The barren tree a sermon preached at Pauls cross October 26. 1623 /The barren tree a sermon preached at Pauls crosse October 26. 1623 /

A Consultation; Then said he to the Dresser of his Vineyard. Complaint. Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this Fig-tree, and find none. Sentence; Cut it down. Reason; Why cumbers it the ground?

A Consultation; Then sayd hee to the Dresser of his Vineyard. Complaint. Behold, these three yeeres I come seeking fruit on this Fig-tree, and find none. Sentence; Cut it downe. Reason; Why cumbers it the ground?

The Consultation. Then said he unto, &c.

The Consultation. Then said he vnto, &c.

Dixit, non percussit: hee spake, he stroke not: he might have spared words, and begun ⟨p. 5⟩with wounds. The Tree had rather deserved the Axe and Fire, then a Consultation of recovery. How easily would man have rejected his hopeless brother? as when a piece of clay will not work to his mind, the Potter throws it away: or we cast foul rags to the dung-hill, little thinking that they may become white paper. But with God, Verba antecedunt verbera; he will be heard before he be felt. Our first Parents, when they had sinned, Vocem andiverunt, Heard the voice of God: ¹He reasoned with them, before he condemned them. If the fathers word can correct the child, he will let the rod alone. Wicked men use the sudden Arguments of steel and iron; as Joah discoursed with Amasa, in the fifth rib, ²they speak Daggers points. So Zedekiah disputed with the Prophet, a word and a blow; yea, a blow without a word: he struck him first, and spoke to him afterwards. God deals otherwise; Behold, I stand at the door,