Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green fir tree; From me your fruit is found."
Our fruit comes from God, and from God alone, as to providence. When the dewdrops fall from heaven, each one may whisper to the tree and say, “From me is thy fruit found.” When the cloud looks down from on high, and is about to distil its liquid treasure, it may thunder to the earth beneath, “From me is thy fruit found.” And the bright sun above all others, as he paints the cheek of the apple, or swells the berries of the cluster, may well say to all the trees of the garden, “From me is your fruit found.” The fruit owes much to the root-that is essential to fruitfulness-but it owes very much also to external care. Beloved, how much we owe to God’s grace-providence! We are greatly debtors to his common providences, in that he maketh all things work together for good. But his grace-providence, in which he provides us constantly with quickening, teaching, correction, consolation, strength, or whatever else we want-to this we owe our all of usefulness or virtue.
