a Chriflians Growth. 3 3. He inculcates into them the fenfe of their owne inability to doe any thing without him, ver. 5. 4. Therefore to abide in him, and fuck from him, ver. 5. 5. And to let his Word abide in them, by which himfelfe fball alfo abide in them, and by which they may (till be purged, and fo be fruitful!. The motives are, i. If not, they know their doome, to the fire with them, ver. 6. 2. If they doe, their prayers (hall be granted, ver. 7. 3. Hereby his Father is glorified, ver. 8. 4. They (hail (hew themfelves hisDifciples, ver. 8. 5. They fhall continue in his love, who loves them as dearly as his father doth him, ver. 9, to. And foyouhave the fummeof all this Parable. The principal! fubjea I aime at in this Scripture, is this maine cafe ofConfcíence, which ufeth to be the exercife, and inquifi- tion of many good fouls, How a Chriflian may difcerne his growth, both in purgingout corruptions, and increafeof grace, and the fruits of it. Therefore what ever other fpreading fruitful' obfervations grow upon this flock, (and this Vine affords many) wee will but fhortly, and as men in hafle, view and take noticeof, but as in our way to that other which I principally intend, and onely fo far flay upon the obfervation ofthem, as the bare opening this firnilitude here ufed, loth give fap and vigour to them. Thefirft obfervation, how Chrift is a Vine, and onely the true Vine. Firft, Chrill , he is a Vine. To explaine this firft. Adam indeed was a Vine, planted in Paradife, to beareall Mankinde upon, but he turned a wildone, he proved not the true Vine. God planted him (to allude to that, fer. 2. 21.) A noble Vine, a holy andright feed, but hedegenerated, and fo have all engraffed on him, and fo bring forth nothingbut grapes ofSodome, as Ifaiah fpeakes, But 2. God the Father having many branhes of chofen ones, that grewby nature on this cuffed flock, of Adam, whom yet, as, z.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=