John 15:2

John 15:2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:

There are many such branches, in Christ’s visible Church, which are not fruit-bearing branches, and consequently are not partakers of the sap of life and grace which flows into the branches that are vitally joined to the central stem. These fruitless branches are to be taken away.

John 15:2. And every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

There is some work, then, for the knife upon all the branches; cutting off for those that are fruitless, cutting for those that are bearing some fruit, that they may bring forth yet more.