I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman; every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he takes away; and every branch that beareth fruity he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Abide in me and I in you; he that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit. John 15:1-5.
O Lord, I trust that this word will have its accomplishment in me also; though as yet I have great reason to be humbled on account of my barrenness. Grant, therefore, that I may always abide in thee, faithfully and quietly; since there is every thing in thy power, and nothing can be got and done by our own strength; but as it is thy will, and it tends both to the glory of thy Father, and thine own, I depend upon being replenished in due season with fruits of righteousness. Suffer nothing in me, which is to the dishonour of thy name, and which may be offensive to me and to others. But whatever thou thinkest as yet fit for me to suffer, let it work for my real good.
How can I sufficiently adore the patience of the Lord my gracious husbandman, who still bears with me, the weakest of all his branches. He has not cut me off yet, but still addresses me to bring forth more fruit, though as yet I hardly yield him one good, but a multitude of wild grapes. Why then shouldst thou grumble, O my heart, at the application of his pruning knife? It is really for thy good. He is angry only with the degenerate, unfruitful branches. The more these are purged the more fruit thou shalt bring forth.