Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	earth_n	father_n	son_n	15,185	5	5.1545	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41536	The tryall of a Christians growth in mortification, purging out corruption, or vivification, bringing forth more fruit a treatise handling this case, how to discerne our growth in grace : affording some helps rightly to judge thereof by resolving some tentations, clearing some mistakes, answering some questions, about spiritual growth : together with other observations upon the Parable of the vine, John 15. 1, 2 verses / by Tho. Goodwin.	Goodwin, Thomas, 1600-1680.	1650 (1650)	Wing G1262; ESTC R10593	96,023	122

both in purging out corruptions and increase of grace and the fruit of it Therefore what ever other spreading fruitfull observations grow upon this stock and this Vine affords many wee will but shortly and as men in haste view and take notice of but as in our way to that other which I principally intend and onely so far stay upon the observation of them as the bare opening this similitude here used doth give sap and vigour to them The first Observation how Christ is a Vine and onely the true Vine First Christ he is a Vine To explaine this first Adam indeed was a Vine planted in Paradise to beare all Mankinde upon but he turned a wild one he proved not the true Vine God planted him to allude to that Jer. 2. 21. A noble Vine a holy and right seed but he degenerated and so have all engraffed on him and so bring forth nothing but grapes of Sodome as Isaiah speakes But 2. God the Father having many branches of chosen ones that grew by nature on this cursed stock of Adam whom yet as ver 16. he had ordained to bring forth fruit that is to spring and spread forth in the earth in all ages and then to be transplanted unto Heaven the Paradise appointed for them the earth being but the nurserie of them for a while Hence therefore he did appoint his own Sonne to be a new root as into whom he meant to transplant them and ordained him to be that bulk and body and chiefe branch which they all should grow out of who is therefore called The roote of David Rev. 22. and that Righteous branch Jer. 22. 6. Whom therefore 3. he planted as a roote here on earth with us and cloathed with a humane nature a weak and mean bark and body and a rind and out side such as ours is that so both roote and branches might be of the same nature and Homogeneall which nature of ours in him he likewise filled with his Spirit as with juice and sap without all measure that so he might fructifie and grow into all those branches appointed to be in him by communicating the same spirit to them And 4. although he was of himselfe the fairest Cedar that ever the earth bare yet in relation to those multitude of branches he was to bear chuseth to be a Vine which is of all trees the lowest the weakest and of the meanest bark and out-side of any other onely because of all others it is the plentifullest of branches and runs out and spreads its bulk in branches and those of all branches else of any other trees the fruitfullest it is therefore called The fruitfull Vine Psal 128. 3. and for that reason onely doth he single out this comparison as suiting with his scope shewing therein his love that as he condescended to the lowest condition for our salvation so to the meanest resemblances for our instruction yet so as withall he tells us that no Vine nor all the Vines on earth were worthy herein to be compared nor to be so much as resemblances of him For he and he alone is the true Vine that is the second Observation For take those choicest excellencies in a Vine for which the comparison here is made as more particularly that of fruitfulnesse either in boughs or fruit and it is but a shadow of that which is in him As God onely is I am that I am and all things else have but the shadow of Being so Christ alone hath onely all the excellencies in him in the true reall nature of all things to which he is compared So in like manner he is said to be Bread indeed John 6. 55. and ver 32. The true bread from heaven Manna and all other meat and all that sweetnesse which is in meat is and was but a shadow to that which he affords He excells and exceeds all things he is compared to in what they have and they are but shadowes to him Heb. 10. 1. First therefore never any Vine so fruitfull All our fruit is found in him Hos 12. If you abide in me you shall bring forth much fruit He hath juice to supply you with every grace to fill you with all the fruits of righteousnesse which if the branches want it is for want of faith in themselves to draw from him not want of sap in him Secondly this he is at all times hath been in all ages thus flourishing this root never withers is never dry or empty of sap it is never winter with Christ Every branch saith the second verse that is every one that hath born fruit in any age beareth all its fruit in him branches in him fear no drought Jer. 17. 8. Thirdly for largenesse of spreading no such Vine as this He as the Psalmist sayes Psal 80. 11 12. sends out his boughes unto the sea and his branches to the rivers all the earth is or hath been or shall be filled with them Is to perswaded us to take Christ alone and make him our All in all because in him all excellencies are supereminently found All creatures are not enough to serve for comparisons to set him forth and when they doe in part for some particular thing that is the excellentest in them yet therein they are but shadowes Heb. 10. 1. He onely is the truth he is the true light John 1. The Baptist Moses and all lights else were but as twilight but a shadow So he is the true bread the true Vine he hath really the sweetnesse the comfort the excellencies of them all The like may be said of all those relations he hath taken on him so he onely is a true Father and Husband c. and the love and sweetnesse in all other Fathers and Husbands are but a shadow to what is in him Obser 2. How the Father is the Husbandman As CHRIST is thus a Vine so his Father is the Husbandman and as strange a Husbandman as Christ a Vine For first he is the very root of the Vine it self which no Husbandman is to any Vine therefore he that is the Vine calls the Husbandman his Father My Father is the Husbandman This Vine springs out of his bosome by eternall generation for this is the derivation of our Off-spring Chap. 14. 20. I am in my Father and you in me And Chap. 5. 26. The Father He hath life originall in himselfe and gives it to the Sonne and the Sonne to us and thence spring living fruits the fruits of righteousnesse 2. He is the ingraffer and implanter of all the branches into this Vine Esay 60. 21. he calls them his righteous people the branch of my planting the work of my hands Other Husbandmen doe but expect what branches their Vines will of themselves bring forth but God appoints who and how many shall be the branches and gives them unto and ingraffs them into his Sonne 3. He appoints what fruit and what store of fruit these branches shall bring forth and accordingly

