChrifi. In thefirfi place he doth ,zitE1, take him away, which is more particularly amplifiedver. 6. he is raft firth ofthe vineyard, Chril bids them depart, thenhe withers, for though he had no fruit, yet hehad leaves, and all this decaies ; andlailly, he is call into thefire to be burnt. The other kinde of branch is that whichbeing in Chrifl brings forth fruit, andconcerning this obterve the care and love of the vine-dreffer, x.asuits, hepurgethit, for that is neceffary for vine- branches t Therefore the Hebrewword for a branch or vine is called 71-17Zamorab a refecando, Numb. 3.24. Each. t5.2. becaufe it muff be oftenpruned. Now although this purging be commonly under- flood of afflill:ionsand perfecutions, which like dung, though noifomein it Pelf, yet makes thisground fruitfull; yet we are to underhand it more generally of all chofe
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