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

To the Dresser. This is the whole Congregation of his Ministers, to whom he hath committed the culture of his Vineyard: all which, by an Enallage numeri, are summed up in one Dresser. ¹1. Quia Cor unum, because they have all one heart. ²2. Quia officium unum; all their labours meet in that one common term; the edification of the Body of ⟨p. 9⟩Christ. 3. It is usual to name one proceteris, for all the rest. Peter says, Though I should die with thee, I will not deny thee. ³Did Peter only promise this? No, but So said likewise the rest of the Disciples. Had not this been a Parable, I never found a place of more probable colour for the high Priest of Rome to challenge his universal Supremacy by. But surely, he will never dress Christs Vineyard, as it ought, unless in a Parable. Nay, would his Instruments forbear to sow it with brambles, to manure it with blood, and to cast Nabaoth out of his own vineyard, it were somewhat. But let them pass! When the Spirit wrote to a whole Church, he inscribes his Epistle under one particular name, ⁴Angelo Ecclesiae, to the Angel of the Church.

To the Dresser. This is the whole Congregation of his Ministers, to whom he hath committed the culture of his Vineyard: all which, by an Enallage numeri, are summ'd vp in one Dresser. ¹1. Quia Cor vnum, because they haue all one heart. ²2. Quia officium vnum; all their labours meet in that one common terme; the edification of the Body of ⟨p. 9⟩Christ. 3. It is vsuall to name one proceteris, for all the rest. Peter sayes, Though I should die with thee, I will not denie thee.