Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1891-10-28

chrise the True vtne-John iS:i-Ia-
Memory Verses. Z. d
Especially Arranged from & 4 Ousrtsriy1


ned. that ye bear much fruit--John i5:a
CnSTRAL rRUru.-Abiding in Christ Il the
source OF the Christian life its fruits and bless
ingS
Trxa-Thursday evening. April q A. D. 30.
ten or eleven o'clock, immediately after the
last lesson
PLAcE--An upper room In Jerusalem.
CfiscUNsrAScES-At the close Of the last
chapter the whole company arose and prepared
TO leave the room; but Jesus had moro to say
and while they were standing He spoke chap
ters II and 10. and the prayer in chapter IL
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEa-"True vine: -
the source OF life 20 all His disciples. Illus
bandnan:" the planter and owner OF the vine.
who cares for ~. and whose Is tho fruit 2.
Every branch" each individual Christian
each church n n branch. "Purgeth Il :" cleans.
9th IL; by pruning. by taking away any insects
or fungus that hinders a.. by culture, by new
life. So Jesus docs with His disciples. He
clcanscth the soul u) by tho operation OF the
law TINT right doing develops right feeling.
ana opens the heart To higher influences (chap.
1:iO; CD by the sanctifying Influences OF the
Holy Spirit. which Is given TO each soul In the
measure in which each proves itself worthy OF
and willing TO receive Him; CD by the discipline
OF life. which IA the manifestation of God 9
special love TO the soul CIIeb. i2:6). The object
of all this rcdcmptive work is in order that the
soul may bring forth moro fruit" This prun.
Ing explains the reason for many OF our losses
and trials. 3. NOW (alrcady) yo are clean: -
cleanscd, rs described In tho previous verso.
Through" because of. on account Of Tho
word which have spoken unto you. You arc
already clcnnsod from past sin through your
acceptance OF and obedience 10 My word Con-
scious Of their impcrfections their late strife.
their weakness. they might fear lest they were
not branches OF the tru. vino. Jesus comforts
them with tho assurance that they are clcansed.
that they arc bearing fruit, though they may
need further cleansing I'm order that they NAV
bring forth moro fruit. e. abide in Me;" by
believing. by loving by communion, by obcdi.
ence. n Much fruit" tho fruits are n holy
character good life. noble deeds. the CONVEX
sion OF others. the world made better T. Ask
what ye vii" etc; tins promise is to those
who abide in Jesus and live according TO His
word for such will ask what is right and wise
o. Continue yc in My love-" by obedience w.
io). III. My Joys" JOY of doing good. OF loving.
offrec. healthy activity, OF communion with God
OF faith and submission, of Heaven and all its
delights -. 'Hcncforth l call you not serv.
ants;" they worc 10 10 His will, but moi,
In scrvile manner. because they must
nor merely from a sense OF duty. 1T have called
you friends" Ho tells them His plans. Ho
works with them rs friends, and they serve
Him because they love Him. 10 THAT your
fruit should remain;" your work shall en-.
duro.
LESSON COMMENT.
Jesus here uses the vine as lifc-giving
thing, the life-giving power which lay
in Himself. Jesus says: ~ am the true
vine" This suggests that there are
vines that are not true" They are
spurious, and cannot rightly nourish
the branches SO that they may bear
fruit. Those 10 whom Christ was speak
ing were in danger OF thinking that
because they belonged to the vine Of
Israel therefore they were "all right"
Even the most selfish among the Jews
felt proud and self-satisficd in the claim:
1--WE have Abraham to our father"
Therefore Christ taught them plainly
that He Himself alone was the true
vine" All other vines were false"
degenerate" strange"
Are there any such vines left in our
days? Alas! yes. The same vine of
Journalism remains. There is the vine
OF culture" and the vine OF "science"
and the vine of philosophy" each OF
which is lauded by some enthusiastic
advocate. Gather all these together.
tic them up in one bundle and label
them all: False vines" For the Son
of God Himself said: al am the
true vine" He who wants spirit
ual life can never get il from any
degenerate vine. All that he will de-
rive from such n vine is untruth and
self-complacencc When men can gather
grapes from thorus or figs from thisties
then only can they extract truth from
falsehood.
All protested believers claim to be
branches OF the true vine. But not all
who claim to be united to the true vine
are really branches. How may we know
whether we are true branches of the
true vine? Jesus tells us in the lesson
that 'fruit-bearing" is the test. by
thei- fruits yc shall know them" He
who claims to belong To Jesus must
bear the fruits of such union. If there
is no fruit of the spirit in persons
life, all the outward profession in the
world cannot avail anything.
Now turn 10 the unfruitful branches
They really never belonged TO the vine.
What became of them? Jesus tells us
plainly in this lesson. They are cast
forth, withcr, arc gathered and burned.
Love never threatens falsely. Since,
then, He warns and threatens, we
know that that Of which He warns men
has real existence. All, therefore.
who arc not united TO the "truc" vine.
Jesus Christ, are certain TO perish for
ever when he shall como to judgment.
Rev. A. +. Schauf1lcr. ID. ID.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
l. Much fruit Shows U) that they
who bear much fruit are like Christ.
(2) 10 shows that they abide i'm Him, or
they could not bear such fruit. (S) IL
shows that they have learned OF Him.
(4) 1t shows that they obey Him.
.. The joy of Christ. This Joy is On
the joy Of free activity in doing right.
(2) The Joy OF entire conservation and
submission Co God. (3) The low OF
doing good of self denial for others.
t4) The JOY OF perfect faith in wise
and loving God.
3. How may we abide in Him? on Bv
faith; CD by communion with Him. On
by doing Ills viii
4. How may we have Him abide with
rs? tDBy opening the door Of our hearts:
(2) BY receiving the Holy Spirit; (3) 10y
putting away all that is rcpulsive To
Him; l1 by yielding - Ills impulses.
b. a soul occupied with great ideas
best performs small duties.
FIGURES From COMMERCE.
THE average annual exports Of cattle