Chapter VI. Fruits And The Two Works.

Fruits Of The Spirit.

Men are likened unto trees in some Scriptural texts. The righteous are termed good trees, and the wicked evil trees. Now the "tree is known by its fruit." The fruits of the flesh are borne upon the evil tree, while the fruits of the Spirit are borne upon the good tree. The fruits of the Spirit are enumerated in Gal. 5:22, 23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." We shall describe these fruits separately by the word of truth, as briefly as possible.

Love.

This is the sweetest theme in the Scriptures and the greatest thing in earth or heaven. "G.o.d is love," and because he is love he sought to rescue, through the sacrifice of his Son, his fallen creatures. It was love that prompted G.o.d to make so great a sacrifice for man. It is love that prompts man to sacrifice all for G.o.d. When man loves G.o.d he loves everything in G.o.d's creation. No man can love G.o.d and hate his brother; no man can love G.o.d and hate his enemies. G.o.d loves his enemies. It is the nature of the love of G.o.d. When man possesses the love of G.o.d in his heart he will love his enemies. To love those who love us and despise those who despise us, is not a love that is a fruit of the Spirit. When man possesses the love of G.o.d he does not love the world. 1 John 2:15-17.

Everything in our service to G.o.d if acceptable must be actuated by love.

Supernatural gifts are nothing without love. 1 Cor. 13:1, 2. The greatest deeds of sacrifice profit us nothing without they are done in love. Ver.

3. In the following verses of this chapter the nature of love is beautifully and obviously portrayed.

1. Charity suffereth long. By long-suffering is meant to patiently bear with the failings and foibles of our brother, "With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love." Eph. 4:2.

There is a beautiful thought in 1 Tim. 1:16. That Jesus might show his long-suffering through us as a pattern for all who may in any way know of our life.

2. Charity is kind. Where love is there is kindness. The greater the love the greater the kindness. The lioness in all the fierceness of her nature strokes her whelp in tenderness and kindness. Thus kindness is a product of love. Love will put a tenderness in our looks, a gentleness in our speech, and a kindness in our acts. If you are not as kind as you know you should be, seek G.o.d for more of his love.

3. Charity envieth not. How impossible to envy those we love. The more fortunate they are the more we rejoice. The more they are praised and honored the deeper is our joy. With those we love, we weep when they weep and rejoice when they rejoice. If there is a secret envy in your heart because of the praise and prosperity of others, the love of G.o.d is wanting. "Let not thine heart envy sinners." Prov. 23:17.

4. Charity vaunteth not itself. We can only love G.o.d at the sacrifice of all self-love. When man possesses the love of G.o.d there is no self-praise, nor seeking of honor; there is no setting self forward, but the lowliest seat is the most desirable.

5. Charity is not puffed up. There are no feelings of self-importance in the heart when the love of G.o.d is abounding. We love him so devotedly we desire him to receive all the praise. Should G.o.d make some use of you it will be natural to give him all the praise.

6. Charity doth not behave itself unseemly. There is a becomingness in all the actions of pure and holy love. There is a beautiful consistency in the worship of G.o.d when all is actuated by pure love. There is nothing unseemly in our behavior toward G.o.d or our fellow man, even to the most cultured minds, when influenced by love. It is n.o.ble and sublime, elevating and pleasing to pure hearts. Praise is comely when flowing from a heart full of love, but a wild hurrahing is unseemly. All unseemly conduct in modes and forms of worship-such as tossing the head to and fro, swaying the body, the loud stamping of feet, rolling on the floor, lying stiff and rigid, shouting until the face reddens and veins distend and exhaustion overcomes, are disgracing to G.o.d and disgusting to refined ears and pure hearts.

7. Charity seeketh not her own. When man possesses the love of G.o.d he does not seek his own pleasure and happiness but is interested in the welfare and happiness of others; "He looks not upon his own things but upon the things of others." We seek opportunities to do good to those we love.

8. Charity is not easily provoked. There is a weightiness in the love of G.o.d. It balances all our actions. We are not hasty under provocations; we are not excited or vexed at every trivial occurrence.

9. Charity thinketh no evil. The meditations of a heart of pure love are holy. A holy man's thoughts are upon pure and true subjects. He thinketh no evil.

10. Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity. Sin saddens and grieves the heart of love. Should there be a secret rejoicing in your heart because some brother has fallen into sin, you are proud and an abomination unto G.o.d.

11. Charity rejoiceth in the truth. Where the truth is accepted it causes the heart of love to rejoice. Should G.o.d use some other individual in setting the truth before people which causes them to rejoice, if you love G.o.d and the truth you will rejoice with them.

12. Charity beareth all things. Amid adversities, afflictions, persecutions, temptations and trials, when storms gather, and breakers threaten, when friends prove false, and the way grows weary, love looks trustingly up to G.o.d and says, "Thou doeth all things well, blessed be thy name."

13. Charity believeth all things. Those who love are ever ready to believe the best of everything and everybody. They see all the good qualities of man before they see his faults. They are ready to believe all the good they hear of any one and slow to believe evil. They rejoice to put confidence in man, and when man's evil ways break that confidence they still hope for something good.

14. Charity hopeth all things. It is very difficult to discourage the heart that is full of love. When love waxes cold then disappointments may cause a murmur. Love hopes for the very best outcome for good of everything.

15. Charity endureth all things. The same might be said of this as that "charity beareth all things." Whatever darkness may arise to-day, Love hopes for sunshine to-morrow and patiently endures.

16. Charity never fails. Thank G.o.d! Pretended friends may fail you; the world may fail you; wealth and honor may fail you; but love will never fail. It will bear you over the rough places in life's pathway. It will drive away the clouds. It will kiss the chastening rod. It will sweeten the bitter cup. It will soften the hardest pillow, and when you are brought down into the shadow of death Love looks across to the golden glories and sings as the cords are being severed-Love never fails.

"Fairest and foremost of the trains that wait On man's most dignified and happiest state, Whether we name thee Charity or Love, Chief grace below, and all in all above."-_Cowper._

Joy.

The second mentioned fruit of the Spirit is joy. G.o.d is glorified by our fruit-bearing. To be filled with joy is honoring G.o.d. Not rejoicing only when the world is smiling upon you and prosperity extends her jeweled hand. At these times the unG.o.dly can rejoice. But when the world frowns and prosperity hides her face, when trials and temptations are divers, to then rejoice is a golden fruit for G.o.d. Tribulations may come, but, when filled with the Spirit, we glory in them. Rom. 5:3. O beloved, look upward to G.o.d and rejoice. Trust in his promise and count everything joy, no matter what may be the circ.u.mstances of life. Trials, temptations, discouragements, afflictions, imprisonments, persecutions, destruction, and poverty-know that nothing can separate you from the love of G.o.d; so go on your way rejoicing.

Peace.

Jesus sets up his throne of peace in the hearts of the righteous and there he reigns a king. Peace he gives unto us, not as this world gives, but a peace that flows like a river-a peace that is abiding. "Acquaint thyself with G.o.d and be at peace." Listen to what the Word of G.o.d says about the peace of the righteous. "Great peace have they;" "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace;" "Peace like a river;" "Filled with all peace and joy."

A precious fruit, which the Christian should develop by placing greater confidence in G.o.d.

Long-Suffering.

"With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love." Eph. 4:2. When we put on Christ, we put on his nature and characteristics. He was long-suffering; and we are commanded to put on as the elect of G.o.d "bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering." Col. 3:12.

Gentleness.

The apostle speaks of his gentleness on one occasion in these words: "But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children." 1 Thes. 2:7. "The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men." 2 Tim. 2:24. "To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men." t.i.t. 3:2. That wisdom which is from above is gentle. Jas. 3:17. Cultivate the grace of gentleness and thus glorify G.o.d.

Goodness.

"For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth." Eph. 5:9. "Doing good unto all men as we have opportunity" is the command of G.o.d: "See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men." 1 Thes.

5:15. Let goodness fill our actions toward all. Be good.

Faith.

If you have faith in G.o.d prove it by your works. Your works are the fruit.

Why are you discouraged and cast down if you have faith? Why do you seek protection from the world if you have faith in G.o.d? Why do you fear and tremble if you have faith? Faith has subdued kingdoms, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, caused the sun to stand still, escaped the edge of the sword, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Faith overcomes the world and pleases G.o.d. Show your faith by your works and thus honor the name of Jesus.

Meekness.