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AID OF THE SPIRIT.

observance of this direction, you cannot fail to profit by the others; but, if you neglect this, your pursuit of doctrinal knowledge will serve only as food for your pride, self-confidence, and conceit, and exert a blighting influence upon your soul.

CHAPTER III.

NATURE AND EFFECTS OF TRUE RELIGION.

THE nature and effects of true religion are described in the Holy Scriptures, under the similitude of a tree planted by the side of a river. The Psalmist says the righteous "shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season: his leaf shall not wither." The prophet Jeremiah, also, speaking of the man who trusts and hopes in the Lord, says, "He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

The river, which is ever flowing, represents the abundant provision of God's grace. But a tree may

stand so near a river as to be watered when it overflows its banks; and yet, if its roots only spread over the surface of the ground, and do not reach the bed of the river, it will wither in a time of drought. This aptly represents those who appear engaged and in earnest only during remarkable outpourings of the Spirit. They are all alive and full of zeal when the river overflows; but, when it returns to its ordinary channel, their leaf withers; and, if a long season of

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THE TREE BY THE RIVER.

spiritual drought follows, they become dry and barren, so that no appearance of spiritual life remains. But mark how different the description of the true child of God: "He shall be as a tree planted by the rivers of water." This figure appears to have been taken from the practice of cultivating trees. They are removed from the wild state in which they spring up, and their roots firmly fixed in a spot of ground cultivated and prepared to facilitate their growth. So the Christian is taken from a state of nature, which is a wild, uncultivated state, and placed in a state of grace, by the side of the river, which flows from the throne of God and the Lamb. But this tree also "spreadeth out, her roots by the river." When the roots of the tree are spread out along the bed of the river, it will always be supplied with water, even when the river is low. This steadiness of Christian character is elsewhere spoken of under a similar figure: "The root of the righteous shall not be moved;" "He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root; " 66 Being rooted and grounded in love." Hence the prophet adds that the heat and the drought shall not affect it; but its leaf shall be green, always growing; and it shall not cease to bring forth fruit. And throughout the Scriptures the righteous are represented as bringing forth fruit: "And the remnant that is escaped out of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward." Here is first a taking deep root downward, or the sanctification of the faculties of the soul, by which new principles of action are adopted; and a bearing fruit upward, or the exercise of those princi

FALSE BLOSSOMS.

37,

ples, in holy affections and corresponding outward conduct. Again, “Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit." The bud and blossom are the first exercises of Christian experience. But every tree bears a multitude of false blossoms, which, by the superficial observer, may not be distinguished from the true. They may for a time appear even more gay and beautiful. As it appears in full bloom, it would be impossible for the keenest eye to discover them. But as soon as the season arrives for the fruit to begin to grow, these fair blossoms are withered and gone, and nothing remains but a dry and wilted stem. So, in the first stages of Christian experience, there are many counterfeits. But the real children of God shall not only bud and blossom, but they shall "fill the face of the world with fruit." In the Song of Solomon, the church is compared to "an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits." The pomegranate is a kind of apple. The tree is low, but spreads its branches, so that its breadth is greater than its height. So the true Christian is humble and lowly, while his good works spread all around him. The blossoms of this tree are large and beautiful, forming a cup like a bell. But when the flowers are double, no fruit follows. So the double-minded hypocrite brings forth no fruit. The pomegranate apple is exceedingly beautiful and delicious, and so the real fruits of Christianity are full of beauty and loveliness. Again, the church is said to lay up for Christ all manner of pleasant fruit, new and old. But backsliding Israel is called an empty vine, bringing forth fruit unto

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FRUIT BEARING THE TEST.

himself. Here we may distinguish between the apparent good fruits of the false professor and of the real Christian. The latter does every thing for Christ. He desires the glory of God and the advancement of Christ's kingdom; and this is his ruling motive. But the former, though he may do many things good in themselves, yet does them all with selfish motives. His ruling desire is to gratify himself, and to promote his own honor and interest, either in this world or in that which is to come.

The fruit which his people bring forth is that on which Christ chiefly insists, as a test of Christian character. "Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” He compares himself to a vine, and his followers to branches; and informs them that every branch which beareth not fruit shall be taken away. In the passage quoted from the first Psalm, the righteous is said to bring forth fruit in his season. And in the 92d Psalm and 14th verse, it is said, "They shall still bring forth fruit in their old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;" thus exhibiting a constancy of fruit-bearing, and an uninterrupted growth, even down to old age.

But what is meant by bringing forth fruit in his season? Paul says, "The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth." Hence we conclude that bringing forth fruit in season must be carrying out the principles of the gospel into every part of our conduct. In another place, the same apostle informs us more particularly what are the fruits of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, long-suf