Tan 4: lohn so.ts. 4$4. How *e..rrt.ayknowwhetherwe beeffegually called. bring forth fruit,that. is,ifaccording to that meafure ofgrace and gifts ofGods holy fpirit, which our Sauiour Chrifl hath. - béflowed vpon vs,we fpendour liues inGods fèruice,which himfelfhath commanded, to the end that wemay glorifiehis. holy name,we may aífitreour flues that we are true branches ofthis vine,vvhichour Sattiourwilpurgeardprune that ixemay bring forthmorefruits, ashe bathpromifed,Iohn i 5.2.Morem otter,whereasSatan obieð, thatvvee are not branches of . this vine,becaufe at fometirnes wee can Phew no fruits; wee are to anfxer,that asÿ earthlyvine hathnot alwaies grapes, no not fomuchas leaues vpon it, and yet not vvithflanding it liueth,receiuing nourifhment from the roote,and bringeth foorth fruit in due time and feafon : fo the branches o. this myflicall vine are fometime without the fruites of good workes, yeas haue not fo much to bee feene vpon them, as the faire greeneleaues of anoutward profeffion, as it is rnoli vfuall when as they are throughlie nipped 'with the cold winter oftentations, and haue all their beautie blafted' and blowneaway with the boifterous blafts of Satans fierce . incounters; and yet at the fame time they receiue the fap, iuyce,and vertue ofGods fpirit from their roote Iefus Chrif+, bywhich they feemí_ngdead, doe hue and receiue nourifh-- ment; vntill at Gods goodpleafure the comfortable beames ofhis loue and fauour do fhïne vpon them, withwhich their frofen hear-tes being throughlie warmed doe againebring foorth notonelie the leaues ofprofeflion, but alfo the ripe fruites ofgodline%and righteoufneffe,and therfore though prefentlie in fuchcafes wee haue no fruites to Phew, yetlet not Satanperfwade vs that weare not true branches of this vine : for ifWe can call to mind, that euer in former timeswe hauebrought forth any right andkindlie fruites offan6lift- cation and true godlinefle, we are true branches of the vine Chríf+, which hee will lop and prune,and againemake fruit full ; for out ofhimwecouldneuer hauebrought forth fuck.. fruites: and thofe who are once ingrafted into him can ne-- uer poiliblie be plucked awaybySatan,the world, or all the powers ofhell, though (asI Paid) they may foratime bee ...nipped and fhreudly weather beaten.
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