gives the increase which other Husbandmen cannot doe Paul my plant and Apollos may water but God onely gives the increase 1 Cor. 3. 7. Though Christ merited yet the Father decreed every mans measure of fruitfulnesse 4. He is the most diligent Husbandman that ever was for he knowes and daily views and takes notice of every branch and of all their fruit for sayes the Text Every branch that brings not forth fruit he takes away c. therefore knowes who beareth fruit and doth not He knowes their persons who are his and who are not 2 Tim. 2. 19. not so much as one man could come in without a wedding garment but he spies him out 5. The most carefull he is daily to purge his Vine so says the second verse And of all possessions saith Cato Nulla possessio majorem operam requirit Vineyards need as much care and more then any other The Corne when it is sowne comes up and growes alone and ripeneth and comes to perfection the Husbandman sleeping and waking he knowes not how saith Christ But Vines must be drest supported sheltred pruned well-nigh every day And of all trees God hath most care of his Vines and regards them more then all the rest in the world Is to honour the Father in all the workes tending to our salvation as much as we honour the Son If Christ be the Vine his Father meanes to be the Husbandman and indeed it may teach us to honour all the three Persons in every work that is saving for in all they bear a distinct office the Father hath not onely a hand in Election but also in Sanctification concerning which this Parable was made If Christ be the roote that affords us sap whence all fruit buds the Father is the Husbandman that watereth the Vine gives the increase purgeth the branches and is the root of that life which Christ affords to us and then the Spirit also comes in to have a work and influence herein also for he is the sap though not here mentioned yet which is implyed which lies hid in this Parable of the Vine and appeares in all the fruits that are brought forth therefore called Gal. 5. Fruits of the Spirit None of the three Persons will be left out in any relation or in any work that is for our salvation That ever three so great Persons should have a joynt care of our salvation and sanctification and we our selves neglect it That they should be so carefull we so negligent and unfruitfull If they doe all so much for us what should not we endeavour to do for our selves Be carefull of your words thoughts wayes affections desires all which are the fruits of your soules for God takes notice of all he walkes in this his garden every day and spies out how many raw unripe indigested performances as Prayers c. hang on such or such a branch what gum of pride what leaves what luxuriant sprigs what are rotten boughs and which are sound and goes up and down with his pruning knife in his hand and cuts and slashes where he sees things amisse he turnes up all your leaves sees what fruit is under and deals with men accordingly When the Church is in any distresse or misery goe to him that is the Husbandman such is the usuall condition of this his Vine spread over the face of the earth Complain as they Psal 80. 12. Why hast thou broken down her hedges so as all they which passe by doe pluck her the boare out of the wood doth waste it Complain to him that the hogs are in his Vineyard and doe much havock and spoile therein and tell him that he is the Husbandman who should take care for it So they go on to pray Returne we beseech thee O God of Hosts looke downe from heaven behold and visit this Vine and the Vineyard which thy right hand hath planted v. 14 15. 3. Obs Two sorts of branches in this Vine fruitfull and unfruitfull and the difference between temporary and true Beleevers as they are laid downe in the Text. We see this Vine hath branches of two sorts fruitfull and unfruitfull which is the third thing to be observed And herein our Saviour followeth the similitude for experience shews the like in Vines And writers of Vines observe it and accordingly distinguish the branches of Vines into Pampinarios which bring forth naught but leaves and Fructuarios which bring forth fruit The unfruitfull they are such as make profession of being in Christ to themselves and others and receive some greennesse from him but no true fruit for their profession they are branches for their emptinesse unfruitfull ones The onely question is How such as prove unfruitfull are said to be branches and to be in Christ Every branch in me c. Many comparisons there are of Christ as he stands in various relations to his Church whereof some serve to expresse one thing concerning him some another That of a Vine here presents him onely as he was to spread himselfe into a visible Church on earth in the profession of him and so considered he may have many branches that are unfruitfull That other of An head over all the family in heaven and earth which imports his relation onely to that invisible company of his Church mysticall which together make up that generall assembly spoken of in Heb. 12. which are his fulnesse Eph. 1. ult And agreeable to this meaning in comparing himselfe to a Vine in this large and common relation of a root to both sorts of Professors true and false is that other expression also whereby he sets forth his Fathers office when he calls him not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Vine-dresser or a tiller of a Vineyard in a strict sense as Luke 13. 7. but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it were at large the Husbandman As thereby denoting out not simply and alone that peculiar care that he hath to true beleevers onely that are branches of this Vine though including it but withall importing that common care and providence which he beares to others of his creatures and this because some of these branches of this Vine are to him but as others out of the Church and of no more reckoning with him The Fathers relation herein answering to and in a proportion running parallel along with that which Christ beares towards them Those that Christ is head unto those he is a Father unto Those whom Christ is but as a Vine unto Christ he is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Husbandman unto whose office is seene as well in cutting off such branches as in pruning and dressing of those other These unfruitful ones are not in Christs account reckoned as true branches here For in the 5. verse he calls those Disciples of his that were there and then present with him when now Judas was gone forth afore as appears Chap. 13. 30. them onely The branches and therefore repeats it there again I am