The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-09-20
FRUIT BEARING.
A Condition Which Is Essential to
Discipleship.
Sermon by the "Highway and ny
way" Preacher-Importan Les
sons from the Figure ofthe
Branch and the Vine.

Copyright, 1902. by A. N. Kellogg News-
paper Col
Chicago. Sept. Il. 1902.
a'ext.-"Herein Is Ny Father glorihed.
that we bear much fruit; SO shall ye be My
d.. siples. John b:S
The Figure of the Vine.-No object
w, more familiar to the eyes of our
Saviour or His disciples than were the
great spreading grape vines with their
immense clusters of luscious fruit
hanging in purple glory amidst
the sheltering green OF the vines
foliage. The landscape of Palestine
was fringed with the fruitful plants.
Probably, many times after the work
of the day was over in the little car
penter shop at Nazareth, Jesus sat
under the cool retreat of the grape ar
Dor and, with the Old Testament books
in His hand, had become familiar with
the metaphor Of the prophets. To
dwell under the vine and fig tree was
emblematic of domestic happiness and
peace; the rebellious people of Israel
were compared to wild grapes" ian
empty ,ine," "the degenerate plant
of a strange vine," and in Isaiah's par
able of the vineyard He saw picture
of Israel and of Gods patient dealing
with them. With what interest He
must have searched out each separate
reference as the light broke in upon
His soul of the true meaning OF every
symbol and parable. Is il any won
der that during His ministry He should
make frequent use of the symbol OF the
vineyard and the vine to illustrate His
teachings? The most beautiful and
most profound of all His utterances
is the last final word with His disci-
pies before His crucifixion.
The passover supper had been eaten
and the new supper instituted which
was to commemorate His sacrifice for
them. The quiet sadness and solemn
impressiveness of the evening gather
ing in the upper room linger with
them as they go out into the GOODNESS
of the night and pass on their way to
the garden of Gethsemane, for 1t is
possible that the last portion of Jesus
talk with His disciples was spoken
they were not actually within its bor-
ders, with the suggestive grape vines
on every hand, outlining their leafy
foliage against the darker background
of the night. There was the strong
trunk of the vine, sending its spread
ing roots far down into the rocky crew
ices of the soil to draw nourishment
Ca Al oh IN "a
from the parent stem in every direc-
ton. There were the green verdure
of the leaf, and the clustering grapes
beneath, ripening and swelling under
the dews of the evening and the warm
ing rays of the sup during the day
"You see that splendid vine over
yonier. We have passed it and ad'
mired it many many times during
the years we have been together. Dc
you remember that hot day after the
weary travel when we rested here and
refreshed ourselves with the luscious
fruit? Well. what that great, strong
vine is to the branches and the fruit
I am to you in the spiritual life. Yor
remember as we sat under the shade
of that olive tree there, we watched the
faithful husbandman going over the
vine and caring for it. Here the prun
ing knife was used, there the destroy
ing growth which had attacked the
branch was removed and the branch
purged; little farther along a dea(
branch was still clinging to the vine
1t had failed to put forth leaf ant
fruit with the return of the season
because its channels were choked ant
| the life-giving nourishment of the vim,
could not flow through it. This deat
branch the husbandman quickly sew
cred from the vine and cast it from
him. All the thought and hope of TIT
| husbandman rested in that splendit
vile. Fruit was what he was after
and anything which interfered with III
| gr ,wth was cut and pruned and purget
away. My Father is the Husba ndmaI
of the True Vine. Every branch in NJ,
I that beareth not fruit He taketh away
and every branch that beareth fruit
He purgeth it, that 1t may bring fortl
more fruit. am the Vine, We are tn
branches: he that abideth in Me, an,
in him, the same bringeth forth mucl
fruit: for without Me We can do moth
| ing. IL a man abide not in Me, he ],
cast forth as branch, and is withered
anu men gather them, and cast then
int, the fire, and they are burned.
Herein is My Father glorified, tina
We bear much fruit; so shall ye be m,
disciples"
| Fruit Bearing.-Our text brings be
fore MS an exhaustless' theme. Tn
marvellous conceptions which it sug
gests would supply material TO
many sermons instead of one. Tn
theme 10 which we are going to spe
cially direct your attention is that o
Fruit Bearing. At this time of th
| wear how Nature seeks to force thi
lesson upon us. The waving field
of tasseling corn gladden. the farm
er's eye, and as he makes ready tn
corn crib for the ripening harvest h
reioiccs in the Fruit Bearing of hi
broad acres. What IL Natures voic
is not heard, and his soul is dead t
the cali of God to bear fruit even a
his fields yield him the increase?
| A stroll through the orchard is
wonderful and inspiring sight. tn
bending branches groan under the
weight of fruit. and each red-cheeke
apple expresses in visible form til