Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/511

 brance of  thee  to  a  man  that  hath  peace  in  his  possessions."   (Ecclus.  xli.  i.)

III. " If  a  master  of  a  family  did  know  at  what  hour the  thief  would  come,  he  would  surely  watch  and  would not  suffer  his  house  to  be  broken  open." (Luke xii.  39.) Death will  certainly  come  as  a  thief  and  break  open  the soul's habitation,  which  is  the  body;  but  the  day  and hour are  uncertain. Hence, God  wishes  us  to  be  on  our guard every  day  of  our  lives,  in  order  that  we  may  not be surprised  at  the  moment  when  our  eternal  doom  is  to be  fixed.

I. "I  am  the  vine  and  you  are  the  branches." (John xv. 5.)  Christ  is  a  true  vine,  both  in  regard  to  the  most precious wine  which  He  poured  forth  on  the  cross,  and in as  much  as  His  blood  is  daily  presented  to  His Father for  us,  in  the  chalice  of  salvation. Every one  may be a  branch  of  this  vine;  hence,  He  invites  all. Of this vine it  is  said  by  the  Psalmist,  "  It  stretched  forth  its branches  unto  the  sea,  and  its  boughs  unto  the  river." (Ps. lxxix.  12.)  Every  branch  and  every  bough  that belong to  this  vine  are  kept  alive  by  the  influence  of grace  derived  from  the  parent  stock,  which  is  Christ, and these  branches  bear  fruit  because  they  are  thus  connected with  it. How happy  are  you  if  you  be  a  branch of this  sacred  vine.

II. Fruitfulness is  an  evident  sign  that  you  are  connected with  this  tree. " He  that  abideth  in  Me,  and  I  in him,  the  same  beareth  much  fruit." (John xv.  5.)  Hence you may  discover  by  the  fruit  which  you  bear,  whether