VI.

THE UNFRUITFUL FIG-TREE.

"He spake also this parable: A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down." LUKE xiii. 6-9.

HE fig-tree was planted in the vineyard; not growing wild, but set by the hand of man in a cultivated place. Care and pains had been bestowed on it. In this respect it represents our state, as being outwardly members of the Church of Christ. We are not heathen men, growing wild, as it were, in the wilderness of the world. We have been brought by God's providence within the sound of the gospel, and within reach of the means of grace; we are called by the name of Christ, and in profession at least are his disciples. We are all planted in the vineyard.

God himself is the Lord of this vineyard. And, like the man in the parable, he seeks fruit from it. One particular tree is mentioned in the parable, but doubt. less the owner looked for fruit on every tree. So God looks for fruit from every professing Christian; not merely from the church as a body, but from each member of it. The owner of the vineyard came several

times seeking fruit on the fig-tree. God's eye is always on us, to see if we are bearing fruit. He needs not to come seeking fruit; "the eyes of the Lord are in every place," and that, at every moment.

Nothing but fruit would satisfy the owner of the vineyard, nothing but fruit will satisfy God. But what fruit? Spiritual fruit, the fruits of righteousness, the proper effects of the gospel in heart and life; a contrite and believing heart, a holy and useful life. He looks to see Christians, Christians indeed; adorning their profession, growing in grace, loving and serving their Lord and Master, and so living as to win others to love and serve him too. A clear knowledge and a loud profession will no more content Almighty God than branches and leaves would satisfy the owner of the vineyard. There must be fruit, or the tree is counted worthless.

There was such a tree in the vineyard, a fig-tree that bore no fruit. Three years did the man seek fruit on it, and found none. We may gather from this that it made a fair show, or it would not have been left standing so long. But it was nothing but show; at the end of three years there was still no fruit. Alas! how many are unfruitful in the spiritual vineyard! And how long does God look for fruit from them in vain! Year after year they have a place in the vineyard, receiving gifts from God every day, both temporal and spiritual; hearing the gospel, surrounded by Christian influences, and themselves professing to be Christians, yet producing no fruit whatever. Though they have so long heard the gospel, they have never heartily embraced it; and though, like the fig-tree in the vineyard, they have perhaps fruitful trees around them,-real Christians,

who live with them, it may be, in the same house and form part of the same family,-yet they remain cold and dead and unprofitable, Christians in nothing but the name.

At length the man in the parable was tired of seeing this useless tree in his vineyard. It did but take up room to no purpose. It did no good, and seemed never likely to do good. It should stand no longer. So he gave orders to the dresser of the vineyard, “Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?" We do not hear such a command given with regard to an unprofitable Christian; for God works in secret, and does not make known to us what he is about to do in any particular case. But we know from his word that, sooner or later, every unprofitable servant will be cast out, and will come to eternal ruin. God is long-suffering. He bears long with sinners, sends them his messages again and again, and still waits to be gracious. But not for ever. “If a man will not turn, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready." And no impenitent sinner or unfruitful professor is safe for one moment from the word going forth against him, "Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?"

How many are condemned by this very word! How many are mere cumberers of the ground! They may not be grossly wicked, they may even be of moral character and respectable life; but they do no good, they do not use their talents in God's service, they give no help towards advancing the kingdom of Christ, they do but live for themselves. This is not the object for which they were placed in the world, and gifted with means and opportunities. They were meant to act as stewards of God, and to do him service with all that

he committed to their charge. They are unfaithful stewards, unprofitable servants; no better than the unfruitful tree, which took up room in the vineyard to no purpose.

The order was given; but the dresser of the vineyard put in a word for the tree. He did not deny that it was an unfruitful tree at present, but he asked for one year more for it. He would take more pains than ever with it. He would dig the ground about it, and put fresh manure to its roots. This might make it bear fruit; and if so, it would be well: the time and pains would be well repaid. But if it should still bear no fruit, then let it be cut down; the dresser himself would not ask that it should be spared any longer.

Who is meant by the dresser of the vineyard? The Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Mediator and Advocate. He pleads for us with God. He pleads even for the rebellious. Who among the careless and unprofitable can tell what he may even now be owing to the intercession of the Lord Jesus? It may be that he is alive at this moment, that he still hears the gospel, and that it is preached in his hearing more plainly and powerfully perhaps than ever, just because the Mediator has pleaded for him, and further time has been granted, and further means are being employed. It may be that sorrow has fallen upon one, and sickness on another, for the very same reason: they were careless and unfruitful, and they were about to be cut down, but Jesus pleaded for them, and these are his dealings with them to lead them to God.

If so, how precious is the time which they are now passing! It was only one year more, for which the fig-tree was to be spared. You too may be

passing through your last stage of life. You may even now be getting to the end of that space of time which was asked for on your behalf by the Friend of sinners. Will you be careless still? Will you still live as a mere nominal Christian, unfruitful, unprofitable, a cumberer of the ground? Think. The moments are slipping away, never to return; the means of grace which you are now enjoying, or which are at least within your reach, have been given you in God's great mercy, in order that you may be led, while yet there is time, to feel your need and to seek Christ, and these too are passing away. What if What if you should still neglect time and means? What if this last stage of life should pass with you as every former stage has passed? then? Let the parable answer the question: "Then after that, thou shalt cut it down." How sad! How awful! No more pleading of the Lord Jesus then. Not a word more. And who shall plead for you, when Jesus pleads no more? And who shall stand your friend, when even the Friend of sinners leaves you to yourself?

What

Be warned. Be moved. Warned by so fearful a risk, moved by so great forbearance and mercy. Jesus pleads for you, his intercession is heard, time and means are granted, you have them now. Lose not a moment. Rise, and call upon God. Seek Christ as your Saviour. Seek him in earnest. Seek him as your only refuge. Seek him, as one ought to seek him, who has long neglected him, but who has been spared to seek him at last. Seek him, and pray that all the past may be forgiven through his atoning blood; and that, through grace, what remains of life may be heartily given to God, so that you may be found at last not unfruitful, not a cumberer of the ground.