John 15:4–5

Christ by this declaration, having assured them of their good estate, doth now subjoyne his exhortation; wherein, he doth presse them to communion with him, from several arguments and considerations, to v. 8. And because fruitfulnesse is the necessary effect thereof, which he aims at in the exhortation, therefore he presseth and commendeth it also, v. 8, 9, 10.

In these verses is contained, 1. The exhortation to perseverance in close communion with himself, as the root and cause of that fruitfulnesse which he requireth of his members. 2. This is not only pressed by an argument couched in the very bosome of the exhortation, that their abiding in him is the way to have him abiding in them, and so the communion should be mutual; But further, there is the first expresse reason and argument pressing the exhortation, subjoyned; And it is taken from the inseparable connexion that is betwixt communion with him, and fruitfulnesse, so that the latter cannot be without the former. This he declareth, 1. Negatively, That without him, and communion with him, they can no more be fruitful, then a branch that abideth not in the vine. 2. Positively, That abiding in him, they shall abound in fruit; which again is confirmed and amplified by their impotencie to do any thing without him. Whence learn, 1. When beleevers are assured of their good condition, it is their duty to cherish it, and persevere in it; Therefore doth he subjoyne this exhortation to the former declaration. 2. It is the duty, and will be the practice of lively beleevers, who are in Christ, to entertain the sense of their own impotencie and emptinesse, and to love to be kept in a dependance on Christ; that so they may study an intimate and constant conjunction with him, and dependance on him; for, so much is imported in this exhortation, Abide, which imports constancy, and that in me, which imports intimacy. 3. Such is our dulnesse and lazinesse, and our aversenesse from self-denial, and the way of dependance; that even when we have tasted the good of communion with Christ, we have need to be exhorted and encouraged to continue in it; for, so much do these exhortations, and the pressing thereof with so many arguments, import. 4 As the conjunction and inhabitation must be mutual betwixt Christ and believers; so the union shall not break on his side, but if they abide in him by faith and needy dependance, he will not faile to abide in them by his gracious presence and furniture: for, saith he, Abide in me, and I in you. The latter part whereof is not an exhortation, (save in so far as he exhorts them, by abiding in him, to continue his presence with them) but a promise. 5. Holinesse and fruitfulnesse ought and will be so lovely and desirable in the esteem of true believers, that the hope of progresse therein will perswade them to submit to the use of all appointed means, and particularly, to make much use of Christ; Therefore it is urged as a pressing Argument to abide in Christ, that unlesse they do so, they cannot be fruitful; And the urging of this as an Argument, is in effect the exhortation to fruitfulnesse, which afterward is further pressed and urged. 6. It is as certain that a person not abiding in Christ, for securing the state of his person, and for continual influence and furniture, cannot do good works, as it is certain a withered branch, cut off from a tree, cannot bring forth fruit: for, as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 7. As beleevers are to studie their own emptinesse, so ought they to studie the fulnesse of Christ, as able and willing to supply all their wants, if they abide in him; for, these two are held out together, that he is the vine, as they are the branches. 8. The more we study faith in Christ, and close and constant adherence to him, the more will we, not only be fruitful, but abound in fruit; for, He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. 9. It is no easie matter to convince beleevers of their own insufficiency without Christ, but again and again self-conceit will lift up its head, unlesse it be frequently hammered down; therefore it is again needful to assert, without me ye can do nothing. 10. Whatever moral commendable actions men may do upon moral principles; yet unlesse a mans person be in Christ, he is utterly impotent to do a good and acceptable work; And whatever a regenerate man may do by the power of gifts, or habits of grace received; yet he cannot do it in a lively and acceptable way, without a constant dependance, and entertaining of communion with Christ; for, it is an argument why they should be, and abide in him, without me, or being separate from me, ye can do nothing. 11. It is not sufficient that men see their impotencie to do greater or more difficult things without Christ, unlesse also they be convinced of inability to do the least thing; for, the assertion is, without me ye can do nothing. See 2 Cor. 3.5. 12. The sense of our inability is never rightly studied, when either we lie secure or discouraged under it, unlesse it be an argument inviting and perswading us to draw near unto Christ; Therefore, it cometh in here by way of argument pressing that they would abide in him, that they may have much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing.