I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.
Read Chapter 15
Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
I am the Vine, &c.—That Isaiah , him who abides in Me by faith formed by love I likewise will love, and imbue with My spirit. This man bears much fruit, i.e, of good works, by which he continually merits an increase of grace and glory. Hence the Councils of Milevis and Orange condemn the Pelagians for saying that we have from God to be men, but from ourselves to be just. Such, S. Augustine (Tract21) says, are not the upholders but the destroyers of free-will. He thus sums up against them, "He who thinks that he bears fruit of himself is not in the Vine: he who is not in the Vine is not in Christ: he who is not in Christ is not a Christian."
For without Me (not only by general and natural, but by special and supernatural prevenient and co-operating grace) ye can do nothing, i.e, in the way of fruit, which is the fruit of the Vine, i.e. of Christ, or grace going before. That Isaiah , Ye can do nothing worthy of eternal life, or grace, or merits, as the Pelagians held, who supposed that ...
Do you see that the Son contributes not less than the Father towards the care of the disciples? The Father purges, but He keeps them in Himself. The abiding in the root is that which makes the branches to be fruit-bearing. For that which is not purged, if it remain on the root, bears fruit, though perhaps not so much as it ought; but that which remains not, bears none at all. But still the purging also has been shown to belong to the Son, and the abiding in the root, to the Father, who also begot the Root. Do you see how all is common, both the purging, and the enjoying the virtue which is from the root?
2. Now it were a great penalty, the being able to do nothing, but He stays not the punishment at this point, but carries on His discourse farther.
