_Vse_ 1. This may serve to condemne those, that bring forth no fruit, _Matthew 3.10._ _Iohn 15.2._ _Luke 13.7._ Much more are they to be condemned, that are like unto the cursed ground, and in steed of fruits bring forth thornes and briers, _Hebrews 6.8._ _Deuteronomy 32.32._ 2. To exhort us, by all meanes to labour to bring forth good fruits, and so also that they may be answerable unto those meanes which God used towards us, to make us fruitfull, according to Gods expectation, and in that season wherein God expects them, and in that measure also which he expects, of some thirty, of some sixty, and of some an hundred fold. Doctrine 4. _Without these fruits the knowledge of God is unprofitable._ For it is as it were choaked with thornes, or withered away. _Vse._ This may serve to admonish us, to be so much the more carefull to bring forth fruit, that we may not heape up this sinne of barrennesse unto the other, by making the word of God void and of no effect. Doctrine 5. _That we may be fruitfull, vertues must not only be in us, but also abound in us._ They are in us when we have gotten a habit of them; they abound, when we do seriously and diligently endeavour to make that habit more perfect. * * * * * Verse 9. _But he that lacketh these things, is blinde, and cannot see farre off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sinnes._ The Analysis. This is the second argument whereby the exhortation of the Apostle is confirmed; and it is taken from the disprofits that befall all those that are strangers to these vertues. And these disprofits are contrary to those profits whereof mention was made in the former verse. For the Apostle would say that they which have not these vertues, are quite barren and unfruitfull. But he doth not barely expresse this, but sets it forth by the causes thereof. And the causes are two, blindnesse and forgetfulnesse. For he that is blinde, must needs be barren and unfruitfull, and unfit to do those businesses especially, which require the eye sight: and he that forgets the benefit which he hath received, it is no wonder, if he bring forth no fruit worthy of that benefit. Their forgetfulnesse is set forth by the object or benefit which they should remember, that is, their purification from their old sinnes. By blindnesse in this place is meant, not the privation of their corporall sight, or of their naturall understanding, but of that spirituall perfection, whereby we come to the saving knowledge of those things that pertaine to the kingdome of God, and our eternall life. By those things that are _farre off_, are meant things truly spirituall, which as touching their nature and condition, are as farre off from carnall men as heaven is from earth. The Doctrines arising here-hence. Doctrine 1. _All that are destitute of vertue are spiritually blinde._