And HE came and sought fruit thereon.
When a man hath got a profession, and is crowded into the church and house of G.o.d, the question is not now, Hath he life, hath he right principles? but, Hath he fruit? HE came seeking fruit thereon.
It mattereth not who brought thee in hither, whether G.o.d or the devil, or thine own vain-glorious heart; but hast thou fruit? Dost thou bring forth fruit unto G.o.d? And, "Let every one that nameth the name of" the Lord Jesus "Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim 2:19). He doth not say, And let every one that hath grace, or let those that have the Spirit of G.o.d; but, "Let every one that nameth the name of" the Lord Jesus "Christ depart form iniquity."
What do men meddle with religion for? Why do they call themselves by the name of the Lord Jesus, if they have not the grace of G.o.d, if they have not the Spirit of Christ? G.o.d, therefore, expecteth fruit. What do they do in the vineyard? Let them work, or get them out; the vineyard must have labourers in it. "Son, go WORK to-day in my vineyard" (Matt 21:28). Wherefore, want of grace and want of Spirit will not keep G.o.d from seeking fruit. "And he came and sought fruit thereon" (Luke 13:6, 8:8). He requireth that which he seemeth to have. Every man in the vineyard and house of G.o.d promiseth himself, professeth to others, and would have all men take it for granted, that a heavenly principle is in him, why then should not G.o.d seek fruit?
As for them, therefore, that will retain the name of Christians, fearing G.o.d, and yet make no conscience of bringing forth fruit to him, he saith to such, Away! "As for you,--Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me,"
&c. (Eze 20:39). Barren fig-tree, dost thou hear? G.o.d expecteth fruit, G.o.d calls for fruit, yea, G.o.d will shortly come seeking fruit on this barren fig-tree. Barren fig-tree, either bear fruit, or go out of the vineyard; and yet then thy case will be unspeakably d.a.m.nable. Yea, let me add, if thou shalt neither bear fruit nor depart, G.o.d will take his name out of thy mouth (Jer 44:26). He will have fruit. And I say further, if thou wilt do neither, yet G.o.d in justice and righteousness will still come for fruit. And it will be in vain for thee to count this austerity. He will reap where he hath not sowed, and gather where he hath not strewed (Matt 25:24-26). Barren fig-tree, dost thou hear?
Quest. What if a man have no grace?
Answ. Yes, seeing he hath a profession.
And he came and sought fruit THEREON.
A church, then, and a profession, are not places where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves and sins from G.o.d. Some of old thought that because they could cry, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!" that therefore they were delivered, or had a dispensation to do the abominations which they committed, as some in our days; for who, say they, have a right to the creatures, if not Christians, if not professors, if not church members? And, from this conclusion, let go the reins of their inordinate affections after pride, ambition, gluttony; pampering themselves without fear (Jude 12), daubing themselves with the l.u.s.t-provoking fashions of the times; to walk with stretched out necks, naked b.r.e.a.s.t.s, frizzled fore-tops, wanton gestures, in gorgeous apparel, mixed with gold and pearl, and costly array.[6] I will not here make inspection into their lives, their carriages at home, in their corners and secret holes; but certainly, persons thus spirited, thus principled, and thus inclined, have but empty boughs, boughs that want the fruit that G.o.d expects, and that G.o.d will come down to seek.
Barren fig-tree, thou art not licensed by thy profession, nor by the Lord of the vineyard, to bear these cl.u.s.ters of Gomorrah; neither shall the vineyard, nor thy being crowded among the trees there, shelter thee from the sight of the eye of G.o.d. Many make religion their cloak, and Christ their stalking-horse, and by that means cover themselves and hide their own wickedness from men; but G.o.d seeth their hearts, hath his print upon the heels of their feet, and pondereth all their goings; and at last, when their iniquity is found to be hateful, he will either smite them with hardness of heart, and so leave them, or awaken them to bring forth fruit. Fruit he looks for, seeks, and expects, barren fig-tree!
But what! come into the presence of G.o.d to sin! What! come into the presence of G.o.d to hide thy sin! Alas, man! the church is G.o.d"s garden, and Christ Jesus is the great Apostle and High-priest of our profession. What! come into the house that is called by my name! into the place where mine honour dwelleth! (Psa 26:8). Where mine eyes and heart are continually! (1 Kings 9:3). What! come there to sin, to hide thy sin, to cloak thy sin! His plants are an orchard with pleasant fruits (Cant 4:13). And every time he goeth into his garden, it is to see the fruits of the valley, and to "see if the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded."
