The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-09-23
'Every tree that bringeth not forth fruit

You ask, why? Simply because it cum
bereth the ground" Our greatest fault
is not the evil we do to our ueighbor in
direct manner, but very often 1t is the
fact of our being stun bling block or
cum berance of some kind that throws its
shadow afar and keeps the sunlight from
others. Perhaps we are something like
the tree that our Lord caused to wither,
not because it was an injury to the neigh
boring ones, but because it filled portion
of the ground where productive one
might grow. It brought forth nothing,
and the greatest sin in this life belongs to
this class-it is uselessness. 1t is not
only wise precsution, but it Is also
Just judgment. to cut down useless trees
and cast then into the fire.
III. The Lord of the vineyard is patient
in watching. "He came and sought fruit
thereon and found none." Notice His pa
tience. For three years be had been
waiting on that tree, and, instead of
banishing it then, He bears it still another
year becau..e of the intercession of the
dresser. But has not God been more pa
tient with US? With all the grand privi-
leges that we have had, and now have.
there are many who are still barren as
this fig tree was. On some Of US He has
waited not three years, but seven times
three years; and He is still walking
through the garden to see if there is the
least show of blossom. And on Others
He has been waiting until they have be-
come dried up with age, but He continues
to spare with the hope that we may in
time bring forth good fruit.
What Improbable servants are we, and
how we'll it is for US that the Lord with
holds His judgment, is ''slow to anger"
and "plenteous in mercy" and refrains
from speaking the words. "Cut it down,
why cumbereth it the ground ?" The
young plant has become large and strong
and should have been producing fruit all
these years, yet nothing but branches and
leaves can be found thereon. We even
close our ears to the nutritious doctrines
and truths of the gospel. We have no
desire to become useful but with all this
perverseness there is no sound of a con-
demnatipg voice. How merciful is God
He tries US in every particular, and then,
marveling at our barrenness, speaks the
words; nevertheless, through the inter-
cession of the vine dresser, He spares us
still little longer.
Why this forbearance? All! That Is q
part of the mistery of mercy. However,
we think 1t must be because the "Spirit
maketh intercession for us with groan
ings that cannot be uttered" Oh, yes, Wa
know that this is the secret of that great
mercy, for the touching appeal of the On
who rejoiced in our salvation before the
foundation of the world were laid is con
stantly heiug put forth in our behalf. The
pleadings of the ever successful Advocate
and Mediator prevail upon the Almighty
Judge. and we are spared 80 that we may
still be worked upon by the Holy Ghost.
But If we do not then partake of the
nourishment afforded US our reprieve will
soon pass, and the decree of"cut it down"
be put into execution, for the Judge has
said: "My spirit shall not always strive
with man."
How often has the axe been laid to the
root the tree. How often have prepara-
tlons been made to hew US down and cast
us out? Each one of us may be able to
form some opinion if we but think of the
many days OF sickness, and recall the
fatal accidents that have been converted
into hairbresdth escapes. On land and by
sea thousands have been buried into
eternity. Our friends in some instance.
have been among the number; yet we
have been spared, and very often it might
be said of us "why cumbereth it the
ground ?" Why? "Lord let it alone this
year also," has found its way to the
throne of mercy. Oh those sweet accents
of love and pity, how they plead for Us!
Did we realize it time would pass too
quickly for us to accomplish our desires
towards Him.
w. But was this judgment of the Lord
Of the vineyard unjust? No doubt the
tree, could it plead for itself, would answer
yes. 1t probably would say am strong
and healthy, I have as beautiful branches
and leaves as my neighbors. lam just a.
bountiful with my shade make no dis.
turbance and take up just as little room
as my friends here at hand. cannot un-
derstand why this man should punish
me merely because do not enrich him.
And, furthermore, I doubt the business OF
such proceedings.
How often it occurs that We take just
such position as this and in this foolish
way attempt to justify ourselves in our
perverseness. The tree had been matured
for three years and ought to have beer
bearing fruit; therefore its maturity OF
strength, ofgrernness and health, became
its condemnation. Very often this is our
case. We have strength of influence and
of wealth. We have fue opportunities
and health of mind and body to carry
them out to their proper use; but where
are the fruits? When asked about them
we draw within our habitation and, with
a hard face, rebuke the one who asks
with authority; then that maturity OF
opportunity and ability to utilize the
same, which God has given to us, be-
comes our condemnation.
We doubt the business of the sentence,
and we think, we'll, if could see Jesus,
the Lord of the vineyard, ard have talk
with Him, all doubts would vanish and
1 could then "serve Him with quiet
mind" My brother, that is mistaken
idea. You know there was once young
lawyer who thought this same thing;
and 1t is more than likely that, after such
conversation, we would turn our backs
on the Lord, just as be did, for it Is very
hard to convince us Of any thing that does
not please or is 80 strange as to seem i'm
possible Generations pass, but the cur
rent of human nature runs In the same
muddy channel. We are just as human
as WAS that young lawyer, and if Jesus
was to ask any one of US this day to re-
sign everything we had and follow Him
wa would be just as likely to refuse or
if He was to appear again on earth no
doubt there wOu be found those who