A00463:27
The barren tree a sermon preached at Pauls cross October 26. 1623 /The barren tree a sermon preached at Pauls crosse October 26. 1623 /
The barren tree a sermon preached at Pauls cross October 26. 1623 / by Tho. Adams.The barren tree a sermon preached at Pauls crosse October 26. 1623 / by Tho. Adams.
London: printed by Aug. Mathevves for John Grismand, 1623London: printed by Aug. Matheuues for Iohn Grismand, 1623
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Dixit Vinitori. Such is the honour God doth his Ministers, to acquaint them with his own purposes. Surely, 1the Lord will do nothing, but he first revealeth it to his servants, the Prophets. Nothing; which may conduce to the office of their Ministry, and the good of his Church. 2To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. To you, not to the world, they have no such revelation. It is given, it's none of your inheritance, you were not borne to it. To know Mysteries, Sapere alta, not common things. Of the kingdom (not secular; such mysteries are for the knowledge of Statizing Jesuits; but) of heaven. 3Shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I mean to do? The matter concerned Sodom, not Abraham: yet was it revealed to Abraham, not to Sodom. But doth God need any mans counsel? 4Who hath at any time been his Counsellor? Will the Potter take advice of his pots? No; when Christ asked Philip where supply of bread might be had for the multitude; This he said to prove him: 5for he ⟨p. 8⟩himself knew what he would do. His questions are not his, but our satisfactions. Thus doth he credit his own Ordinance, teaching the world how to esteem of them whom himself so singularly honours. How poor a place soever they find in mens thoughts, the King of heaven and earth calls them to his counsel. Priest, 6was a title whereof the Princes of Israel were ambitious: they would not, every man have written his name on his rod, but in hope that this Dignity might fall to his lot. Now, is the Ministry of the Gospel inferior to that of the Law? Was the service of death more glorious then the service of life, and salvation? If the Evangelical Covenant be better, is the Ministration worse? The Sons of the great think scorn of such an employment: what they held an honour, these count a disparagement: In one and the same subject meets their ambition and our scorn. It is ill when the Fig-tree shall despise the Dresser, but it would be far worse if the Dresser should despise the Fig-tree.