or not you belong to this vine. Besides, " every branch which beareth fruit He will purge that it may bring forth more fruit." (John xv. 2.) The husbandman improves or purges the vine by pruning and incision; so does God act in regard to His friends by sending them afflictions and by suffering them to be tempted. Learn hence to receive these trials willingly from the hands of God, as so many helps to your advancement in virtue.
III. The branches which bear no fruit "shall wither, and they shall gather him up and cast him into the fire." (John xv. 6.) " The branch," says St. Augustine, " must either bear fruit or be cast into the fire." Take care, therefore, to bring forth fruit in due season; let the grapes be genuine and not sour grapes, lest, like a dry withered bough, you be cut off and cast into the fire which will burn forever.
SATURDAY.
The Barren Fig-Tree.
I, " A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none." (Luke xiii. 6.) This fig-tree represents every Christian planted by God's own hand in the vineyard of His Church, to bring forth the fruit of good works, God wishes this tree to grow and produce fruit, and to gain this object He leaves nothing undone on His part; He warms it with the sun of faith, and waters it with the streams of His divine grace. He even forces it in some manner to produce fruit by every attention on His part. But if, after all His exertions, it will not produce fruit, He orders it to be cut down, for "every tree that yield-
