JOHN 15. 2.
A Fifth sign of the state of grace, shall be growth and further progresse in sanctification, out of these words, which are a part of that valedictory or farewell Parable our Saviour spake to his Disciples, encouraging them in their duty and consolation: For in the former Chapter our Saviour having informed them of two particulars, which might justly trouble their hearts, whereof one was his departure from them, and the other the sad calamities which would fall upon them: By this Parable he giveth a twofold remedy to that twofold grief. For the first, though he be corporally absent, yet he is spiritually present, and that with a very near union, for he is the Vine and they the branches, so that spirituall efficacy shall alwaies be communicated to them. 2. For the latter, he exhorts them to persevere and abide in him, notwithstanding all persecutions, from arguments ab effectu utili & pernicioso: This is the scope.
In the Parable you have first the similitude laid down generally, I am the true Vine, and my Father the Husbandman. The true Vine […], because the properties of a naturall Vine to its naturall branch, are nothing in respect of what Christ is to his spirituall branches.
In the second verse you have a distinction of two kinde of branches in Christ, which also doth insinuate exhortation to look to our selves. The first kinde of branch is, that which is in him not bearing fruit. He doth not by this mean an heathen or a flagitious wicked man, but an hypocrite that hath the visibility of a branch but not the reality: he doth not say, Every briar or nettle that bringeth not forth fruit, but every branch; But how is an hypocrite in Christ? not by any internall union, but outward profession, by the Sacraments, and in the judgement of others, he is in Christ, as a sciens newly grafted on a tree, which yet hath no coalition with it, or receiveth any juyce or nourishment from it, and see that terrible judgement that impendeth this unprofitable branch: A nettle in the garden, weeds among corn, ill branches in a vine, are in the greater danger, and so is a Christian in the Church, not inwardly participating of efficacy from Christ. In the first place he doth […], take him away, which is more particularly amplified ver. 6. he is cast forth of the vineyard, Christ bids them depart, then he withers, for though he had no fruit, yet he had leaves, and all this decaies; and lastly, he is cast into the fire to be burnt. The other kinde of branch is that which being in Christ brings forth fruit, and concerning this observe the care and love of the vine-dresser, […], he purgeth it, for that is necessary for vine-branches: Therefore the Hebrew word for a branch or vine is called […] Zamorah a resecando, Numb. 3. 24. Ezek. 15. 2. because it must be often pruned. Now although this purging be commonly understood of afflictions and persecutions, which like dung, though noisome in it self, yet makes this ground fruitfull; yet we are to understand it more generally of all those means which God hath appointed for our progresse and encrease in grace, especially the word of God, as appears ver. 3. Now ye are […] (the same word in the originall with the former) through the word I have spoken unto you. In the next place our Saviour describeth this purging from the end, that ye may bring forth more fruit: now that they may be partakers of this growth, he useth severall arguments worthy observation, Verse 4. Abide in me, and I in you, because the branch cannot bear fruit, separated from the vine, no more can ye (saith Christ:) […], without or rather separated from me: he doth not say, saith Austin, that ye can do no greater thing without me, but no thing, and he doth not say ye cannot perficere perfect, but facere, ye cannot do; which our Saviour doth not apply unto that generall aid of God that is needfull in all naturall and morall actions, but of the speciall assistance of grace, whereby as branches we bring forth spirituall fruit, and observe that there is our abiding in Christ, and Christs abiding in us, and Christs immanency or indwelling in us, is properly the cause of spirituall fruit, not our dwelling in him; as the branch beareth fruit, not so much because it is in the vine, as because the vine is in it communicating juyce to it. Lastly, This growth and fruitfulnesse is spoken of as an absolute property, in my Text: And vers. 8. If ye bring forth fruit, so shall ye be my Disciples; that is, this is a necessary property to demonstrate that ye are indeed my Disciples, and then our Saviour speaks of it as a sign, v. 11. These things have I spoken, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full; now they could have no joy in these things, unlesse they could know they did bring forth fruit, and therefore were Christs Disciples.