Yea, saith he, he came seeking fruit on this fig-tree. The church is the place of G.o.d"s delight, where he ever desires to be: there he is night and day. He is there to seek for fruit, to seek for fruit of all and every tree in the garden. Wherefore, a.s.sure thyself, O fruitless one, that thy ways must needs be open before the eyes of the Lord. One black sheep is soon espied, although in company with many; that is taken with the first cast of the eye; its different colour still betrays it. I say, therefore, a church and a profession are not places where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves from G.o.d that seeks for fruit. "My vineyard," saith G.o.d, "which is mine, is before me" (Cant 8:12).
And he came and sought fruit thereon, AND FOUND NONE.
Barren fig-tree, hearken; the continual non-bearing of fruit is a dreadful sign that thou art to come to a dreadful end, as the winding up of this parable concludeth.
"AND FOUND NONE." None at all, or none to G.o.d"s liking; for when he saith, "He came seeking fruit thereon," he means "fruit meet for G.o.d," pleasant fruit, fruit good and sweet (Heb 6). Alas! it is not any fruit will serve; bad fruit is counted none. "Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire" (Matt 3:10).
First. There is a fruit among professors that withers, and so never comes to be ripe; a fruit that is smitten in the growth, and comes not to maturity; and this is reckoned no fruit. This fruit those professors bear that have many fair beginnings, or blossoms; that make many fair offers of repentance and amendment; that begin to pray, to resolve, and to break off their sins by righteousness, but stop at those beginnings, and bring not fruit forth to perfection.
This man"s fruit is withered, wrinkled, smitten fruit, and is in effect no fruit at all.
Second. There is a hasty fruit, such as is the "corn upon the house-top" (Psa 129:6); or that which springs up on the dung-hill, that runs up suddenly, violently, with great stalks and big show, and yet at last proves empty of kernel. This fruit is to be found in those professors that on a sudden are so awakened, so convinced, and so affected with their condition that they shake the whole family, the endship,[7] the whole town. For a while they cry hastily, vehemently, dolefully, mournfully, and yet all is but a pang, an agony, a fit, they bring not forth fruit with patience.
These are called those hasty fruits that "shall be a fading flower"
(Isa 28:4).
Third. There is a fruit that is vile and ill-tasted, how long soever it be in growing; the root is dried, and cannot convey a sufficiency of sap to the branches, to ripen the fruit (Jer 24).
These are the fruits of such professors whose hearts are estranged from communion with the Holy Ghost, whose fruit groweth from themselves, from their parts, gifts, strength of wit, natural or moral principles. These, notwithstanding they bring forth fruit, are called empty vines, such as bring not forth fruit to G.o.d.
"Their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit; yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb" (Hosea 9:16).
Fourth. There is a fruit that is wild. "I looked for grapes and it brought forth wild grapes" (Isa 5:4). I observe, that as there are trees and herbs that are wholly right and n.o.ble, fit indeed for the vineyard; so there are also their semblance, but wild; not right, but ign.o.ble. There is the grape, and the wild grape; the vine, and the wild vine; the rose, and canker rose; flowers and wild flowers; the apple, and the wild apple which we call the crab. Now, fruit from these wild things, however they may please the children to play with, yet the prudent and grave count them of little or no value. There are also in the world a generation of professors that, notwithstanding their profession, are wild by nature; yea, such as were never cut out, or off, from the wild olive-tree, nor never yet planted into the good olive-tree. Now, these can bring nothing forth but wild olive berries, they cannot bring forth fruit unto G.o.d. Such are all those that have lightly taken up a profession, and crept into the vineyard without a new birth, and the blessing of regeneration.
Fifth. There is also untimely fruit: "Even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs" (Rev 6, 13). Fruit out of season, and so no fruit to G.o.d"s liking. There are two sorts of professors subject to bring forth untimely fruit: 1. They that bring forth fruit too soon; 2. They that bring forth fruit too late.
