a Chrifinns Growth. g a tiller of a Vineyard, in a find fente, as Luke 13.7 . but yinlye -, (as it were at large,) the Husbandman : As thereby denoting out, not fimply and alone, that peculiar care that he hath to true be- leevers onely, that are branches of this Vine, (though including it) but withall importing that common care and providence which he beares to others of his creatures; and this bemire force ofthofe branches of this Vine, are to him but as others out ofthe. Church and of no more reckoning with him. The Fathers rela- tion herein, anfwering to, and in a proportion running parallel along with that which Chrifl beares towards them : Thofe that Chrilf is head unto, thofe he is a Father unto : Thofe whom Chrifl is but as a Vine unto, Chrift he is but yPe,Qyg -, an Huf bandman unto, whofe office is feene, as well in cutting off fuck branches, as in pruning and drefling of thofe other. Thefe unfruitful ones are not in Chrifls account, reckoned as true branches here : For in the 5. verie,he calls thofe Disciples of his that were there and then prefent with him, (when now 7asdas was gone forth afore, as appears Chap. t 3. 3 o.) them onely The branches : and therefore repeats it there again, I am the Vine, with this addition, Te are the branches. Implying hereby, that as he is the true Vine, fo that thefe onely were the true branches; the other he calls but [d s x1iiNx] as a branch, ver. 6. Hee is ca¡? forth (as a) branch, giving them the name of branches, thereby the better to expreffe his Fathers dealing with fuch, that as they that are dreffers of a Vineyard, ufe to doe with fuch branches; fo my Father with them : but they themfelves are but Tan- quams, ,uaf palmites, As branches; not really and in truth fuch. That expreflîon which feems moll to make for it,is that in the fecondvecfe,when he fayCF, Ever, branch [innie] that beareth not fruit, but thofe words [inme] may as well, yea rather be undEr- flood to have reference to their not bringingforth fruit [in him] then to their being properlybranches [in him : ] fo as the mean- ing should be, they are branches that bring not forthfruit in me. Though they doe force good, yet it is not fruit ; if fo [not in me : ] though frommee, and from my aflif}ance. And fo his meaning is not fomuch todeclare that they arc branches in him, as that they bring not for fruit in him. Which indeed is oneof B 3 the 3.r1nf.
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