George Hutcheson
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
The second Argument pressing the exhortation, is, an enlargement of what is said, v. 2. and taken from the danger of Apostasie, and which these Professours will incurre, who being outwardly, by visible communion in Christ, do not evidence the reality of their inward fellowship, by constant adherence to him, and drawing vertue from him for fruitfulnesse, but do fall off and decline. This is held forth under the usual similitude, that as branches which do not incorporate with the tree, but do hang by it, or fall off, are by the vine-dresser cast away, and having withered a while, are gathered to be fewel for the fire; so rotten members who make Apostasie, are cut off from Christ, and in due time sent unto the pit. Whence learn, 1. As the case of these who are altogether without Christ is dreadful; so their case is much sadder who have been in Christ by visible Profession, and study not reality that they may abide. Saddest of wrath will look them in the face when they look out of Christ, and go from him; for, such is the threatning here against them that abide not in him. 2. Albeit no real Saints can totally and finally fall away and perish; yet the Elect have need that the danger of Apostasie, and the dreadful wrath following upon it, be laid before them, to make them afraid of defection; Therefore is this threatning laid before the disciples, to presse them to their duty, albeit it will be only verified in the outward fruitlesse branches, who are to be cut off, v. 2. And the propounding thereof to the disciples, doth not import they were of that sort, or that they could make total defection from Christ and grace; but only that there is an inseparable connexion betwixt such Apostasie and wrath. And this intimation of the danger of Apostasie is one of Christs means, whereby he makes the Elect to persevere. 3. As Apostates do voluntarily fall off, and choose to depart from Christ, so he doth cast them forth as fruitlesse branches, by giving them judicially up to their Apostate courses, (whereby Christ will disown them, as having no interest in him, his love and favour, according as they renounced him) if not also by their excommunication from the society of the Church; and all this as but an earnest of his rejecting of them for ever; for, If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch. 4. Apostates, who are fallen off from Christ, and given up by him, will not only dry up in all their gifts and seeming graces, their performances and faire blossomes of professions; but shall grow worse and worse, and ripen in prophanity by degrees, till the day come, wherein all their false hopes and peace, their carnal joy and sensual comforts, shall quite dry up and forsake them; for, as a branch cast out of the vineyard, so shall they wither. 5. Whatever Apostates may think they reap for the present, yet the issue of Apostasie will be eternal wrath and hell, which is only suspended till their cup be full; And in the last day all Apostates shall be sent thither together; for, they shall be as withered branches, which men gather, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