1. They that bring forth too soon. They are such as at present receive the Word with joy; and anon, before they have root downwards, they thrust forth upwards; but having not root, when the sun ariseth, they are smitten, and miserably die without fruit.
These professors are those light and inconsiderate ones that think nothing but peace will attend the gospel; and so anon rejoice at the tidings, without foreseeing the evil. Wherefore, when the evil comes, being unarmed, and so not able to stand any longer, they die, and are withered, and bring forth no fruit. "He that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the Word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended" (Matt 13:20,21).
There is, in Isaiah 28:4, mention made of some "whose glorious beauty shall be a fading flower," because it is "fruit before the summer." Both these are untimely fruit.
2. They also bring forth untimely fruit that stay till the season is over. G.o.d will have his fruit in his season; I say, he will receive them of such men as shall render them to him in their seasons (Matt 21:41). The missing of the season is dangerous; staying till the door is shut is dangerous (Matt 25:10,11). Many there be that come not till the flood of G.o.d"s anger is raised, and too deep for them to wade through; "Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him" (Psa 32:6). Esau AFTERWARDS is fearful: "For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears"
(Heb 12:17).
So the children of Israel, they brought to G.o.d the fruits of obedience too late; their "Lo, we be here" came too late (Num 14:40-42); their "We will go up" came too late (Num 14:40-44).
The Lord had sworn before, "that they should not possess the land"
(Matt 25:10, 27:5). All these are such as bring forth untimely fruit (Heb 12:17; Luke 13:25-27). It is the hard hap of the reprobate to do all things too late; to be sensible of his want of grace too late; to be sorry for sin too late; to seek repentance too late; to ask for mercy, and to desire to go to glory too late.
Thus you see, 1. That fruit smitten in the growth, that withereth, and that comes not to maturity, is no fruit. 2. That hasty fruit, such as "the gra.s.s upon the house-top," withereth also before it groweth up, and is no fruit (Psa 129:6). 3. That the fruit that is vile, and ill-tasted, is no fruit. That wild fruit, wild grapes, are no fruit (Rev 6). That untimely fruit, such as comes too soon, or that comes too late, such as come not in their season, are no fruit.
And he came and sought FRUIT thereon, and found none.
Nothing will do but fruit; he looked for grapes. "When the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it" (Matt 21:34).
Quest. But what fruit doth G.o.d expect?
Answ. Good fruit. "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down" (Matt 7:19). Now, before the fruit can be good, the tree must be good; for good fruit makes not a good tree, but a "good tree bringeth forth good fruit. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" A man must be good, else he can bring forth no good fruit; he must have righteousness imputed, that he may stand good in G.o.d;"s sight from the curse of his law; he must have a principle of righteousness in his soul, else how should he bring forth good fruits? and hence it is, that a Christian"s fruits are called "the fruits of the Spirit, the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ" (Gal 5:22,23; Phil 1:11). The fruits of the Spirit, therefore the Spirit must be there; the fruits of righteousness, therefore righteousness must first be there. But to particularize in a few things briefly:--
First. G.o.d expecteth fruit that will answer, and be worthy of the repentance which thou feignest thyself to have. Every one in a profession, and that hath crowded into the vineyard, pretendeth to repentance; now of every such soul, G.o.d expecteth that the fruits of repentance be found to attend them. "Bring forth, therefore, fruits meet for repentance," or answerable to thy profession of the doctrine of repentance (Matt 3:8). Barren fig-tree, seeing thou art a professor, and art got into the vineyard, thou standest before the Lord of the vineyard as one of the trees of the garden; wherefore he looketh for fruit from thee, as from the rest of the trees in the vineyard; fruits, I say, and such as may declare thee in heart and life one that hath made sound profession of repentance. By thy profession thou hast said, I am sensible of the evil of sin. Now then, live such a life as declares that thou art sensible of the evil of sin. By thy profession thou hast said, I am sorry for my sin. Why, then, live such a life as may declare this sorrow. By thy profession thou hast said, I am ashamed of my sin; yea, but live such a life, that men by that may see thy shame for sin (Psa 38:18; Jer 31:19). By thy profession thou sayest, I have turned from, left off, and am become an enemy to every appearance of evil (1 Thess 5:22). Ah! but doth thy life and conversation declare thee to be such an one? Take heed, barren fig-tree, lest thy life should give thy profession the lie. I say again, take heed, for G.o.d himself will come for fruit. "And he sought fruit thereon."
