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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
THE BARREN TREE. › First, the Access.THE BARREN TREE. › First, the Accesse.
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.
He complains. All complain of lost labours: the Shepherd after all his vigilance, complains of straggling Lambs: the Gardiner after all his diligence, of withering Plants: the Husbandman after all his toil, of lean ⟨p. 13⟩Fields, and thin Harvests: Merchants after many adventures, of Wracks and Piracies: Tradesmen of bad debtors, and scarcity of monies: Lawyers complain of few Clients, and Divines of fewer Converts. Thus we complain one of another: but God hath just cause to complain of us all.
He complaines. All complain of lost labors: the Shepheard after all his vigilance, complaines of stragling Lambes: the Gardiner after all his diligence, of withering Plants: the Husbandman after all his toyle, of leane ⟨p. 13⟩Fields, and thin Haruests: Merchants after many aduentures, of Wrackes and Pyracies: Tradesmen of bad debtors, and scarcitie of monies: Lawyers complaine of few Clients, and Diuines of fewer Conuerts. Thus wee complaine one of another: but God hath iust cause to complaine of vs all.
Well, if the Lord complain of Sin, let not us make our selves merry with it. Like Sampson, it may make us sport for a while, but will at last pull down the house upon our heads. 1The voice of the Turtle is (not) heard in our Land. Vox Turturis, vox gementis. True penitents be more rare then Turtles. The voice of the Sparrow we hear, chirping lust: of the Night-bird, buzzing ignorance: the voice of the Screech-owl, croaking blasphemy: of the Popinjay, gaudy pride: the voice of the Kite and Cormorant, covetousness and oppression: these, and other Birds of that wing be common. But, Non audita est vox Turturis: who mourns for the sin of the time, and longs to be freed from the time of sin? It was an unhappy spectacle in Israel, to see at once, Lachrymantem Dominum, and ridentem populum: a weeping Saviour, and deriding sinners. We complain of our crosses and losses, we complain of our maladies, of our injuries, enemies, miseries: the Lord open our eyes, and soften our hearts, to see and feel