The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-24
The SERMON.
THE TREE AND ITS FRUITS.
BY REV. R. o. WILLIAMS.

"a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit.
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good
fruit" Matthew vii, IS.
1t is a maxim, perhaps not less true
in its application to morals than to
things in the material world, that a
fountain cannot send forth at the
same tine both sweet and bitter
waters. The rule applies as we'll to
the original capabilities of the human
mind as to the motives which govern
the actions of men. The same mo-
tive, proceeding from the same dis
position of mind, cannot at the same
time or under the same circumstan-
ces. induce indiscriminately good
and bad action. Like produces like"
The same cause, in similar circum-
stances will, the world over, produce
the same effect Consequently, in
moral point of view, sweet and bitter
waters cannot proceed from the same
fountain. The good or bad conduct
of men depends on the condition OF
the heart. If the disposition is both
good in itself and subject to the infiu-
ence of good motives, the conduct
will be good. But if the disposition
is bad, or even Indifferent, and sub
iect to bad influence, the outward
conduct will correspond. These
things are we'll understood in COM
munity; and hence the common prov
erb, founded on Scriptural TRUTH
<'the tree is known by its fruits"
1t was this great principle that
Jesus was endeavoring to inculcate
in the text and context. Speaking of
false prophets who come in sleeps
clothing-fair without, but woltish
within-he says "By their fruits, ye
shall know them" And by an ap-
peal to external nature for the means
of illustration, he shows that, at least
to some extent, the outward conduct
is an index to the inward state of the
mind. No man would attempt to
gather grapes from thorns, or figs
from thistles; because such fruit does
not grow on such vegetable produc-
tions. But where grapes are found
in spontaneous production, they in
duce the irresistible belief that vines
are at hand. In like manner the
fruit of the thorn-tree, even in the
absence of the tree itself, is immedi-
ately referred by all acquainted with
its nature, to it's own proper vegeta-
BILE production.
By wise course of analogical rea
soning, this principle was applied by
our Saviour to the conduct of men,
and the motives from which that con-
duct proceeds. The outward life is
made in a measure the index of the
inward life. Indeed this is the only
criterion by which one man can
Judge of the condition and feelings of
another mans heart; and even this is
not infallible. So much room is there
for deception that Jesus deemed it
necessary to warn his disciples to
t'iudge not according to appearance,
but Judge righteous judgment" So
extensive is the practice of dissimula-
ton that the professions of men are
to be received with caution, until
fully confirmed by subsequent
course of conduct. Whenever we
find, in any man, long continued
course of virtuous conduct, we refer
it Immediately to proper state of
the inner man. On the other hand,
whatever his professions may be, if
his conduct is bad we ascribe it to
the existence of wrong principles
within.
It may here be laid down as an
incontrovertible truth that benevo-
lence does and must, as its natural
prerogative, confer happiness to the
greatest possible extent; and malig
nifty, on the other hand. cannot exist
without inficting misery on some be-
ing. This truth is plain and must be
acknowledged by all; indeed it forms
one of the fundamental principles of
eternal morality. Whenever, there
fore, we discover in the conduct of
any person, the endeavor to promote
happiness among men, we ascribe
that endeavor to benevolence, and we
feel assured that it proceeds from a
benevolent disposition. On the other
hand, when we see a man whose con-
slant endeavor appears to be to make
all around him miserable, we say at
once, he is cruel and justly ascribe
his conduct to an evil disposition.
We know indeed that benevolence
may dictate the infiction of misery
for good purpose connected with
the happiness of the sufferer; and
where we see that object carried into
effect, we never doubt the benevolent
intentions. But if we see in that