SERMONS.

I.

VINES AND BRANCHES.

JOHN xv. 5: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing."

Ir is entirely probable that these words were spoken in the spring-time, when the vines on the slopes and terraces about Jerusalem were opening into leaf and blossom, and when this analogy would have all the power and beauty that could come from the object as well as the subject. There, right before them, and all about them, are the vines, standing in the sun. Some of the branches are the genuine outgrowth of the vine itself. Others are only there by grafting. Some are strong, some feeble, and some dead; and the dead, as Jesus is speaking, the

vine-dressers are cutting away, that they may not interfere with the living vines or disfigure the vineyards. But, strong, or feeble, or dead, there stand the stems, ready to pour their sap into every branch alike, or, if they make any difference, to give their life to the lowliest first and in the fullest measure, that they which have the less sun may have the more sap, and more at least of life, if they have less of what makes life a blessing. So Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches, and my Father is the husbandman; and every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit he pruneth it, that it may bear more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you; for as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me."

In this sermon I want to try to find this subject through the object, to see how the analogy is true, first naturally, second spiritually, and third universally; how it will hold good while vines and men continue to grow on the earth. It is not something once done, and then done with, but something that is now doing, and that will