You have some professors that are only saints before men when they are abroad, but are devils and vipers at home; saints by profession, but devils by practice; saints in word, but sinners in heart and life. These men may have the profession, but they want the fruits that become repentance.[8]
Barren fig-tree, can it be imagined that those that paint themselves did ever repent of their pride? or that those that pursue this world did ever repent of their covetousness? or that those that walk with wanton eyes did ever repent of their fleshly l.u.s.ts? Where, barren fig-tree, is the fruit of these people"s repentance? Nay, do they not rather declare to the world that they have repented of their profession? Their fruits look as if they had. Their pride saith they have repented of their humility. Their covetousness declareth that they are weary of depending upon G.o.d; and doth not thy wanton actions declare that thou abhorrest chast.i.ty? Where is thy fruit, barren fig-tree? Repentance is not only a sorrow, and a shame for, but a turning from sin to G.o.d; it is called "repentance from dead works" (Heb 6:1). Hast thou that "G.o.dly sorrow" that "worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of?" (2 Cor 7:10,11). How dost thou show thy carefulness, and clearing of thyself; thy indignation against sin; they fear of offending; thy vehement desire to walk with G.o.d; thy zeal for his name and glory in the world? And what revenge hast thou in thy heart against every thought of disobedience?
But where is the fruit of this repentance? Where is thy watching, thy fasting, thy praying against the remainders of corruption?
Where is thy self-abhorrence, thy blushing before G.o.d, for the sin that is yet behind? Where is thy tenderness of the name of G.o.d and his ways? Where is thy self-denial and contentment? How dost thou show before men the truth of thy turning to G.o.d? Hast thou "renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness?" Canst thou commend thyself "to every man"s conscience in the sight of G.o.d?" (2 Cor 4:2).
Second. G.o.d expecteth fruits that shall answer that faith which thou makest profession of. The professor that is got into the vineyard of G.o.d doth feign that he hath the faith, the faith most holy, the faith of G.o.d"s elect. Ah! but where are thy fruits, barren fig-tree? The faith of the Romans was "spoken of throughout the whole world" (Rom 1:8). And the Thessalonians" faith grew exceedingly (2 Thess 1:3).
Thou professest to believe thou hast a share in another world: hast thou let got THIS, barren fig-tree? Thou professest thou believest in Christ: is he thy joy, and the life of thy soul? Yea, what conformity unto him, to his sorrows and sufferings? What resemblance hath his crying, and groaning, and bleeding, and dying, wrought in thee? Dost thou "bear about in thy body the dying of the Lord Jesus?" and is also the life of Jesus "made manifest in thy mortal body?" (2 Cor 4:10,11). Barren fig-tree, "show me thy faith by thy works." "Show out of a good conversation thy works with meekness of wisdom" (James 2:18, 3:13). What fruit, barren fig-tree, what degree of heart holiness? for faith purifies the heart (Acts 15:9). What love to the Lord Jesus? for "faith worketh by love" (Gal 5:6).
Third. G.o.d expecteth fruits according to the seasons of grace thou art under, according to the rain that cometh upon thee. Perhaps thou art planted in a good soil, by great waters, that thou mightest bring forth branches, and bear fruit; that thou mightest be a goodly vine or fig-tree. Shall he not therefore seek for fruit, for fruit answerable to the means? Barren fig-tree, G.o.d expects it, and will find it too, if ever he bless thee. "For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from G.o.d: but that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned" (Heb 6:7,8).
Barren soul, how many showers of grace, how many dews from heaven, how many times have the silver streams of the city of G.o.d run gliding by thy roots, to cause thee to bring forth fruit! These showers and streams, and the drops that hang upon thy boughs, will all be accounted for; and will they not testify against thee that thou oughtest, of right, to be burned? Hear and tremble, O thou barren professor! Fruits that become thy profession of the gospel, the G.o.d of heaven expecteth. The gospel hath in it the forgiveness of sins, the kingdom of heaven, and eternal life; but what fruit hath thy profession of a belief of these things put forth in thy heart and life? Hast thou given thyself to the Lord? and is all that thou hast to be ventured for his name in this world? Dost thou walk like one that is bought with a price, even with the price of precious blood?
