The Fate Of The Fruitless

Quest V. Quaeritur de hoc quod dicit: Pater tollet omnem palmitem non ferentem fructum. Aut tollet de vite, aut tollet de vita. De vite, non, quia nullum Pater a Filio suo separat; aut si tollit, quomodo tollit de vite? Quia qui non operatur bonum hoc ipso separatus est a vite, Christo, quia gratiam non habet, immo perdit. Si de vita; istud falsum est, quia plus vivunt mali quam boni, ut videmus. Item, bonos etiam tollit de vita corporal sicut malos. Respondeo: Dicendum, quod palmites a Christo trahunt non vitam naturae, sed vitam gratiae et vitam gloriae. Dicitur auferri vel separari palmes ab hac vite non per mortem naturae, sed per mortem culpae, vel damnationis extremae. Unde palmites infructuosi et qui in vacuum gratiam Dei recipiunt a vite separantur merito suae culpae iudicio divinae iustitiae; unde Apocalypsis tertio: Quia tepidus es, incipiam te evomere; quia iusto iudicio gratiam non apponit eis Deus. Iudicio damnationis extremae tollentur et in ignem mittentur, quando tempus merendi praecluditur; unde dicit: tollet, non quia statim auferat, cum locum poenitendi tribuat. Sanctus Bonaventura, Commentarius In Evangelium Ioannem, Caput XV Source: Here, p450

Question 5. Let this which He said be considered: 'The Father will take away every branch of the vine that does not bear fruit.' 1 Either he will take away from the vine, or from life. Concerning the vine, not so, because the Father separates no one from His Son; or if He does take away, how does He take away from the vine? Because He who does not do good is separated from the vine, from Christ, since he has no grace, rather he perishes. If He takes away from life, this is false, because there are more evil men than good men, as we see. Likewise, He takes the good away from the corporeal life just like the wicked. I answer: It must be said that the branches taken from Christ are not taken from the natural life, but from the life of grace and the life of glory. It is said that to carry off or to separate the branches from the vine is not natural death, but death by sin, or final damnation. Whence those who are unfruitful branches and who receive the grace of God for barreness are rightly separated from the vine because of their own fault, by the judgement of Divine justice. Whence in the third chapter of the Apocalypse: 'Because you are lukewarm, I will spew you out of my mouth,' 2 since with just judgement God grants no grace to them. By the judgement of final damnation they will be taken away and cast into fire, when comes the time when merit can be gained is ended. Whence he says: 'He will take away,' because He does immediately carry off, since a span for penance is given. Saint Bonaventura, Commentary On The Gospel Of Saint John, Chapter 15 1 Jn 15.2 2 Apoc 13.16