Editorial September 28, 1907 Issue

"MORE FRUIT."

Annie M. Knott

At this season of the year we think naturally of the fruits of the earth and remember the Divine promise, "Seedtime and harvest shall not fail." This evidently implies that God will never forget to provide for the needs of His children; the only question is whether we are doing our part in the great vineyard. We are told in Matthew's Gospel that when Jesus entered the temple at Jerusalem, on the occasion of his brief yet momentous triumph, he first of all "cast out" the representatives of material forms and ceremonies; then he healed those who came seeking his aid; and next we find him teaching—enforcing his doctrine, which the priests and elders had questioned,—by parables and similitudes. In one of these the great Teacher told of the failure of certain husbandmen to produce fruits, and of their rebellion when fruits were demanded of them. In trenchant phrases he then foretold the destruction of these unfaithful ones, and added that the vineyard would be taken from them by their lord and given unto others who would "render him the fruits in their seasons."

The historian goes on to tell how this righteous requirement of Christ Jesus was met by the rulers of that day,—how they cried, "Away with him," then hurried him to the cross. But the Christ demand for fruits persisted and has never lessened through all the centuries. At one time Saul of Tarsus thought he could satisfy the requirements of God's law by outward observances, and in his blinded zeal he added to them persecution of those whose religion was more spiritual than his own, but his awakening to truth came, and as a result we have Paul's wonderful delineation of spiritual fruit-bearing. We cannot too often read his words,—"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,"—to which he adds, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

Our text-book tells us that we are not members of the true Church unless we "are bringing forth the fruits of Love,—casting out error and healing the sick" (Science and Health, p. 35). We need therefore to apply to ourselves the severest tests as to whether we are bringing forth not merely a little, but "much fruit." which we are assured we shall do if we "abide" in Christ, Truth. We may be sure that "the lord of vineyard" will call upon us for our fruit, and in case it is lacking will apply the pruning process and cut away the wasting shoots of selfishness, pride, and worldliness. It should not be forgotten that others will look to see if we are bearing fruit, and if we are not bringing forth the love, the gentleness, the meekness, the temperance, of which Paul speaks, if we are not doing to the extent of our understanding the healing work which Christ Jesus both did and commanded his followers to do, they may well charge us with empty profession. The Master said, "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth [pruneth] it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

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