Fourth. The fruit that G.o.d expecteth is such as is meet for himself; fruit that may glorify G.o.d. G.o.d"s trees are trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified; fruit that tasteth of heaven, abundance of such fruit. For "herein," saith Christ, "is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit" (John 15:8). Fruits of all kinds, new and old; the fruits of the Spirit are in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth. Fruits before the world, fruits before the saints, fruits before G.o.d, fruits before angels.
O my brethren, "what manner of persons ought we to be," who have subscribed to the Lord, and have called ourselves by the name of Israel? "One shall say I am the Lord"s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel"
(Isa 44:5). Barren fig-tree, hast thou subscribed, hast thou called thyself by the name of Jacob, and surnamed thyself by the name of Israel? All this thou pretendest to, who art got into the vineyard, who art placed among the trees of the garden of G.o.d.
G.o.d doth therefore look for such fruit as is worthy of his name, as is meet for him; as the apostle saith, "we should walk worthy of G.o.d"; that is, so as we may show in every place that the presence of G.o.d is with us, his fear in us, and his majesty and authority upon our actions. Fruits meet for him, such a dependence upon him, such trust in his word, such satisfaction in his presence, such a trusting of him with all my concerns, and such delight in the enjoyment of him, that may demonstrate that his fear is in my heart, that my soul is wrapped up in his things, and that my body, and soul, and estate, and all, are in truth, through his grace, at his dispose, fruit meet for him. Hearty thanks, and blessing G.o.d for Jesus Christ, for his good word, for his free grace, for the discovery of himself in Christ to the soul, secret longing after another world, fruit meet for him. Liberality to the poor saints, to the poor world; a life in word and deed exemplary; a patient and quiet enduring of all things, till I have done and suffered the whole will of G.o.d, which he hath appointed for me.
"That on the good ground are they which, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15). This is bringing forth fruit unto G.o.d; having our "fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life"
(Rom 7:4, 6:22, 14:8).
Fifth. The Lord expects fruit becoming the vineyard of G.o.d. "The vineyard," saith he, "in a very fruitful hill": witness the fruit brought forth in all ages (Isa 5:1). The most barren trees that ever grew in the wood of this world, when planted in this vineyard by the G.o.d of heaven, what fruit to G.o.dward have they brought forth! "Abel offered the more excellent sacrifice" (Heb 11:4).
Enoch walked with G.o.d three hundred years (Heb 11:5). Noah, by his life of faith, "condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith" (Heb 11:7). Abraham left his country, and went out after G.o.d, not knowing whither he went (Heb 11:8). Moses left a kingdom, and run the hazard of the wrath of the king, for the love he had to G.o.d and Christ. What shall I say of them who had trials, "not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection? They were stoned; they were sawn asunder; were tempted; were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, being dest.i.tute, afflicted, tormented" (Heb 11:35-37). Peter left his father, ship, and nets (Matt 4:18-20). Paul turned off from the feet of Gamaliel. Men brought their goods and possessions (the price of them) and cast it down at the apostle"s feet (Acts 19:18-20). And others brought their books together, and burned them; curious books, though they were worth fifty thousand pieces of silver. I could add how many willingly offered themselves in all ages, and their all, for the worthy name of the Lord Jesus, to be racked, starved, hanged, burned, drowned, pulled in pieces, and a thousand calamities.[9]
Barren fig-tree, the vineyard of G.o.d hath been a fruitful place.
What dost thou there? What dost thou bear? G.o.d expects fruit according to, or becoming the soil of the vineyard.
Sixth. The fruit which G.o.d expecteth is such as becometh G.o.d"s husbandry and labour. The vineyard is G.o.d"s husbandry, or tillage. "I am the true vine," saith Christ, "and my Father is the husbandman"
(John 15:1). And again, "Ye are G.o.d"s husbandry, ye are G.o.d"s building" (1 Cor 3:9). The vineyard; G.o.d fences it, G.o.d gathereth out the stones, G.o.d builds the tower, and the wine-press in the midst thereof. Here is labour, here is protection, here is removing of hindrances, here is convenient purgation, and all that there might be fruit.