h yet exists within the newly
grafted branch, which would spring up and hinder the perfect
fruit-bearing of the vine-life. And in this early life, in this new
relation of the branch with the vine, it is an attested fact that in
quantity this fruit production is more or less hindered by the presence
of the old inward nature, in the branch, which if permitted to sprout
and grow would certainly prevent the growth of the vine-fruit entirely,
and thereby cause the branch to be cut off. That the branch is in the
vine there can be no question, for its environments are completely
changed and it finds itself a stranger to all of its former
associations, customs, and habits. That the vine-life is in the branch
there can equally be no question, for the branch has the inward
consciousness bearing witness that it belongs to the vine, and it enjoys
the sweet fellowship of the vine and all its branches. Also it bears the
vine-fruit which brings upon itself the approval of the husbandman.

But this early and new relationship is only the justified life of the
branch. The standard of sanctification of the author from whom we have
just quoted is in no respect any higher than this, and were it not that
there is a higher standard taught in this lesson and in many other
scriptures, we would have to be satisfied with justification only.

"Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth
more fruit." This purging is another process quite contrary to nature,
for the term signifies an inward cleansing. A vine-dresser can prune or
trim a branch and thereby practically make it clean outwardly from all
unnecessary or harmful sprouts which would hinder it from bearing fruit,
but there is no known natural process by which the grafted branch could
have its inward conditions changed which would affect its nature.

We can see clearly that the entire process of grafting the inferior
branch into the good root, and the subsequent purging is wholly contrary
to nature, for no man with an object of profit would do any such
grafting, neither could anyone reasonably expect the inward conditions
of such a graft to become changed.

This purging is wrought within for the purpose of an increase of holy
fruit. How beautifully it pictures the experience of sanctification, and
subsequent work wrought in the soul of the justified fruit-bearing child
of God. It is not a pruning of any unholy sprouts, for they are to be
wholly kept from sproutin