The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-06-23

, the fruit to be gathered. 1t is an easy
matter 10 Distinguish between the two
trees. with the evidence so plentiful before
( our eyes. Now the Master makes this sim
! PIE application 10 the Ives and morals OF
men and women, and ne states a truth
! equally apparent when he says, A good
tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither
| can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit F;
he would. therefore, have US 10 under
stand that II Is a physical impoSslbiilty
! for one who is morally good to exhibit evil
fruits. and vice versa In other words. a
profession counts for nothing if the fruit
does not confirm and prove the profession
T. be true; and il matters not how often
true disciple Of the Master. unless his
words and actions Dear out mis- profession,
and are such as would commend him TO
his Lcrd. he IS either deceIHlHS himself or
! is "A hypOcrIte and Is trying to deceive OH
ers. With regard to the fruits that would
naturally be expected Of Il Christian, II is
perhaps unnecessary that / should enumer-
ate them in detail. except to say that hon
csty. sobriety. industry, taithiulness, up
arce. clean speech, etc. should be tound
among what the apostle terms the peace
able fruits of Righteousness
Just a few thoughts on the subject OF
"The first requisite is that we plant n
good. healthy seed that will produce the
kind of tree We desire to have. In the
Christian life the seed is the word OF
God. 1t is necessary that We sow the seed
in fertile soil. In the Christian life the SOIL
is a good and honest heart.
1t is necessary that We keep the SOL
free from weeds or other noNiouS plants
that would sap the strength Of the young
and tender plant. In the Christian life the
weeds are the sinful desires and appetites
that spring up and grow so rank, II we do
IT is necessary that the climate and
other environments be suited to the growth
of the tree in cultivation, In the Christian
life the climate ana environments are the
associations We form. and the people and
conditions with which we are surrounded.
It is necessary that We cultivate and irri-
c.ra fha pr1N inc T.aa In Tho Christian life
This cultivation comes from putting into
practice the truths We have learned, and
water which is within, and to which the
Master referred when he taught the Sa-
marian woman at Jacobs we'll.
keep it from running all to branches. In
the Christian life this pruning process
comes in the nature of Affections. trials
from too much exaitat.on. self-confidence
and perhaps forEetfulneSs of our aim and
object. and better fits and prepares us for
the luscious fruit which we are to bear.
1T is necessary now. as the fruit begins
to appear. to shield the tree. as far as
possible, from devastation by floods. storms.
self: this the farmer understands reason
he provides against such mishaps.. In the
life. the floods of passion, the
storm of temptation. the insidious at
tacks of Satan. all COnSpire to destroy tile
golden fruits and even the tenderly nur-
tured tree itself; but God has provided his
children with means of protection against
selves and our fruits we'll with the breast
plate of righteousness, the shield OF faith.
the helmet of salvation and the sword Of
the spirit, which is the word OF God. having
our loins grit about with truth and our feet
with the preparation of the gospel OF
peace.
I'm connection with these thoughts con-
corning fruit-bearing, ! desire TO add the
one a~Il-important requisite: as taught by
of John, where Jesus says. I am
the vine. and my father IS the hubaneman.
Every branch in me that bcareth not fruit
he taketh away. and every branch that +,
beareth fruit. he purgeth It. that it may
bring forth more fruit. Now We are clean
through the word which I have spoken unto
branch cannot bear fruit itself. EXCEPT it
abide in me. 80 Herein is my father
glorifed. that We bear much fruit, SO shall
There are three thoughts in connection J
with this statement from the Master that
I close. =
THAT we derive our vitality. strength and
qualities direct from Jesus.
and that only as We abide in him can We
hope TO bring forth the luscious. golden
fruit of Righteousness. This IS extremely
for the reason that a great deal
OF well-directed effort is lost because the
person making it has not. first of all, 81
tabllshed This close relationship with the
Master. The Apostle Paul understood this
when he spoke of his own physical weak
ness. but declared, L can do all things
through Christ. who strengthens me-.
THAT the branches which bear fruit arc
taken away; or, as stated elsewhere. Of the !
tree, it is hewn down and cast into
the fire. From this we would gather that
the stigma and dishoner of living f~ruitless
lives Is not all. but that the ending of such
will be still more igncminious.
That fruit-bearing is the proof OF our
dIscipleship. This thought alone is sufIi-
cient to warrant the time we have taken IT
the consideration of this subject. The world =
may be full of creeds and confessions Of {,
faith; one denomination may demand this
and another that. in order to be received as
in good standing and full fellow
ship; but the divine rule by which the Mo-
ter measures us and decides whether we are
disciples or not is whether we bear tie
consistent with lives patterned after
his matches life"