arise, perhaps unto the eare, yet because they did not come to just perfection, are said to have brought forth no fruits: so also Christians, which have only the flowers and leaves of profession, and not the solid workes of godlinesse, are accounted by God unfruitfull and barren plants. 3. Our workes also must answer the expectation of God, and that care which he hath taken in manuring our soules, Isay 5.2. Luke 13.6, 7. & 20.10. Although in all these things our good workes and fruits are alike, yet one thing may be observed, wherein they are unlike; namely, that whereas the profit of naturall fruits is wont to returne to the husbandman and master, the profit of these fruits redounds properly to those that beare them, Rom. 6.12. Although hence also something redounds unto God our master, Iohn 15.8. Vse 1. This may serve to condemne those, that bring forth no fruit, Matthew 3.10. Iohn 15.2. Luke 13.7. Much more are they to be condemned, that are like unto the cursed ground, and in steed of fruits bring forth thornes and briers, Hebr. 6.8. Deut. 32.32. 2. To exhort us, by all meanes to labour to bring forth good fruits, and so also that they may be answerable unto those meanes which God used towards us, to make us fruitfull, according to Gods expectation, and in that season wherein God expects them, and in that measure also which he expects, of some thirty, of some sixty, and of some an hundred fold. Doct. 4 Without these fruits the knowledge of God is unprofitable.
For it is as it were choaked with thornes, or withered away.
Vse. This may serve to admonish us, to be so much the more carefull to bring forth fruit, that we may not heape up this sinne of barrennesse unto the other, by making the word of God void and of no effect. Doct. 5. That we may be fruitfull, vertues must not only be in us, but also abound in us.
They are in us when we have gotten a habit of them; they abound, when we do seriously and diligently endeavour to make that habit more perfect.
