In this parable Christ has illustrated the plain fact, that no man is able to live a righteous life without the results of his work being brought to the knowledge of man. The outward works are but an index to the inward soul, and refer us to the pages of the heart that we may glean irpm them as readily as from the printed page of a book.

      All Christians must bear in mind the truth of the great book of life, that our works are but our fruits, and unless we bear fruits that are acceptable in the eyes of our Savior, like the tree that beareth imperfect fruit we shall be hewn down and cast into the fire. " Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

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[p. 13]
      There is no middle place for the soul, it must go onward and upward in serving God, or stand for a short time like the pure water in the pool by the wayside and become stagnant and impure for want of action.

      To make a fruit-tree bear beautiful and perfect fruit we cultivate the soil, prune out the useless and defective branches, and aim to make it as perfect in all respects as possible, and so with the soul. Let us prune off the useless habits, prune off the useless words, the wayward ways, the ill thoughts, and try by the help of our Savior to be as perfect in soul, mind and body, as it is possible for man to be.

      After a severe storm we notice the water in the streams is in a state of commotion and.looks as though it has had a thorough stirring up, but ere long this has alt passed, and it seems to rest as calm and peaceful as ever. So with a great many professed Christians after a stirring revival, where our Ministers have brought forth an abundance of good fruit, we often by willful neglect, fail to cultivate and watch over the products of his earnest labor, and in a great many instances it soon settles back to that placid, peaceful slumber, where it becomes an easy prey for the wiles and temptations of the wicked one. In military life the officers always place guards at all dangerous points, so as to signal in case of danger. So with our church, we want sentinels and plenty of them and those that will not slumber at their post of duty. Napoleon said when occupying a dangerous position, "I want Frenchmen on duty to-night." We want Christian workers on duty for the coming year to stand guard for Christ and his cause. Ye shall know them by their fruits.
     J. E. JOHNSTON

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[From Campbell County Baptist Association Minutes, 1894, pp. 12-13. This document is from the Northern Kentucky Baptist Association office, Erlanger, KY. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall ]

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