THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." —Galatians 5:22, 23 [KJV]

This numerous issue is of supernatural generation; like Isaac, who sprang from the dead body of Abraham and barren womb of Sarah. Though believers love to bring forth such fruits, delight to see them, yet through humility they are backward in speaking of them, and averse to glory in them as productions of their own. Hence when these fruits of the Spirit appear inward or outward, like the bride of the Lamb on another occasion, she cries out in lowliness of heart, "Who hath begotten me these?"—Isaiah 49:21. But is any thing too hard for God? "He maketh the barren soul to be a joyful mother of children."—Psalm 113:9. 

To this very end believers are "married to Jesus by faith, that they may bring forth fruit unto God."—Romans 7:4. There is no member of the church of which Jesus is the husband, barren. Some bring forth more fruit than others—some more eminent for one kind, and some for another. Every one "according to the measure of the gift of Christ."—Ephesians 4:7. But it is by the same Spirit that dwelleth in all: each esteem other's fruits better than their own. The graces of a true Christian shine brightest in the sight of his brethren. With the pleasant fruits of his Spirit, which his members bear, Jesus our head is delighted and God our Father is glorified. 

Will not this be the prayer, the daily prayer of every believer? O that I may bring forth more fruit to God! So let thy all-commanding voice pronounce on me, "be fruitful and multiply." Thus is "the bride," the Lamb's wife, "all-glorious within." But yet, conscious of what she was, of what she still is by opposing nature, which brings forth contrary fruits, she wears a conscious blush, and dares not glory in herself. She knows she is wholly indebted for the root of all grace, JESUS, as well as for the fruits of the Spirit, to unmerited grace and sovereign power. Thus truly Paul says, "I am become a fool in glorying," though compelled to it. 

That holy, faithful, loving, tender-hearted martyr of Jesus, ever styled himself 'the unbelieving, unloving, hard-hearted Bradford.' Yet, "against such there is no law." The law cannot accuse or condemn those who believe in Jesus; "for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made them free from the law of sin and death."—Romans 8:2. Indeed the law may trouble and terrify the conscience; but Christ, apprehended by faith, vanquisheth all its terror and threatenings; "for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believes."—Romans 10:4. They are as righteous in Him, as if they had fulfilled the law themselves. "Ye shall know them by their fruits,"—Matthew 7:16.

-preacher William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

 

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